1970s Mens Fashion

Wide-legged, flared jeans and trousers were a fashion mainstay for both sexes throughout most of the 1970s. Other key influences were glam rock and the 1977 film Saturday night fever which starred John Travolta. The "disco look", complete with three-piece suits for men lasted until it was gradually replaced by punk fashion.

So read on and we'll go through these 1970s fashions and also give you ideas of fancy dress costumes which will fit right into 70s fashion.

Glam Rock

From 1972–1974, fashions were also inspired by extravagantly-dressed glam rock stars such as David Bowie, Roxy music and Marc Bolan. Some men wore lamé suits, silver astronaut-style outfits, satin quilted jackets, wide-legged denims or velvet trousers, and rhinestone-studded shirts. Their hair was long and softly layered, or spiky, multi-coloured layered mullets.

Glam rock 70s fancy dress costumes copy these looks. There are black and silver glam rock costumes which can be used for David Bowie or Kiss (the American glam rock band). To make up your own glam rock look Smiffys do a fab pair of Denim patchwork flares, team these with a pair of platform shoes, a frilled tux shirt and maybe a long wig or afro wig and there you have it.

Suits and Boots

The 70's disco look for men was characterized by wide lapels, wide legged flared trousers, and high-rise waistcoats, also worn with the platform shoe or boots that would have up to 4inch heels. Neckties became wider and bolder, and shirt collars became long and pointed, others were equally large but with rounded tips so called 'Penny round collars' as they looked like they had pennies in the ends. Neck-scarves were also seen tied to one side, they imposed a certain uniformity on the casual beatnik look.

There are several white disco suits which are styled on John Travolta's outfit in the seventies movie "Saturday Night Fever". Our favorite is the Night Fever Disco King Suit from Funshack fancy dress. This is mainly because of it's price vs quality. There are others like all in one disco jumpsuit costumes or you can always put together great outfits using fancy dress separate e.g. flares, tux shirt or wide collared shirt, platforms and afro wig.

Safari So Good

Safari leisure suits were highly popular in Australia in the 1970s, when many men owned at least one. They even became an acceptable substitute for business attire by 1980 they had gone completely out of fashion. One person who was well known for wearing one of these was Rod from Rod Hull and Emu

If you fancy the Rod Hull look then we have a great 70s safari leisure suit for you.

We have only scratched the surface of 1970s fancy dress and the fashion which has inspired it so here the main influences.