70′s New York Fall Style
elle-us-september-2010
Summer is nearly over, but that’s okay because I love the Fall, it’s my favorite season. It’s still warm, but now breezy and change is in the air. I tend to associate the Fall look with 1970′s Manhattan, even though I was born and raised in LA. Of course all these associations come from films, not from actual experience, although I did visit New York a couple of times, for work trips, but didn’t stay long enough to enjoy it, and I’ve never been during the Fall. The films of Autumn in New York represented the change in seasons more dramatically than what we see in LA, gold and red leaves in Central Park, daylight is rich and warm, illuminating the architecture and people of New York, creating a magical atmosphere, it even looks stylish in black and white films: Manhattan and Annie Hall,…and then there’s the clothes. Key designers for this look were Halston, Geoffrey Beene, and Diane Von Furstenberg, the clothes were of a soft structure, but sexy and very confident. The hallmark was the sophisticated lady, in blousy silk shirts, and flowy pants, or a printed wrap dress, and accessories such as scarves, neck ties, or wool felt hats were added in creative ways. This was the transition from communal hippie to independent woman. There was freedom in this style that career women had over the styles of the next decades which confined a person to 1980′s “power dressing” and 1990′s minimalism.
Autumn in New York, is now a different kind of season post September 11, 2001, still gorgeous, but more solemn and introspective. Today’s post was inspired by the photo editorial “A New York State of Mind,” featured in Elle US September 2010, shot by photographer Laurie Bartley, its an inspiring look at New York reclaiming her independent style.
the entire editorial can be seen here: http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/elle-us-september-2010
Diane Von Furstenberg, the undisputed queen of the wrap dress, in Newsweek (1976)
vintage fashion plate from the 1970′s
Halston’s “special brand of casual but sexy has become one of the most recognizable and individual looks in American fashion.”
Halston
Kenneth Paul Block illustration
’70′s Geoffrey Beene pattern
Annie Hall
http://www.enotes.com/1970-fashion-american-decades/halston
http://www.fashion-era.com/1970s.htm
gaby
Fantastic post! This particular style of 1970s clothing is hands down my all-time favorite. If I could dress like that all of the time, I definitely would! I remember trying to mimic Diane Keaton’s Annie Hall look when I was in high school and I’m in the process of making a 1970s-style wrap dress from a vintage sewing pattern (designed by John Kloss).
thank you! Annie Hall’s look is classic, and I think the wrap dress is pure genius! I’d love to see your dress when it’s finished.
I love the whole article… Good memories!