70s Outfits for Men: Disco-Inspired, Funk, and Modern Looks
The 1970s represented a revolutionary period in men’s fashion—a time when the constraints of traditional masculinity loosened, allowing for unprecedented experimentation with color, texture, and silhouette. Unlike the understated elegance of old money style, 70s outfits for men embraced boldness, self-expression, and at times, delightful extravagance.
The 70s outfits for men presented in this article and accompanying visual materials are intended as creative recreations and inspirations drawn from historical fashion trends of the 1970s. These looks represent contemporary reinterpretations viewed through today’s aesthetic lens, fashion sensibilities, and available materials.
Fashion, like all art forms, evolves through reinterpretation, and our goal is to honor the bold creativity of 70s menswear while adapting it for current tastes and contexts:
The Foundation: Signature Pieces of 70s Menswear
The Leisure Suit
The quintessential 70s men’s ensemble combined comfort with style through the leisure suit. Typically crafted from polyester or polyester blends, these suits featured:
- Matching jacket and trousers in bold colors or patterns
- Wide, expansive lapels that extended several inches
- Higher-waisted pants with a slight flare
- Often worn with wide collar shirts left unbuttoned to mid-chest
- Frequent embellishments like contrast stitching or embroidery
For an authentic 70s leisure suit look, pair with platform shoes and a medallion necklace against exposed chest hair—the ultimate power move of the disco era.
Wide-Collar Shirts
Perhaps nothing screams “1970s” quite like the dramatic collar spread:
- Point collars that extended well beyond the jacket lapels
- Often made from silky, synthetic fabrics with high sheen
- Bold patterns including paisley, geometric prints, and photorealistic designs
- Frequently worn unbuttoned to show off chest jewelry
- Sometimes featuring decorative contrast stitching
The wide collar served as the perfect frame for the face and complemented the equally expansive jacket lapels of the era.
Bell-Bottom Trousers
While flared pants originated in the 1960s, they reached their zenith in the following decade:
- High-waisted cut that sat above the natural waist
- Dramatically flared legs from the knee down
- Often featured decorative details like patch pockets or embroidery
- Worn with platform shoes or boots to elongate the silhouette
- Common fabrics included denim, corduroy, and polyester blends
The bell-bottom silhouette created a sense of drama and movement ideal for the dance floor.
Platform Shoes & Boots
To balance the dramatic flare of bell-bottoms, men elevated themselves with:
- Chunky heels of 2-4 inches in height
- Square or slightly pointed toes
- Materials ranging from leather to suede to synthetic alternatives
- Often featuring multiple colors, textures, or decorative stitching
- Sometimes incorporating transparent lucite heels for disco devotees
These height-enhancing shoes weren’t just fashionable—they were practical companions to the era’s flared trousers.
70s Haircuts: The Shaggy Look
The shaggy, layered hairstyle that defined the 1970s men’s grooming landscape has proven remarkably resilient across five decades of shifting aesthetic trends. Originally popularized by rock icons like Mick Jagger and cultivated to perfection by actors like Warren Beatty and Robert Redford, this deliberately tousled look with its face-framing layers and natural movement has been continuously reinterpreted by subsequent generations.
Its fundamental appeal lies in its versatility—the textured, effortless-looking style works across hair types and face shapes while projecting a certain confident nonchalance that resonates regardless of era. Contemporary interpretations have refined the silhouette, typically opting for more strategic layering and less volume than their 70s predecessors, but the essential elements remain: movement, texture, and that characteristic blend of deliberate styling that paradoxically looks unstudied.
Key 70s Outfits for Men: Style Movements That Defined the Era
Disco Elegance
Studio 54 and similar venues birthed an entire fashion ecosystem centered around nightlife glamour:
- Three-piece suits in white, cream, or pastel shades
- Shirts unbuttoned to showcase gold chains and medallions
- Silk scarves as accent pieces
- Meticulously styled hair with significant volume
- Cuban-heeled boots or platform shoes for dance floor dominance
John Travolta in “Saturday Night Fever” epitomized this look with his iconic white three-piece suit.
Rock-Inspired Bohemia
Taking cues from musicians like Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones:
- Tight-fitting pants paired with billowy, poet-sleeve shirts
- Suede and leather in earthy tones
- Fringed vests and jackets as statement pieces
- Layered jewelry including multiple necklaces
- Long, flowing hair and facial hair
This aesthetic celebrated a deliberate masculinity that embraced traditionally feminine elements like jewelry and attention to aesthetic detail.
