That ’70s Show
Fashion Falls for the Seventies
The 70s are back. Again.
Every few seasons, we see an influx of 70s staples – vinyl, velvet, denim, leather…you get the idea. For several fashion houses, 70s-inspired looks were on full display, with looks that were ready for a night at Studio 54 or the Mudd Club. These two famous clubs played hosts to some of the most iconic fashions of the era, and designers throughout the years have taken inspiration from these glittery, bell-bottomed memories and injected them into their own designs. Let’s take a look at some of the designers who are currently doing just that, from uptown Studio 54 glamour to downtown Mudd Club cool.
TOM FORD
No one does glamorous 70s cool like Tom Ford. For his S/S 2020 show, Ford treated the audience to a subway platform experience (a now-disused platform of the Bowery stop on the J/Z line) filled with his signature sleek aesthetic. Satin blazers with super-strong cuts, molded shiny plastic tops, and, of course, the 70s-ubiquitous jumpsuit all conjure up images of uptown Studio 54 chic.
GUCCI
Straddling the line between uptown glamour and downtown cool, Gucci has been on the pulse of anything must-have since changing creative direction in 2015. Their S/S 2020 show clearly evoked the 70s (as several of Gucci’s shows do by nature as of late) as well as former creative director Tom Ford’s reinterpretations of the era during his tenure in the 90s. Gucci’s S/S 2020 show served as a near-perfect metaphor for leaving Studio 54 and heading downtown to the Mudd Club.
CELINE
For Celine’s S/S 2020 collection, full-on laid back cool was the name of the game, which was simply home territory for creative director Hedi Slimane. The focus was definitely 70s, but full wardrobe – flared jeans, blazer, aviator sunglasses…the whole nine yards. More specifically, Celine’s latest show took us back to 1974, when the discreet French bourgeoisie flocked to the store for its silk separates and horsebit-adorned bags & shoes (Horsebit? Hmm…sounds like an icon of a certain other fashion house mentioned above). The attitude of nonchalance, while still looking fabulous, puts next season’s Celine client firmly in the downtown Mudd Club scene.
Whether you’re an uptown glamour gal, or prefer the too-cool-for-school downtown scene, the 70s are back in a BIG way this coming season, and there’s something for everybody.
