A Touch of 1970s Styling With Rich Colour and Bold Print

A Touch of 1970s Styling With Rich Colour and Bold Print: Catherine Summers AKA Not Dressed As Lamb wearing a dark tropical print midi dress, black lace-up boots, red roll neck, gold chunky jewellery and a black, red and camel colour block coat | Over 40 Style

This is the second outing on the blog for this tropical print dress… it’s done a great job of attending to my sartorial needs from late summer into late winter.

Although it was March/essentially spring when I wore this outfit and took these photos (I’m a bit behind with my posts), the weather on the day was most definitely late winter. Hence the layers and the coat.

But where we lacked warmth in terms of temperatures, I made up for it in terms of pattern and colour, don’t you think?

 

[2 mins reading time]

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A Touch of 1970s Styling With Rich Colour and Bold Print: Catherine Summers AKA Not Dressed As Lamb wearing a dark tropical print midi dress, black lace-up boots, red roll neck, gold chunky jewellery and a black, red and camel colour block coat | Over 40 Style

Shop the look:

 

Last year I styled this dress very simply with orange mules, an olive belt and a pink vest top underneath on what was a very warm September day. I’ve worn it quite a few times since then (I won’t admit it’s because it’s just about all I can fit into at the moment aside from sweatpants and some new voluminous mom jeans), but this was actually one of my favourite ways to wear it.

It’s the magic touch of 70s styling that does it for me. To make ANY outfit look very 1970s, just add:

  1. A roll-neck sweater, preferably in a sludgy warm colour (browns, reds, oranges or yellows are all perfect).
  2. Some sort of chunky gold necklace. Think your cool uncle circa 1975.
  3. A pair of oversized sunglasses, preferably square.
  4. Optional: long straight hair in a centre parting.

That’s it. That’s all there is to the formula.

You can also add platform heeled boots and flares/an A-line midi skirt, but the accessories and that roll neck are the important bits. I honestly remind myself so much of one of my uncles during the 70s: I’m sure everyone with a dad or an uncle during that decade remembers that look of a roll-neck sweater, a gold necklace/medallion (!) and big sunglasses…?!

Your turn: got any simple “get-the-50s/60s/70s look” quick tips for us? Share them in the comments!

 

Stay safe, XOXO

Catherine signature

 

P.S. HOW well did my coat go with the dress? You can see it worn first here, and if you’re in love with the colour blocking [as I am], then you might like this colour-blocked coatigan which is a dead ringer for it.

 

A Touch of 1970s Styling With Rich Colour and Bold Print: Catherine Summers AKA Not Dressed As Lamb wearing a dark tropical print midi dress, black lace-up boots, red roll neck, gold chunky jewellery and a black, red and camel colour block coat | Over 40 Style
A Touch of 1970s Styling With Rich Colour and Bold Print: Catherine Summers AKA Not Dressed As Lamb wearing a dark tropical print midi dress, black lace-up boots, red roll neck, gold chunky jewellery and a black, red and camel colour block coat | Over 40 Style
A Touch of 1970s Styling With Rich Colour and Bold Print: Catherine Summers AKA Not Dressed As Lamb wearing a dark tropical print midi dress, black lace-up boots, red roll neck, gold chunky jewellery and a black, red and camel colour block coat | Over 40 Style
A Touch of 1970s Styling With Rich Colour and Bold Print: Catherine Summers AKA Not Dressed As Lamb wearing a dark tropical print midi dress, black lace-up boots, red roll neck, gold chunky jewellery and a black, red and camel colour block coat | Over 40 Style
A Touch of 1970s Styling With Rich Colour and Bold Print: Catherine Summers AKA Not Dressed As Lamb wearing a dark tropical print midi dress, black lace-up boots, red roll neck, gold chunky jewellery and a black, red and camel colour block coat | Over 40 Style

