London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Jul 04, 2025

70s Fashion Designers That Paved the Way

70s Fashion Designers That Paved the Way

From Diane von Furstenberg to Emilio Pucci, these are the '70s fashion designers that defined a decade of style that we now see emulated on today's runways.

The 1970s were probably one of the best fashion decades of all time. Those years introduced many ideas and trends that ultimately became staple wardrobe items that we still wear today and that contemporary designers around the world are always inspired by. Designs like the wrap dress and pants suit were made popular by trailblazing designers like Diane Von Fustenber and Yves Saint Laurent, who have become, among others, renowned icons in the fashion industry for creating cutting edge garments that left a major mark on the fashion history of the 20th century and beyond.

Exaggerating the style of the late '60s, that of the early '70s was comprised of bell-bottom jeans, brightly colored patterns, peasant blouses, and maxi skirts typical of the bohemian fashion of those years. But while the hippie movement was prevalent, it didn't stop other crowds from dressing up for the disco era of dance floors and glitter, with satin, off-the-shoulder dresses, jumpsuits and lamé gowns as seen in nightclubs like Studio 54 in New York City. As psychedelic prints and flared pants dominate today's trends, take a look back at the famous fashion designers who defined the '70s era with their innovative and iconic clothes, paving the way for many more creatives to come.

Diane Von Furstenberg




Belgian fashion designer Diane Von Fustenberg became an icon in 1974 with the creation of the silk jersey wrap dress, which quickly became a versatile and relaxed fit for every woman's body shape that's still a favorite nowadays. Originally available in a small range of very '70s prints, the dress had sold over 5 million times by 1976, turning von Furstenberg into a lasting fashion empire and a true '70s symbol.

Stephen Burrows




The African-American designer who first popularized color blocking in the '70s, Stephen Burrows created brightly colored, disco garnments for the 1970s New York dancing scene. His designs sold internationally and grew him a mainstream, high-fashion audience that confer him a legacy that lives on today.

Emilio Pucci




Italian designer Emilio Pucci is synonymous with geometric prints in a kaleidoscope of colors. He became best known in the '70s for making tight, shantung "Pucci" pants and vivid prints of silk jersey dresses and blouses. His designs were worn by every glamorous celebrity of those years, from Sophia Loren to Jackie Kennedy.

Bill Gibb




Famous for mixing prints, textures, colors, and patterns with multi-cultural, medieval, and romantic influences from the past, like full-length skirts and billowing sleeves, British designer Bill Gibb had a tremendous influence on the hippie style that became a trademark of '70s fashion.

Ottavio Missoni




Italian designer Ottavio Missoni created his fashion house in 1953 and was best known for knitwear with bold, colored, zig zag weave patterns. Easily recognizable in today's fashion, the '70s-influenced pattern is used on everything from scarves and caps to dresses and outerwear, and made the name Missoni a worldwide brand.

Yves Saint Laurent




Known for making pants acceptable for women to wear for work and not only in casual settings, French designer Yves Saint Laurent ntroduced the city trouser in 1966, and then in 1968, his collection included women's trouser suits such as the safari suit. During the '70s the trend began to take hold and still remains a popular style in the 21st century.

Halston




American fashion designer Roy Halston Frowick, known simply as Halston, created nearly every popular dress seen on the dance floors of the 1970s. His free-flowing and draped jersey dresses and lean trouser suits were perfect for dancing thanks to their construction without buttons or zippers. Halston's designs became a fashion staple of those years and because he was one of the first major designers to license his name, his clothes were not only worn by many celebrities who were regulars at Studio 54 in New York City, but also became accessible to the masses.

Thea Porter




Half English, half French designer Thea Porter grew up traveling the world when she was young and she translated her passion for multi-cultural experiences into her designs, which inspired the renowned bohemian look of the mid '70s. Her design career began with her own extensive textile collection from her travels and a Middle Eastern import shop in London, which included caftans and maxi dresses often made out of antique materials like voile, velvet, chiffon, and brocade.

Vivienne Westwood




British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, also dubbed the Mother of Punk, played a big role in the influence of punk rock on fashion in both America and Great Britain during the '70s and beyond. Westwood came to public notice when she started designing clothes for Malcolm McLaren—her then-boyfriend and manager of the punk rock band Sex Pistols-and his boutique on King's Road in London called Sex. Westwood's name has been synonymous with bondage pants, eccentric platform shoes, and punk.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
Trump Administration Considers Withdrawal of Funding for Hospitals Providing Gender Treatment to Minors
Texas Enacts Law Allowing Gold and Silver Transactions
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
OpenAI Secures Multimillion-Dollar AI Contracts with Pentagon, India, and Grab
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Elon Musk Critiques Senate Budget Proposal Over Job Losses and Strategic Risks
Los Angeles Riots ended with Federal Investigations into Funding
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Education Secretary Announces Overhaul of Complaints System Amid Rising Parental Grievances
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Trump Ends Trade Talks with Canada Over Digital Services Tax
UK Government Softens Welfare Reform Plans Amid Labour Party Rebellion
Labour Faces Rebellion Over Disability Benefit Reforms Ahead of Key Vote
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Host Lavish Wedding in Venice Amid Protests
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
North Korea to Open New Beach Resort to Boost Tourism Economy
UK Labour Party Faces Internal Tensions Over Welfare Reforms
Andrew Cuomo Hints at Potential November Comeback Amid Democratic Primary Results
Curtis Sliwa Champions His Vision for New York City Amid Rising Crime Concerns
Federal Reserve Proposes Changes to Capital Rule Affecting Major Banks
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Trump Escalates Criticism of Media Over Iran Strike Coverage
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
Big Four Accounting Firms Fined in Exam Cheating Scandal
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
Australia's Star Casino Secures $195 Million Rescue Package Amid Challenges
UK to Enhance Nuclear Capabilities with Acquisition of F-35A Fighter Jets
×