SO HIP, SO SEVENTIES, SO NOW...


 


Collage by Georgina Heffernan

 Every now and tend a trend hits on fashion's radar that makes me feel unspeakably happy. Now , with the return of the seventies - I've plenty of reasons to smile.We've done the 50s, 60s and 80s and now, ladies, it's all about the 70s. Fashion has come over all Faye Dunaway and Farrah Fawcett as the flares and floppy hats return.

Faye Dunaway


Many still perceive the 1970s as the decade that taste forgot. After all, who doesn't have a family photo featuring dad in flares and a droopy moustache and mum in a smock dress and afro?But look a little closer and it's clear to see that the 70s was a decade of originality, style, artistic achievement and creative passion.Contrary to popular belief, the 60s didn't actually swing for most people until the early 70s.

Biba Girl



Boutiques such as Barbara Hulanicki's BIBA offered an amazingly cool range of alternative, affordable, clothes to the under-30s. BIBA started small, but eventually changed the way clothes were designed and marketed forever.Now, the quintessential late Sixties, early Seventies fashion house, is all over the catwalks.

Yves Saint Laurent's leopard-print kaftan, slit to the thigh, is the latest must-have. The white suit, synonymous until now with Bianca Jagger and the Studio 54 set, is so hot it hurts. And the flowing peasant look, this season's front-running trend, harks back to key Seventies designers such as Ossie Clark and Zandra Rhodes.

Chloe Sevigny

Grace Coddington

 

Clements Ribeiro, Stella McCartney and Marc Jacobs are just three labels whose current work pays, to put it mildly, very public homage to Seventies fashion. And the highstreet stores such as Marks & Spencer, Topshop and New Look have a decidedly seventies feel to many of their latest collections .

New Look

When it comes to nailing this look, there are two main aesthetics to consider: '70s Bohemian, and '70s sophisticated glamour. When it comes to the latter, think dresses that fall like shimmering water in the evening and high- waist pants with elegant blouses by day.If you are in need of a little inspiration,look to  the ultimate style icon of the period Marianne Faithfull - one time girlfriend to Mick Jagger - and the poster girl for seventies chic.Perfect.

Marianne Faithfull

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Fashion: Jump to it!



£70 at Monsoon

 Starting in the 1960s the jumpsuit became an item of fashion and a clear favourite in the 70s disco era. It was worn in bright colours with flares and floaty sleeves. Now this Spring/Summer 2011 the jumpsuit is back. Jumpsuits are, after all, the in-thing at the moment. For proof, just look at Gemma Arterton, who turned up to a premiere for her film Tamara Drewe wearing a stunning Lanvin sleek black all-in- one, or Cheryl Cole who chose her black jumpsuit for an X Factor live show from the Azzaro Autumn '10 collection. From obscurity the item has now returned to fashion fabulous.

International designers and some of our Irish ones have been including jumpsuits left, right and centre in their collections. Harem-style jumpsuits are a fabulous one-piece wear to all. Team with flat shoes and ethnic jewels for the day or skyscraper platforms and statement-style jewels for the evening. Animal prints are fashionable - as are block and neutral colours.

Khaki embellished jumpsuit £165 Marella

 

 Think of it as a substitute for the dress. It's both casual and semi-formal wear, but you gotta be quite slim to carry this silhouette .Tall and slim women can look stunning in them. If you are overweight and wearing a wrong jumpsuit, it can be a fashion disaster, so be careful about the fit.

Marks and Spencer jumpsuit  £79/€109




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TROUSERS SET TO STRIDE AHEAD: Finally, it's time to move on from skinny jeans. A new shape of trousers is getting a firm leg-hold this summer, and the good news is that it is super-flattering

Making a fashion statement with your pants is a risqué thing to attempt. Only the sartorially brave have the confidence to pull off a printed pantaloon, leopard print legging or neon-coloured jean. But the good news is there’s a much easier trend that will still score you style points .Yes girls , the wide legged trouser is the tipped to be the hottest trend this spring. Part of the reason billowing trousers are going to be in fashion for the next few months, is that the 1970s are back. In a big way.

From Halston-inspired jersey one-pieces, to silk wrap-around dresses and wide-leg trousers, classic 1970s fashion is having a bit of a moment. The trend kicked off with Tom Ford's first women's collection in his name, which was influenced by the disco decade, and now it’s been picked up by the high street. Topshop, usually awash with skinny jeans, has already started focusing on the wide leg and all the trimmings, as has Reiss and A|Wear. For the more masculine take, Oasis and Warehouse are tops for trousers, that will work perfectly in the office.

But what’s to like about the new shape? It's the way they skim (rather than hug) the thigh that makes them so flattering this, and the fact that the wider hem balances out any top- heaviness, much in the same way that the bootcut jean did. Remember the beloved bootcut jean? What a loss to our wardrobes that it has looked so wrong for so long now. Ladies, the wide trouser is your modern alternative. To wear on a day-to-day basis, look out for cuts which are more tailored around the hips and waist. Black and grey will also flatter the figure, although bold prints should be given a wide berth unless you've got the legs of a gazelle.

Just remember proportion. A short crop top with wide bottoms is fine as long as a cinched in waist is visible. A tailored jacket is excellent as long as the shoulders are not too wide, while both fine and chunky long knits, left loose with a tucked-in blouse, are the most elegant and casual way to wear them.

Chunky heels and platforms work best and the bigger the handbag the better. If fashion forward girls are voting with their feet (or should that be thighs?) and snapping up the new trouser shape in droves, it seems that, after an unnaturally long reign, the skinny jeans' days are finally numbered. I'll eat to that..

　

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FLARE WE GO AGAIN

Put on your platforms, turn on your lava lamp and take a seat in your ochre leather sofa -because 70s style is back. The decade once considered the style bypass of the 20th century has been given a boost with the return of the flare. Love them or loathe them, flares are a key piece this season. And what's more they can be extremely flattering to the figure.


The high street is overflowing with some very wearable denim versions. Lipsy has a stylish Chiffon Flare at €58.50, while Pennys has a budget-busting pair in red for just pounds €17. Wear a slim-fitting top to balance out the volume on the bottom half. A soft, billowing blouse can also work well but is best broken up with a waist-cinching belt. With total '70s glamour - add platforms and a big floppy hat

For those who prefer to hint at the look, there's a huge array of wide-leg trousers. The 1970s brings with it the obligatory jumpsuit - a trend which has stuck for the past two seasons. M&S has captured it perfectly in its 70s Sleek collection. The range include three stunning halter neck jumpsuits in an earthy colour block of tobacco, rust, and turquoise. Perfect for that glamorous evening out.

And, if you can't find a pair you like on the high street, check out your local vintage or charity shop. The shoe of choice has to be the wedge, which looks equally stylish with maxi dresses, midi skirts and flares





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