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:
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
Bell bottom jeans with patches!
I lived it and love it now! Would love to share it with Julie!
I remember a friend of mine having bell bottom pants in 1966. I remember the year because my father died that year. Must have been at the very beginning of the trend.
I grew up in the 70’s and my favorite fashion trends were hip hugger and bell bottom pants, mini and maxi skirts, body suits, and large sunglasses. The wilder the color, the better! I began sewing doll clothes when I was 10, but began sewing my own clothes around 12 and throughout high school because I was short and thin and clothes off the rack just didn’t fit right. I had very long hair and used a blow dryer to try and straighten it every day. I would love to have a Julie doll to dress up!
I love the bell bottoms!
I love the bell bottoms!
My favorite seventies trend is really big bell bottom pants! So fun to make I doll sizes.
I grew up in the 70’s and love recreating the styles from that era. Hip huggers, bell bottoms, vests, smock tops, Gunnie Sax dresses, halter tops and gouchos with boots!
Just last week did the bell bottoms. stripped burt and straw yellow stripes..From your color chart, I was bang on. In this time, sewing is definately a relaxer, and making 70s clothes with 70s music in the background is perfect. Turning my old Elizabeth into a hippy.
I love the 1970s Spring Separates… the bell bottom pants and midriff top remind me of high school years!
I still remember the excitement of wearing my first pair of bell bottoms to high school.
I thought the bell bottom jeans were cool!
I love them all .
Bell bottoms of course, paired with a comfy peasant style top and a granny squares vest my grandma crocheted for me .
Bell Bottoms. My Mother always said the bigger the bell bottom the better they were.
My favorite is the crochet dress!
Loved the glory long maxi skirts.
I still remember my favourite dress when I was 5 years old in the early 70’s. It was white with big red flowers and huge butterfly sleeves! I thought I was SO grownup and elegant! And my blue bell bottoms were my favourite pants! Now it’s all about the throwback music! Love that era!
I loved my bell bottom jeans!
I loved bell bottom jeans.
I wore all those clothes. Would be fun to make them. Brings back good memories.
All we wore were bell bottoms!! But there were a variety of tops—and always the crocheted vests! And the vests were either hip or floor legth with one tie in front, or the granny square shrugs! They were fun days for DIY fashion.
I love the long denim skirt. I actually made one back in the 70s and wore it all the time to high school!
I love the bell Bottoms. I remember my Aunt making my cousin and I matching bell bottom pants and vest.
I remember my favorite pair of hip hugger bell bottom jeans. They were a pale blue denim with sliver studding on the outside of the bells.
I loved my roller skates too.
The floral peasant skirts and tops were comfy.
I would love to have the Julie doll, she has the same long blonde hair that I used to have.
The Tube socks were horrendous though. ;)
When I was a teen ager in the 70’s, I loved To wear low rise bell bottom pants paired with a body suit and a wide belt!
I lovwed the bell bottom trousers.
The bell bottom jeans are my favorite. They were my favorite growing up as well.
Shift dresses
These patterns take me back to my growing up years in the 1970s.
I love 70s fashion.
I like them all, I wore them all, lol.
Bell Bottoms and Granny Squares!! I grew up in the 70’s, Love this style!
My heart belongs to the ’70’s Would love to win a Julie Doll
Bell bottom
Hip hugger skirt was definitely my favorite. I have thought about it many times since I passed it on. When the retro clothes came back in style in the past few years, I actually found one!!! Just adore it. I made one for my doll just the other day….Sooo cute!
My favourite 70’s trend we’re bell bottoms and peasant tops. One not mentioned, white North Star sneakers. I wish I had a pair now.
I love the hip hugger, bell bottom pants because those where some good days in the 70’s. The clothes, things to do, and the people were happy.
Bell bottoms! I had a pair of bell bottoms when i was in jr. High that i loved and wore until they literally fell apart
I love the bell bottoms pattern. Reminds me of wearing them myself
I was a young woman in the 70’s, made and wore and loved the granny dresses, bell bottoms to. :)
I always thought bell bottoms and platform clogs were fun!
Oh so many memories. Love them all.😊
I was in high school in the early 70’s and I loved my bell bottoms! And peasant tops! Clothes just seemed more comfortable then! All loose and comfy! I would love to recreate this look for my dolls.
And your patterns come out great every time!!!
My favorite look from the 1970s is a maxi skirt and peasant top.
I love the bell bottom pattern. My mum & I made all my clothes back in the 70’s when I was between 9 & 19. My favourite outfit when I was 12 was a long tunic in blue paisley tied with a chain belt & matching plain blue bell bottoms.
Bell-bottom jeans with peace symbol patches, embroidered peasant blouses and moccasins. Comfort and creativity that established a new era in fashion.
I love maxi dresses!
I have sweet memories of bell bottom pants!
I loved the bell bottom pants and the fringed purses. They were so fun to make.
Love the use of ruffles and trim
Granny dresses!
Love the bell bottoms and crop tops – brings a smile during these trying times!
I love the hip-hugger bell bottoms, so that look is my choice. This doll speaks to me particularly because I graduated from high school in 1974, wore these exact types of clothes, PLUS, my name is also Julie.