Dress: Monki at Asos (love this very similar-print one)
Coat: JD Williams* (this coatigan is almost identical!)
Belt: Old (similar)
Boots: Asos (similar)
Roll neck: Jaeger (similar)
Necklace: Orelia (similar)
Earrings: Orelia
Sunglasses: Asos (love these)
Bag: Osprey London*, bought with vouchers from Clarks Village (similar)

 

Other patterned midi dresses you might like:

 

Linking up to… Monday: Stylish Monday (second Monday of the month), Inspire Me MondayMy Glittery Heart, On Mondays We Link Up || Tuesday: Style With a Smile, Trend Spin/Walking in Memphis in High Heels, Turning Heads Tuesday, Spread the Kindness, Confident Twosday, Happy Now Blog Link Up || Wednesday: WowOnWednesday || Thursday: Chic & Stylish, Ageless Style Linkup (third Thursday of the month), || Friday: Neverending Style, Fancy Friday, On the Edge, Fabulous Friday’s Link Up

A Touch of 1970s Styling With Rich Colour and Bold Print: Catherine Summers AKA Not Dressed As Lamb wearing a dark tropical print midi dress, black lace-up boots, red roll neck, gold chunky jewellery and a black, red and camel colour block coat | Over 40 StyleA Touch of 1970s Styling With Rich Colour and Bold Print: Catherine Summers AKA Not Dressed As Lamb wearing a dark tropical print midi dress, black lace-up boots, red roll neck, gold chunky jewellery and a black, red and camel colour block coat | Over 40 Style
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10 Comments

  1. 26 April 2022 / 3:37 am

    Love the print of the dress Catherine, the boots are sensational

  2. 17 April 2022 / 7:50 pm

    Your style is so inspiring!

    Danielle | thereluctantblogger.co.uk

  3. 15 April 2022 / 10:20 pm

    The 70’s look is so “in” this season. I love this bold dress and you styled it beautifully. Thanks so much for linking up with “Stylish Monday”.

  4. 14 April 2022 / 4:13 pm

    Love your glasses, the square shape is so becoming! Layers are great here, and we have had a chilly Spring too with lots of wind. I am eyeing those chunky boots, they look awesome with the bright larger print! I always seem to go for larger prints/larger florals as well. Orange is having a moment now, and the turtleneck is great under the dress!
    thanks for linking!
    jess xx

  5. 14 April 2022 / 7:46 am

    Love the styling and in particular those boots! As always your pictures are amazing. Thanks for linking! xx

  6. 13 April 2022 / 9:12 pm

    Darling dress! I love the fun bold print! It had the perfect retro vibe!

  7. 13 April 2022 / 2:18 pm

    Oh YEAH!!! I loved this dress the first time you wore it on the blog, and I’m still madly in love with it now! It’s the shape, the colours and the print that do it for me. And I adore the 70s styling, I’m tempted to have a go myself. The only thing I can’t rock at the moment are the huge sunglasses because I’m a full-time glasses wearer and I’ve just got my first pair of progressives (with add-on sunglass lenses) and they’re certainly not 70s style!!
    You look fabulous, Catherine!
    Hugs
    Suzy xx

    • Catherine
      Author
      13 April 2022 / 7:21 pm

      Thank you Suzy lovely – a roll neck and gold necklace is enough to do the trick (anything with long collars on top will add that extra touch of 70s if you can do that too!!) x

  8. 13 April 2022 / 6:58 am

    I’m totally in love with dresses at the moment, well actually always…… The colours are very joyful, and I love the idea of a roll neck under a dress. Although we don’t need it today!! It’s sunny here in the Netherlands. Hopefully in my beloved England too!

    • Catherine
      Author
      13 April 2022 / 1:00 pm

      Thank you Nancy my lovely – I’ve always lvoed a roll-neck under a dress… I guess it’s my go-to for colder weather! It’s borderline cold/warm here, typical April with a few showers too. I’m looking forward to May, my favourite month 😀

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