Historic Costume: 20th & 21st c. America & the UK: 1960s & 1970s

From hippie to disco to punk, this book relives 1970s fashion via clothing advertisements from the decade. In between its covers you'll find bell-bottoms and feathered hair mingling with platform shoes, Diane Von Furstenberg wrap dresses and endless amounts of polyester (what were they thinking?).

In the 1960s, "youth" was the watchword. Skirts became shorter and shorter until in 1965 they culminated in the mini. The gap between stocking top and skirt hem made tights essential, and the quintessential little-girl look of the sixties was born: neat, uncluttered, flat-chested, and long-legged. By the last years of the decade hems were dropping again and the influence of the hippie movement was beginning to be felt in both women's and men's wear, bringing with it bright colors and psychedelic patterns.

Fashion in the 1970s grew increasingly individualistic. The ethnic look flourished. Colors became bolder and brighter, and loose, baggy clothes were introduced. Women's skirts gradually lengthened and became more flowing, while men's dress incorporated frilled or patterned shirts, wide ties, and embroidered waistcoats. Flared pants were worn by both sexes.

This compilation from a style-conscious decade features scores of illustrations with their original captions specifying colors, sizes, prices. Items include apparel for men, women, and children — from lingerie and playclothes to bridal ensembles, Madras jackets, and vinyl slicker coats. Introduction. Over 300 black-and-white illustrations.

From the ubiquitous VW Bug to the short-lived Studebaker Avanti, advertisements for automobiles bring swinging sixties back to life.

During a decade of tumultuous change, the 70s would also witness the demise of muscle cars and the birth of the economy car. With an influx of imports from Europe & Japan, there was more choice than ever. This collection features over 175 auto advertisements, such as the AMC Gremlin, Ford Futura, Oldsmobile Cutlass, & Plymouth Volare.

Both eclipsed and influenced by television, American print ads of the 1970s departed from the bold, graphic forms and subtle messages that were typical of their sixties counterparts. More literal, more in-your-face, 70s ads sought to capture the attention of a public accustomed to blaring, to-the-point TV commercials (even Volkswagon ads, known for their witty, ironic statements and minimalist designs, lost some of their punch in the 1970s). All was not lost, though; as ads are a sign of the times, racial and ecological awareness crept into everything from cigarette to car advertisements, reminding Americans that everyday products were hip to the modern age. A fascinating study of mass culture dissemination in a post-hippie, television-obsessed nation, this weighty volume delivers an exhaustive and nostalgic overview of 70s advertising.

This compilation from a style-conscious decade features scores of illustrations with their original captions specifying colors, sizes, prices. Items include apparel for men, women, and children — from lingerie and playclothes to bridal ensembles, Madras jackets, and vinyl slicker coats. Introduction. Over 300 black-and-white illustrations.

Also available online, although online editions often exclude advertising.

Also available online through 2001, although online editions often exclude advertising.

Also available online from 1990 - 2012, although online editions often exclude advertising.

Also available online from 1821 to the present, although online editions often exclude advertising.