70s Day Spirit Week: Easy Outfit Ideas
For 70s day spirit week, go with one of three looks: disco (shiny, sparkly, flares), hippie (flowy, fringe, peace signs, headbands) or denim on denim (flared jeans, a denim jacket, a wide collar). Flares are the single piece that says "70s" loudest, but wide-leg jeans or pants work just as well.
If you want a 70s look built from what's actually in your closet, not a shopping list, The Costume Rack does it piece by piece. Start my costume
The 70s looks in one line each
The 1970s had a lot going on. Pick one lane and commit.
| Look | In one line | Key piece |
|---|---|---|
| Disco | Saturday night glitter and flares | Something shiny |
| Hippie | Peace, love, fringe and flowers | Headband |
| Denim | Double denim, wide collars, flares | Flared jeans |
| Groovy retro | Orange, brown and mustard everything | A wide-collar shirt |
| Rock star | Platform boots, velvet, big hair | Platforms |
| Roller rink | Tube socks, short shorts, a ringer tee | Striped knee socks |
This one completes the decades series. If your school does a full decades day, our 80s day, 90s day and 2000s day guides cover the rest, and the decades day outfit ideas post helps you pick one.
Disco day outfits
Disco day spirit week is the most fun version of 70s day. The rule: if it sparkles, it's in.
Disco outfit for girls
- Sequin or metallic top with flared pants or wide-leg jeans.
- A satin slip dress or wrap dress with platform shoes or heeled boots.
- Jumpsuit (any color), big hoops and a belt.
Disco outfit for guys
- Satin or patterned button-up, top buttons undone, collar out over a blazer.
- High-waisted flared or wide-leg trousers.
- Gold chain (borrowed or plastic), aviators.
No sequins?
- Any silky or shiny fabric works: satin pajama tops are a secret weapon.
- Tape a strip of tinfoil or a sparkly ribbon on your collar.
- A mini disco ball made from a ping-pong ball and foil squares, worn as a necklace.
Hippie outfits
The 70s hippie outfit is the easiest one to pull from a normal closet.
- Flowy top or peasant blouse with flared jeans.
- Fringe vest or jacket if you own anything with fringe.
- Maxi skirt or dress in a floral or paisley print.
- Tie-dye tee (or make one this weekend with a kit).
- Headband worn across the forehead, not on top of your head.
- Round tinted sunglasses.
- Peace sign necklace or a drawn-on peace sign patch.
Guys: a tie-dye or loose patterned shirt, flared or wide-leg jeans, a headband, and a vest. Grow-out hair helps; a beanie pushed back doesn't hurt.
Denim-on-denim outfits
Denim on denim was a 70s staple. Easy, comfortable and almost everyone owns the pieces.
- Denim jacket over a denim shirt, flared jeans. Full send.
- Denim jacket, a white or striped tee, flared jeans, a big belt buckle.
- Denim overalls (flared if you can) over a ringer tee.
- Denim skirt, a turtleneck, knee boots.
To make it unmistakably 70s rather than just "jeans day", pop a wide collar over the jacket and add one color from the 70s palette: burnt orange, mustard, avocado green or brown.
Picking which of these to do, and then working out what you actually own that fits, is where the night before gets long.
The Costume Rack asks your vibe and what's already in your closet, then builds your look piece by piece, with a version of every piece from things you own and where to find anything missing. Start my costume
Hair and accessories
Hair and accessories turn a normal outfit into a 70s outfit for spirit week.
70s hairstyles
- Feathered hair: blow-dry outward and back with a round brush.
- Middle part, long and straight: the simplest 70s hair there is.
- Big curls or an afro: lean into volume; pick it out.
- Headband or scarf tied around the forehead.
- Short hair: slick a side part or add a bandana. Guys, a mustache drawn with eyeliner is optional (and funny).
70s accessories
- Round or aviator sunglasses (tinted orange or yellow if you have them)
- Big hoop earrings
- Platform shoes or chunky boots
- Wide belts
- Mood ring or chunky rings
- Peace sign or smiley necklaces
- Crochet bag or bucket hat
Group and couple 70s ideas
70s spirit week ideas get better with friends. A few that photograph well:
- Disco crew. Everyone in something shiny, one person holding a homemade disco ball.
- Roller rink squad. Ringer tees, tube socks pulled up high, short shorts or wide-leg jeans, sweatbands.
- Band on tour. Lead singer in velvet and platforms, a guitarist in fringe, a drummer in a headband, the "manager" in a big-collar suit.
- Color palette line-up. One friend each in burnt orange, mustard, avocado green and brown. Stand together for the retro postcard effect.
- Hippie van. Draw a VW-style van on a big piece of cardboard and pose behind it.
If your friend group is splitting the decades for decades day, have one person per era: 70s, 80s, 90s, 2000s. Way more fun than six people all in neon.
Last-minute 70s outfit
Five minutes before you leave:
- Widest pants you own, jeans or trousers.
- A patterned or brown/orange top. If not, a turtleneck.
- Pop the collar of any shirt out over a jacket.
- Middle part your hair.
- Sunglasses. Any. Just commit.
That's a solid easy 70s outfit with zero planning. If your school is also doing hat day ideas for school this week, a bucket hat works for both.
Your 70s look, sorted in two minutes
Tell The Costume Rack your vibe and what's in your closet, and it builds your look piece by piece with swaps from stuff you own. Then send one link so your squad claims their outfits on one rail before 70s day spirit week, and two people don't turn up in the same disco shirt.
FAQ
What do you wear on 70s day?
Flared or wide-leg jeans with a patterned, shiny or flowy top is the core. Then add a 70s accessory: a headband, round sunglasses, a wide belt or platforms.
What's an easy 70s outfit for spirit week?
Denim on denim with flared jeans, a wide collar and sunglasses. Or a tie-dye tee, jeans and a forehead headband for a hippie look. Both come from a normal closet.
What are good 70s outfits for guys?
A satin or patterned shirt with the collar out, wide-leg trousers and a gold chain for disco. A denim jacket, flared jeans and a big belt buckle for the denim look. A tie-dye shirt and a headband for hippie.
What is disco day spirit week?
Disco day is a 70s-themed day focused on the disco era: sequins, satin, flares, platforms and anything shiny. Some schools run it on its own, others fold it into decades day.
What hairstyles are 70s for decades day?
Feathered hair, a long middle part, big curls or an afro, and headbands across the forehead. If your hair is short, a side part or a bandana does the job.