These ’70s Trends Are Back In Style – See Them Then Vs Now

Burtland Dixon | February 15, 2024 3:11 pm

Disco may have died, but the '70s fashion scene is alive and well! Whether you've been around since bell bottoms were all the rage or are just a curious nostalgia buff, now's your chance to grove as 70s trends make a comeback--and they look better than ever. So break out those platform shoes and prepare for an exciting ride through time.

If you consider yourself a fashionista looking for inspiration (or someone who wants some outfit Regurgitation) we'll help show you what's old is new again with our deep dive into which 70s fashion statements are returning! Keep clicking through this article to see what you can add back into your closet and leave a comment with your favorites!

Halter Necklines Then

neckline
Staff/Mirrorpix/Getty Images
Staff/Mirrorpix/Getty Images

There are only a few things certain in life: death, taxes, and the appearance halter necklines every few decades. When the '70s came around, the halter top dresses were perfect for the disco!

While the ladies danced the night away at the disco party with the jive turkeys, that would only last for so long. The trend would end up vanishing and wouldn't make another appearance until the '90s. Well, they're on the rise once more...

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Halter Necklines Today

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Photo by Frazer Harrison/WireImage
Photo by Frazer Harrison/WireImage
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The beauty of halter necklines is that they look sensational as a dress or as a top. It only depends on how you want to dress for the day. You can get fancy and sport an elegant dress to an important event and be the belle of the ball.

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Halter tops are more so on the casual side and can be worn with sneakers and jeans if you wish. In any event, you can't really go wrong with them!

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Wrap Dresses Then

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1970
Deborah Turbeville/Conde Nast via Getty Images
Deborah Turbeville/Conde Nast via Getty Images
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If you owned a wrap dress during the '70s, then you were doing it right. It was like every woman had one at that time, primarily because they were an icon of the decade.

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You can thank designer Diane von Furstenberg for the rise of wrap dresses. A lot of funky patterns are attempting to make a comeback from this decade-- how does one decide which style to get? A safe bet will be to own a simple design or solid color if you're looking to get back into one...

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Wrap Dresses Now

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Celebrity Sightings In New York City - October 13, 2022
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Gotham/GC Images
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Welcome to the future, where you can combine multiple trends with one top! Wrap dresses are often a go-to because they flatter basically any figure. They're also a gateway to allow you the chance to customize your whole style for the day.

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Overalls Then

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Jack Nicholson In Overalls
Pictorial Parade/Getty Images
Pictorial Parade/Getty Images
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In the 70s, overalls were loved for being both adorable and useful.

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Overalls were a staple clothing item until the '90s when they got the boot. But as we all know, history tends to repeat itself...

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Overalls Now

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Street Style - Paris Fashion Week - Menswear F/W 2020-2021 : Day Two
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Edward Berthelot/Getty Images
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Today, there's no limit to how you can style your overalls. You can put a hooded sweater underneath, a regular shirt, or nothing at all!

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You can also experiment with layering with different types of tops to mix it up.

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Crochet Then

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Photo by Michael Ward/Getty Images
Photo by Michael Ward/Getty Images
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When you see someone wearing a crochet outfit, you don't ever have to wonder if they're comfortable. Something about crochet yells comfort. The material for sure helps keep you warm, so there's that.

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Also, your grandmother's home was probably filled with the stuff. None of that has a thing to do with the fact that this trend is back and better than ever. Well, its a bit hard to beat the original phase, but this modern era is trying...

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Crochet Now

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Photo by Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images
Photo by Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images
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If you aren't sure how to style it, then crochet can be a tough material to wear. Due to the large holes they may have, it might be best to wear a crochet top layered over another piece.

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Another tactic is finding a crochet piece with designs that don't show too much skin (unless that's what you're going for). If you aren't into that, there's always the hats, vests, and one of our personal favorites, scarves. The latter will definitely keep you warm in the winter.

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Crop Tops Then

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Fashion, 1970
Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
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Crop tops became a fashion trend during the '40s, and by the time the '70s came around, they reemerged in a new way. The hemline started to rise, and the bottoms were cut lower.

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Cher wore crop tops regularly, which made people want to wear them more.

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The Crop Top Today

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Fashion Photo Session In Paris - August 2021
Edward Berthelot/Getty Images
Edward Berthelot/Getty Images
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During the early 2000s, crop tops fell off the radar, but now they're back. The style isn't exclusive to women, either.

