17 Fashion Mistakes We All Made in the '70s

Fur coats, over-the-top patters — yea, you're guilty too! From punk to glam to disco, these were the worst trends of the 1970s. 1. Vinyl Jumpsuits Sure, these looked "futuristic," but it must've made folks feel unbearably warm. And if you had to go to the bathroom? Forget about it. 2. Bellbottoms Oh, bellbottoms. While they stayed popular from the '60s through the '70s and made another comeback the '90s, they are nevertheless one of the most controversial fashion trends ever. 3. Wide-Collared Shirts A great suit flatters any physique, but the super-large collars men rocked in the '70s looked a little more costume-y than chic. 4. Chest Hair The wide-collar shirt was only a means to an end: The reveal of chest hair. So much chest hair. Now, we're all in favor of a great shot of Tom Selleck, but this is quite a fluffy look for daily wear. 5. Cutout Swimsuits Yes, the '70s beach scene involved way too much dangerous tanning (and tanning oil, eek!). It also featured lots of cutout suits that undoubtedly left some, ahem, unconventional tan lines. 6. Shiny Shirts We'll always love you, John Travolta, but there just aren't a whole lot of times when a shiny shirt is a good idea. For example, any time you don't figure skating in the Olympics. 7. Patterned Gowns As pretty as these patterns are, the bell sleeves and full-length hemline can make you look like you're wearing a giant pillowcase. 8. Double Denim A great pair of jeans? Yes. A denim jacket? Absolutely, yes! Double denim? Double nooooo. The "Canadian tuxedo" (plus a satin shirt revealing tons of chest hair) just isn't a good look. 9. Knee-High Socks With the advent of the miniskirt came the rise (literally) of knee-high socks. As cute as the patterns may be, they can nevertheless make you look like a schoolgirl — no matter your age. 10. Ill-Advised Piercings I love a good piercing as much as the next person, but certain members of the punk scene went way overboard on the safety pinned look. 11. Space Dresses While they weren't quite as wild as their '60s counterparts, this type of futuristic garb remained popular in the '70s, leading to tons of all-white ensembles that undoubtedly required so much bleach. 12. Studded Belts Initially worn by punk rockers of the '70s and later adopted by Hot Topic-loving teenagers in the '00s, the studded belt has always been an odd accessory. Doesn't it catch on everything? Isn't it at least a little unpleasant when you put your arms at your sides? We have so many questions. 13. Ultra Wide-Legged Pants The big sister of the bellbottom, these pants looked pretty but were so very impractical. All that fabric scraping the ground, collecting dust and dirt as you trip over your feet? No, thank you. 14. Stripes, Stripes, Stripes We get it, '70s: You loved stripes. As cute as this pattern can be, the fact that so many folks wore them from head to toe was a little much. 15. Tied Tops As much as we love Cher, tied tops just look like bikini-shirt hybrids. 16. Authentic Fur As glamorous as fur looked on the rich and famous in the '70s, it's a cruel and outdated practice. Thankfully, nowadays you can wear this trend in faux materials — all with a clear conscience! 17. Massive High Heels See the heels in this photo? They're eight inches. Eight. Inches. How many ankles were broken by innocent people attempting to gain some height? Credits: goodhousekeeping.com