Disco with an alluring sexy vibe, welcome the revival of our favourite seventies flair.
Take a trip down memory lane. Back to the world of disco and flicked feathered locks. When Studio 54 was the only place to see and be seen; when Farrah Fawcett was Queen of the screen and Roxy Music provided the soundtrack to many a heady night. Yes, the seventies are back. And this time they’re more beautiful and alluring than ever.
From glamorous tailoring, lamé hotpants and vivid prints to the best of iconic seventies inspirations, the Spring/Summer 2011 catwalks paid a stunning tribute to the era of debauched hedonism and flowing silhouettes. And with the likes of Etro, Ferragamo and Marc Jacobs evoking the seventies, you know it’s a trend with true fashion kudos.
Etro led the way in Milan with billowing silk dresses in a natural palette of plum, khaki, green, indigo and brown, but the fitted and flared trousers in hues of mustard and olive with toning strapless tops truly proved that the Seventies are never far from Etro’s inspiration. And with Bryan Ferry singing “Love is the Drug” throughout, it just goes to show that it’s not only the seventies aesthetic that is currently experiencing a resurgence, but its musical stars too.
Other purveyors of this look were sure to demonstrate their decadent credentials. Marc Jacobs channelled the best of Disco through gold lamé hot pants and Bianca Jagger-esque jumpsuits with deep V’s and slits up the thigh almost revealing the model’s undergarments. Salvatore Ferragamo’s chiffon blouses and masculine tailoring were reminiscent of chic Yves Saint Laurent in his seventies heyday, whilst California-born designer Derek Lam took the idea of iconic inspirations to a new level. Presenting an array of tailored wide-legged trousers and blazers with floppy and broad lapels, all in stretch denim – his collection was the perfect ode to the all American seventies icon Farrah Fawcett.
But if bell-bottoms hit a bum note don’t be afraid to work the trend through soft, loose or even frizzy Grace Coddington-esque tresses, perfect for any disco queen. Models at Alberta Ferretti, Cavalli and Pucci all graced the catwalks with hair that wouldn’t look out of place on the set of 1976 horror flick Carrie. The mastermind behind Ferretti’s hairdos and Redken Creative Consultant Guido Palau said in a recent interview, “to compliment the easiness on the runway, I created natural hair, yet still keeping each woman unique,” the perfect way to flatter and enhance the season’s predominant aesthetic. The waves at Felder Felder were decidedly bigger and reminiscent of Sarah Moon’s iconic photography, in which models had soft, brushed-out crimps and curls. Accessorise with subtle cheeks and dewy skin, ala Kate Moss, to evoke the easiness and natural beauty of our favourite seventies loving icons.
Think Faye Dunaway in the 1978 cult thriller The Eyes of Laura Mars, with her draped ensembles, tonal outfits and soft muted blouses, or Anjelica Huston’s classic Halston and YSL inspired silhouette. But most of all think of this trend as a chance to experience a sense of fun and charm within your clothing; a way to display beautifully soft and luxurious silk, chiffon and satin, as opposed to the polyester and heavy synthetics attainable in the seventies. We can safely say that this is a trend that has exceeded its predecessors. And as CEO of catwalkgenius.com Helen Brown says, “If we can avoid the worst excesses of shiny polyester that constituted the dark side of the 70s, we’ll be doing just fine.”
The seventies silhouette of Spring/Summer 2011 is a distinct departure from the constricted and confined shape of past seasons. Imagine the classic Balmain shape comprised of skinny jeans and cigarette pants, or the nipped in, structured figure of the 1950s ‘Mad Men’ craze that reigned supreme last Autumn/Winter. Designers are expressing a new freedom for 2011 through loose, billowing, draped and free flowing shapes. This seventies revival is both alluringand evocative of everything great about the enchanting era - ideal for Spring/Summer 2011.
