THAT 70S SHOW

Image via The Sartorialist

In early September, at the beginning of New York Fashion Week, Scott Schuman (The Sartorialist) snapped this picture, and then asked the question "so what is more important, fashion or style?" He then stated that although he knew seasonal trends, the young lady pictured above didn't really fit into any of those forecasts, yet she really stood out from the rest of the "fashion pack."

But oh, how wrong he was.

I suppose it's not Schuman's fault. How was he supposed to know that designers-a-plenty would be sending a flood of 70s inspired clothing down the runways for Spring. If anything, this young lady is right on target for Spring's 70s explosion—and I love it.

I'd be lying if I said that the late 60s and early 70s weren't a big inspiration to me. I grew up listening to the music of that era (thanks to Mom and Dad), and I'm a firm believer that that era (particularly the years between 1965 and 1975) was the greatest era for music the world has, and will ever see again (but this is for another discussion). Often times I imagine what it would have been like to live through the kind of change that swept through the United States (and other parts of the world) during that time period—and of course my dad's crazy stories about growing up then only add fuel to the fire.

Suffice it to say, I was pleasantly surprised to see so much 70s inspiration on the catwalks for Spring 2011. From flower child to Studio 54 diva, the evidence was everywhere.

Derek Lam S/S 2011

For Spring 2011, Derek Lam looked west—California to be exact. There was lots of denim, longer hemlines (a trend many designers are adapting for the upcoming season) and flared trousers that would look perfectly at home on Ali MacGraw or Joni Mitchell.

Marc Jacobs S/S 2011

Donna Summers, is that you? At Marc Jacob's Spring 2011 show, inspiration was found not on the west coast, but on that other coast—in New York City discotheques to be exact. Think big hair, floppy hats, slinky satiny dresses and again, the flared-leg trouser.

Yves Saint Laurent S/S 2011

A trip back to the 70s would not be complete without mentioning the decade's star designer—Yves Saint Laurent. It was no surprise that the massive Saint Laurent exhibition shown in Paris early this year would make it's presence felt on the runways for Spring 2011—and the YSL show was no exception. Stefano Pilati, having all the YSL archives at his disposal, harkened back to an era where Le Smoking and the peasant blouse ruled women's wardrobes. Whether this collection will make enough of an impact to allow Pilati to remain head designer for the venerable house remains to be seen, but I for one know I'll be dreaming about owning one of these jumpsuits for quite some time.