Watch I Tried Every Iconic 1970s Look in 48 Hours

[laughs] Oh, my god. [person laughs]

I look so scary.

Okay, okay. [laughs] Are you rolling on that?

Yeah. Good. [laughs]

Hey, I'm Stef and today I'm doing

a trial run of all the most iconic looks from the '70s.

[upbeat music]

I'm still trying to crack my personal style,

so I'm looking to 1970s to see

if I can find any inspiration.

And since I don't even know where to begin,

I brought in fashion historian,

Sara Idacavage, to help me out.

Thanks, Stef.

The 1970s are one of my favorite periods

because it really provided people

with the freedom to wear what they wanted.

Are you ready to get started? I'm ready.

First up, '70s casual.

In the 1970's, an overall shift

to casual wear signified a desire for comfort,

and a need to break from

the formality of the previous generations.

Dress codes relaxed significantly,

and women began wearing pants in greater

numbers than they ever did before.

With less defined gender lines in the 1970s,

more and more men and women chose to wear denim.

So for the first look, I'm starting you off

with a pair of flared, hip-hugging jeans.

Always a good time when we start with pants.

Mm-hmm.

Pairing that with a knit top will help to demonstrate

how the spread of youth culture in the 1960s

led to more comfortable and casual styles in the 1970s.

Many women even opted to go braless.

Yes!

Let my girls free!

To add a little bling, we've got

a classic pair of gold hoop earrings,

and some super groovy shades.

And finally, you'll be ready to go

after you put on this pair of retro rollerskates,

which are equal parts stylish and functional.

I am very happy that I have insurance.

Are you ready to roll? [Stef inhales sharply]

[uptempo drum music]

[people laugh]

For makeup, we're gonna be keeping things pretty

natural with a healthy glow that's reminiscent

of the all-American supermodel, Lauren Hutton.

Your natural beauty will be enhanced

with a little rosy lip gloss

and some classic, water-based mascara

which was a huge game changer when it debuted in 1971

because of its easy-to-remove formula.

For hair, we're going with the long, feathered style

that was popularized by '70s icon, Farrah Fawcett.

The so-called Farrah hairstyle

is defined by big waves, long layers,

and of course the side wings that young girls

worked so hard to perfect across the globe.

[bright electronic music]

Wow, so this is considered the casual look,

which is crazy, but I actually really like it.

To be honest, I've literally never worn skates

before in my entire life,

but I feel like the only way to test out

this look is to just go for it.

[people laughing]

[upbeat music]

I'm a little nauseous.

Even though I almost died, like, six times,

I actually am pretty good at skating.

[Person] Oh!

I was a little bit nervous that my flare pants

were gonna get stuck in the skates,

but it ended up being fine,

and they were actually super comfortable.

The hair looks awesome, but it is pretty big

and got in my face a little bit

when I was doing crazy skate moves.

[person snickers]

My lips are super shiny and it reminds me

of the Smacker's lip gloss that I used

to wear back in middle school,

so I feel like I look kind of young.

The mascara, it's not too heavy, it's not too light.

It's not clumping.

I feel good about it.

I like these earrings, but you can't

really see them under all this hair.

The shirt is very vibrant,

however it is super hot because it is a sweater

and it did not do well when I was

skating for that exact reason.

I know I said I was gonna let my boobs free,

but it was a pretty athletic activity

so I opted for the bra in the end.

So I'm sad that I have to toss in my skates,

but I'm excited to see what the next look is.

Next up, it wouldn't be '70s without disco.

Yes!

Towards the end of the 1970s,

the film Saturday Night Fever helped

to fuel the crazy of disco music,

which began to really emerge

in mainstream fashion and culture.

Disco encouraged people to experiment

and express themselves through what they wore,

and fashion designers like Halston and Stefen Burrows

provided women with sleek clothing

that allowed for easy movement

and all-night dancing at clubs like Studio 54.

For this look, I've chosen a sleek,

form-fitting red jumpsuit for you,

because the point of any disco look

is to show off your body while you're showing

off your moves on the dance floor.

We also have some coordinating strappy

heels for the same effect.

For jewelry, you're going to be channeling

Cher's Bob Mackie costumes

through a plethora of shining pieces

that will help to reflect light

and bring attention to you

as you strut around the club.

Are you ready to boogie?

