70s Hippie Style: Outfit Ideas, Vintage Jewelry & How to Get the Look

I think my love of 70s style may have started with my name.

My namesake is Marisa Berenson, and she has always been one of my biggest style inspirations. If you don't know her, she's an actress and model who became one of the great fashion faces of the late 60s and 70s, and clearly made a BIG impression on my mom. Marisa was discovered as a teenager by legendary Vogue editor Diana Vreeland, photographed by everyone from Irving Penn to Richard Avedon, and became part of that incredible fashion world surrounding designers like Halston and Yves Saint Laurent.

But it's really her personal style that I've always loved, and keep returning to for inspiration.

She could be completely glamorous one minute and effortlessly bohemian the next—flowing prints, caftans, incredible coats, suede, boots, oversized jewelry and layers of accessories. Nothing ever felt too perfect or overly coordinated. There was always a little bit of excess and a feeling that the pieces had been collected rather than simply put together.

That mix has had a huge influence on the way I look at fashion and even the way I buy for Nouveau & Vintage. I've never wanted everything to be from the same designer, the same season or even the same decade. 

I love a new dress with an old necklace, great denim with a vintage jacket, or something really simple with a completely over-the-top piece of costume jewelry.

So when Daisy Jones & The Six came out and everyone suddenly wanted flares, crochet, fringe and layered jewelry again, I was obviously already there.

For me, the best way to wear 70s style isn't to recreate an outfit from head-to-toe. It's taking the things that made the decade so good—a great pair of flares, an embroidered blouse, a floral printed maxi, suede, crochet and especially some amazing vintage costume jewelry—and mixing them into what you're wearing now.

And if you are headed to a 70s party and want to go all the way with it? Even better.

Here's how I would do it.

What Was 70s Hippie Style?

One thing I think gets lost when we talk about "70s style" is that there wasn't just one look.

The hippie and counterculture influence that started in the 60s carried right into the early 70s, bringing with it flared denim, handmade details, embroidery, patchwork, crochet, fringe, flowing silhouettes and a much more individual approach to getting dressed.

At the same time, you had glamorous designers, rock-and-roll style and eventually disco happening alongside it.

That's actually what makes the decade so fun to pull inspiration from. You don't have to choose one perfectly defined 70s aesthetic.

And personally, I wouldn't.

Start With a Great Pair of Flares

If you're only going to choose one thing to make an outfit feel 70s, make it a great pair of flares.

Bell-bottoms and flared trousers are probably one of the most recognizable silhouettes of the decade, and they're also incredibly easy to wear now.

I love them with something simple—a fitted tank, vintage blouse, crochet top or even just a really good white tee.

Then add the fun stuff.

A vintage belt, an embroidered vest, platforms or boots and some great jewelry can take a pair of jeans from everyday to very 70s without making you look like you're wearing a costume.

Easy outfit formula: flared jeans + fitted tank + embroidered or suede vest + boots + vintage necklace.

And Please Don't Forget the Jewelry, My Fav Part!

Big hoops, long pendants, chunky chains, bangles, beads and layered necklaces can completely change a simple outfit. I wear one of these at least everyday.

But when I think about 70s jewelry, I don't stop at the stereotypical peace signs. owl icons and wooden beads.

Vintage costume jewelry was a huge part of getting dressed, too, and this is where I think things get much more interesting.

Vintage Costume Jewelry Makers to Know

If you love digging through vintage jewelry as much as I do, learning the maker names is half the fun.

Some names you'll come across when shopping vintage jewelry from and around this period include Monet, Trifari, Napier, Sarah Coventry, Coro/Corocraft and Kenneth Jay Lane.

And the styles are all over the place—which is exactly why I love them.

Look for chunky gold-tone chains, sculptural pendants, textured metals, oversized earrings, bangles, enamel, colorful stones and those statement pieces that can completely transform even a white shirt and jeans.

Also, don't feel like your jewelry has to scream "hippie" to work with a 70s outfit.

I actually think an outfit feels more authentic when you're mixing different influences from the decade instead of dressing head-to-toe in one theme.

A pair of flared jeans, a simple blouse and a great vintage Monet necklace can give you the feeling without looking like you bought an entire "70s costume" at once.

One of my favorite vintage-shopping tips: always turn the piece over.

Check the clasp, the back of a brooch, inside a bracelet or behind a pair of earrings for a signature or maker's mark. Finding that tiny MONET, TRIFARI, NAPIER, SARAH COVENTRY or CORO mark is half the fun.

And yes, sometimes the unsigned pieces are just as fabulous.

Embroidery & Florals

When I think about 70s style, embroidery and florals are always part of the picture.

I especially love them on vintage denim, peasant blouses, vests and those amazing maxi dresses that somehow still feel completely wearable today.

