Look at a photograph of women from the 1970s for a few seconds and you may notice something surprising.
But look a little longer and something else begins to emerge.
A photograph from the 1970s isn’t simply a snapshot of fashion. It can reveal an entire period of social change.
The 1970s were a complicated decade, filled with cultural experimentation, economic difficulties, changing attitudes toward women, and a growing emphasis on personal freedom. Women’s clothing reflected many of those changes.
One of the first things people notice in photographs from the decade is how different the clothing looks from what many people wear today.
Bell-bottom trousers became one of the most recognizable styles of the era. Maxi dresses, flowing skirts, denim, ponchos, patterned tops, and platform shoes were also common elements of 1970s fashion.
That is one of the most interesting things about the decade.
A photograph might show one woman wearing jeans and a simple shirt while another wears a flowing dress. Someone else might be dressed in a tailored pantsuit.
Women increasingly mixed traditionally masculine and feminine clothing. Trousers and suits became increasingly acceptable for work and formal occasions, while dresses could be practical, glamorous, romantic, or casual.
Fashion was becoming less about following one strict formula and more about expressing personality.
The hairstyles may be even more recognizable than the clothes.
Long, loose hair was common during much of the decade. Layered cuts, feathered styles, shags, afros, and other expressive hairstyles appeared throughout the era.
Later in the decade, the feathered hairstyle associated with Farrah Fawcett became particularly famous.
For many people, appearance was becoming a form of personal expression.
Some women embraced natural textures. Others experimented with dramatic cuts, waves, layers, or color.
The variety is important because it reminds us that the 1970s weren’t visually uniform.
Perhaps the most important thing to notice isn’t actually visible in the photograph.
It is the historical context surrounding the people in it.
The 1970s were an important period for women’s rights in the United States. The women’s liberation movement gained momentum, and women increasingly challenged traditional expectations about their roles in family life, employment, education, and public life.
