The 1970s must have taken place on a different planet. These photos of men’s clothing from that decade leave us drowning in astounding mustard knits, loud patterns, high waists, way-too-skimpy briefs, and other men's fashion faux pas that we don't have enough of imagination to describe 40 years later.
As synthetics fell in price, casual men's style garbs were suddenly available to many fashion-forward young men looking to cut loose. Since polyester doesn’t require ironing, the “wash and wear” revolution is in full view of these models with their skin-tight threads and jumpsuits that leave nothing to the imagination. A 70s fashion Travelknit suit jumps out of the suitcase ready to wear, keeping with the decade’s focus on spontaneity and indulgence.
Scroll down for our pick of the worst 70s men's fashion pieces. And as a final note, don’t look at the prices in the funny ads! You’ll only resent H&M even more!
(h/t: flashbak)
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Dear 1970s knitters: I am from the future and I bring you a warning. If God had intended sweaters to have belts, he would have included them in the original design manual. Sweaters do NOT have belts. But they do, in all cases, have sleeves. For God's sake, don't forget the sleeves!
Now I know what to get my husband for father's day. Running downstairs now for my knitting needles.
Something tells me someone thought this style was going to make men look like Robin Hood. Epic Fail.
What does Burt have to say about your calling him Bert?
Load More Replies...Boys, take a clue - this is where the waist of your pants belongs, not at your knees like you were it nowadays!
I think they're on their way to a skating party at a gay disco. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
Haha thought that too but it's not . . Disappointed.
Load More Replies...this lloks like something Donnas dad Bob from that 70s show would wear :D
OMG! I think the light in bedroom went out itself immediately when they came in dressed like this...
The guys in the left photo look like they're thinking, "Dear God, why have they put us in these ridiculous matching robes? Are we about to make a gay porno movie? My father tried to tell me that I'd never make a career out of modeling!"
They say French women have a terrific sense of style. French men- not so much.
Didn't the guys on the right star in that 70's sitcom Eggplant and Doo Doo?
I think the guy on the far right stole that from the wardrobe room on the set of Logan's Run
No that deff Eric on the left with fez and hyde
Load More Replies...The middle one has a half Napoleon, half religious, influence. Those aren't good things.
Someone alert Number One! The Prisoner finally escaped off The Island.
@KittyBuns.. Please, no! Please...... It would be an act of ' Castrating Manhood' !
Actually - I kinda LIKE the center gold/butterscotch one. Change the type/texture of the fabric, and it might be very attractive - elegant, even. Maybe some fabric that was a fine silk.linen weave, a little adaptation of the black turtleneck dickie or neckpiece, or however that look is achieved, and you'd actually have something a person of taste might wear and look good in.....
ummm the woman's underwear has a hotdog on it and says "I can't believe i ate the whole thing"... and the man's says "Here I come" ... I'm loosing it right now. This was the beginning of the Spencers type shirts
Proof that he did travel to U. S and A before moviefilm success.
Load More Replies...I think the picture of the underwear on the man is of an hand and its supposed to look like the hand is pulling the underwear down.. With the words here I come.... For once I am speechless.
Ahhh, I think you're right! I could NOT figure out that was supposed to be! The white band ruins the effect & makes it confusing.
Load More Replies...Why is she wearing stockings under the underwear? AND roller skates?
I remember being a preteen girl, and seeing a grown man at the beach wearing the Speedo version of the ruler on the right. In blue. Tried not to stare - awkward!
So many thoughts... Circular underwear hangers. Are these gentlemen truly the best models they could find? Why is the undershirt looking threadbare? And in closing, it's a wonder procreation happened during the 70's with men sporting these undergarments!
"Hey, we need more models for the shoot! We've used all these guys already." "Just get Larry and the guys in shipping. They'll do anything for a free lunch."
I don't remember any men being this ugly, let alone being models and being this ugly.
This is why we don't tuck our singlet into our undies, kids.
The chap in yellow needs to be careful he doesn't pop that balloon.
what i love about these is that there's something interesting happening on their right... so much so it's like before a dog runs for their ball.... guy in powder blue is ready for the run
I just want to know ONE thing......what in the world happens when these men become excited in the 70s.......every one could see their...umm reaction
I'm pretty sure that was the point, they wanted chicks (or dudes) to see their junk.
Load More Replies..." Lemme just stand here looking sexy while i hold this Chicken upside down" WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE LOL!! xD
yea you'd scarf him right down, and all ten pounds of scarf.
