The 70s culture was still before cable TV, satellite dishes, microwave ovens... Heck,  VHS wasn't even around yet!  The video games that were available were very simple and hard to find.  Pong was enough to fascinate me for hours.  There were no cell phones or text messages.  For Pete's sake, cordless phones were not even in use yet!  In the 70s, the push button phone was just starting to replace the rotary dial phone.  When we finally got one, I'd stand there and push the buttons just to hear the nifty sounds it made.  Most kids spent their days outside playing various games with their friends or riding bikes.

The 1970s... a Simpler Time

70s culture was simpler, and seemed to run at a slower pace than things do today. The fashions at the beginning of the 70s were bell-bottomed pants leftover from the late 60s and plain black and white fabric tennis shoes. The fashions changed when disco became the rage.  To be hip, you now had to dress in silk print shirts, tight dress “slacks” and have platform shoes.  I never made it to "hip".  The platform shoes slid on the dance floor allowing you to pull off those “Travolta” dance moves. Another fashion trend of 70s culture was the cowboy hat, no matter who you were or where you lived you had to have a cowboy hat. You might not have worn it regularly, but you had one to pull out on special occasions.  My aunt (who lived in Texas) even bought me one.  I never really wore it though.  I did have an uncle who bought into this fad though.  Someone convinced him that he looked like Burt Reynolds when he wore his cowboy hat.  He even grew a pencil thin mustache to complete the Smokey and the Bandit look!  He was still sporting that babe magnet the last time I saw him, which was some time in 2010.

McDonald's was a big restaurant in many areas, but in some places, the golden arches didn't arrive until late in the 70s. If you wanted to have a meal away from home, it was a mom and pops diner or Burger Chef. If you got to the more populated areas, your choices of eat out restaurants would increase, but there were still far less of them than there are now. In 70s culture you had three methods of listening to your favorite music, number one was the vinyl album, FM radio was starting to overcome AM as the most popular choice of radio. Then you had the 8-track tape deck.  8-track players and tapes were less expensive than albums and turntables, so many people opted for the 8-track. Cassette players made the scene, but not until very late in the decade.  I still remember using my first tape recorder to make an audio tape of my tenth birthday party.  I wonder where that ever ended up?

Entertainment in the 70s

To see a movie you had to go to the theater.  Movies did not make it to TV for many years. The movies you could watch on TV were extremely old.  That's probably why I still picture everything from before 1965 or so, in black and white.  Television has come a long way since the 70s, you had an aluminum antenna that could bring in four or five channels maximum. Then came the rotor box, this handy device allowed you to turn your antenna from inside the home. The rotor box could double your choices of television stations depending on where you lived.  You spun the dial, and listened to the loud "kerCHUNK" sound as the antenna on top of your house magically moved into the best position for the channel you wanted to watch.   Yes,  the 70s were far different than today.   For those of us that grew up in the 70s, we think it was the best of times.  Watergate and the energy crisis were just stories on the news for the most part.  Most people feel that their childhood decade was the best.   It probably has more to do with being a kid than what decade the calendar reads.

The outfits that we sometimes consider costumes today are the product of the hip and cool 70s fashion of the period. Everything was loud and unapologetic. The most ridiculous make-up and party attires were worn by popular rock stars and celebrities, and they were imitated by millions of their loyal fans.

70s disco clothes are spectacular and truly out-of-this-world. Fashion rules were broken and the deviants belonged to the IN crowd. Men and women alike wore outfits that challenged traditional color schemes and conventional fabric combinations. Who said animal prints and ruffles together are way too over-the-top? The 70s didn't just pioneer revolutionary changes in lifestyles. The people of that era were great fashion innovators, too.

You know you are in a 70s costume party when you are surrounded by a sea of people wearing flared pants and matching suits with striking colors. Mini dresses in bright floral prints paired with high cut boots in equally brilliant color is just a taste of the stunning combinations that women of the 70s concocted for their disco attire. Everyone wants attention and they must want it badly because people going for an over the top 70s look today will take the time and effort to put on outrageously big afro wigs and heavy make-up that makes the men's faces beyond recognition. If you think women are incredibly eye-catching, wait ‘til you see the men in their ruffled shirts and animal printed elephant pants.

The color schemes of 1970s fashion display all of the fresh colors of summer except that they can be worn during evening disco parties and still look hip and somehow fabulous. Glam rock and punk rock styles were IN, thanks to the rock stars and movie stars that perpetrated the unusual and glamorous trends. Everybody was loving these outfits during their prime. Added to the hippy outfits left over from the early part of the decade, the mix of styles created an eclectic vibe that refuses to be forgotten.

These incredibly breathtaking 70s outfits have now made it to the future and they are patronized most by people who have a penchant for a retro vibe. Vintage stores in your neighborhood may still have a few of these priceless pieces of clothing, but now they are becoming so popular that they get purchased very quickly. You can find a wide selection of these fun, chic and glamorous 70s clothes right here! Some are new and some are vintage. I hope you enjoy them.

