The Seventies

The 1970s was the time of hippy influences, colour television, disco and sequins, the emancipation of women who gained their financial independence and control of their bodies. But it was also the time of the first oil crisis, car-free Sundays and rising unemployment. … A breath of freedom blew through this decade of anti-establishmentarianism and for the first time in history, the street influenced fashion.    

Alongside emblematic items such as an animal-skin dress, a Lurex jumpsuit and platform shoes, the museum reveals the day-to-day clothes of a decade in which anything was possible, or almost. Boots were worn with shorts, “chic” dresses became shirts and bras became increasingly discreet or even disappearing altogether. Perfecto motorcycle jackets were pulled on over T-shirts and items by designers such as Sonia Rykiel overshadowed Haute Couture. Some of the big names did, however, succeed in adapting their classics. For instance, Yves Saint Laurent produced a jeans version of his suit.   

The exhibition The Seventies, Whatever you like takes a pertinent look at this impertinent fashion, but little revealed until now.