70s Men’s Fashion: A Practical Guide

The 70s were big on color, texture, and relaxed shapes: suede, corduroy, denim, earth tones, wide collars, and flared trousers. Used with restraint, a lot of it works today. This guide covers what defined 70s men’s fashion, the key pieces, how to wear each style lane now, and what to wear to a 70s party.

What Defined 70s Men’s Fashion?

The 70s picked up where the late 60s left off. The counterculture went mainstream, and the clean lines of early-60s tailoring gave way to wider, looser, and louder clothes. To trace the story further back, start with 50s men’s fashion.

A few things ran through the whole decade:

Earth tones: Brown, rust, mustard, olive, tan, and burnt orange were everywhere, in suits, shirts, knitwear, and outerwear.

Texture: Suede, corduroy, denim, chunky knits, and shearling. A 70s outfit usually mixed several.

Wide proportions: Wide lapels, wide ties, long pointed shirt collars, and trousers with a high rise and a flared or wide leg.

Synthetic fabrics: Polyester and double knit became common, especially in shirts and suits. The leisure suit, a shirt-style jacket with matching trousers, usually in polyester, peaked around the middle of the decade and was out of fashion by the end of it.

The decade also had distinct lanes. The early 70s carried hippie style forward. Preppy and casual American style kept going in the background. In the second half of the decade, disco brought fitted three-piece suits, open-collar shirts, and shine. Saturday Night Fever (1977) put John Travolta in a white three-piece suit with wide lapels, flared trousers, and a black open-collar shirt, and that outfit became the image of disco.

Hip-hop was also beginning in New York in the 70s, but its fashion belongs mostly to the 80s and 90s, so it is covered in the 80s men’s fashion guide and the 90s men’s fashion guide.

70s Trends Men Can Still Wear Today

Wear as-is: Suede jackets, corduroy trousers, denim jackets, knit polos, camp collar shirts, turtlenecks, aviator sunglasses, shearling-lined jackets, and suede boots.

Wear with a modern fit: Wider-leg and slightly flared trousers, high-rise pleated trousers, longer-collar shirts, and three-piece suits. Keep one of them in an outfit, not all of them.

Use carefully: Bold prints, rust and mustard as main colors, and double-breasted suits with wide lapels. These look good when the rest of the outfit is plain.

Party only: Platform shoes, very wide bell-bottoms, huge shirt collars over a jacket, medallions, shiny polyester, and wide-brim hats with beaded necklaces.

70s Shirts, Pants, and Jackets

Shirts

Camp collar shirt: The easiest way to wear the 70s. Solid rust, brown, cream, or a muted geometric print. Worn untucked.

Knit polo: Fine knit, often with a long or open collar. Brown, mustard, cream, and navy look most 70s.

Turtleneck: Under a suit or sports coat instead of a shirt and tie. Brown, cream, black, and navy.

Printed shirt: Paisley, geometric, and floral prints were common. Choose muted colors and a normal collar if you want to wear one every day.

Western shirt: Denim or chambray with snap buttons and a pointed yoke. Works well with straight jeans.

Pants

Flared or bootcut jeans: The 70s shape. A slight flare or bootcut looks modern. A wide bell-bottom is a party piece.

Wide-leg trousers: High rise, straight and wide through the leg, in brown, cream, or rust.

Corduroy trousers: Brown, tan, olive, and navy. Wide or medium wale. One of the most wearable 70s pieces.

Khakis and chinos: The preppy option, often with a higher rise. See the khaki pants guide for outfits.

Jackets

Suede jacket: Tan, brown, or olive. A trucker or shirt-jacket shape is the most versatile.

Denim jacket: Mid-wash, worn with contrasting trousers rather than matching jeans.

Shearling or sherpa-lined jacket: The 70s winter staple.

Leather jacket: Brown leather in a blazer or car-coat cut, rather than a biker shape.

Shoes

Platform shoes are what people remember, but most men wore something more practical. Loafers, suede desert boots, Chelsea boots with a slight heel, leather sandals, and retro running sneakers are all more wearable today than platforms.

70s Hippie Style for Men

The early-70s version of hippie style was more relaxed than the late 60s: denim, suede, loose shirts, embroidered details, and leather sandals.

How to wear it today: Keep the fabrics and colors and drop the accessories. A suede jacket over a loose cream shirt with straight or slightly flared jeans looks relaxed and current. Add leather sandals in summer. Headbands, beads, and fringe on everything push it into costume.

Outfit formula: Tan suede jacket + cream linen or cotton shirt + mid-wash bootcut jeans + brown suede boots.

Outfit formula (summer): Loose white linen shirt + faded straight jeans + brown leather sandals + aviator sunglasses.

The roots of this look are in the late 60s, covered in the 60s men’s fashion guide.

70s Suits and Tailoring

70s suits are the easiest way to spot the decade in old photos: wide peak or notch lapels, wide ties, a nipped waist, and trousers with a high rise and a flared leg. Three-piece suits came back, and brown, tan, cream, and patterned checks sat alongside navy and grey.

The leisure suit: A casual suit with a shirt-style jacket and matching trousers, usually in polyester double knit. It was meant to work for both the office and the weekend, and it is now mostly remembered as a party piece.

The three-piece suit: Jacket, waistcoat, and trousers in the same cloth, often in brown, cream, or a check. The waistcoat is the 70s detail that still works.

The double-breasted suit: Wide lapels and a long, strong shape. Works now in a modern fit and a plain color.

How to wear it today: Choose a modern-width lapel and a straight or slightly wider trouser, then add one 70s element: a brown or tan cloth, a waistcoat, or a turtleneck instead of a shirt and tie. A brown suit with a cream roll neck and brown suede loafers is a strong evening look that never reads as costume.

