My parents grew up in the 1960’s and 1970’s, and I love looking back at their photos for retro inspiration. Many outfits, fabrics, and colors they wore then are back in style now, including earth tones, suede, denim, and Victorian era details like lace. Both midi and maxi skirts have returned, along with new items inspired by the disco era, Cher, and films like Love Story.
If you have some vintage scarves or 70’s inspired fabric, you may want to try your hand at making a maxi dress. Perfect for a summer evening project, the maxi dress is not only easy to make, but easy to accessorize. It’s the perfect outfit to go with a summer hat, sandals, and a backyard barbecue or a day at the beach. You can find the pattern at All Free Sewing
If you’d rather have a flowy wrap inspired by perhaps the most famous song from the band Queen, you may like this Bohemian Rhapsody pattern from All Free Sewing. Created from chiffon, it’s the perfect wrap dress that you will want to wear to every semi-formal occasion in spring or summer. Pair it with ballet flats or strappy sandals, some chunky bracelets, and you’ve got the perfect evening wear.
Have more of those scarves on hand? You may want to try the Silk Scarf Shirt or the Silky Scarf Halter Top, both available on All Free Sewing. You can also use other materials, but the silk makes the shirts feel luxurious and look exceptionally sleek. Both shirts look good on many body types, and can be paired with jeans, leggings, or slacks. Wearing heels with these will elevate them from semi-formal to formal. Pair with a jacket and pearls for a stunningly stylish look.
Another dress you may want to try is the Boho Kimono from Rin on Sew In Love. Inspired by maxi dresses, peasant tops, and that easy, breezy 70’s style, this simple dress requires only 2 yards of fabric (rayon or something along those lines is suggested, as this allows draping) and can be made in a day. It’s so comfortable and accommodating that it can be worn by all body types. It was designed by Rin while she was pregnant, so if you have a baby on the way, this comfy dress is a lifesaver. You might even want to make several.
When you don’t know what to do with that old pair of jeans you love, you can head over to Hello Glow and turn those jeans into groovy 1970’s bell bottoms. This is an easier project than some of the others because the top of the jeans will remain the same, but there are some tricky portions so take your time and go slowly. You can use denim or suede scraps for the panels, or some other tough fabric for the inserts. This would be a great (and quick) project for a Halloween costume.
No list of 70’s style clothing would be complete without the poncho. Vintage Pattern Marketplace has a free tutorial and pattern for a fringed poncho that will be the envy of all your 70’s obsessed friends. This pattern only uses a square piece of fabric, bias trim, fringe trim, and a pair of scissors and can be made in just a couple of hours. Once you get the hang of it, you can prep one for each of your friends or family members in just an hour.
