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

*SUBSCRIBE TO RECEIVE DAILY FASHION, BEAUTY AND CELEBRITY BLOG POSTS.

THE LOOK I'M LOVING ...THE SHEER MAXI

 

                       

The maxi dress goes sheer .Every season trends evolve, and every season two trends merge. In that regard, spring 2011 will be no different. What will be different however, is the season's take on a staple for many women's summer wardrobe - the maxi dress. This season , we will see it merge with another trend favourite to give us the sheer maxi dress.


They're already a favourite with the likes of actresses Eva Mendez and Jennifer Aniston, Dannii Minogue, and model Daisy Lowe, and it's not hard to see why.

Colour block maxi dress £55, Trilby hat £35, Linen belted jacket £35
M&Co

Like the name suggests, the maxi is the opposite of the mini. Full-length and fabulous, it provides maximum coverage without taking away any of the glamour. The maxi first became popular in the 1960s, worn with boots. It's been back in vogue for the past two summers and it's not going away any time soon.


But make sure the maxi dress doesn't wear you. Too full and flowing, and tiny, petite figures face being swamped; similarly, those with fuller shapes should avoid anything too voluminous or they will risk looking as though they're wearing a tent.


The sheer maxi is particularly great for hiding pasty legs, and their loose-fitting structure gives them the edge over other dresses when it comes to quick changing and on-the-go styling. Whether in solids or prints or ombre dyed, it is the hot new must-have dress for summer.
For maximum effect from minimal effort, the maxi is the way forward.






DO'S AND DON'TS


Maxi dresses are oh-so wearable, whatever your size. Just follow these simple styling tips to make your mark:
Do beware of the nude trend's sheer fabrics. Ensure your underwear is made up of no-show neutrals or made-to-be seen pretty lingerie.


DO team with heels or high wedges if you're lacking in height - otherwise the dress will drown you and lose its impact.


DO wear one that nips under the bust in an empire line if you want to accentuate your cleavage. Avoid low-cut halternecks if you need added support.


DO accessorise with oversized shades and a headscarf.


DON'T accessorise with a belt - it will ruin the shape and long flowing lines of your maxi dress.


DON'T opt for a heavily printed maxi dress if you're curvier - opt for plain or cool block colours.


DON'T overdo it by layering your clothes. Stick to a cropped cardigan or fitted jacket to avoid a hemline clash.






*SUBSCRIBE TO RECEIVE DAILY FASHION, BEAUTY AND CELEBRITY BLOG POSTS.