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

Dee
Dee

April 07, 2020

I was a teenager in the early 70s, so there is much that is near and dear to my heart, but nothing as dear as bellbottoms.

Amber
Amber

April 07, 2020

Maxi skirts and bell bottoms in bright colours and funky florals!

Meghan
Meghan

April 07, 2020

I love the crocheted dress!

Lori
Lori

April 07, 2020

The funky colours! And the bell bottoms… I really like the flow skirts tho too! I would love to get the Julie doll. My youngest daughter has her and I hope to have one of my own some day.

Cynthia
Cynthia

April 07, 2020

I was a child in the 70’s! Bell Bottoms were definitely my favorite!

Heidi
Heidi

April 07, 2020

Maxi skirts and crocheted shawls. So feminine!

Florence
Florence

April 07, 2020

I loved my hip hugger bell bottoms and bodysuits. I remember puppy ear collars as well, so cute!

Linda Badurek
Linda Badurek

April 07, 2020

Having done a LOT of sewing in the 70s it will be lots of fun sewing for Julie. I loved peasant blouses and one of my favorite outfits I made back them was a pair of rust suede cloth slacks and a matching vest. Can’t wait to try some of these patterns!

Diane Smith
Diane Smith

April 07, 2020

I loved hip huggers and bell bottoms. I used to make my own outfits

Elizabeth N
Elizabeth N

April 07, 2020

I guess I would have to go with the midi and maxi skirts.

Jocelyn
Jocelyn

April 07, 2020

I remember embroidering flowers around any holes in our bell bottoms. So creative.

Cindy
Cindy

April 07, 2020

I like the crocheted stuff! Thank you for the chance to win this doll!

Deborah
Deborah

April 07, 2020

I like peasant blouses

sue
sue

April 07, 2020

I loved the bell bottom pants and peasant blouses—-Yes, I lived in the 70’s!!

Paulette
Paulette

April 07, 2020

I loved wearing the 70’s dresses and the Edwardian sleeves.

Cindy
Cindy

April 07, 2020

I like the crouched stuff! Thank you for the chance to win her!

Angela Bavuso
Angela Bavuso

April 07, 2020

I love that doll and the pattern pack.

Bridgette
Bridgette

April 07, 2020

I like peasant tops!

Deb Hooper
Deb Hooper

April 07, 2020

Definitely hip hugger bell bottoms and crop tops were my favorites.

Bridgette
Bridgette

April 07, 2020

I like crocheted stuff and scrunchies!

Jericca
Jericca

April 07, 2020

Peasant blouses, paisley, and maxi skirts are my favorite 70s fashions!

Pat
Pat

April 07, 2020

Loved my bell bottoms! Wide & frayed was perfect!

Bev
Bev

April 07, 2020

Bell bottoms and peasant tops, and fringe.

Brittany
Brittany

April 07, 2020

So many trends, but especially bell bottoms and chunky heels!

Carm
Carm

April 07, 2020

I love bell bottoms and they look so cute on Julie.

Shelley
Shelley

April 07, 2020

I loved the bold florals and paisleys from the 70’s! I sewed some of my favorite clothes during that decade. I also loved bellbottoms and wide-leg pants.

maureen mcgraw
maureen mcgraw

April 07, 2020

Hey the 70’s were my gig. If I won it – A wonderful gift for my granddaughter for Christmas. Plus with the great 70’s clothes patterns at Pixie Faire she could have a total wardrobe. Cool. Brownie points with her.

Stephanie G
Stephanie G

April 07, 2020

I like bell bottoms!

Danielle Dodson
Danielle Dodson

April 07, 2020

Love bell bottoms and peasant blouses.

Lisa
Lisa

April 07, 2020

That’s my generation.I love the styles. I really like the Sweet 70’s dress.

kathy
kathy

April 07, 2020

I always loved maxi skirts.

Monique Venne
Monique Venne

April 07, 2020

I loved the maxi skirts of the 70’s!

Heidi Brown
Heidi Brown

April 07, 2020

I loved bell bottoms and platform heels. I really need to make a few 70s outfits for my dolls!

Ali
Ali

April 07, 2020

My favorite 70’s trend is bell bottoms because people still wear them today.

Melina Stratigos
Melina Stratigos

April 07, 2020

I think my favorite 70s trend is the midi/maxi skirts! I love the fun patterns and the flowey-ness!

Ali
Ali

April 07, 2020

My favorite 70’s trend is bell bottoms.

Ruth Ann
Ruth Ann

April 07, 2020

Love the maxi skirts and crop tops. Paisley rules!

Karen
Karen

April 07, 2020

Loved bell bottoms, maxi skirts and flower children styles. Did not love hip hugger pants. Spent a decade kicking up my pants.