Funk & Soul Flair
Artists like Isaac Hayes, Curtis Mayfield, and Earth, Wind & Fire pioneered looks featuring:
- Bold, graphic patterns in vibrant colors
- Matching sets with consistent motifs
- Wide-brimmed hats like fedoras and homburgs
- High-waisted pants with wide legs
- Luxurious fabrics like velvet, satin, and silk
This style emphasized rich textures, coordinated ensembles, and confident personal expression.
Casual Americana
Not all 70s fashion was flamboyant. Many men adopted a more relaxed approach:
- Denim-on-denim “Canadian tuxedo” combinations
- Corduroy jackets with elbow patches
- Turtleneck sweaters layered under sport coats
- Earth-toned color palettes in browns, oranges, and mustard yellows
- Shaggy, natural hairstyles
This everyday style maintained 70s proportions but in more subdued color schemes.
Essential Accessories
- Medallion necklaces: Worn against exposed chest hair, these gold or silver pendants often featured zodiac symbols
- Aviator sunglasses: With gradient lenses and gold or silver frames
- Wide belts: Often with large, ornate buckles
- Newsboy caps and wide-brimmed hats: For added drama and flair
- Chunky rings and ID bracelets: Men embraced jewelry with unprecedented enthusiasm
Celebrities Who Defined the Era
- Burt Reynolds: The quintessential 70s man with his mustache, open shirts, and masculine yet fashion-forward look
- Robert Redford: Bringing sophistication to 70s casual wear with perfectly fitted jeans and turtlenecks
- Mick Jagger: Pioneering gender-fluid fashion with jumpsuits and bold color choices
- Richard Roundtree: The “Shaft” actor embodied cool confidence with leather coats and turtlenecks
- Elton John: Taking the decade’s maximalism to theatrical extremes with platform boots and flamboyant accessories
Incorporating 70s Outfits for Men into Today’s Wardrobe
Today’s fashion continues to reference this influential decade. For a contemporary take:
- Focus on proportion: Choose one 70s element like a wider lapel or slightly flared pant
- Modernize the palette: Select more subdued versions of 70s colors
- Mind the materials: Opt for natural fibers rather than synthetic polyesters
- Choose quality over novelty: Invest in well-made pieces rather than costume-like replicas
- Exercise restraint: Incorporate just one or two 70s elements rather than adopting the full look
Modern Adaptations of Classic 70s Pieces
Wide-collar shirts have made a stylish comeback and pair perfectly with modern tailoring. Wear one under a slim-fit suit for a subtle nod to the 70s without going full costume.
Bell-bottoms have evolved into today’s boot-cut or slightly flared trousers. These can balance out bulkier upper body silhouettes and work well with Chelsea boots or clean sneakers.
Leisure suit separates can be incorporated individually—try a muted polyester jacket with modern jeans, or pair those high-waisted trousers with a simple T-shirt or sweater.
Platform shoes have been reimagined as chunky-soled boots and sneakers. These add height while creating a contemporary street style look when paired with straight-leg jeans.
Earth tones from the casual 70s wardrobe—rust, mustard, olive, and brown—are extremely versatile in today’s minimalist color palettes and add warmth to any outfit.
The 1970s represented a brief window of liberation in men’s fashion before the conservative turn of the 1980s. Its enduring influence speaks to our continuing fascination with a decade that celebrated individuality, personal expression, and the joy of dressing boldly. By thoughtfully incorporating elements from classic 70s outfits for men into contemporary looks, you can channel the decade’s expressive spirit while maintaining a thoroughly modern appeal.
The suggested styling combinations, fabric choices, and visual representations reflect how these iconic looks can be reimagined and worn today, rather than strict historical documentation. We encourage readers to use these as inspiration for their own personal style journey while acknowledging the rich fashion heritage from which they draw.
Recommended Archives for 70s Menswear Research
For those interested in exploring authentic historical examples of 1970s men’s fashion, the following institutional archives and museum collections offer valuable resources:
The Museum at FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology)
The Museum at FIT houses one of the most important collections of fashion and textiles in the world, with particular strength in 20th-century menswear. Their digital archives include an extensive collection of 1970s garments, designer sketches, and fashion photography that documents the evolution of men’s style throughout the decade. The collection features iconic pieces from influential designers who shaped the distinctive silhouettes and aesthetics of 70s menswear.
The Costume Institute at The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Costume Institute at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art preserves more than 33,000 objects representing seven centuries of fashionable dress. Their 1970s collection documents the decade’s revolutionary approach to menswear, featuring leisure suits, designer eveningwear, and casual attire that broke with traditional masculine dress codes. The digital archive includes high-resolution photography that allows close examination of authentic period construction techniques, fabrics, and styling.
