Dedicate Your Closet To A Decade

For an era that produced so much social discord and confusion, the 1970's also offered up some really great fashion. The Watergate Scandal, Vietnam, and the continued threat of nuclear war produced a generation of young people unsure of where to turn.

There were hippies, there were punks, and there were glam-rock disco dancers, each taking their own stand, and using their style as a means to set themselves apart from certain people, and unite with others.

If you had to choose between Gloria Gaynor, Johnny Rotten or John Lennon to give voice to your form of youthful protest, who would it be?

The peace-loving-funny-cigarette smoking hippies began in the communes of the 1960s and grew of out Bohemianism a century earlier. After the f Charles Manson, or Nixon trying to deport Lennon and Yoko Ono, the mainstream had fallen out of love with the hippie movement. The influence could still be felt in the flared jeans, peasant blouse and maxi skirts. For 2011 Anna Sui had the hippy vibe down complete with greenery in the hair. It is relaxed-chic at its best. For a more inexpensive take on the hippie look, try Urban Outfitters and pick up a pair of high-rise Ecote denim in a light, super groovy shade.

The Grande Dame of Punk, Vivienne Westwood, brought the worlds of punk and glam rock together in her Anglomania Spring 2011 collection. Punk and glam rock is totally histrionic. An odd choice of word to describe a garment, but no other word does it better. These styles cause a scene, and are meant to be gawked at by some, and admired by others. Both today and yesterday, women rocking these hard-hitting looks maintain that by pissing people off, they're making a point. Westwood’s designs are provocative and are meant for the woman who is as opinionated as she is fashion-forward. To get that same edge, visit Carte Blanche to get this gorgeous Pink Cobra motorcycle jacket.

The image that comes to mind when the word “disco” is mentioned is often of John Travolta, strutting his stuff to some well-placed Bee Gees song. Don't gag just yet, though. There was more to the culture than weird dancing and men singing in soprano. Disco was the gateway to a world of glamour, sparkle and man-made fabric. For all the stars that rose to the top through the disco movement, there were many that fell back to earth.  Marc Jacobs’ Spring/Summer 2011 Collection brought out all many influences of the era, keeping the glamour factor at the forefront. To get that same sparkle, without wiggling into a pair of polyester hot pants, try a pair of Jenny Bird's Oversized Geodisc earrings!

Alex West
		About the author:
		After a five year stint in Montreal Alex moved back to her native Toronto to do her Masters and began writing for different publications. When in doubt she always asks, what would Nick Cave do? Luckily the answer almost always involves velvet, wine and writing. In her spare time she enjoys watching civil war reenactments, sharing her James Bond level charm and talking about that girl who did that thing that one time. Read more of her work at: www.scare-tactic.blogspot.com
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