Welcome to the forgotten closet of the 1970s, where fashion was loud, shiny, tight, and occasionally flammable.
This was the decade that gave us disco wings for collars, leisure suits made of 100% regret, and platform shoes for men trying to reach new heights (literally). Some trends made epic comebacks. These? Not so much. We're talking satin jumpsuits, caftans at cocktail hour, and shorts so short they doubled as a bold political statement.
So dust off your tinted sunglasses and brace yourself because we’re diving into the styles that strutted too close to the lava lamp and still haven’t made it back.
1
Patchwork Everything
Jackets, skirts, pants: All looking like Grandma’s quilt exploded. Wholesome? Maybe. Chic? Not quite yet.
2
Supersized Shirt Collars (a.k.a. "Disco Wings")
These collars were less about fashion, more about flight potential. Why fold down when you can take off?
3
Platform Shoes for Men (Like… Tall Ones)
Because nothing says confidence like secretly adding 4 inches and praying you don’t fall in the parking lot.
4
Caftans as Formalwear
Comfortable? Yes. Fashion-forward? Only if you were Aunt Mildred hosting a wine mixer.
5
Short Shorts on Men (With No Apology)
If your thighs weren’t out and your inseam wasn’t negative, were you even alive in 1978?
6
Polyester Everything (Even Underwear!)
It didn’t breathe. It didn’t bend. But it did catch fire if you got too close to a birthday cake.
7
Hats With Attitude
Wide-brimmed floppy hats, fedoras, turbans: Everyone had headwear and no one knew why.
8
Tinted to Perfection
When your whole personality was amber, oversized, and slightly mysterious.
9
Louder Than Your Uncle’s Opinions
When your outfit walked into the room 10 minutes before you did, in every color known to man.
10
Corduroy Crimes of Summer
Once a ‘70s staple, now a fashion cold case.
11
The Higher the Hair, the Closer to Funk
Big, bold, and brushed for the gods. This hair didn’t just enter a room, it expanded into it.
12
Denim on Denim: The Double-Down Dare
When one pair of jeans wasn’t enough, men went full cowboy chic.
13
Patches: The OG Customizers
Before DIY was cool, patches fixed holes and made a statement, because why blend in when you can sew on your soul?
14
Leisure Suits (Especially in Pastel Polyester)
Shiny, shapeless, and sweat-prone. These were everywhere: at weddings, parties, possibly funerals. They're still in fashion purgatory.
15
Satin Jumpsuits (with Deep V-Necks and No Shame)
Slick, shiny, and so tight they squeaked. Funky? Yes. Flattering? Rarely.
