Column: Fashion statements from the decade style forget

Who can forget flares, bell bottoms or those peculiar shorter trousers worn by youths, with side pockets that seemed on a permanent hoist?At that time, bomber and short leather jackets could be seen around town, before the biggest fashion craze of all – denim. Along with ubiquitous corduroy, it suddenly became desirable to wear the denim flares with the denim waistcoast, so everywhere the streets were awash with blue. And on the azure theme, eye shadow was either blue, blue or blue.Curiously, this was followed by a dainty Broderie Anglaise moment, with white, delicate clothing in vogue. As for footwear, I need hardly remind you that platforms were omnipresent and many a teen could be spotted teetering the town, along with those aforementioned Jesus sandals... In the early 1970s, to go with this exciting wardrobe, you might have worn a few strings of love beads or perhaps a ring or necklace donning your Christian name initial. However, after the potato sack that had been a Brownie uniform, it all seemed fair enough. And what about our hair?At one time, the brave and the bold had severe feather cuts and these would invariably start to grow out, giving a bird-like appearance, as the ends straggled onto the denim waistcoat. For those not around at that time, bear with me. It must sound quite bizarre. Then, we had the side flicks which, with the exception of Farrah Fawcett-Major, looked quite appalling. Hair flicks in general were popular at the time. Around the mid 1970s, shirts would don a multiple image of a star, such as Elvis, to go with the alluring smell of Brut aftershave or Hai Karate, while girls liberally sprayed favourites Charlie or Tramp. The early 1970s saw wet-look coats which became Tweedy and straight-laced by 1974 or ghastly striped things by the late 1970s.However, by 1979 the velvet jacket was in vogue as all things dandy heralded the New Romantic phase. There was one blessing in all of this: Crimplene was a thing of the past and the mullet yet to come.Good times.