Back in the 70s, people rocked and rolled. It was the decade of flamboyance, color, and new fashion. There was something for everyone.
Hippie, funky, suave, manly, and at times casual too. When it came to men’s fashion, there were a few trends that were best left behind, like men’s jumpsuits or bell bottom pants.
But a few suit styles are surprisingly still relevant today. Or perhaps the circular nature of fashion has brought it back to us. Nonetheless, it just gives us more ideas to create fancy outfits.
So here is a list of 10 types of suits that were popular in the 70s and still rocking today.
70s mens suits:
- Corduroy suits
Tan, brown, maroon, red, and black suits come in many textures and materials. One such popular material is corduroy. This material is truly timeless. When it comes to layering during the fall and winter seasons, corduroy jackets are just perfect for turning to. Well, in the 70s, men were big fans of corduroy suits. Because of their durability and the large variety of natural colors, they were among wardrobe staples. You would often find these suits with suede elbow pads that stood out among the academics. Even today, these jackets make for stunning statement pieces.
- Leisure suits
As the name suggests, leisure suits were made for casual occasions. They would come in all kinds of fabric, y’all. The 70s saw a huge revolution in the field of the fabric industry. Newer and cheaper materials were mass manufactured. It made suits affordable and accessible for everyone. The differentiating factor for leisure suits was that they did not have an inner lining. The lapels were omitted, and they had the feel of an oversized structured shirt. White leisure suits that rocked the disco scene then came to be known as the disco suits.
- Denim suit
As we discussed earlier, fashion underwent a lot of experimentation in the 70s. And one of the fabrics that were used to tailor suits was denim. Lee designed a three-piece denim suit for men. The denim cotton Lee-set made for a neat suit altogether. Just like denim pants, they had brass buttons and pockets. The lapels were wide like all other 70s suits. For today’s aesthetic, the denim vest and pants or denim suit and pants would make a striking outfit for a casual look. Worth a fair shot.
- 70s Sears suits
Sears suits were quite common back in the day. Their massive popularity was also attributed to their knit material. Knit suits don’t wrinkle and are slightly stretchy, which makes them travel-friendly. Plus, they had the best European and American aesthetics combined. Coats were slim-fit and accentuated the masculine shoulders, whereas the pants were well-fitted yet not too tight. Now, who wouldn’t want this suit in their collection today? Men often matched these beige, pastel, grey, and brown colored sets with patterned vests, pants, and shirts to create a homogenous appearance.
- Three-piece suit
Three-piece suits came in quite a few variations. Some were coordinated throughout, meaning that the pants, the vest, and the coat were all cut out from the same fabric. The other ensemble came with a two-way vest. It had one side matching the pants and the other matching the suit. You could pick your side and your style. Even today, this fashion would make for a smart look. The colors of the seventies were bold and daring. But you can certainly choose sober colors to rock the look.
- Patterned suits
Patterned suits were popular in the 70s and are still worn by men all over. Although the 70s patterns were bolder, you can go for subtle checkered patterns. Plaid pants and suits were mixed and matched to create a more versatile wardrobe. Even today, plaid suits look traditional and, if appropriately coordinated, can look dapper even today. Colored stripes, straight and diagonal, were popular patterns seen on blazers. We advise you to stick to pinstripe suits for your formal needs.
- 70s sports jacket
A sports coat is not technically a suit, but it is the basis on which sports jackets have been designed. So, it is already relevant in some sense. In the 70s, men often wore colorful patterned oversized jackets. Plain sports jackets were often worn to dinner parties and social events. There was a lot of variety in pocket shapes and types of buttons. Few of these sports suits came with exceptionally large pockets with eye-catching flaps.
- 70s tuxedo
If you ever thought pastels are a recent trend, think again. 70s men loved the pastels. Not just for shirts, but for the tuxedos too. Cream, beige, light green, baby blue, and pink shades ruled the 70s tuxedo scene. Interestingly, the black tux was only worn by the wealthy. People wore all these earthy and lighter shades to weddings too. That look is again very relevant today. The velvet fabric was also partially favored because it was the decade of a little glitz and glamor. Under the tux, men often wore ruffled shirts of rainbow colors, which is a trend that need not come back.
- Armani suits
While the 70s market was flooding with tons of colored and textured artificial fabric, Armani developed the art of using natural fibers to create a refined look. As much as the polyester double-knit suits were versatile and colorful, they were not breathable. So, Armani ventured into creating manly suits for men. The broad shoulder and built torso silhouettes were incorporated into the designs. We’re all fans of Italian craftsmanship and fashion. So, there’s no denying that it deserves a place in men’s fashion today.
- The executive formal suit
It is luxurious, classic, and elegant. A staid piece of clothing for an executive to step into the office. It was contemporary in the 70s, and even today, if you wear it to a meeting, we don’t think you’ll feel out of place. There is a time and place for formal fashion, and this suit suits the modern man. A couple of tweaks, such as a sleeker tie and a neater pocket square, would look much dapper.
