A few weeks ago, Haverford received some exciting news regarding one of our favorite campus traditions: the 2023 Haverfest theme is official – Disco!
Although an undoubtedly cool concept, figuring out what exactly the disco ‘style’ entails can be a deceivingly elusive task. Luckily for you, shoegazing is here to help.
Disco first emerged as a musical genre in the early 1960s in underground clubs across New York City. Heavily influenced by the intimate music and dance spaces of European discotheque, artist Terry Noel first mixed two discs together into a single beat one night at Club Arthur. This new seamless blend of musical transition introduced a new genre of musical artistry—Disc Jockeying, or more commonly known as DJing. The genre began to grow in popularity particularly in queer clubs around the city, dominated by Black and Latinx artists, eventually rising to mainstream popularity by the early 1970s. Although now enveloped in the ever-changing fabric of pop culture, iconic artics like Donna Summer, the Bee Gees, and Gloria Gaynor rose to fame during this musical revolution, melding traditional musical composition with new wave production styles alongside transformational producers like Giorgio Moroder.
Not only were artists of the time producing groundbreaking music throughout the 60s and 70s, they were also constantly turning looks. As with the musical movement, much of the use of eccentric colors, fabrics, and silhouettes was heavily influenced by queer culture. From clubs to roller rinks, young people adopted increasingly flamboyant looks. Fashion has always been more than just clothing, and for many, this era of reinvention was more than just about having fun. Disco was an opportunity to break from the oppressive gender roles that clothing had previously constrained them into, making style both personal and political. Women rejected the restrictive and traditional silhouettes of their parent’s generation, trading pantyhose for hot pants, girdles for billowy blouses. In turn, men often discarded the similarly rigid suits and khakis of American professionalism for more exciting alternatives. More fitted cotton shirts became increasingly popular, often paired with flared denim and free-flowing hair. Disco fashion flowed from the club to the street, heavily influencing streetwear in the decades to come. And with the release of contemporary media like Daisy Jones & The Six alongside emerging and established designers like Celine and House of Sunny showing runway collections with heavy 70’s influence, disco fashion is reemerging and evolving in exciting new ways.
All of that said, in my opinion, here are some ways to channel your inner disco diva, rockstar girlfriend, and Saturday Night Fever dreams for our upcoming spring celebration!
1. It’s all about the accessories
The beauty of trend cycles is that they are just that, cyclical. So you probably don’t need to go out and purchase all new clothing that you will only wear once or twice. Disco fashion was undoubtedly elaborate, but with roots in countercultural movements, its early adaptors were very much promoting habits of anti-consumerism and reimagining what they already owned. So throw on your favorite band tee, beat-up jeans (flared, if you have them), and get creative! Some of the most iconic accessories of disco fashion include big, wire-rimmed sunglasses, over-the-top bangles, head scarves of all kinds, and hoop earrings. If you want to wear a skirt, fishnets, and bright-colored tights were also layering staples of the era. Lastly, big, gaudy belts layered over tight pants or fun skirts were a go-to method when polishing a look throughout the 70s, a piece that you can find at most local thrift stores (or even on resale platforms like eBay, vinted, or depop).
2. It’s all in the layers!
Pattern, texture, and color mixing were a HUGE part of disco fashion. As an intentionally subversive stylistic movement, pushing the boundaries of what ‘goes’ was massively popular. Textured button-ups, corduroy, crochet, or lace –it all works! Have fun, and take risks: that’s what this is all about at the end of the day.
3. Simple works, too!
Especially if you’re going for a more masc look, classic staples of the 70’s rock genre can put you on theme with very minimal effort. Throw on a fitted wife pleaser (white tank), a pair of jeans or trousers, (ideally of the high-rise variety), and a belt. Bonus points if you have a collared shirt to layer… with at least the top 4 buttons undone. If you have boots or glasses, go for it! If not, you can still say you tried! (Lest we forget, leather jackets are also always the vibe)
4. BOOTS!
If you have ‘em, wear ‘em! Boots of all kinds were a disco staple! If you want a more comfy option a low sneaker can also work, like converse or reeboks. That being said, don’t feel like you need to buy new shoes – the movement is all about, working with what you’ve got, after all.
5. Fringe, Flow, and ATS (All Things Shiny)
If you want to go all out, we are here to cheer you on! For a more elaborate look, think sequins, bell sleeves, and bell bottoms. The sky is truly the limit; from styling to makeup, there are literally endless possibilities.
6. Wear what you want, and have fun!!
We can’t wait to see what you come up with. Tag @shoegazingmag on Instagram when the time is right, and we’ll be highlighting our favorite looks on our story throughout the festival. See you there!!
References
1. Frank, Thomas. The Conquest of Cool: Business Culture, Counterculture, and the Rise of Hip Consumerism. United States: University of Chicago Press, 1998.
2. “Disco Fashion: That’s the Way They Liked It,” The Ultimate History Project, accessed March 15, 2023, http://ultimatehistoryproject.com/disco-fashion.html.
3. “History of Disco — Timeline of African American Music,” accessed March 15, 2023, https://timeline.carnegiehall.org/genres/disco.
*All images were sourced from pinterest, feel free to DM us for more fit inspo if interested!
