Unearth The Voyage
The 1970s were a time when fashion, beauty, and self-expression exploded in bold, unforgettable ways. From disco dance floors to suburban living rooms, people embraced looks that made them feel confident, free, and just plain cool. Whether it was a gravity-defying hairstyle, a shimmering outfit, or a proud mustache, the decade had its own rulebook for what looked hot.
1. Feathered, bouncy hair
Farrah Fawcett’s iconic poster from 1976 sparked a hair revolution that swept across America like wildfire. Her feathered layers, blown back with maximum volume and movement, became the blueprint every salon tried to recreate. Over 12 million copies of that poster sold, and suddenly everyone wanted that windswept, California-girl vibe.
Blow dryers and round brushes became essential tools in every bathroom. The style worked because it felt carefree yet polished, glamorous yet approachable. Feathered hair wasn’t just a trend; it was a cultural moment that defined beauty for an entire generation and made big, bouncy locks the ultimate goal.
2. Big, proud mustaches
A thick, well-maintained mustache became the ultimate badge of manly charm in the ’70s. Stars like Burt Reynolds and Tom Selleck turned facial hair into a symbol of rugged sex appeal and old-school masculinity. Their ‘staches graced magazine covers, movie posters, and TV screens, making the look irresistible.
Guys across the country let their upper lips flourish, carefully grooming and trimming to get that perfect shape. It wasn’t scruffy or unkempt; it was deliberate and confident. The mustache signaled maturity, strength, and a little bit of mystery, turning everyday men into leading-man material with just a bit of patience and grooming.
3. Long sideburns
Sideburns crept down from the counterculture scene of the ’60s and landed smack in the mainstream during the ’70s. Suddenly, men from all walks of life were sporting this fashionable facial-hair flourish, extending their burns past their ears and sometimes down to their jawlines. It was a small detail that made a big statement.
The look added edge and personality to any face, whether paired with a suit or a casual tee. Long sideburns became a grooming standard, seen on musicians, actors, athletes, and everyday guys. They framed the face in a way that felt modern and rebellious without going overboard.
4. Natural hair and Afros
The Afro wasn’t just a hairstyle in the ’70s; it was a powerful declaration of identity and pride. Fueled by the Black is Beautiful movement, natural textures and full, rounded Afros became celebrated symbols of cultural strength and self-love. The raised-fist Afro pick even became an icon in its own right.
People embraced their natural curls, coils, and kinks, rejecting pressure to conform to Eurocentric beauty standards. The Afro represented freedom, resistance, and beauty all at once. It turned heads everywhere, from college campuses to concert stages, and redefined what it meant to be attractive and authentic in a decade hungry for change.
5. Bell-bottoms & flared denim
Bell-bottoms took over the ’70s like no other piece of clothing. The exaggerated flare from knee to ankle became the silhouette of choice, whether you were hitting the dance floor or just strolling down the street. Paired with platform shoes, graphic tees, or silky shirts, the look was effortlessly cool.
Disco culture pushed flared denim into the spotlight, making it synonymous with fun, freedom, and self-expression. Everyone from teens to adults rocked the style, and it didn’t matter if your jeans were patched, embroidered, or plain. The flare was the statement, and it said you were ready to move, groove, and own the room.
6. The polyester leisure suit
Shiny, easy-care polyester changed the game for men’s fashion in the ’70s. The leisure suit, with its wide lapels and relaxed tailoring, became the go-to outfit for a night on the town. Add a bold patterned shirt, chunky accessories, and you were ready to turn heads under the disco ball.
The suit was all about comfort meeting style. No need for dry cleaning or fussy fabrics; polyester made getting dressed simple and flashy. Critics might laugh at it now, but back then, the leisure suit was the uniform of confidence and leisure, worn proudly by men who wanted to look sharp without breaking a sweat.
7. Gold chains & medallions over open shirts
Disco masculinity was all about showing off, and nothing said confidence like an unbuttoned shirt revealing chest hair and a heavy gold chain. Rope-link chains and chunky medallions glinted under the lights, catching eyes on the dance floor and beyond. The look was bold, unapologetic, and undeniably sexy.
Men wore their jewelry like armor, each piece adding to their swagger. The chains weren’t delicate; they were statement pieces that said, I’m here, I’m hot, and I know it. Paired with open collars and fitted pants, this accessory became a signature of the era’s fearless, flashy style and a symbol of disco-era bravado.