I think I was born ready for this.

Mm-hmm.

[light music]

When it came to makeup in the disco scene,

women were not afraid to be daring,

especially before a night of long, sweaty dancing.

For your eyes, we're going to accentuate

them with shimmery eyeshadow, dark eyeliner,

and long eyelashes in the style

of Diana Ross and Liza Minnelli.

For your lips, we're keeping with the more is more approach

by incorporating big, cherry red, glossy lips

that will complement your smoking hot jumpsuit.

And finally, for your hair, we're giving you a look

that is reminiscent of the long,

luxurious locks of Cher, Jerry Hall, and Donna Summer,

which should help you feel like a real disco diva.

[upbeat music]

[Stef gasps]

Get the casting director of Mamma Mia

on the phone right now.

I look like a dancing queen.

This look is super bold,

and I'm very excited to test it out.

It's not really disco without a disco ball,

so I made my producer, Jeff, run out to get one.

Time to get groovy.

[funky music]

I feel like this is the only move I know

and I should probably look more up.

Okay, I got it.

Can we get some more people in here? [laughs]

Okay, so I think I was born in the wrong decade.

1970s disco, totally my party vibe,

and the dress looked awesome while I was dancing.

This jumpsuit is very loose-fitting,

and it makes doing crazy disco moves that much easier.

I would say I would never dye my hair

this dark or wear it this long.

It gets a little too heavy.

However, it looks really cool when I was doing spins.

I can't tell if I look more like Cher

or Morticia from Addams Family.

Either/or, they're both bad asses.

I actually have red lipstick like this,

so I would be down to wear this

if I was going out with my friends.

I don't think I would wear this much makeup

if I was gonna be dancing all night long,

but I did kinda feel like the star of the show.

I feel like I've already learned so much

about the '70s today, but it's time for me to go home.

I'm excited to come back tomorrow morning.

Welcome back.

Are you ready to get started again?

Let's go.

So today's first look is the bohemian look.

In the early 1970s, there was an impetus

to go back to nature, with a huge

resurgence to arts and crafts

in both everyday and high-end fashion

that helped to prolong the hippie aesthetic of the 1960s.

Combining a nostalgia for the past and non-Western elements,

the result was an eclectic look

that celebrated freedom and comfort,

which eventually culminated in the so-called

gypsy, or peasant chic look, made famous

by designers such as Ossie Clark,

Bill Gibb, and Yves Saint Laurent.

The free-flowing Bohemian look

is best represented by the female rock

and folk singers of the time,

such as Carly Simon, Stevie Nicks,

Carole King, and Joni Mitchell.

First and foremost, you'll be wearing

a dress by Thea Porter who was

a British fashion designer in the 1970s,

who was known for infusing Western fashion

with Middle Eastern aesthetics through the use

of loose shapes and exotic textiles.

The dress is gonna be worn with this tie dye vest,

which represents the homemade, counter cultural elements

that were eventually appropriated

by the mainstream fashion industry.

Does not look like this when I tie dye.

Platforms were the shoes of choice

for both men and women in the 1970s,

so you're gonna be accentuating

your long silhouette with this pair

of wooden and leather clogs.

[shoes clunk]

They're literally made out of wood?

Oh yeah.

For accessories, you're gonna be layering

a variety of pieces in earthy tones and materials,

as well as a floppy brimmed hat

that's a nod to the one worn by Carly Simon

on the cover of her 1972 album, No Secrets.

Last but not least, you're gonna be wearing

this fringe shawl in the style

of the one and only Stevie Nicks.

Are you ready?

This is a lot of stuff.

[bright, funky music]

Fashion magazines in the early 1970s

promoted the natural look,

which still took some effort to produce.

For your eyes, some light eyeliner

and mascara will keep things chill.

For a fresh, feminine look that's seemingly effortless,

we'll accentuate your natural beauty

with just a little blush.

For your lips, we'll use a neutral lip shade

that will give you some color while still looking natural.

We'll keep your hair straight and parted down the middle,

in the style of actress Ali MacGraw,

who exemplified the youthful,

carefree spirit of bohemian fashion.

[upbeat music]

Ooh, I love this!

So I already love this look.

It's very comfortable.

It's casual while also being dramatic.

But to really test out the bohemian lifestyle,

I think I need to go outside and make art.

