How to Create Perfect '70s Outfits For Dolls

How To Create The Perfect 1970s Outfit For Your DollWe've put together the ultimate resource guide to recreating the quintessential fashion favorites of the 1970s for your 18-inch doll such as American Girl®. For more inspiration, be sure to check out our style guide on 5 Spring Trends To Sew For Your Doll.  

Giveaway Alert: Scroll to the bottom of the page to enter our American Girl® Julie™ Doll Giveaway!

We all know trends come in cycles, and suddenly the crop tops, scrunchies, or "mom jeans" of decades past are back in style once again. One fashion era that is always being reinterpreted by trendsetters of today is the style of the 1970s. 

Key features that are so fun to play around with in design are:

  • bell bottom silhouettes
  • fitted and/or cropped tops such as peasant blouses
  • wide lapels
  • midi and maxi length skirts
  • fabrics and prints such as paisley, crushed velvet, crochet, and bold colorful florals

Find the entire collection of 1970s Patterns For 18-inch Dolls on Pixie Faire. 

The 1970s Color Palette 

Pantone™ 1970s Colors

According to Pantone®, economic recession and eco-consciousness were top of mind during the '70s, and this influenced consumers taste in colors by drawing them to more muted, earthy tones. Similar colors have been popping up consistently across runways and trend reports over the last few seasons, as people today look for grounded and more minimalistic colors. 

1970s Dresses

1970s Dress Patterns For 18-inch dolls

     

1970s Chevron Sun Dress Crochet Pattern by Little Abbee

Sweet 70s Dress from Keepers Dolly Duds

Convergence Dress from DKinley Designs

All Occasion Dress from 123 Mulberry Street

Create a cute spring dress for your doll that channels a '70s vibe by choosing a pattern with classic details of the decade, like a wide pointed collar, or pick groovy fabrics and accessories to add '70s flare to a more versatile and classic dress pattern. 

 

1970s Spring Separates

1970s Skirts, Pants, and Tops Pattern For 18-inch dolls

  1970s Flounce Blouse and Skirt 18-inch doll clothes pattern 1970s Pantsuit and Jumper 18-inch doll clothes patternsPeasant Blouse Pattern For 18-inch dollsGenniewren Philippa Skirt Pattern

Eclectic Closet Flounce Blouse & Skirt from Flossie Potter
Study Hall Pantsuit and Jumper from Keepers Dolly Duds
Peasant Crop Top from Flossie Potter
Philippa Skirt from Genniewren Designs
These great tops, pants, and skirts can be made into authentic '70s ensembles, 

 or be mixed-and-matched with other wardrobe staples to create more contemporary looks. 

70s Spring Shoes and Accessories

1970s Accessories Patterns For 18-inch dolls

18-inch doll shoes pattern espadrilles sandals    Fringe Bag Pattern For 18-inch Dolls    18-inch doll shoes pattern Dollistock sandals 1970s Accessories For 18-inch dolls

Platform T-Bar Espadrilles from Miche Designs
Killara Fringe Bag from Liberty Jane Clothing
Dollistocks from QTπ Doll Clothing
'60s and '70s Accessories from Flossie Potter
These shoes and accessories are the perfect way to add a hint of the 1970s to an outfit, or to go the extra mile and create an authentic look.

 

1970s-inspired Pattern Hacks

Hip-Hugger Bell Bottoms and Maxi Skirt Pattern Hack

Sew the perfect Hip-Hugger Maxi Skirt using this Pattern Hack of the Hip-Hugger Bell Bottoms from Flossie Potter.

1970s Bell Sleeve Tutorial

Add a fun and frilly Bell Sleeve detail to your favorite t-shirt using this pattern hack of the T-shirt Variations Pattern from Liberty Jane Clothing.

 

ENTER TO WIN An American Girl® Julie™ Doll!

To enter this week's contest, simply click the link below and then enter through the giveaway widget at the bottom of the blog post, there are many things you can do to earn multiple entry points!

