We'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
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 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
or be mixed-and-matched with other wardrobe staples to create more contemporary looks.
70s Spring Shoes and Accessories
1970s-inspired Pattern Hacks
Sew the perfect Hip-Hugger Maxi Skirt using this Pattern Hack of the Hip-Hugger Bell Bottoms from Flossie Potter.
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®.
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
818 Comments
I had just graduated from college when the 70’s arrived. I loved the crocheted vests (which weren’t mentioned here) worn over peasant tops, hip hugger bell bottoms with embroidered crewel designs and buffalo sandals that wore forever. Those were my weekend looks as teachers were expected to dress very prim and proper!
I liked the maxi skirts.
She is so freaking cool! My granddaughter would be thrilled to get this doll. She’s a 9 year old fashionista!
Bell bottoms!! Peasant tops!! The first time I voted, I wore red, white and blue bell bottom jeans and a white peasant top. I graduated in 1972 and the plain straight sleeveless dress was what I wore under my graduation gown. My mother made me several in different colors and patterns. The study hall pants suit brings back memories. I loved to dress up to go to school. It gave me confidence.
Hot pants and bell bottoms both I love 💘 the hot pants in spring and summer help kept my legs tan they were light weight . I even wore my favorite under graduation gown. There was 600 plus I was comfortable because of it. There was so many different styled to choose from. Extra wide bells hipsters. Button up some with a color flair in legs I had ten pairs at least.