Many people have specific historic periods they gravitate towards in terms of style. In my case, people tend to assume that it’s the sixties (not that I have TOO many conversations like that, but there have been some), mostly I guess because my only remarkable physical feature is the length of my legs. But I often find the sharp black and white combos of the sixties too harsh and the pale nude lip just makes me look positively dead.

Therefore, I’ve always preferred the fluidity and warmth of the seventies. Not the hippy seventies (I really am not good at doing hippy) nor the disco seventies, but a more mundane version: high-waisted trousers, simple silk shirts, midi skirts, denim, blazers, wrap dresses, roll-necks, possibly a skinny scarf. For a tall, curve-less person, this can be a very good look. The other thing I believe seventies are good for is some colour inspiration. It was a decade of non-obvious colours: mustard, ochre, rust, strange greens and blues, and tan, of course. These sligtly off colours are very interesting to play with and yield fresh results when combined.

I would personally not wear all this at once, although others are of course welcome to be as literal as they please. I really like the knee-covering skirt and silk shirt duo, but I have yet to find the perfect, slightly a-line skirt for this. So I have used a pair of culottes as a substitute here, in something I consider a very seventies shade. I’m generally not a fan of platforms, but somehow they seem right at the moment (I blame YSL) and I really like this pair in blue suede.

There are many things you can play around with: keep the colours and change the shapes or go for a high drama silhouette (very high waisted, very wide trousers, maybe) in a more subdued palette. The only element I’m struggling to change is the hair – I think there is no choice but to keep it loose, although I’m generally more of an up-do girl. I wouldn’t go full Farrah Fawcett, but a gentle nod might be just the thing. For make-up, I’d do a bronze or khaki eye with a soft, brownish lip.

Ironically – considering my out-of-control perfume hobby – I was having trouble with picking the fragrance. If you want to go for authentic, there are some brilliant ideas in this thread, where I asked for advice (scroll down a bit for relevant comments). From the original Chloe to Revlon’s Charlie to YSL Rive Gauche, it’s all there – no better people to ask if you need adequate perfume advice. But I’m thinking that maybe the way to go here is the same as with clothes: inspired by, rather than copied. I was thinking maybe Byredo Gypsy Water (I have the hair perfume!) that takes the bohemian aspect, but filters it through Nordic modernism. But all suggestions welcome.

Of course, the seventies I’m channeling here never really happened – the idea of them exists only in my head. But whether real or not, I like the relaxed feel of this decade. And I’m starting to think I might even attempt boho one day.

Pictured:
– silk blouse, culottes and shoes by Zara
– three silk blouses by Zara
– nail polishes by & Other Stories in Barege Mustard, Shalloon Conifer and Pointelle Flesh (the colours are actually a bit more muted in real life)
– armchair by Oot-Oot (yes, I’ve got one in yellow and one in lilac/purple and I love the latter, I just thought that doing another post on this one would not be that exiting to read)