Contest Details: You enter through the entry form that is embedded on this page and appears just below this paragraph, if you don't see it, be sure to visit the page from your desktop or an alternate browser such as Google Chrome. It may not appear on all mobile devices. The complete rules and entry details appear on the entry form. This is not a comment contest - in other words, leaving a comment on the bottom of this page is not an official entry method. The only required entry method is to leave a comment under this post and then confirm that you did it in the contest widget. One person will receive the Julie™ doll. You can enter once, or gain multiple entries by completing the other entry methods and increase your chances of winning. Please review all Terms and Conditions on the giveaway page before entering. While we wish we could run this contest everywhere, for legal reasons it is only open to eligible residents of the U.S. and Canada, not including Rhode Island. This contest is exclusively endorsed by Liberty Jane Clothing and Pixie Faire. Not endorsed by or affiliated with American Girl®. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

We'd love to hear from you. Leave a comment and tell us - which '70s trend is your favorite! Commenting below and confirming your entry in the widget above gives you one entry method, the other methods are listed in the widget above, be sure to enter in as many ways as you can to receive the maximum amount of entries to win one Julie™ Doll!

Thanks, everyone!

The Pixie Faire Team

 


100 Comments

Cheryl Curlee
Cheryl Curlee

April 08, 2020

Love these designs, I was a teen in the 70s, brings back great memories

MaryAnne
MaryAnne

April 08, 2020

I’d love to have this doll.

Caprina
Caprina

April 08, 2020

Flower Power was coooool when I was a teen, hip huggers, granny shirts, and bright florals.

Linda
Linda

April 08, 2020

I grew up in the Bell Bottom days. When Julie came out, I just had to buy her. Then my niece really wanted her and I gave my Julie to her. I made a camping tent for her, clothes, bed, etc.
One day I was at her house and asked her where her Julie doll was. Her Mom said, "I’m so
sorry but she left it out and our Rotweiler chewed her up.
I was devastated and have missed my Julie doll since then.

Chriss
Chriss

April 08, 2020

I love all the peasant style dresses and tops! So pretty and feminine.

Lana
Lana

April 08, 2020

I loved my red bell bottoms from the 70’s! My granddaughters would love this doll! Thanks for offering her!

Patricia T
Patricia T

April 08, 2020

Oh, how I loved the bell bottom pants I had back then!! My vote goes for the bell bottoms

Joanne G
Joanne G

April 08, 2020

We just looked so good in the 70’s! Loved my bells. Ones made today to be retro just don’t look the same.

Kami
Kami

April 08, 2020

I love the outfit Julie has on!

Becky
Becky

April 08, 2020

I enjoy making clothes for the 18" dolls and 70’look is awesome . The skirt is adorable. Love your patterns . Thank you for amazing patterns!

Teri
Teri

April 08, 2020

I was a beginner sewer and made several Granny dresses with elastic in the neckline and under the bustline. Flower prints of course!

Rose Hermens
Rose Hermens

April 08, 2020

What fun my daughter has with her dolls, she only has dolls I’ve been able to find at Goodwill. But she still loves them as much as if they were brand new. A brand new doll would be amazing!

Debra Luecke
Debra Luecke

April 08, 2020

My favorite is the bell bottoms. So retro!

Terry Scarborough
Terry Scarborough

April 08, 2020

I have always loved peasant blouses ever since my grandmother made them for me in the 70’s. I still wear them all the time!

Sparkle
Sparkle

April 08, 2020

What a delightful blast from the past! Julie is adorable in her 70s duds. Thank you!

Carol
Carol

April 08, 2020

My favorite 70’s design is the hip hugger bell bottoms!

Terry Scarborough
Terry Scarborough

April 08, 2020

I have always loved peasant blouses ever since my grandmother made them for me in the 70’s. I still wear them all the time!

Bonnie
Bonnie

April 08, 2020

cute

Karen Saul
Karen Saul

April 08, 2020

I just LOVE the Sweet 70s dress patterns!

Karen W
Karen W

April 08, 2020

My favorite 70s trend was bell bottom hip huggers and peasant blouses.