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You can also make anything a crop top these days and get away with it, as long as you've got the appropriate bottoms to pair with it.

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Bell-Bottoms Then

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Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
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Bell-bottoms were a huge hit during the '70s. There aren't many trends as iconic as this. This style of trouser became wider from the knees downward, which made a bell-like shape.

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They became popular for women and men both in Europe and America during the mid-'70s. We have Sonny and Cher to thank for helping bring them mainstream! They would always wear bell-bottoms on their TV show which attracted a lot of fans.

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Bell-Bottoms Now

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Photo by Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images
Photo by Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images
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Back like they never left, bell-bottoms are starting to flourish all over again and it's exciting! Perhaps people wanted to feel nostalgic and that's why they choose to wear them. With the right outfit, you'll look like you belong on a runway.

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Go ahead and grab yourself some high-waisted bell-bottoms because they help give you a more flattering figure. Bell-bottoms go great with tennis shoes or platform sandals, whatever your vibe is for that day.

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Long-Sleeve Dresses Then

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Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images
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There's no real reason as to why long-sleeve dresses went out of style in the first place. Aesthetically, there's nothing wrong with the fashion statement as they can often help your versatility.

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The regular dress can be limiting in colder environments, but you can throw on a long-sleeved one and help fight those goosebumps. Maybe, after the '70s people wanted to show more skin, and the sleeves prevented them from doing that. It doesn't matter now, because they're back.

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Long-Sleeve Dresses Now

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Photo by Edward Berthelot/Getty Images
Photo by Edward Berthelot/Getty Images
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The cool thing with long-sleeve dresses is that depending on the style, you can completely shift what vibe you're going for when wearing one. You have the type that is a floor-length and bit looser, which gives you a classy feel.

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Conversely, you have the body-tight kind which gives seductive energy. Feel free to wear whichever type floats your boat. You're bound to look stunning in whichever option you choose.

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Bell Sleeves Then

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1970
Arthur Sidey/Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Getty Images
Arthur Sidey/Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Getty Images
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There was a wide range of options for sleeves during the '70s. You had the bishop sleeves, or you could go completely sleeveless. Then there were the bell sleeves as well, who could forget?

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Women's sleeves were generally tight with little room to navigate, so it was refreshing to allow them extra breathing room in the arm area. Some were wider than others, like the type you see in the image, whereas others only fell a couple of inches from the wrist.

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Bell Sleeves Now

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Photo by Christian Vierig/Getty Images
Photo by Christian Vierig/Getty Images
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If you want to pack on the nostalgia, then pair bell sleeves with bell bottoms for the ultimate '70s outfit! Aren't you glad bell sleeves are back in style? Well, they never really left because if you look through history, they can be seen in many photos.

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For a great outfit, you can put on a high waisted skirt or your favorite skinny jeans. The fashionista in you will find a way to pull together a stylish outfit featuring bell sleeves.

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Mustard Yellow Then

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Queen Elizabeth II Attends The Epsom Derby
Derek Hudson/Getty Images
Derek Hudson/Getty Images
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Yellow was big in the '70s. Even the refrigerators were mustard yellow, which is saying a lot.

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If you were lucky enough to live through this era, then you can attest to how popular this hue was. Now people are bringing it back in cool and unique ways.

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Mustard Yellow Now

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Photo by Claudio Lavenia/Getty Images
Photo by Claudio Lavenia/Getty Images
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Today, our fridges might not be yellow, but our outfits definitely are. Supermodels, movie stars, and even athletes have stepped out donning this bright color.

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Throwing on an outfit with this vibrant color can even brighten everyone's day!

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Co-ords Then

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cher
Bettmann/Contributor
Bettmann/Contributor
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It was easy to style during the '70s thanks to co-ords (coordinated look). Throwing on a top with an exciting pattern and adding the bottoms to match was a walk in the park.

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Sadly, the trend began dying off in the '80s and '90s. In those decades, it was a huge fashion faux pas to walk out the house sporting an outfit with a matching pattern. The good news is that the style has made a complete comeback.

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Co-Ords Now

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leopard print-1036789894
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Christian Vierig/Getty Images
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Today, co-ords have come a long way! They're no longer a fashion mistake and can be a huge statement. Some of the more popular styles include animal prints like snake, cheetah, and leopard.

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The patterns have come a long way, which has allowed them to be more acceptable. Outside of the animal prints, many are simple with fewer designs involved. Retail shops sell sets off the racks if you're looking to own your own outfit like this!