(Photo by Jandro Martinez)
The 1970s was a decade that wasn't afraid to experiment with fashion. Hemlines moved from mini to maxi, prints became bolder and everything from denim and corduroy to flowing fabrics found its way into everyday wardrobes.
That variety is one of the reasons 70s-inspired skirts still feel so wearable today. Rather than one defining silhouette, the decade gave us everything from long bohemian maxis and button-front A-line skirts to denim minis and statement prints.
Today, many of those influences have found their way back into contemporary fashion. Here's a look at some of the skirt styles that defined the 70s — and how to wear them now.
The Rise of the Maxi Skirt
While the mini skirt had dominated much of the 1960s, the following decade saw hemlines heading in the opposite direction.
Long, flowing maxi skirts became an important part of the relaxed 70s look. Often associated with the decade's bohemian style, they appeared in florals, paisley prints, earthy colours and lightweight fabrics.
It's a silhouette that translates particularly well into a modern wardrobe. A printed maxi skirt can be the statement piece of an outfit, while a plain design works as an easy everyday alternative to jeans or trousers.
For a simple contemporary look, pair one with a fitted T-shirt or vest and let the skirt provide the volume.
A-Line Skirts
The A-line skirt was another silhouette that fitted perfectly with 70s fashion.
Fitted around the waist before gradually widening towards the hem, it's a relatively simple shape that could be adapted to everything from smart outfits to casual everyday clothing.
Corduroy, denim and suede were particularly suited to the look, while button-front designs added another recognisably retro detail.
It's also one of the easiest 70s styles to bring into a modern outfit. Wear an A-line skirt with a simple top, knitwear or tucked-in T-shirt rather than trying to make every part of the outfit look like it came directly from the decade.
Denim Skirts
It would be difficult to talk about 1970s fashion without mentioning denim.
Jeans may have been the most obvious expression of the decade's love affair with the fabric, but denim skirts provided another way of wearing it.
Mini, midi and longer denim skirts all have their place in the retro wardrobe, with details such as front buttons, patch pockets, visible seams and faded washes adding character.
They're particularly easy to style today because denim works with almost anything. Try a denim skirt with a graphic T-shirt and trainers for something casual, or boots and knitwear when the weather gets cooler.
Bold Prints and Patterns
The 70s certainly weren't known for playing it safe with pattern.
Florals, paisley, geometric prints, checks and colourful abstract designs all appeared throughout the decade. Skirts were an ideal canvas for these more adventurous patterns, particularly longer styles where a print could become the focus of an outfit.
You don't need to recreate an entire 70s outfit to wear one now.
If the skirt has a particularly bold pattern, combine it with a relatively simple top and accessories. It keeps the influence of the decade while making the overall outfit feel contemporary.
The Bohemian Influence
The bohemian side of 70s fashion continues to have a huge influence on the way skirts are designed today.
Flowing fabrics, tiered constructions, embroidery, floral prints and relaxed silhouettes all became associated with a freer approach to dressing.
This is also where modern retro-inspired skirts can take inspiration from the past without simply copying it. A flowing floral maxi might immediately suggest the 70s, but worn with contemporary footwear, a simple T-shirt or an oversized jacket, it becomes something completely different.
Corduroy and Suede
Texture played an important part in the decade's fashion.
Corduroy skirts work particularly well with the earthy colour palette associated with the 70s — think brown, rust, mustard, tan and deep green.
Suede and suede-look skirts created a similar effect, particularly in A-line and mini silhouettes.
Both styles are easy to bring into an autumn wardrobe today. Add boots and knitwear and you've got a subtle 70s influence without needing to build an obviously retro outfit.
Mini, Midi or Maxi?
One of the most interesting things about 70s skirts is just how much choice there was.
The mini hadn't disappeared, while midi and maxi lengths offered completely different silhouettes. That's still useful when choosing a skirt today.
Mini skirts create a shorter, sharper silhouette and work particularly well with boots or trainers.
Midi skirts sit somewhere in the middle and are perhaps the easiest length to move between casual and smarter outfits.
Maxi skirts offer more movement and can create anything from a relaxed bohemian look to a much more dramatic outfit depending on the fabric and print.
There isn't really one definitive 70s skirt length — and that's part of the appeal.
How to Wear a 70s-Inspired Skirt Today
The easiest way to wear retro fashion is usually not to dress head-to-toe in one decade.
Instead, take one element and build a contemporary outfit around it.
A patterned maxi skirt could be worn with a plain T-shirt and trainers. A corduroy A-line could work with knitwear and boots. A denim skirt can be combined with a graphic tee, sweatshirt or casual jacket.
You can also reverse the idea. Start with a fairly modern outfit and introduce the 70s through colour, pattern or texture.
The result references the decade without looking like a costume.
Why 70s Are Back
Fashion continually revisits ideas from the past, but the sheer variety of skirt styles worn during the 1970s makes the decade particularly relevant.
Maxis, minis, denim, corduroy, florals, bold patterns and A-line silhouettes have all returned in different forms over the years. Some never really disappeared.
Modern designers can take those familiar ideas and reinterpret them through different fabrics, fits, prints and styling.
That's ultimately what makes 70s-inspired fashion interesting today. It's not necessarily about finding an exact reproduction of something worn fifty years ago. It's about taking the shapes, colours and attitude of the period and making them work in a modern wardrobe.
At Brag Vintage, you'll find a changing selection of new, retro-inspired and vintage skirts, from bold prints and flowing silhouettes to easy everyday styles.
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