Fashion has been and always will be ever-evolving. Fashion isn’t simply clothing or coverings. Fashion has an incredible ability to tell a story–to describe an individual, to represent a culture, to reflect values or even politics of the time. Fashion changes as people change and as they grow together.
Let’s step back in time and “read” the story of 1970s France through these vintage French streetstyle shots.
French STREETSTYLE icons
Despite being around fifty-years-old, at first glance, one could easily mistake these 1970s French icons for modern-day Instagram influencers.
French singer, Francoise Hardy, was just as known for her chic, French streetstyle as she was for her voice.
Jane Birkin herself, seemed to be the precedent and blueprint for fashion influencers that would rule social media today. Jane Birkin invented “influencer.”
Denim on Denim on Denim
When looking back at old photographs and French streetstyle shots from the 1970s, one fabric type stands out: denim.
The 1970s, in particular, saw denim transform from workwear to fashion. And people loved it. It was everywhere.
From overalls to bell-bottom jeans, denim skirts and dresses to denim vests, there was no way it couldn’t be styled or worn.
Hot pants: 1970s booty shorts
When we consider fashion trends and standards over time, it’s common to assume that people dressed much more conservatively–especially when we examine fashion from 50 years ago.
But many might be surprised to learn that fashion wasn’t as conservative as we’ve been led to believe.
The debut of the mini skirt in the 1960s paved the way to increased acceptance of shorter hemlines. And the fashion world took that opportunity and ran with it. By the 1970s, the new hottest trend traded in the mini skirts for new and even shorter shorts.
Vacation Style
Saint Tropez seemed to be a melting pot of people from different sides of France and even other countries. Just like the people, you would’ve been able to see a multitude of different fashion styles roaming the streets in the 70s.
In the first shot, the young women keep it classy in styles reminiscent of earlier years, while the image below shows the more trendy, disco side of the 70s.
The Many Faces of 1970s Fashion
The 1970s is almost a clear reflection of modern fashion today. Maxi skirts, tall boots, shapeless outfits, but also form-fitting styles, edgy looks, eclectic grandpa–these are all popular fashion trends of recent years, but also of the 70s.
Although known for disco and hippie fashion, the 1970s had many more trends and styles. Take the images below for example: in the first two, women sport a style that today, Gen-Z would call “grandma-core.” In contrast, the woman in the third image displays a more youthful, timeless ensemble that would have been more common in the 1950s and 1960s.
1970s women looked straight out of a thrift shop
At first glance, one could mistake these pictures for recently taken shots of the streetstyle in New York City. They’re giving “I wear your grandad’s clothes. I’ll look incredible…from that thrift shop down the road.”
With the rise of slow fashion and mindful consumption, thrift stores and secondhand shops have become the providers of the younger generations’ wardrobes. And as result, the defining style of the 2020s so far is a very “thrifty” one.
Just another similarity between 1970s fashion and 2020s fashion: an eclectic mix of pieces, accessories, and vintage and modern styles.
