4/24/2022 DISCO FEVERThe 1970’s was a decade that welcomed inclusivity. As previously mentioned, this was a defining era for social and political liberation. As ‘disco’ music and club culture rose across the US, there was a demand for modern eveningwear, suited to groovy dancing. Disco music, being of African American origin, influenced the design process of these styles dramatically. People turned away from floor length poodle skirts and shift dresses popular during the late 1950s and 1960s and began to wear figure flattering fitted pants or jumpsuit pieces. As the Civil-Rights Movement grew in following across the state, American pop culture began to consider African American culture more seriously and began to view black-culture as “cool”. We can see these connotations throughout many advertisements from this era. In what was known as the polyester decade, satin, sequins, and velvet ruled the dance floor. Female liberation was thriving at this time, leading women with a desire to express their femininity and sexual freedoms in new and glamorous ways. In the early seventies, women could be seen figure hugging one pieces, sparkling halter necks and hot pants to the disco. Platform 'Go-go' boots were also a huge trend piece during the disco era and were no stranger to the dancefloor. As disco rose in popularity throughout the decade, an opportunity for the genre to be explored through other artforms presented itself. Disco had an agreement with music, film and fashion. One aspect would inspire and reflect the other, leading to thriving intertextualities. A well known example of this relationship between disco and pop-culture can be seen in John Badham's 1977 cult classic 'Saturday Night Fever'. This dance-drama film stars John Travolta as Tony Manero, a young Italian-American man from Brooklyn who spends his weekends dancing at a local Disco. The film is built around a variation of disco classics, consisting of mostly Bee-Gees tracks. The film had a remarkable impact on 1970's pop-culture, showcasing the most defining aspects of the Disco genre; dancing, the subcultures of the disco era, sexual-promiscuity and of course, the grooviest outfits. Music historians Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton wrote in their book "Last Night a DJ Saved My Life": "The Bee Gees did for disco what Elvis Presley did for rhythm and blues, what Diana Ross did for soul, what Dave Brubeck did for jazz; they made it safe for white, straight, middle-class people, hauling it out of its subcultural ghetto and into the headlight glare of the mainstream." It was through films like Saturday Night Fever that disco thrived and was eventually popularised to be mainstream. As the music spread in popularity, so did the clothing associated with the genre. By the late seventies disco had become a defining sound and style of the decade. Check out how I styled my favourite disco-dancing jacket below! Check out MORE vintage disco styles belowComments are closed.
|
|