Load More Replies...A chicken might make sense if he was wearing a down jacket. What this says is that renting a sheep for the shoot was overbudget.
this one is my favorite of them all...the chicken just ties it all together
Darling, remember how we discussed Making our llllllovemaking more interesting? ...well, here's the chicken we discussed.
Kinky is using a feather, perverted is using the whole chicken...
Load More Replies...Especially considering that this was published, with one of the ceiling panels on the right falling off.
Load More Replies...Now I know the apocalypse will be crocheted!!! OMG. My eyes, my eyes!!
And why is the man on the left wearing his sister's very short dress? I'm afraid if he decides to move what we all might see. Lol!
Omg! I can't stop laughing... Hope he has pants on!!
Load More Replies...The, ugly, belted (or un-belted!!) sweater-vest was the (inherently pointless) "hoodie" of the '70s! (y) (y)
Boys, your Grammy went to a lot of trouble to crochet these outfits specially for you. The least you can do in return is pose for ONE picture to show how much you appreciate her efforts. Now wipe those smirks off your faces.
Spent hours recreating this for a freind and he'll have nothing to do with it !
oh my goodness, they have their singlets tucked into their matching undies - stellar !!
Demonstrating why the 70s is the worst period of men's fashion since humans strapped fur pelts to their loins.
Why is the guy on the far left wearing my mother's blouse?
Load More Replies...I'm not even sure there are words to describe that guy on the left with the peaches on his shirt and the high waisters.
Guy on left is too embarrassed to admit he accidentally ordered from the women's section of the catalog.
The one on the far right looks like Frozen's Anna. And I really like the shirt on the left :$
Phone rings: " Hello? Hey Darla! What's up? Me? Oh , just hanging out in tighties reading literature.
Actually, I think that might be The Book of Mormon.
Load More Replies...The one next to George could easily be Matt Damon lol
Load More Replies...How very forward thinking. An ad that speaks to all races. But ... the high-water bells have got to go. What's with the blonde prince plastic?
OK now I know why men are wearing baggy pants around their knees now,
I can almost see Nick Cannon wearing the pants on the far right when he hosts AGT.
it's a crochet & knit pattern book, not a magazine.
Load More Replies...Columbia Minerva was a long-running pattern book for knitters and crocheters. Handmade fashion from all decades is notoriously bad.
Do we want to know what that white smudge is? Nope nope nope nopenopenopenopenope.
Man: "Hey, honey, have you seen my Fancies?" Wife: "They're in the wash."
Load More Replies...... and then along came PLATFORMS! Oh yeah, baby!
Load More Replies...I am so old I'm the only one who recognizes this model as baseball hall of famer Tom Seaver . . . .
Load More Replies...You still have the same outfit..Even though there is a suit jacket with breast pockets or one more formal with out.I would'nt be tricked.'Oh,you went to the Men's Store at Sears'?It's all the same color..
Gotta love these can't-miss matching coordinates. Like Garanimals for Grown Men.
If we weight these knits down with enough rocks we can drown them and no one will ever know!
Aaaah those are rocks....I thought they had a handful of gerbals
Load More Replies..."Our balls. they kinda look like this. Can we have please have them back sir?"
Looks like Dexter and his friend are going to enjoy sweet revenge stoning whomever attacked them with the polyester.
Ascots are awesome and once again needs to be a staple in men's fashion accessories? Then yes.
Load More Replies...I don't always wear a sweater vest and scarf...but when I do, I make my pool boy wear one, too. Stay sweatery, my friend...
Todd and his "uncle" Bruce were famous in world of artisanally crafted menswear, and often posed in creations of their own design.
Shaggy will truly do it for a Scooby Snack . Freddy found that out ,
You know you look bad when you review your latest 'sexy pose' photo and women are laughing at you behind your back.
I think it's actually inverted cross. It is all satan's doing...
Load More Replies...And with that outfit it will most likely remain "just you" . :-)
Load More Replies...The girl on the left shouldn't be laughing so hard, but I really understand.
I can't keep thinking about how panicked those guys were when they had unexpected diarrhea attack.
Please, tell me all you have to say. I'm waiting with bated breath!
Load More Replies...So that's where Nanny's afghan went! So that's where Nanny's afghan went!
Dave's sporting the new psoriasis serape. Never worry about itching in public ever again. Not even your best friend Ronald will notice.
I didn't notice untill I read your comment, now I'm crying because I laughed so hard :D
Load More Replies...At least they're enjoying themselves and have an easy job. Sometimes, we just need to look on the bright side and turn our cheek to the rest.