I grew up in the 70’s so am drawn to the hip huggers, crop tops and vests. These doll clothes are so cute!
Absolutely love.the hip hugger Bell bottoms outfit so cute. I love it because it brings back the 80s for me when I was a little girl
Growing up in the seventies was great! I loved it! I think my favorite fashions from that period were the bell bottoms and maxi dresses… I remember making my own maxi dress in Home Ec class at school. Thanks for the opportunity to win this… I love Pixie Faire!
I was a young mum in the seventies and I loved the fashions then not so much now though x
I’ve always loved crushed velvet, paisley fabric, and fringe although not necessarily with 70’s style colors or patterns. I’ve also always loved peasant tops and wish those actually stayed in style long enough for me to wear them.
Definitely the bell bottom skirt. We used to make the skirts from jeans cutting up from the legs and criss crossing the crotch. Was born in ’5o so was in college for this look. Would love Julie. Have just the spot for her by my bed.
I was a senior in high school in the 70’s. The peasant blouse was my favorite, and I still wear them at times!
Love the peasant tops!
This is the era I grew up in. I love the bell bottoms, maxi skirts, and peasant tops. What a time!
Bell bottoms were always my favorite!
I am a grand and Great gran mother and make doll clothes for them and the neighborhood little girls.
So glad the wide leg jeans are back in fashion now. Bell bottoms forever!
OH MY GOSH! Loved my bell bottom jeans! The bigger the better! And Crop tops! Man I miss those days! Love the doll too! Sure brings back memories!
Bell bottoms and head bands
Love the bell bottoms and peasant top.
Bell bottoms, fringed purses and bell sleeves!
love the Julie doll with blond hair in bell bottom pants
Window pane jeans and flowing tips with platform shoes
Ohhh..Memory Lane…Loved Bell Bottoms; I had one pair that were called Elephant Bells…they were huge! My favorite dresses were by Jessica McClintock…still would love them…and Platform shoes. (How many times did you fall running up the stairs in them?!
Those were the days. Julie is a beautiful doll.
Bell bottoms and peasant blouse are adorable.
Those were the days. Julie is a beautiful doll.
Bell bottoms and peasant blouse are adorable.
Disco is my favorite from the 70’s.
I love Hip Hugger, Bell Bottoms and Dashikis
They were my teenage uniform. Julie looks so cute in them and her Maxi dress.
I loved wearing the bell bottom pants I made in the 70’s. My other favorite was a patchwork wrap skirt I made.
I grew up in the 70’s wearing hip huggers and bell bottoms and a leather fringed purse
I really miss the bell bottoms
Peasant tops and groovy prints.
My favorite outfit in the 70’s was hot pants. In other words short shorts. I used to see my own.
My favorite outfit in the 70’s was hot pants. In other words short shorts. I used to see my own.
I was too old to really enjoy the fashions of the 70’s, but I did think they were cute.
Long flowing skirts and wide sleeves.
Leather fringed vests and matching vests.
Loved the 70’s clothes, of course those were my college years and I definitely had the bell bottom jeans . These patterns bring back a lot of memories.
I choose the blonde long haired Julie doll wearing the bell bottom pants & white crop top. I totally remember wearing bell bottom jeans with white + other coloured crop tops. My mom made my jeans wider at the bottom by adding triangle pieces of denim in the outer seams. She also crocheted crop tops for me. One in purple variegated crochet thread & one in pink variegated. She also crocheted a yellow one for one of my best girlfriends (we are still great friends to this day, over 50 years).
Thank you for the opportunity to win this doll!
Groovy fashions! Takes me back to high school!😍
Love the bell bottoms! My first pair was brown paisley.
I love the study hall pattern! The bell bottoms are super cute too! Love the earthy colors too!
My favorite 70s trend is maxi dresses. I wore a lot of rust color items.
I loved the tunic top with the wide leg bell bottom jeans. I made myself a tunic top and wide leg pants from a black, white and yellow flowered print. I loved that pantsuit! It was so muchg fun to wear! Julie doll is my favorite!
I loved the tunic top with the wide leg bell bottom jeans. I made myself a tunic top and wide leg pants from a black, white and yellow flowered print. I loved that pantsuit! It was so muchg fun to wear! Julie doll is my favorite!
I grew up in the 70’s so Jilie has always been one of my favorites. Hip huggers and crop tops with a bandana in my hair was always the way to go. Or peasant tops with multiple prints and cut of shorts.
I love the bell bottom pants.
I loved the 70’s. I was in college and wore bell bottoms and peasant style blouses. The sewing was easy-a lot of gathering and casings for elastic. 3 tiered skirts that took yards of fabric; often mix and match cottons.
My favorite 70’s trends are the bell bottoms and the maxi skirts. Thanks Cinnamon for this fun opportunity and contest!
A favorite outfit that I wore in the 60s was a crocheted purple granny square vest with a purple mini A-line double knit skirt. I should replicate the outfit for a Julie doll.
Annlee
April 08, 2020
I love the bell bottoms jeans.