Ellie
Ellie

April 07, 2020

my favorite trend is cropped shirts with bell bottoms!

Lisa a
Lisa a

April 07, 2020

I grew up during the 70’s. I can relate to Julie’s clothes. My first maxi dress was so cool! I felt special wearing it.

Maria Nobile
Maria Nobile

April 07, 2020

the 70s are still alive within my heart, I am still a disco queen, just in the chair now instead of on a dance floor rofl.

Mary Jane Armstrong
Mary Jane Armstrong

April 07, 2020

I like her hairdo and she is so pretty. Fun era to create outfits for.

Kathy
Kathy

April 07, 2020

I love Julie and finding 70s patterns for her. Reminds me of my own childhood

Renée
Renée

April 07, 2020

It’s interesting to me that everyone, young or old, followed the fashion trends in the seventies. Everyone had maxi dresses and skirts as well as bell bottomed pants. Julie is perfect! Thank you for another generous giveaway.

Linda A C
Linda A C

April 07, 2020

I love bell bottom pants and paisley print tops.

Judy
Judy

April 07, 2020

WOW, those were the days! Bell bottoms and leisure suits. Julie brings back such fun memories!

Wendy Benton
Wendy Benton

April 07, 2020

Adorable doll and clothes.

Israa
Israa

April 07, 2020

YAY!!! I love Julie. She looks great in those floral prints and bell bottoms.

Dianne
Dianne

April 07, 2020

I love the long granny skirts— patchwork, floral, plaids! Such a fun era for clothes and I love to recreate the look for my dolls.

Aurora
Aurora

April 07, 2020

I always loved the big flowy skirts and dresses.

Glenda
Glenda

April 07, 2020

Oh how I loved the 70’s! I met the love of my life in 1972. The fashions were fun and colourful, bell bottoms, mini skirts, hot pants! Julie is a reminder of that great time‼️ I would love to have her on display in my house😀

Jane
Jane

April 07, 2020

I liked splitting the side seams on a regular pair of jeans, putting a triangle of some funky fabric in to make them into bell bottoms!

Michelle
Michelle

April 07, 2020

I like 70’s color schemes and bell bottoms.

Marjorie Brown
Marjorie Brown

April 07, 2020

I love your designs! When I get all the face masks done I’m going to spend the rest of my forced time off making the outfits I have gotten from you,

Marjorie Brown
Marjorie Brown

April 07, 2020

I love your designs! When I get all the face masks done I’m going to spend the rest of my forced time off making the outfits I have gotten from you,

Dave
Dave

April 07, 2020

The 70’s are my era. I love Julie’s outfits. Julie would be well loved. Ready to make doll clothes for Julie.

Trish
Trish

April 07, 2020

I like the boho vibe of bell bottoms, peasant tops and groovy color combination s let me orange/yellow, red/pink. Thank you!

Linda
Linda

April 07, 2020

I loved peasant tops

Sam Hyer
Sam Hyer

April 07, 2020

I loved the diversity of style the combinations each free soul created for themselves we were not cookie cutter and you didn’t have to be wealthy to create a style or vibe for yourself.

Pamela
Pamela

April 07, 2020

Loved bell bottoms and pop tops. also poncho’s and haraches from the 70’2

Denise Darby
Denise Darby

April 07, 2020

I liked the bellbottoms jeans and the crop top.

Beth P
Beth P

April 07, 2020

I’d have to say my favorite would have to be the bell-bottoms pants. I grew up in the 70’s and wanted to only wear bell-bottoms😊

Anne
Anne

April 07, 2020

I love, love the bell bottom pants!

Cass
Cass

April 07, 2020

I was definitely a ’70’s girl! Loved bell bottoms and those amazing Gunne Sax hippie dresses! Is it wrong that I still dress that way? Lol…

Sam Hyer
Sam Hyer

April 07, 2020

This pattern company has been a life saver. My friend hooked me up and I love the quality. If my granddaughter wins this doll I am going to have all the 70s patterns so sees the clothes grandma wore. I still have 70s material to use! Thanks for allowing me to enter.

Donna Babinec
Donna Babinec

April 07, 2020

I was in 8th grade in 1970. I remember my first pair of bell bottoms – blue, green and turquoise flowers. I embroidered all over a pair of blue jeans, and they eventually ended up as cutoffs as the years went by. My daughter even wore them. She loved them! I still have them! LOL and I’m 64!

Sonja
Sonja

April 07, 2020

I wore the crop tops and bell bottoms. I always wanted a fringed vest and gogo boots. When I watch Joseph and the Amazing Dream Coat I always home in on the gogo girl in the big ending song. Great giveaway, Pixie Faire!

Patti M
Patti M

April 07, 2020

As a child of the seventies the short pencil skirts and bell bottoms were my favorites.