I don't know if it is nostalgic memories of hippies and disco devotees, or younger folks who want to live the 70's dream, but there is definitely something there. It isn't any kind of surprise then that 70's costumes are a real favorite right now.

The great thing about 70's costumes is that they give you a couple of ways to go. If you really like the hippie styles of the early part of the decade, you can bust out that fringed vest you've been storing in the back of the closet and see how close you come to fitting into it. If you never really got over the disco fever you caught in the latter part of the decade, you can break out your favorite old disco outfit and take one more spin on the dance floor when you head out to Halloween parties this year.

Of course it is getting harder and harder to find original vintage 70's gear for putting together a good costume. Even thrift shops, which used to be a picker's paradise, don't seem to have nearly as much original vintage clothing anymore. When it does show up, it is often scooped up immediately either by vintage fashion lovers or people who have plans to sell the merchandise on eBay.

That really is not a major problem though for people who are looking mainly for a costume to make them look like they just stepped out of a time machine. There are many options for 70's costumes available (right here, in fact). Some people like to buy a complete costume that comes as one package deal. Others like to put together their own look using hippie or afro wigs and a variety of retro style pants, shirts, dresses, vests, and even footwear. Adding GoGo boots to a 70's style mini is just the right finishing touch.

One thing to consider is that it can often be the details that make a costume go from good to great. You may want to consider accessorizing things a bit. This is where a trip to a garage sale or estate sale can often be a worthwhile investment of time. You may still find entire 70's outfits at these events, but even if they are long gone, there is still a good chance that you will be able to find things like vintage jewelry or other small items available that someone had stored away for years. Vintage peace signs, or outrageous 70's style gold disco medallions can sometimes be found at rock bottom prices if you look hard enough. Of course, if the seller realizes that they have something that people want, they may have their prices marked up a bit. In that case, make your best offer and move on unless you are looking to build a collection of original 70's clothes or other memorabilia.

There are tons of offerings featuring colored suede and fur, either at the collar or trimming the entire coat.  Of course, there are plenty of all fur vintage coats available was well.

There are quite a few men's overcoats currently listed, and over the past few weeks, the most expensive vintage coat from the 1970s that sold was actually a coat designed for a man.  It was an Italian Vigugna Wool coat that sold for just over $700.  That's just a little more than I've personally ever spent on a coat, but the auction did explain that a pound of this type of wool sells for $225 and that the fabric runs around 6 grand.  That makes $700 look like a pretty good deal I guess!

Right now you could probably do alright for yourself if you are interested in checking out some vintage coats and jackets because the market is getting a ton of them added to it.  Remember that vintage sizes tend to run small.  It isn't that the items have shrunk (usually).  We as a society seem to have supersized a bit over the past few decades.  Some people also say that manufacturers have changed their labeling as well, but that's a pretty hot topic of debate.

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Mens Vtg 70s Sears Jacket Coat cafe racer khaki tan faux fur lined sz LT L tall    US $19.99

women long blue coat duster western Vtg 70s Denim applique fringe boho USA sz XL    US $19.99

mens coat jacket parka Vtg 70s tan Storm Shed Storm proof hunting hiking USA XL    US $14.99

VINTAGE 1970s LEOPARD PRINT SHEARED BEAVER LAMB REAL FUR COAT 16 18    US $33.18

VINTAGE TOOTAL 70s PATTERN RETRO MOD HOUSE COAT SMOKING JACKET DRESSING GOWN L    US $23.68

Mens L XL Vtg 60s 70s wool tweed coat herringbone black England long heavy dress    US $15.50

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Call me a silly American, but when I first heard somebody talking about 70s fancy dress, I assumed they were talking about something that would have been worn to a big wedding before going home to watch Charlie's Angels back in the 1970s.  I kept on seeing the phrase popping up though as Halloween approached and I noticed that it was getting mentioned in the same context as 70s costumes.  It was then that the light bulb finally went on.  It was another one of those weird "English" phrases that never quite made the translation to Americanized English!  I've got this website devoted to talking about vintage 70s items that has a 70's store attached to it, and I didn't know what the phrase means.  I'm pretty disappointed in myself.


Here I am writing about 70s clothes and disco outfits, and I didn't even realize what I was missing.  I may still misunderstand, but it seems to me that when you hear someone from across the pond talking about fancy dress, they have some type of costume in mind.  So, Halloween fancy dress is like saying Halloween costume...  Got it, I think.

OK, so moving right along, what I noticed as I started looking more into this was that people are not just looking for this stuff during the time leading up to the end of October.  There really is a market for these items all year long.  Fancy dress shops selling fancy dress outfits and fancy dress wigs are in demand no matter what season it is.  People just can't seem to get enough of that 70s magic.

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1970S BLACK VINYL ANKLE GOGO BOOTS SZ 5B COSTUME    US $9.99

1970S BLACK VINYL ANKLE GOGO BOOTS SZ 65AA COSTUME    US $9.99

Sexy Adult Halloween Fancy Dress Costume 70s Disco Dress Outfit 14 16    US $51.16

Sexy 70s Party Go Go Girl Outfit Halloween Fancy Dress Costume 16 18    US $53.85

New Mens Blonde 70s Curly Afro Perm Disco Costume Wig    US $38.77

Bali Dancer BEAUTY Woman Costume Indonesia 70s    US $5.99

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Here are some vintage polyester items for sale on eBay right now.  I didn't limit these to clothes from the 1970s because I didn't want to filter out too much.  I hope you find something you like!