Outfit formula: Brown suit + cream turtleneck + brown suede loafers.

70s Disco and Party Style

Disco style was the dressiest lane of the decade: fitted suits, waistcoats, open-collar shirts worn over the jacket lapels, flared trousers, and shine.

How to wear it today: Take the three-piece suit or the open collar, not both with flares and platforms. A cream or brown suit with a waistcoat and an open-collar dark shirt works for an evening event. A camp collar shirt in a satin finish, worn with plain dark trousers, gives a disco hint without going all the way.

Outfit formula: Cream three-piece suit + black open-collar shirt + brown suede loafers.

Outfit formula (subtle): Dark brown camp collar shirt + black wide-leg trousers + black Chelsea boots.

70s Preppy Style for Men

Preppy style held steady through the 70s, just with wider shapes and warmer colors: polo shirts, chinos, boat shoes, crew-neck sweaters, and blazers.

How to wear it today: This lane needs the least updating. Pick a polo in a 70s color like mustard, rust, or forest green, add chinos with a straight leg, and wear loafers or boat shoes. A navy blazer finishes it for smart casual. The navy blazer guide has more combinations.

Outfit formula: Rust pique polo + stone chinos + brown penny loafers + aviator sunglasses.

Outfit formula: Cream cable-knit sweater + light blue Oxford shirt + brown corduroy trousers + brown suede chukkas.

70s Beach and Summer Outfits

Summer in the 70s meant short shorts, terry cloth shirts, knit polos, and tinted aviators.

How to wear it today: Shorts should be shorter than modern cargo styles but not extreme, around a 5- to 7-inch inseam. A terry or knit polo with tailored shorts in cream, tan, or navy is the cleanest version. The men’s shorts outfit guide and the men’s summer fashion guide cover the fit and color basics.

Outfit formula: Cream terry polo + navy 6-inch shorts + white retro running sneakers.

Outfit formula: Muted print camp collar shirt + tan linen shorts + brown leather sandals.

Modern 70s Outfit Ideas for Men

Use one or two 70s references per outfit. Everything else stays modern and plain.

Everyday casual: Tan suede trucker jacket + white tee + dark straight jeans + brown suede Chelsea boots.

Smart casual: Brown knit polo + cream wide-leg trousers + brown loafers.

Autumn: Cream roll neck + brown corduroy trousers + olive shearling-collar jacket + suede desert boots.

Weekend: Western denim shirt + brown cords + white retro sneakers.

Evening: Black turtleneck + brown or camel blazer + black trousers + black Chelsea boots.

Office: Light blue shirt + brown tweed or cord sports coat + grey trousers + brown loafers.

What to Wear to a 70s Party

At a themed event, pick a lane so the outfit reads clearly.

Disco: White or cream three-piece suit + black or patterned open-collar shirt worn over the lapels + flared trousers + platform or Cuban-heeled boots. This is the most recognizable 70s party outfit.

Hippie: Loose patterned shirt + bell-bottom jeans + fringed suede vest + round tinted sunglasses + sandals.

Retro casual: Knit polo with a big collar + high-waisted flares + aviators + a gold chain.

70s Fashion Mistakes to Avoid

Costume dressing: Flares, platforms, a huge collar, beads, and a wide-brim hat together is fancy dress. Outside a party, one 70s element is enough.

Too many accessories: Medallions, chunky rings, beaded necklaces, and belts with oversized buckles add up fast. Pick one, or none.

Too much polyester: Shiny synthetics were part of the decade, but they look cheap now. Choose cotton, wool, suede, and corduroy.

Huge collars over everything: A long pointed collar spread over a jacket lapel is a disco signal. Keep it for parties.

Platform shoes outside themed events: Loafers, suede boots, and retro sneakers carry the 70s far better in daily wear.

All earth tones at once: Rust, mustard, brown, and olive together can look muddy. Pair one 70s color with neutrals like cream, navy, or denim.

FAQs

What did men wear in the 70s?

Men wore flared jeans and trousers, wide lapels and ties, long-collar shirts, knit polos, turtlenecks, and suede and corduroy in earth tones. Leisure suits were popular in the middle of the decade, and disco brought fitted three-piece suits and open-collar shirts late in the 70s.

What are the biggest 70s fashion trends for men?

Flares and bell-bottoms, earth-tone color palettes, suede and corduroy, wide lapels and ties, long shirt collars, leisure suits, three-piece disco suits, turtlenecks, aviator sunglasses, and platform shoes.

How do men dress 70s without looking like a costume?

Use one 70s piece at a time and keep the rest of the outfit plain. A suede jacket with jeans and a tee, or a knit polo with wide-leg trousers, gives the 70s feel without looking themed. Choose suede boots or loafers over platforms.

What should men wear to a 70s party?

A disco look is the most recognizable: a cream or white three-piece suit, a dark open-collar shirt, and flared trousers. For a hippie theme, wear a patterned shirt, bell-bottom jeans, a fringed suede vest, and round tinted sunglasses.

Were bell bottoms popular in the 70s?

Yes. Flared jeans and trousers started in the late 60s counterculture and became mainstream in the early to mid-70s. Today a slight flare or bootcut is wearable, while very wide bell-bottoms are best for themed events.

What shoes did men wear in the 70s?

Platform shoes and Cuban-heeled boots for nights out, plus loafers, suede desert boots, Chelsea boots, leather sandals, and running sneakers as everyday shoes. Loafers, suede boots, and retro sneakers are the most wearable today.

What 70s trends are wearable today?

Suede jackets, corduroy trousers, knit polos, camp collar shirts, turtlenecks, slightly flared or wide-leg trousers, shearling jackets, aviator sunglasses, and suede boots all work today when worn one or two at a time.