Marilyn
Marilyn

April 08, 2020

My favorite 70s trend was the wild colors and prints used on the fabrics. They were great for the tops that were in style back then.

Liz
Liz

April 08, 2020

How cool to relive the fashions we used to wear! Still like them (just no belly tops for me anymore, thank you!)

Heidi Goebel
Heidi Goebel

April 08, 2020

My after prom outfit was mariner style bell bottoms with a cute striped shirt and a matching bra top. I felt over the moon….

Judy Stewart
Judy Stewart

April 08, 2020

I love the bell bottoms! They hid any shoes that you had on, including your slippers!! :)

Blue
Blue

April 08, 2020

Love the peasant crop top. They’re cool and breezy for outdoor fun!

Leah
Leah

April 08, 2020

I love bell bottoms. Can’t bear to get rid of my old pair!!!

Jo
Jo

April 08, 2020

I’ve always preferred the colors of the 70s, the clothes not so much. At that time I was too busy raising babies, and not paying much attention to tight bell bottoms. lol I have, however, enjoyed sewing the Flossie Potter peasant blouses, bell bottoms,vests, and long skirts, for my AG doll.

Renay
Renay

April 08, 2020

Peasant Crop Top, Love it!!!!!

Stephanie Kolitsch
Stephanie Kolitsch

April 08, 2020

I love the Philippa skirt!

Deanna Varner
Deanna Varner

April 08, 2020

I like the floral fabrics as well as the bell sleeves on tops and dresses.

Janet M
Janet M

April 08, 2020

The bell bottoms bring back happy silly memories.

Denise
Denise

April 08, 2020

My favorite 70’s look is the peasant blouse.

Patti
Patti

April 08, 2020

My favorite is the bellbottoms

Vivian Wike
Vivian Wike

April 08, 2020

I love the 18" doll and look forward to making the 70’s clothing because I am a child of the 60’s and 70’s!

Nancy
Nancy

April 08, 2020

Love the bell bottoms. Had a fringed vest and purse to go with mine

Nancy
Nancy

April 08, 2020

Love the bell bottoms. Had a fringed vest and purse to go with mine

Heidi
Heidi

April 08, 2020

As a child born in the 70’s the bell bottoms will always remain close to my heart. The Julie era of clothing and accessories is pretty amazing.

SueBee
SueBee

April 08, 2020

My sisters name is Julie and she was a teenager in the 70’s and I loved her 70’s style clothing and would sometimes sneak into the closet and try on her clothes. I loved those hip hugger jeans and peasant style shirts. I still love the fringed purses, they always catch my eye.

Sassafras
Sassafras

April 08, 2020

I like the maxi skirt style best.

Cathy
Cathy

April 08, 2020

Love the bell bottoms!!!

Beverly Brown Crosby
Beverly Brown Crosby

April 08, 2020

the bell bottoms went so well with roller skateing

Carol
Carol

April 08, 2020

Hooray for the bell bottoms and peasant tops! Julie looks great in hers. I used to make matching ones for my daughters and myself back in the day.

Ada Merrill
Ada Merrill

April 08, 2020

I love anything with crushed velvet and bell bottom pants! So comfy!!!

Marge R (mer)
Marge R (mer)

April 08, 2020

Bell Bottoms were my absolute favs in the 70’s. I even had a pair that zipped from front waistline to back waistline that were so fun, as well as big flowered orange/yellow ones! Ahhh, the memories they bring back.

Brenda Fredrickson
Brenda Fredrickson

April 08, 2020

Julie is lovely. I look forward to making the coat with fur trim as I wore a brown suede one with fur trim myself!

Janet
Janet

April 08, 2020

When someone mentions the years 70s, it doesn’t seem so long ago. But then I see the clothes…. what fun we had.

Susan
Susan

April 08, 2020

I remember wearing double-knit pant suits to work, and bell bottom jeans for every day.

Dolores
Dolores

April 08, 2020

I love all the 70s cloths, the pattern hack adding the bell to the sleeve is something I remember. I had a Easter dress just like the one you should, with the bell sleeves and ruffle at the bottom. It was my favorite. Thanks for the memories.

