It’s hard to believe that more than four decades have passed since the ’70s came to an end. Older folks can remember the Civil Rights movement, the Watergate scandal, and the premiere of the first Star Wars movie. The introduction of punk rock music, the death of Elvis Presley, and the crimes of Ted Bundy also took place throughout the 70s. What about the fashion trends that surfaced thanks to prominent designers during this particular era, though?
In the world of fashion, trends are always changing and evolving. New fashion designers come out of the woodwork with brilliant ideas all the time. With social media at everyone’s disposal, it’s easy for designers to spread the word about their visions as they pop up. Folks who don’t classify as professional fashion designers can also try their hand in this industry using various social media platforms.
All you’d have to do is go viral posting videos or pictures of jaw-dropping trends to draw attention from people around the globe. With so many different avenues to try in the fashion realm, it makes sense that some people might lean into trends from older generations for inspiration. Click here to see 50 photos that prove the 70s had the best style.
In reality, some trends deserve to be left in the dust. Several fashion fads from the 70s certainly don’t deserve to resurface at any point in time. We’ve uncovered a few.
To compile this list of fashion fads from the ’70s that mankind will likely never see it again, 24/7 Tempo consulted several fashion-forward sources. These include Who What Where, Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, Fashion Week Online, and Glamour.
Vinyl jumpsuits
Vinyl jumpsuits are no longer as beloved as they once were in the 70s. At that time, people wore them because they provided a level of snug warmth and comfort. They allowed you to stay covered up from your collarbones to your ankles. Nowadays, the inconvenience of trying to go to the bathroom while wearing a full vinyl jumpsuit is way too bothersome. To make matters worse, they’re incredibly tacky to look at.
Corduroy fabrics
A quick glance at an outfit made out of corduroy fabric will leave a bad taste in just about anyone’s mouth in 2024. Corduroy fabric is an horrendously tacky when it comes to aesthetics and super uncomfortable to touch. One benefit that comes along with corduroy is that it’s a fabric that tends to be stretchier than alternative options. It’s stretch value doesn’t take away from how unattractive it’s been since the 70s, though.
Wide collar shirts
Seeing people rock shirts with wide collars isn’t common anymore in 2024. Back in the 70s, this style was popular because it allowed different body types to appear a little more flattering than they naturally did. Now, seeing a shirt with a collar that’s way too wide will remind you of someone wearing a costume instead of someone giving off chic vibes. Normal-sized collars are attached to typical shirts, blouses, and dresses in 2024.
Puka shell necklaces
Puka shell necklaces were popular in the 70s for people aiming to showcase a laidback and beachy vibe. These days, puka shell necklaces are thought of as tacky and unsightly. Fashionistas of 2024 would rather wear simple gold or silver necklaces with small charms dangling down the center. Choker necklaces are also more enticing to modern day jewelry lovers than puka shell necklaces.
Knee-high socks
Although knee-high socks were all the rage back in the 70s, there is never usually a reason to wear them in this day and age. Sure, they did their job in keeping legs warm whenever women were wearing skirts or dresses. These days, women can opt for leggings or tights underneath their skirts and dresses for the sake of their body temperature.
Vests as shirts
While people of the 70s once believed that wearing vests as shirts was acceptable, that’s no longer a fashionable move to make in 2024. These days, if someone plans to wear a vest in any capacity, it’s something they’ll wear on top of a shirt or dress. Wearing a vest as an accessory beyond the 70s is better than trying to utilize one as a full shirt with a pair of pants or a skirt.
Badly placed piercings
Some body parts are more popular for piercing locations than others. Some of the most common places people get piercings are their lips, noses, eyebrows, and ears. Opting for piercings that fit anywhere else on the face can be a huge mistake based on how you want others to perceive you. In the 70s, badly placed piercings were all the rage. That trend likely won’t be resurfacing anytime soon – except for in rare cases.
Cape-like ponchos
People have traded cape-like ponchos in for gorgeous cardigans and thin jackets in this modern era. Back in the 70s, cape-like ponchos were popular, but it’s unlikely that they’ll ever rise in popularity again. Cape-like ponchos don’t come with hoods, which means the back of your neck and head aren’t provided with any warmth while you’re wearing them. They also fit most body types in an awkward way.
Space-themed dresses
Wearing space-themed dresses made sense back in the 70s when people were curious to uncover what fashion of the future was going to look like. At the time, folks had interesting ideas about what space creatures looked like, if we’d ever make contact with aliens, and how technology would evolve. Now that we are in 2024, wearing dresses that are space-themed isn’t all that exciting.
Floppy hats
Floppy hats are no longer beloved by fashionistas in 2024. People are a far more enticed by hats that offer protection from the sun while also adding flair to an outfit. Floppy hats don’t exactly protect your face from harsh UV rays, so wearing them beyond the 70s is incredibly pointless. Cowboy hats, sturdy sun hats, and visors have risen in popularity since then for being multifunctional.
Studded belts
Studded belt rose in popularity back in the 70s, but they were quickly abandoned based on how inconvenient they were to wear. For a short stretch of time, teenagers shopping at stores like Hot Topic tried to bring studded belts back in the early 2000s, but they realized why the teens of the 70s ditched them in the first place. Studded belts snag on just about everything, which is too annoying to deal with.
Shrink tops
Back in the 70s, people thought of shrink tops as trendy, cool, and fun. Now, they are way too tacky for anyone to enjoy. Adding a shrink top to your closet in 2024 would be a huge mistake. Shrink tops end up looking awkward and ill-fitted on just about any body type. These days, fashionistas prefer wearing tops that are reasonably sized from collarbone to hip bone.
Yarn swimwear
Swimwear made out of yarn sounds like it could be cool and trendy theory, but put into practice, this combo ends up being a hot mess. Yarn swimwear was popular in the 70s, despite the fact that the material wasn’t compatible with water. Swimwear should be made out of material that absorbs water and dries up quickly when you’re no longer swimming. Yarn doesn’t offer those benefits.
Ascots
A woman modelling women's fashions in a studio portrait, wearing a white knitted jumper featuring a motif of two tennis racquets and red tennis balls on the front, also wearing a white visor and a red cravat with white polka dots, 1973. (Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images)
Folks who are aiming for a preppy look can rely on ascots to pull that off. Still, ascots give off a costume vibe instead of the chic energy they provided back in the 70s. People once wore ascots when they wanted everyone around them to know how classy they were. Now the accessories people are more comfortable wearing around their necks include typical necklaces and scarves.
Suspenders
When you notice suspenders on another human being in 2024, you might instantly think of a Halloween costume. Suspenders are typically used for costumes representing nerds, school students, or dorky professionals. Back in the 70s, suspenders were considered a normal part of a man’s outfit. It’s unlikely they’ll ever resurface in terms of popularity beyond costumes every October.
White dress shoes
Solid white dress shoes were considered chic and classy back in the 70s. In this modern era, they’re far too outdated. When wearing white dress shoes, men have to be incredibly careful with each step they take to prevent their shoes from getting scuffed up. Scuffs make shoes look visibly dirty. Instead of being worried about the cleanliness of a pair of shoes at all hours, it makes more sense to opt for shoes designed in a darker color. Click here to discover the trends that fashion designers openly despised