Category: 1970-1979

Overview

1970-1979

1970-1979, 20th century, decade overview

All Entries

1948-1987 – Willi Smith

1970-1979, 1980-1989, BIPOC, designer profile, LGBTQ+

Willi Smith was the popularly renowned designer behind Williwear, a womenswear line that opened in 1976. He was known for his innovative blend of the newly-emerging concept of streetwear with high fashion.

1943-Present – Stephen Burrows

1970-1979, 2000-2009, BIPOC, designer profile

Stephen Burrows is celebrated for his graphic color blocking and innovative use of matte jersey fabric at the height of the disco era. He became one of the first Black fashion designers to achieve international acclaim.

1973 – Stephen Burrows, Evening Dress

1970-1979, 20th century, BIPOC, garment analysis

This color-blocked 1973 chiffon evening dress represents American designer Stephen Burrows’ original contributions to fashion as well as to the ground-breaking Battle of Versailles.

1973 – Bill Blass, Evening ensemble

1970-1979, 20th century, garment analysis, LGBTQ+

The 1970s were marked by a progression towards casual comfort while retaining an aura of chic, a trend Bill Blass embodies in this 1973 evening ensemble that radiates classy comfort.

David Bowie Is

1970-1979, 1980-1989, 1990-1999, 20th century, 21st century, blog

An exhibition about the internationally acclaimed artist David Bowie (1947-2016) faces its final curtain call at the Brooklyn Museum.

1973 – Rafael, Denim Leisure Suit

1970-1979, 20th century, garment analysis

Bill Kaiserman (Rafael) was a retail salesman turned hat maker who influenced that fashion world by introducing the leisure aesthetic to the American fashion market in the early 1970s.

Counter-Couture: Handmade Fashion in an American Counterculture

1970-1979, 20th century, blog

Today’s idea of political support is buying a t-shirt and promoting a specific candidate. However in the 1960s and 1970s, the idea that many clothes were handmade was a political statement on its own.