Jade Reed
The 1970s brought us some of the most exciting fashion moments in history. From disco glamour to bohemian chic, this decade created style legends who continue to influence what we wear today. These seven fashion icons broke boundaries, created trends, and left a lasting mark on how we dress – their influence visible on today’s runways and street style alike.
1. Debbie Harry
Debbie Harry smashed the punk rock mold by blending gritty downtown edge with glamorous Hollywood allure. While male rockers got grimy, Blondie’s frontwoman paired ripped tees with red lipstick and made it iconic.
Her signature platinum hair – often with deliberately visible dark roots – became as famous as her music. Harry mixed high and low fashion fearlessly: thrifted military jackets with designer pieces, leopard prints with combat boots.
Modern designers from Marc Jacobs to Hedi Slimane continue referencing her perfect imperfection. Harry’s greatest style lesson? Authenticity trumps perfection every time.
2. Farrah Fawcett
That poster. That hair. That smile. Farrah Fawcett’s feathered locks launched a thousand haircuts and her effortless California style still feels fresh today.
Beyond her famous red swimsuit, Farrah mastered casual cool with high-waisted jeans, simple tees, and tennis shoes long before athleisure was trendy. Her influence appears in today’s relaxed denim looks and beachy waves.
What made her style special wasn’t just the clothes – it was her confidence and that megawatt smile that made everything she wore seem attainable yet aspirational.
3. Bianca Jagger
Nicaraguan beauty Bianca Jagger didn’t just marry a Rolling Stone – she became fashion royalty in her own right. Her entrance to Studio 54 on a white horse cemented her status as disco’s most elegant rebel.
Those iconic white suits weren’t just stylish; they were revolutionary. While women were expected to wear dresses, Bianca claimed masculine tailoring as feminine power. Fashion houses like Gucci and Saint Laurent still reference her sharp silhouettes and fearless approach to eveningwear.
4. Diana Ross
Long before Beyoncé or Rihanna, Diana Ross wrote the handbook on diva style. From her early days with The Supremes to her solo career, she embraced theatrical fashion with open arms.
Sequins became her signature, but it was her fearless approach to volume – massive hair, flowing caftans, dramatic sleeves – that truly set her apart. Her stage costumes pushed boundaries while maintaining undeniable elegance.
Modern red carpet moments owe everything to Diana’s pioneering glamour. When stars step out in beaded gowns or statement sleeves, they’re walking a path Diana paved in glittering platform heels.
5. Jane Birkin
Jane Birkin made looking stylish seem as natural as breathing. The British actress who captured French hearts created a uniquely accessible kind of chic – the kind that looks thrown together yet perfectly balanced.
Her uniform of high-waisted flared jeans, simple white tees, and wicker baskets as handbags defined casual luxury. She skipped heavy makeup for natural beauty that celebrated her gap-toothed smile and tousled bangs.
Hermès named their most famous bag after her, but Jane’s true legacy is teaching us that true style comes from comfort, confidence, and a certain je ne sais quoi.
6. Cher
“I’m not a fashion icon, I’m just me,” Cher once claimed – but fashion history disagrees. Working with designer Bob Mackie, she created some of the most memorable looks ever to grace a stage or red carpet.
Her barely-there gowns, elaborate headpieces, and strategic cutouts shocked audiences but ultimately expanded our definition of acceptable evening wear. The naked dress trend? Cher did it first.
Her fearlessness inspired generations of performers from Madonna to Lady Gaga. When celebrities make headlines for daring outfits today, they’re following Cher’s sequined footsteps.
7. Lauren Hutton
Lauren Hutton revolutionized fashion by simply being herself. When other models were polished to perfection, she refused to fix her gap-toothed smile – transforming a supposed flaw into her trademark.
Her fashion sense followed the same authentic path. Hutton borrowed freely from menswear, pairing tailored blazers with jeans decades before influencers declared it cool. Her safari-inspired looks and relaxed silhouettes celebrated function alongside form.
Today’s gender-fluid fashion owes much to Hutton’s pioneering androgyny. Her greatest contribution? Showing that true style comes from embracing your uniqueness rather than hiding it.
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