[bright music]

[discordant guitar music]

[bright music]

[Stef laughs] Okay, cut!

Amazing!

You okay? The shoes broke.

They're dangerous.

They're very dangerous. [laughs]

[Woman] Take the other one off.

Do you want me to grab another--

[beeping]

So the shoes broke when I was frolicking.

And if your clogs can't withstand frolicking in a field,

what's even the point of them?

Anytime I tried to do anything artistic,

my shawl would fall off.

It kinda just got in the way.

[tambourine jangles] [Stef laughs]

I can't deal with the hat.

This dress is perfect for running around in a field.

It looked so awesome when I was spinning.

It was a little bit long, though,

so I did trip a few times.

My tie dye vest ended up matching my paint pallet,

so that worked out perfectly.

I love how the makeup is subtle and natural.

The eyeliner makes my eyes pop,

but it's not too dramatic.

The lipstick is noticeable, but not too much.

It kinda matches my natural color.

Overall, this is my favorite look so far,

because even though it is very dressed up,

you kind of look like you didn't try at all.

Next up, it's business time.

Coinciding with the second-wave feminist movement,

many young women of the 1970s chose

to enter the workforce, and pantsuits quickly became

the sartorial symbol of their social and economic freedom.

American fashion designers like Anne Klein,

Geoffrey Beene, and Calvin Klein

provided working women with stylish,

mix-and-match separates,

while Diane von Furstenberg's iconic jersey wrap dress

became an office staple for those

who desired simplicity and sex appeal.

For this look, you're gonna be wearing

a white knit mock turtleneck

in the style of Mary Tyler Moore.

We'll be pairing that with

a double-knit polyester pant suit,

and this synthetic fabric was actually

a pretty big deal for working women

when it first came out because it didn't really wrinkle

and it could be machine washed easily

without losing its shape or colors.

On top of that, we have this bold blazer

that could be mixed and matched

with countless other items,

making it a staple in any career woman's closet.

To complete the look, you're gonna be wearing

this practical pair of pumps,

as well as this set of clip-on earrings

that can easily be slipped off

to make important phone calls.

No one makes phone calls anymore.

Are you ready to get to work?

Well, it is my day off.

[bright, upbeat music]

We're gonna be keeping your make up pretty simple,

because your outfit's already bold as is.

For your eyes, we're gonna go

with a more neutral-looking eyeshadow,

because we don't wanna compete too much

with the bright colors in your suit.

For your lips, we're gonna be using

a long-lasting terracotta shade

to keep you looking fresh from nine to five.

For your hair, we're taking inspiration

from Cybill Shepherd's chic hair seen in Glamor Magazine,

which is curled and teased to perfection.

[bright electronic music]

Wow!

This look is already so big.

My hair, not moving.

I actually do have to finish up

a few things from my real job,

so maybe I should go do it '70s style.

So my crew went out and got me

this actual typewriter from the '70s,

and I'm gonna try to get some of my actual work done.

[upbeat music]

Full disclosure, I've never used a typewriter before.

What do I do at work the most?

Facebook.

It must have been really hard

to check your email in the '70s.

[Stef laughs] What just happened?

Oh wait, this isn't a real phone.

So I couldn't really get any of my work done

because my job relies entirely on the internet.

So the suit definitely got me in the mood for some business,

but I think it would be a little bit

too stuffy for the summer months.

I don't usually match my top with my bottom,

but I do like the monochrome in this pants suit.

I'm sensing a pattern between some of these looks,

where the eyes and the lips are very low key,

which I like because a more natural

look definitely suits me.

It normally takes me five minutes to do my hair for work.

I don't think I would ever spend

this much time getting ready in the morning.

Overall, this look is a little bit bolder

than how I would normally dress in the office.

I think it would draw too much attention to me.

The last look is my favorite look, glam rock.

The glam rock style subverted traditional gender norms

and emphasized performance and artifice

through vibrant hair, shimmering makeup,

and an array of skintight clothing.

Although a number of musicians

had adopted this provocative style,

it's most often associated with music legend David Bowie

and his androgynous stage persona, Ziggy Stardust.

For this look, I am so exited

to have you wear this cheetah print jumpsuit

that was once owned by Debbie Harry from the band Blondie.

Blondie actually wore this? Mm-hmm.