Kathy
Kathy

April 07, 2020

The 70s were my favorite time. The music and the clothes both were just great to me. Long hair, crop tops and hip hugger bells were so fun to wear. I would love to have a Julie doll as I currently don’t own any of the AG 18 inch dolls.

Adrianne
Adrianne

April 07, 2020

I love the long skirts. Always have always will.

Brenda
Brenda

April 07, 2020

I love the peasant blouse and bell bottoms.

Judy
Judy

April 07, 2020

Love the crop top and bell bottoms

Gwenn Domen
Gwenn Domen

April 07, 2020

Bell bottoms!! Always made me feel thinner!

Karen Martin
Karen Martin

April 07, 2020

We had the BEST clothes, shoes, and hair in the seventies! It would be fun to recreate some favorite outfits with Julie and her Breck Girl hair!

Joy
Joy

April 07, 2020

Ah, the 70’s when I graduated from high school and college. I liked those bell bottoms as well as my knit jumpsuit and maxi peasant dress I made. Who can forget the group Chicago, the Bee Gees, and Seals & Crofts?

Sam Hyer
Sam Hyer

April 07, 2020

I have longed to gift her to my granddaughter.

marilyn
marilyn

April 07, 2020

I love the bellbottom pants. Can remember wearing them in the 70’s. Such a great time to remember. Julie wears the outfit perfect.

Susan
Susan

April 07, 2020

Love the 70’s look!

SARAH K
SARAH K

April 07, 2020

Ooooh the ’70’s. I was there and enjoyed the clothes then. Love to remember. Would love to make clothes for my Molly.

Sheila
Sheila

April 07, 2020

I like the long dresses. More feminine I thought.

Kay
Kay

April 07, 2020

Since I graduated in 1971, I remember it well – loved those bellbottom pants – the bigger the bell, the better!

Carol L
Carol L

April 07, 2020

I like the long straight hair, usually parted in the middle. And bell bottoms, of course!

Heidi
Heidi

April 07, 2020

I love the peasant blouses!

Jodie
Jodie

April 07, 2020

I’m not sure why, but I love the 70’s mismatch of colours!
As soon as I see anything 70’s related, I’m instantly drawn to it ♥️

Mary Dullinger
Mary Dullinger

April 07, 2020

Thank you!
Everything is sooooo cute!

Maureen
Maureen

April 07, 2020

My favorite 70’s trend was the maxi skirts!

Sandy
Sandy

April 07, 2020

I love the bright prints because they are so cheerful.

Trudy
Trudy

April 07, 2020

I lived and loved the fashions of the 70s. I wore bell bottoms, crop tops, moccasins, flowers in my hair and fringed best and jacket. It was such a kinder time. The war finally ended, our boys came home, some we’re glad to see them and some I’m ashamed to say showed how stupid we can sometimes be. Now we’re staying home and I’m getting a chance to see more doll clothes. Can’t wait to make these bell bottoms and a nice flowered crop, fringe boots, bag and best.

Emily
Emily

April 07, 2020

My favorite trend is the peasant top. I absolutely love them. They’re timeless!

BARBARA
BARBARA

April 07, 2020

I grew up in the 70’s. I love the bell bottom pants and crop top. Fond memories!

Martha K F
Martha K F

April 07, 2020

I was a teenager in the 70’s and remember al the different clothes. Such a fun wardrobe to work with – practically everything was in style. My favorite 70’s thing was probably the bell bottoms. They hid my big feet!!!

Kathy
Kathy

April 07, 2020

These 70’s styles remind me so much of the things I wore as an older teen. I think I like the dresses the best.

Feriba
Feriba

April 07, 2020

fringe vest ,I love them !

Peg
Peg

April 07, 2020

I remember wearing those bell bottoms and stacked shoes
Could be a dangerous combination

Marsha
Marsha

April 07, 2020

I graduated in the mid-seventies. The main fashion item I remember is the crochet vest. I had a couple of them. :) Thank you, Pixie Faire!!

Ruth Penner
Ruth Penner

April 07, 2020

I love the styles. So fun to sew

Cynthia W.
Cynthia W.

April 07, 2020

Love the 70s. Used an angel wing dress as a wedding gown. Love the colors and the freedom of it.

Juanita
Juanita

April 07, 2020

My sisters were 70s fashionistas. They wore hotpants, mini skirts, and gogo boots. I love looking at the old pictures of them.

Shirley Riley
Shirley Riley

April 07, 2020

I remember when we could first wear pants to school and when pantsuits first became acceptable office wear at the bank where I worked!

Donna Landreth
Donna Landreth

April 07, 2020

I love the 70’s era. I graduated in 1970.
Thanks Cinnamon for the awesome giveaways.😘

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