Fashion in the 1970s

The 1970s was a decade of style contrasts. More so than in any other decade, every extreme of fashion was met by an equally trendy opposite reaction. Ankle-length maxi skirts vied for attention with super-short hot-pants. Outfits in vibrant prints and obviously man-made fabrics contrasted with subtly-colored ensembles in wool jerseys and silky crepes.

Delicate floral cottons, hand-knits, and hand-tooled leather came up against boldly synthetic and plastic looks perched atop platform shoes--...