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Vtg 60s 70s Mod Flower Blue White Polyester Blouse Top    US $19.99

Retro Brown Polyester Ladies Gloves and Scarf    US $29.99

VTG JOEL 70s Polyester Shirt Jacket Womens L Large    US $17.50

Vintage 70s MOD OP ART Polyester Blouse Top by TRISS    US $16.00

Rain Scarf by Totes Made in Italy Vintage 100 Polyester Water Repellent 28 X28    US $15.00

VINTAGE BEN HOGAN TOUR GREEN COTTON POLYESTER THIN FABRIC POCKET POLO LARGE    US $39.99

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Someone who has a real flair for fashion can take what is old and give it new life by adding in a little bit of their own creativity and imagination. You should also take into account that not every style will look fabulous on every figure. Think about what old styles you can use to best show off your strongest points and avoid putting on anything that is going to accentuate areas of your body you might not want to highlight. There are all kinds of styles and fashions from the 70s that you can grab hold of and make your own. That is one of the neat things about that decade. There was so much creativity and variety. Make the most of it.

Adult Male 60s Groovin Wig

60's Babe Wig

Blonde 60s Wig

Adults’ Mod '60s Wig - Black

Fashion Wig, Déjà Vu Brown

Brown 70's Shag Wig

70s Angel Wig

Black Jumbo Afro Wig

Brown Afro Party Economy Wig - One Size

There are a lot of great 60s wigs and 70s wigs available for people who want to have a little bit of fun either at a party, or just to be different. One of the most distinctive things about the decade of the 70s was the hair. Everything from outrageously huge afros to feathered Farrah Fawcett hair was popular and it helped to define the overall look of that ten year period. Of course, the early part of the decade has more of a hippie feel to it. The 80s came along and brought with them some huge hair styles. I'd love to know how much hair spray was used during THAT decade.

These 60s wigs and 70s wigs are new, not vintage.  A 70s costume hippie wig is great for people who can no longer grow this kind of hair on their own or who have no interest in looking like a hippie for any other time than Halloween.  These items are sized for an adult and are meant to be part of a 70s costume ensemble.  I wouldn't plan on wearing it as a toupee, but you never know, someone might end up finding you really attractive!  If you are purchasing this costume wig, you might want to think about other items to help you complete the look.

If you want to look like some of those famous rock stars and movie stars of the 70s, you can find great outfits that will make your look very consistent with that theme. You can borrow from your parents if they have fun and funky outfits that belonged to that era. You can even find some accessories suitable for your 70s costume right here. Anyone who actually lived during the 1970s realizes that most of the costumes you see today are a stereotype of the way people dressed at the time. Sure there were hippies, but some people just dressed in jeans and t-shirts too. It is great to have fun dressing the part that is remembered from that funky decade, but we should probably acknowledge, when discussing 70s clothing, that not everyone looked or acted like Cheech and Chong.

Older leather jackets sometimes show some wear after a bit of time.  You might consider this adding "character" to it, or you might just want to help prevent it.  The video at the bottom of this post will give you some ideas about what you can do to keep the old leather fresh.

Leather bomber jackets are bid on quite a bit, but so are biker jackets and fashions featuring fringes in shrunken down sizes for ladies.  If you are more into funkier fashions, there are jackets that combine leather and fur as well as styles appearing in a rainbow of colors.  Be sure to check out all of the photos because some of these older jackets also feature appliques on the back that you might want to know about.

Remember that when you buy vintage clothing, you should not just go by the tagged size.  Our society has sort of "supersized" itself, so those old tags don't always match up to today's sizes.  Check to see if the jacket or coat you are looking at has actual measurements listed and then always compare them to something that you know fits before placing a bid or clicking "buy it now".

You can usually find some pretty cheap prices on leather jackets compared to what new ones cost and these vintage ones have often been taken care of very well by their original owners.  People like the vintage styles a lot, but the fact that they are less expensive than brand new coats can be a real bonus today.  If you don't see what you are looking for at first click, you can always get more specific in your search by adding terms like "racer" or "biker" to the search.  Here are a few of the results for "70's leather jacket" that are available right now.

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VTG 70s HIPPIE BOHO SUEDE LEATHER PLUSH BELTED SPY TRENCH HIPPY JACKET COAT    US $99.98

SUPERB VINTAGE 70s RETRO TAN LEATHER JACKET 42 INCH    US $93.22

70S LEATHER JACKET WITH SHEARLING COLLAR HIPPY MOD BOHO LADIES SZ 12    US $85.05

Womens MARC JACOBS Fur Leather 70s inspired Jacket    US $699.99

Vintage 70s Wine Etienne Aigner Leather Jacket    US $99.99

Vintage Mod 60s 70s Faux Leather WOmen Jacket Small M    US $14.99

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