8. Designer denim (and high-rise, body-hugging fits)
Jeans went from workwear to high fashion in the ’70s, thanks to designer labels like Calvin Klein and Gloria Vanderbilt. High-rise, body-hugging fits turned denim into a sexy, figure-conscious statement that people wore with pride. Suddenly, jeans weren’t just casual; they were aspirational.
The fit was everything. Tight through the hips and thighs, often with a flare at the ankle, these jeans celebrated curves and confidence. Ads featuring models in designer denim made the look even more desirable. Owning a pair of name-brand jeans meant you were fashion-forward and willing to invest in your style, making denim the ultimate wardrobe essential.
9. Jumpsuits with deep V-necks
Slinky, flared-leg jumpsuits with plunging necklines were the height of disco glamour. They hugged the body in all the right places, flared dramatically at the ankles, and made anyone wearing one feel like a star. The deep V-neck added a daring edge, perfect for a night of dancing and turning heads.
Jumpsuits worked for all genders and body types, offering a one-piece solution to looking effortlessly chic. The fabric often shimmered or clung, catching the light with every move. Whether in bold colors or classic black, the jumpsuit was a disco staple that blended comfort, style, and sex appeal into one unforgettable outfit.
10. Blue (and shimmery) eyeshadow
Frosted lids in electric blues and soft pastels defined the glamorous disco face of the ’70s. Women piled on the eyeshadow, often in shimmery, high-shine finishes, and paired it with layers of mascara for maximum drama. By day, softer neutrals kept things toned down, but at night, the color came out to play.
Blue eyeshadow wasn’t subtle; it was meant to catch the light and draw attention. The look felt futuristic and bold, a perfect match for the decade’s experimental spirit. Makeup counters stocked every shade imaginable, and tutorials in magazines taught everyone how to blend and layer for that perfect, shimmering glow.
11. The healthy, bronzed sun-kissed look
A deep, golden tan was the ultimate beauty goal in the ’70s. Suntan oils flew off the shelves, and people spent hours baking in the sun to achieve that coveted bronzed glow. Ads marketed tans as healthy and aspirational, even though SPF awareness was just beginning to emerge with SPF 15 products hitting the market.
The sun-kissed look signaled leisure, health, and attractiveness. People associated tans with vacations, beach life, and outdoor fun. Unfortunately, the dangers of UV exposure weren’t widely understood yet, so the pursuit of bronze skin was relentless. Still, that glowing, tanned appearance defined ’70s beauty standards and shaped how people approached summer style.
12. The braless silhouette
The women’s liberation movement brought a new kind of freedom to fashion, and the braless look became both a style choice and a statement. Softer knits, flowing fabrics, and less-structured undergarments allowed for a natural silhouette that rejected the rigid bras of earlier decades. Comfort and liberation went hand in hand.
Not everyone embraced the trend, but for many, going braless was empowering. It challenged traditional beauty norms and said that women could dress for themselves, not for societal expectations. The look was relaxed, confident, and unapologetically real, fitting perfectly with the decade’s push for authenticity and personal freedom in every aspect of life.
13. Shag cuts & curtain bangs
Shaggy layers and long, face-framing curtain bangs delivered that effortlessly cool, tousled vibe that defined ’70s hair. The shag cut was all about texture, movement, and a little bit of messiness that somehow looked perfectly put together. It worked on all hair types and gave everyone that rock-and-roll edge.
Curtain bangs swept across the forehead and parted in the middle, framing the face in a soft, flattering way. The style felt carefree and youthful, and it’s boomeranged back into fashion many times since. Salons couldn’t cut shags fast enough, and the look became a timeless symbol of ’70s cool that still inspires hairstylists and trendsetters today.
14. Male chest hair as a flex
Open shirts and disco heat meant one thing: plenty of visible chest hair on display. Icons like Burt Reynolds turned chest hair into a symbol of raw masculinity and sex appeal, famously showing it off in pin-up photos that became instant classics. The look was confident, unapologetic, and undeniably hot.
Men stopped hiding their natural body hair and started celebrating it. Chest hair became a flex, a sign of virility and rugged charm that fit perfectly with the decade’s embrace of natural beauty. Whether on the beach, the dance floor, or a magazine cover, a hairy chest was seen as attractive and desirable, making it one of the ’70s most memorable style statements.
