Believe it or not Disco had nothing to do with the way that you dressed, but it was a style of music. However, with the fashion world always evolving with its place in history, as disco music hit the scene, the fashion went with it as well. To understand the 1970’s dress in the disco era one would have to understand the music.

With disco music there were influences in the smooth soul sound that so many people grooved to and the beat of funk music. During the 1970’s, disco music had a sound of electric guitars and pianos and if you were looking for a style to accompany this music you needed to buy as much polyester as you could.

Polyester was a 1970’s fancy dress signature fabric and look. Polyester was a type of fabric that could withstand anything, even a night out at the disco after you have finished sweating out every curl in your hair. This material was extremely durable and very inexpensive to buy. Although polyester is extremely easy to care for it is also extremely flammable being that part of its textile comes from plastic bottles.

The 1970’s dress attire was better known for having the “hot pants look”. Hot pants were shorts that were extremely short and were usually worn with a coat. Unlike other fashions before it, the 1970’s disco era fashions were not to be worn during the day. This was an evening look only, especially for the “Glam Gods” better known as the rich and famous or simply the “who’s who” of their town. There was no way you would be caught wearing the disco fashions anywhere else than under the sparkling mirror ball.

It was like putting on a costume and you only put on your costume when you are in the show and believe anyone when they tell you, a disco was like being on stage. When you went to a disco you went to a show, whether you were participating or simply observing from the sidelines. With the strobe lighting and the mirror balls you needed to wear something that made you shine. This is where all of the shiny satin blouse or bodysuits and sequined jackets came about. You had to be seen on that disco dance floor and in order to be seen your clothes had to sparkle into the fluorescent disco balls that hung from those black ceilings.

Everyone definitely thought that they were cool and they had to show their faces at the disco to let everyone know. Don’t forget, men were as much a part of the disco era as the women even though most will never admit it. From a long day at work it was fun for men to throw on the stretched Lycra top with those flared bell-bottoms and platform shoes and hit the scene. Viewed now as a more feminine way to dress; men were as much a part of the 1970’s disco era movement as the women.