Donna Siegel
Donna Siegel

April 08, 2020

I was a teenager in the 70’s and now my granddaughter and i are making clothes for her American girl doll. Would love to introduce her to all the styles her grandma wore when she was young. I loved my bell bottoms best.

Maurine
Maurine

April 08, 2020

Loved the 70’s with the bell bottoms, ponchos, lots of fringe and platform shoes. Julie is one of my favorite dolls. Thank you Pixie Faire for this contest. Love all the designer’s patterns.

kath
kath

April 08, 2020

I sewed many of the outfits and wore back in the day. Now I sew for the dolls

Angelica V.
Angelica V.

April 08, 2020

I loved the fashions of the 70’s. The crop tops and the flare pants were awesome. Loved them.

Marie
Marie

April 08, 2020

Fringe!

Erin
Erin

April 08, 2020

The hair is my favorite, mostly because my hair is pin straight and won’t hold any shape.

Rhonda
Rhonda

April 08, 2020

I love the Bell Bottoms and the shirt with the bell sleeves!!

Cynthia
Cynthia

April 08, 2020

I used to love wearing maxi dresses and skirts. I sewed them myself so they were all unique colours and patterns. I still like maxi skirts and dresses on my dolls as they suit most every doll.

Candy
Candy

April 08, 2020

I’m a70’s girl! I love the bell bottle pants, and peasant blouses! I still have a peasant blouse from India I can’t part with. The crochet dress pattern resembles a fabric dress I had in high school. I like the 70’s patterns and Julie American Girl doll. Thank you for the memories!

Junie Born
Junie Born

April 08, 2020

I love the Julie doll and her collection! my favorite Doll1

Beth
Beth

April 08, 2020

I like the 70s wrap dresses.

KC
KC

April 08, 2020

She’s beautiful! I love her blonde hair!

Dianne Hildebrant
Dianne Hildebrant

April 08, 2020

I have purchased several of the 70’s patterns. I enjoy thinking back to the 70’s….telling my age! I have a collection of over 200 Pixie Faire Patterns….still adding to my list!

J.J. Goody
J.J. Goody

April 08, 2020

I was born late in ‘76, so as a child in the 80s I remember hating the colors orange, yellow, green and brown because the furniture and everything left over from the 70s seemed to be those colors. I also hated bell bottoms after receiving a cousin’s hand me downs and being embarrassed at school because that was so out of style. I still find most of 70s style choices unappealing, but the Sweet 70s Dress, the Study Hall Jumper and the Philippa Skirt above are cute.

Pamela W
Pamela W

April 08, 2020

This is a great resource for 70s fashions. I love sharing some of these with my daughter-she has Julie and getting her made a fun way to share what my own childhood was like. It’s also has nostalgic fun for me to make them in prints and colors I remember-even when I thought they were so awful as a teen in the 80s! :) lol

Peggy
Peggy

April 08, 2020

Adorable!! Looks like the clothes I wore in high school!! :)

Janice S
Janice S

April 08, 2020

Bellbottoms and jean skirts were all the rage when I was a kid…….I can’t wait to make them for my dolls. So excited!!

LINDAK
LINDAK

April 08, 2020

Bell bottoms were my favorite style trend of the 70’s. At the time I thought they made me look so slender. Why don’t they have the same effect all these years later? ha ha Stay safe, everyone!

Stephanie
Stephanie

April 08, 2020

I love the school “study hall” pattern and outfit.

Tara
Tara

April 08, 2020

Julie is so cute!! I love her.

Stefanie
Stefanie

April 08, 2020

There was a bell bottom revival when I was in High School, I can’t wait to make some!

Geralyn Dries
Geralyn Dries

April 08, 2020

Loved the color palette from this decade. I was in high school and my parents bought a new house with avacado kitchen appliances!

Renee
Renee

April 08, 2020

I was born in the 50’s so therefore i grew up in the 70’s and i love the 70’ wardrobe. The 70’s was the best times.