I wouldn't have put drip dry in an underwear ad...I mean, sure it happens, but should we talk about it?
Ah the look of extreme discomfort while jogging in too tight jean shorts.
It's so strange seeing the guy in tight Daisy duke cutoffs whole the woman's shorts are loose.
The guy in the white underpants set has almost a disgusted look on his face.Why? They're paying him for this photo shoot,right? They'll probably let you keep the underwear too.Win-win..
We dont always touch heads when playing pool... but when we do, it's because we've already lost our dignity.
I can't believe this whole article. The 70's. I know, I was there. I liked it probably mostly because I was young in it. I turned 20 in 1973. I remember people people that looked like that, guys, yeah. Not the clothes so much but the hair and mustaches. So crazy. Some of the clothes I do remember. So weird.
Not sure what's more offensive, the play on black power or the word "slack."
Psst, bro, why are those chicks up there in the gallery laughing at us?
Not even 1977 Britney Spears/Natalie Portman hybrid can take you seriously in these pants.
As were bj's insinuation in advertising Arthur ????????????
I need a pair of Horoscope fun slacks with stove-pipe legs, like right now, my life has been denied to me all these years.
100% sexist, total ashole written. Feminist satisfaction guaranteed!
It totally has "Hells Angels" embroidered on the back.
Load More Replies...Ahhh....Jumpers the same shade as a Morris Marina car, baby cack brown..}:-0
Guy on the right looks like a cross between Steve McQueen and the Keebler Elf
Pierce Brosnan? George Lopez?!! Didnt expect to see so many celebs in these ads lol
One of the best things that ever happened, double knit polyester going out of style, never should have been in-style.
That guy on the left. I actually him. He was very popular catalog model.
I thought it was fashion forward, not forward fashion... did that term change in the 80's?
Guy on the right: "Dude there is a spider on your back." Guy in the middel whisphers throught his teeth:"Get it off, get it off!!" Guy on the left:"You are such a good guy, guy on the left."
So,a hard hat was a fashion accessory back then? Dear lord Im glad I was only being born at the time.
The ones on the right are experimenting with "sailor style", the ones on the left have grown disillusioned with it. Yup, it's the 70s.
This is what you saw in the 70s when dressing people off with your eyes...
Charlie Sheen is that you?..... getting ready for your Hex condom commercial!
"Treated to stay Sanitized Fresh"??? What does this mean; one needn't launder his underwear?? Just eww.
Mr Raschel knit suspects the Circular knit scoundrels are up to no good again.
Fifteen more minutes on the deck, captain, then it's time to go to the therapy room
They banged the door so hard that they destroyed the entire building, then...
Load More Replies...Because two big s**t-brown patches on a guy's butt cheeks is what the ladies love!
not everyone dresses to impress the ladies....they dress for themselves too
Load More Replies...Gently apply brown back pocket on blue front pocket. Kick the girl out. Enjoy.
Jeans Joint! Making it easier to find your pocket when s**t faced!
The kid in the bird shirt is slowly realizing that this photo shoot was a bad idea.
"Your search for value ends at Penneys". Well, they didn't imagine who right they were...
This one should be called" how to guarantee getting best up after school"
What is it with guys in their underwear at the beach?!? "Hey guys, I just got some new skivvies! Let's go down to the beach and show them off!"
Why has the budweiser man such a weird pose drinking his beer?
Add some budweiser print, and enjoy the combo.
Load More Replies...Those days people call this 'Funky', today people call this 'Gay', basically it's all matter of perspective and prejudice
I almost gave this list a thumbs down. But realized how many laughs it gave me. Give it 40 years and we'll be making fun of this current days' fashion trends too.
Aww, I was hoping for a repeat of the "scandalous" late 70's Sears catalogue with the dude who tipped out the bottom of his boxers. "Mom, is this his actual penis or a shadow?" I never saw it again....
I dont remember laughing so hard! Im sure half of these men did a Caitlyn-Jenner today! XD
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Those days people call this 'Funky', today people call this 'Gay', basically it's all matter of perspective and prejudice
I almost gave this list a thumbs down. But realized how many laughs it gave me. Give it 40 years and we'll be making fun of this current days' fashion trends too.
Aww, I was hoping for a repeat of the "scandalous" late 70's Sears catalogue with the dude who tipped out the bottom of his boxers. "Mom, is this his actual penis or a shadow?" I never saw it again....
I dont remember laughing so hard! Im sure half of these men did a Caitlyn-Jenner today! XD
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