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

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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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:

A roll-neck sweater, preferably in a sludgy warm colour (browns, reds, oranges or yellows are all perfect).
Some sort of chunky gold necklace. Think your cool uncle circa 1975.
A pair of oversized sunglasses, preferably square.
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

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.

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)