70's fashion and makeup still reverberates within our popular culture today, and with all of the great trends that emerged from that decade, why not? Read on to discover the styles and the makeup that was the 1970's.
The Decade: 70's Fashion and Makeup

The 1970's was a time of transition and the 70's fashion and makeup of the decade really reflects that. While most will argue that the 1960's was more tumultuous, it is true that the 1970's was more a transition, or a bridge to our current times.

The generation of that decade were spreading their cultural wings, wrapping their minds around concepts like "equality", "equal pay for equal work" and grappling with large numbers of women in the workforce. Out of this transformational phase, we received the 70's fashion and makeup we know today.

The Intersection of Fashion and Makeup

Many of the trends of the 1970's are still with us today. Consider:

Colorful Prints
Graphic prints of swirling designs were all the rage. Perhaps this was an unconscious effort to make sense of the true "blending" of society that was going on, and the acceptance of learning new cultures. Of course, it would be naïve not to mention the drug culture of the day, but talk to any baby boomer and they'll tell you that an entire generation would have been better without it!

These colorful patterns seemed a natural fit for bold makeup colors, and in fact, this is where we begin to see the emergence of the now cliché "blue eye shadow" look! Instead of allowing the clothes to speak for themselves, women everywhere piled on blush, lipstick, eyeshadow, and mascara. This was not a decade for feeling shy and the fashion and makeup certainly reflects that.

Get the Look: This can be a tricky look to pull off; you don't want to look like a caricature. To begin, think about a saturation of color. The look doesn't necessarily have to be bold, but it should wear intensely. Try a deep shade of lipstick and couple it with equally deep shades of shadows and blushes.
Sparkle and Shine
As the decade wore on, sparkle and shine overtook the free flowing baby doll dressed of the 1960's. Flower children had blossomed into femme fatales and disco music, with its heady beats and bright lights, became the perfect vehicle to showcase the change. Disco music is the soundtrack of this decade and no matter what you may think about it, it did give us amazingly creative looks. From glitter to bell bottoms, the fashion and makeup reflects the musical heroes of Donna Summers and the Bee Gees.

Get the Look: This look is all about shine. Luscious, rosy hued lips, slick with lip gloss, makes lips appear kissably soft, while glitter on the eyes helps one achieve the perfect come-hither look. Here, the blush should be kept sheer, and lashes should be sky-high.
Sporty…Like Farrah
Legendary beauty Farrah Fawcett, with her sun-kissed beauty and youthful glow, helped to define the beauty of this decade. This was part of the "sporty" look. Playing doubles tennis, hitting the beach for a quick game of volleyball or shooting a few games of pool at the local hangout were all popular pastimes. The fashion of halter tops, and terry-cloth bottoms reflected one thing; action!

Get the Look: This look is the closest we find to the "fresh faced beauty" category. The cheeks are sheer in a wash of color, as are the lips, and the eyes are naked save for several swipes of mascara. This is where you'll want to have a "dewy" glow (think Charlie's Angel's). Achieve the look by using a skin illuminator (try Revlon's Skinlights), clear mascara (Maybelline makes a great one) and a heavy application of lip gloss or Vaseline.
Working Woman
The working woman look was intriguing. Most of the business suits of the day were form-fitting, but slightly dowdy. Skirts hit below the knee, a structured jacket seemed to be required, and for some odd reason, all of the shirts seem to come right up to the neck before branching out into some kind of bow pattern.The other looks were very Faye Dunaway; blousy shirts that were daringly open, almost brazenly so, paired with slacks that swished this way and that. The makeup was an equally intriguing mix of monochrome and shine.

Get the Look: This particular look is easily achieved with a bit of bronzer and a light nude lipstick. Pair with lost so mascara.
Putting it All Together

70's fashion and makeup is still prevalent today. Designers still look to that decade for fresh, bold looks that grab the spotlight. Whether you choose to embody the dress or the cosmetics, you can feel pretty secure in knowing that it's going to look great!