You definitely don't need to go head-to-toe floral to get the look. An embroidered blouse with a great pair of flares or a vintage floral maxi with boots and some chunky jewelry is usually enough.

When I'm sourcing vintage, embroidery is also one of those details that will always make me stop and take a closer look.

The more unusual or handmade-looking, the better.

Crochet & Knits

Crochet is another 70s staple that has never really gone away.

A crochet tank, little vest or open-knit sweater looks just as good with denim now as it did then. And it's one of the easiest ways to add a little hippie/boho feeling to an outfit without looking like you're actually dressed for a 70s party.

I love a crochet top with high-rise flares, layered necklaces and boots.

Simple, but you immediately get the reference.

Fringe — But Not Too Much

I love fringe. I do.

But unless you're actually going to a themed party, you probably don't need fringe on your jacket, bag and boots.

One really good vintage suede fringe vest or jacket with a white tee and flared jeans is perfect. Let that piece do the work.

This is also something I almost always prefer vintage. Worn-in suede and leather just have a softness and character that are really hard to reproduce.

And Obviously...Denim

You really can't talk about 70s style without denim.

Flares, bell-bottoms, denim vests, embroidered jeans, patched jackets—the more personal the denim looked, the better.

I'm always drawn to vintage denim that has something a little different about it: embroidery, an unusual wash, patches, a great wide leg or even some wear that gives it personality.

And yes, I am completely on board with denim on denim.

Just break it up a little. Add a printed blouse, crochet tank, great belt or a big piece of vintage jewelry and suddenly it feels styled rather than like you accidentally wore a Canadian tuxedo.

Don't Forget a Great Belt

Belts are another one of those accessories that can instantly make an outfit feel more 70s.

I always look for vintage leather belts with big buckles, tooled leather, metal details, studs or unusual hardware. I especially love them with high-waisted flares or wrapped around a long printed dress or caftan.

And then there are chain belts, which take you into the slightly more glamorous side of the decade.

I love that contrast—a flowy bohemian dress with a gold-tone chain belt, or a really simple pair of jeans with a belt that almost feels like a piece of jewelry.

This is another category where I almost always check vintage first. A great belt doesn't have to actually be from the 70s to give you the look, and it's one of those pieces you can keep forever and wear a hundred different ways.

My rule is basically the same as it is with jewelry: if the belt is really good, let it be part of the outfit—not just something holding up your pants.

So...What Do I Actually Wear?

This is usually the point where inspiration photos are great, but you still need to get dressed.

Here are a few combinations I would actually wear.

Easy 70s

Flared jeans + fitted tee or tank + vintage necklace + boots

Probably the easiest place to start. You may already own almost everything.

This is also where I would pull out a really great piece of costume jewelry. A chunky Monet chain, oversized hoops or a long pendant can completely change a white tee and jeans.

More Boho

Flares + crochet top + suede or embroidered vest + layered jewelry

This leans more into the hippie side of the 70s without going full costume.

Don't worry about everything matching perfectly. I actually think this look is better when the textures and pieces feel collected over time.

The 70s Maxi

Printed maxi dress + tall boots or platforms + bangles + statement earrings

This one is so easy.

If the dress is already doing a lot, I wouldn't pile on a million accessories. I'd rather add one great pair of vintage earrings or a chunky bracelet.

And this is where vintage costume jewelry is so good. Pieces from makers like Monet, Trifari or Napier can give a modern dress that little bit of age and personality that makes the whole outfit more interesting.

Going to an Actual 70s Party?

Okay, now you can have some fun.

Bring out the statement flares, platforms, big earrings, prints and maybe even that fringe jacket.

And if you're thinking less Woodstock and more Studio 54, that's really a different look. Head over to my What to Wear to a 70s Disco Party guide because I go much further into the glam side of the decade there.

How I Would Wear 70s Style Now

For me, the trick is not trying to recreate an entire outfit from 1972.

Take one thing.

Wear the flares with a simple tank. Put a vintage embroidered blouse with jeans you already own. Throw a suede vest over a dress. Add an oversized vintage necklace to something completely modern.

That's really the whole idea behind Nouveau & Vintage anyway.

I've never thought you had to choose between wearing something new and wearing vintage. The outfits I love most usually have a little of both.

And if you want to start adding vintage to your wardrobe, jewelry is probably the easiest place to begin. You don't have to worry about sizing, you can wear it with things already in your closet, and no one else is going to have exactly the same piece.

I'm constantly sourcing vintage jewelry, belts and accessories for Nouveau & Vintage, and the selection changes all the time. You can shop what we currently have online, and if you're local to the NYC/NJ area, come see us at 301 Collective in downtown Jersey City. I usually have even more vintage jewelry, belts and one-of-a-kind pieces in the store than I manage to get online.

That's the part of 70s style I think is still worth stealing: not necessarily the exact outfit, but the idea that what you're wearing should feel a little bit like you.