Fashion Styles You Can Find in Thrift Stores

The 1970s saw a wide range of fashions that reflected an increased interest in self-expression and clothing. The decade was not dominated by one look. There were many styles, such as hippie/bohemian, disco, and punk. The general silhouette was tall and slim with lots of hair, and this gave the decade an androgynous appeal. Unisex hairpieces were very popular during this time. Platform shoes were available for both men and women, and both sexes wore high-waisted pants with scruffy haircuts.

People began to see clothes as a means of self-expression and needed new places to shop. By the mid-1970s, many educated people were forced to quit their jobs or find low-paying jobs to survive. That’s when the thrift store fashion began to rise! Second-hand stores offered unique clothing at low prices. In the 1970s, vintage clothing was almost always available for very little money. Mixing vintage clothing with modern clothing was possible by combining jackets, coats, and dresses from previous centuries with jewelry and jeans. Listed below are the fashion styles you can find in thrift stores:

Hippies and Bohemians Fashion

Ten years after Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring was published, many questioned the technological trappings of modernity. Back-to-the-land culture sparked a renewed interest in country life and craftsmanship. Idealists wore simple clothes based on the clothes of European farmers, American pioneer clothes, or ethnic styles. Shirts, dresses, and blouses were loose, easy to sew, and soft. The “granny” dress, loosely inspired by Edwardian and Victorian styles, was worn with boots, sandals, or clogs. These dresses are also known as prairie style and feature layered skirts, ruffles, or gathered tops.

Disco Fashion

In the 1960s, young people went to discos or dance clubs. Disco was a new genre of music popularized by Latino and African American youth. Urban youth, tired of hippies and wary of the retro art scene, sought glamour in the discos of the 1970s. The sound was the catalyst for a unique fashion trend. Women wore hot pants of silky fabrics and halter dresses. Men wore shirts tucked in mid-chest and tight, shiny pants. The look was completed with gold necklaces and medallions.

Punk Fashion

Punk rebelled against hippie culture and high culture, and it embraced the dirtiest aspects of society rooted in lower-class culture. Ripped jeans, black dresses, ripped haircuts, and jewelry made of chains embodied a youth who felt marginalized by unemployment, poverty, and a bleak future. Black stockings were decorated with zippers, straps, and studs. Mini-skirts were worn by women who combined them with ripped fishnet stockings. Doc Martin boots, big work boots, or platforms with an exaggerated height made people look intricate but fascinating. Wild hair was dyed in bright, unnatural colors, such as shades of green and deep pink. Dark lips and eyes accentuated pale faces.