Although Blondie wasn't really part of the glam rock scene,

this jumpsuit still is a great example

of those gender-bending, kitsch costumes

that were the cornerstones of the musical genre.

Glam rock was also called glitter rock for a reason,

so you're gonna be sparkling head to toe

in these dazzling platform shoes,

and crystal accessories in the style of Elton John.

And finally, we're gonna finish the look

with a blue feather boa and one dangling crystal earring,

which are like the ones that were worn

by David Bowie during his Ziggy Stardust era.

So these weren't actually David Bowie's?

No, sorry.

It's time for the grand finale.

[bright rock music]

Since Bowie had a lasting influence on fashion and beauty,

we're gonna try to reproduce some of his

most iconic looks through hair and makeup.

Since Bowie famously shaved off his eyebrows,

we're gonna try to replicate that

by covering yours up to make them disappear.

Shaved off his eyebrows.

[upbeat rock music]

[blow dryer whirring]

For your eyes, we're gonna use

a beautiful shade of blue eyeshadow with a bit of sparkle

that will help to achieve the unforgettable

look conceived by famed makeup artist Pierre LaRoche

for Bowie's Life on Mars music video.

Because Bowie's makeup was closely inspired

by traditional Japanese Kabuki theater

as well as his training as a mime,

we're going to lighten up your complexion

for a more dramatic look.

Then we're gonna add some blush and severe contour.

We'll finish the face with a glitter

and gloss on top of a pink lipstick,

which will evoke the metallic lip colors

that Bowie sometimes wore as Ziggy Stardust.

Of course, this look would not be complete

without Bowie's flaming red Ziggy hairdo,

which was copied by thousands of young fans

and became a symbol of rebellion.

[funky rock music]

Holy shit. [snickers]

This look pretty much has me speechless right now.

I don't know where my eyebrows are.

But in order to really experience

what it's like to be a glam rocker,

I guess I gotta jam out.

So my producer got me a royalty-free song,

and I'm gonna try to play along to it.

I feel like I'm supposed to do this.

[offbeat drum music]

[discordant piano music]

[discordant guitar music]

How do they do that? [laughs]

[guitar music] Yeah!

Can't we just film it in slow motion

and make it look like I'm doing something cool?

[Man] Uum.

[upbeat rock music]

Rock and roll!

Okay. [laughs]

Obviously not a musician, but I still had a lot of fun.

Getting to rock out in a piece of clothing

that Blondie actually wore was pretty sick.

The mullet with the crazy makeup and the outfit,

I really feel like I captured the essence of a glam rocker.

There is a lot of layers and a lot of glue on my face.

I don't see a situation where I would

ever do this in my real life.

The hair is giving me a little bit

of a Ronald McDonald feel, so it's not really for me.

So the jumpsuit is definitely my favorite part of this look.

I love cheetah print, and it didn't restrict

me at all when I was playing any instruments.

Usually I put bronzer on my face to look tanner,

so intentionally looking paler is a new concept to me.

I've also never contoured with red before.

I really see why people like Bowie

would wear a look like this.

It's super iconic.

It makes you different than everyone else,

but I'm not a rock star. [laughs]

This is my final look for the day.

I've had so much fun.

But before I go, there is one last thing I have to do.

Sarah, thank you so much.

I think the '70s might have been

my favorite decade that I've tried so far.

That's awesome!

And can I just say you looked amazing in all the looks?

Thank you. Thank you!

So I've had some time to reflect,

and in general, I really vibed

with every look from the '70s.

My favorite was probably the bohemian look.

It was loose, comfortable,

and a nice blend of warm, earthy tones,

which I normally gravitate towards anyway.

Big fan of the choker.

I'm a '90s kid.

The only part I would change would be the shoes,

because I almost broke my ankle,

which surprisingly didn't happen

when I was wearing the roller skates.

Another look I loved was glam rock.

I mean, I was wearing Blondie's jumpsuit?

That's the closest I'll ever be to fame.

However, the makeup was a little dramatic.

I think I would opt to keeping my eyebrows on.

I would probably do my makeup more like the casual look,

with light cheeks, light lipstick,

and just enough mascara to make my eyes pop.

Overall, the '70s were all about individuality,

so doing and wearing whatever made you feel like a badass,

and I'm pretty onboard with that.

Anyways, thanks for watching.

I gotta go figure out where to store I giant disco ball.