Make up styles and fashion continue to evolve and change with each decade creating it's own style of make up techniques and clothing that sets it apart from previous years. The 1970's era was no different, perhaps being the first time that allowed women to work out for themselves what wasn't comfortable or was.
Mini-skirts, maxi-skirts or hot pants formed part of a woman's closet and she wore them when she wanted to. Evening wear consisted of a halter top with evening trousers or maxi-skirt. Empire line dresses were very popular in a mini-skirt style or a more traditional knee length (midi - length).
The 1970's era was characterized by an almost anything goes approach with styles ranging from clunky to soft and feminine. It was a turbulent time during which feminists protested, with the Vietnam War and Watergate Scandal hot topics in the media together with global pollution fears. These events inspired fashion designers to design cutting edge, as well as more comforting items.
Fashion changes affected both women and men. Nike, founded in 1972, made a strong start despite the athletic craze not being big, but running shoes became essential additions to women's and men's closets as more people began running. Men began borrowing women's clothing and took to wearing make up and using clear polish on their nails. Blouses, Boas, and slinky shirts became the in thing for celebrities in the music and television scenes.
Hair styles popularized by Farrah Fawcett, were straight and long, parted slightly to one side with wings and needed hours with a straightening iron, curling iron, mouse, and spray. Any outdoor or athletic activity would ruin the hair style. However, Afro perms were also the in thing and needed only an air dry and a pick to fluff them.
Disco became popular and the fashion style of John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever swept the nation by storm and made it's exit just as quickly, perhaps because skin tight pants, slinky shirts and platform shoes were so uncomfortable.
Make up was soft, fresh and natural looking and women who wanted sun tanned looks without exposure to harmful sunrays, used fake tans and bronzers. Foundation was seldom used, but when it was no powder was applied, leaving a shimmer or sheen to the skin while lipstick, blush and eye shadows were natural colors with a bit of shimmer.
Lip liner, mascara and caked on foundations did not feature while eye shadows that shimmered, muted blush, and frosted lipstick were the mainstays of a 70's woman on the go.