Judith McCaulley
Judith McCaulley

April 08, 2020

Love the maxi patterns.

Linda
Linda

April 08, 2020

Julie is great!

Sandy
Sandy

April 08, 2020

I like the bell bottoms best because I remember wearing them so long ago.

Renee
Renee

April 08, 2020

I was born in before the 70’s so therefore i grew up in the 70’s so therefore I love the 70’s outfits.

Sue
Sue

April 08, 2020

I hit my teens in the 70s so these fashions were what I wore. Crocheted vests longer than my skirts, headbands, tie dye, gauze peasant blouses! My mom bought new appliances in Coppertone ( your colour chart calls it ‘rust’) and those 70s appliances are still working now in 2020 – now that is amazing!

Jennifer
Jennifer

April 08, 2020

This collection is terrific and tales me back to my youth.

Hannah
Hannah

April 08, 2020

I love the peasant tops – they are fun and sassy.

Jennifer
Jennifer

April 08, 2020

This collection is terrific and tales me back to my youth.

Doll Lover
Doll Lover

April 08, 2020

I loved the embroidered peasant blouses & earth tone colors we had back then.

Esther H
Esther H

April 08, 2020

These are so cute!! I love the fabric choices for the tops. I wish I was that creative at coming up with my designs. Thank you Pixie Faire for being so awesome!!!!

BRENDA ALESCHUS
BRENDA ALESCHUS

April 08, 2020

THE 70’S WAS GREAT. I LOVED THE BELL BOTTOM PANTS AND PEASENT TOPS.

Lisa
Lisa

April 08, 2020

Love the bell bottoms!

Marty Blinde
Marty Blinde

April 08, 2020

I love the bell bottoms and hip huggers. Just wish I still had the figure for it!

Linda Kuhrt
Linda Kuhrt

April 08, 2020

I had a flowered tunic with matching bell bottoms in the early 70s. The tunic could also be worn as a mini dress. It would be adorable on Julie!

Cindy
Cindy

April 08, 2020

I love the bell bottoms and peasant tops.

Jacque
Jacque

April 08, 2020

The ’70s are one of my favorite decades. I started teaching Home Ec. in the "70s and loved all the cool clothes. My students and I had lots of fun with all the fashions. I would love to have a Julie doll to dress like a new teacher at that time.

Linda Kuhrt
Linda Kuhrt

April 08, 2020

I had a flowered tunic with matching bell bottoms in the early 70s. It would be adorable on Julie!

Lyn K
Lyn K

April 08, 2020

Bell bottoms for sure. The braid in Julie’s hair is a nice touch

Rebecca
Rebecca

April 08, 2020

Wow these styles bring back memories!! I loved the bell bottoms and peasant blouses!

Maryann
Maryann

April 08, 2020

My favorite 70’s outfirt was hiphuggers, bell bottom jeans. First pair of jeans that I wore to school wehn they finally let girls wear pants to school.

Marge Hartmann
Marge Hartmann

April 08, 2020

I loved the peasant blouses.

Karen
Karen

April 08, 2020

I love the bell bottoms!

Linda Clark
Linda Clark

April 08, 2020

Love the dresses.

Diane
Diane

April 08, 2020

Bell bottom everything!

Jeannie
Jeannie

April 08, 2020

My favorite 70’s garb was bell bottoms. I also loved wearing maxi dresses.

Nancy
Nancy

April 08, 2020

I loved making purses out of old jeans back then and find I am still using jeans to make purses for sew powerful!

Sandra Dennison
Sandra Dennison

April 08, 2020

My favourite is the maxi dress or skirt.

Bettie Barnes
Bettie Barnes

April 08, 2020

bell bottom jeans with embroidery on the legs, maxi skirts. I also had a suede jacket with fringe on the sleeves. Platform shoes, Yellow, brown paisley prints. Some dresses/skirts above the knee. My knees weren’t pretty, but I wore them anyway.

Patricia
Patricia

April 08, 2020

70s . . . I think these are for me, not the kids. LOL.

Leave a comment