1970s Wedding Inspiration: The Daisy Jones Effect
I am, at the moment, having a bit of a love affair
with 1970s fashion— especially 1970s wedding fashion. On most any given day, I would be happy to dress like Emmylou Harris or Ali MacGraw (and I would be thrilled to have a Steve McQueen type by my side, but that is a conversation for another day).
The first time I saw Ali at the Oscars in a slinky vintage Halston with A CROCHETED BEANIE, it was over, I was done for. I cannot even express to you my undying love for this outfit, the outfit that most fully embodies 1970s style, for me. It was all about the unpredictability of it all, the juxtaposition of high-octane glamour and girl-next-door charm. It resonated with me, as I am a girl who throws people with her outfits, but not deliberately so— I just cannot be literal with a look. I love those things that could never have been anticipated, the expressive emblems of personal style, the details that give a look its je ne sais quoi. And as a decade of style, the 1970s gives me that in spades.
Winter days are brightened with bohemian dresses in a kaleidoscope of colors, over which I shrug a little fur jacket. Cowgirl boots, flirty tassels, and fringe give “folk singer” without feeling literal or costume-y. And I love that in the 1970s, girls were wearing vintage from the 1920s and ‘30s—talk about a collaboration between two gorgeous moments in fashion. So, I love to layer a ‘70s outfit with art deco pendants, velvet, and dropped waist dresses. As though I really were a 1970s girl, sewing dresses from Simplicity and Butterick patterns and maybe, on special occasions, pairing my dress with a grandmother’s 1920s-vintage coat.
And yes, I watched Daisy Jones & the Six, and while I do not love elements of the plot, the styles live rent-free in my head. Camila’s white fur jacket and dress, her Bianca Jagger headscarf and sunglasses?!?! Daisy’s fur coats and fluttery kimonos?! The velvet jackets, the jeans, the diaphanous dresses, and flowing capes — I mean, come on. I’ve been dressing like this forever, so I felt a true style kinship with Daisy and Camila. The series captured the time and place— 1970s-era Laurel Canyon— in such an iconic way, and so much of the story was expressed through wardrobe. The ingenue stage, the studio hours, the freedom of performance, the spiral, the unrequited love story— every moment was emphasized through complementary wardrobe choices. And there were a few white dress moments major enough to pass for bridal style. Ohhh, baby, baby, baby…
“I predict a 1970s renaissance.”
Looking to weddings, I predict a 1970s renaissance. I’m seeing the return of the bridal hat in glossy spreads—sometimes veiled, sometimes sans veil. While these hats often very high-fashion and sculptural, they remind me, quite sweetly, of the floppy hats I see in vintage photos of my aunt’s and my mom’s weddings (which, by the way, were tasteful and gorgeous, something brides today would totally replicate). Bouquets are becoming smaller, tidier— little posies of flowers like sweet peas and chamomile. Bell and bishop sleeves add poetry to flowing silhouettes. Olivia Hussey, wearing a Juliet-worthy gown with puffy bishop sleeves and floral appliqués— and a beribboned bouquet that looks like an extension of the dress— could pass for a modern bride wearing Odylyne the Ceremony or Danielle Frankel.
Maybe Daisy inspired it or maybe it’s just time, in fashion, for a look back. But if last year was about quiet luxury, right now is about 1970s maximalism and personality— and I, for one, am here for it.
Read on for the essentials of a1970s-inspired wedding, along with ideas on how to interpret your favorite vintage styles in a fashion-forward (dare we say Daisy Jones-esque) way!
Photos via Pinterest; left image, source unknown; right image, Jean Shrimpton for the cover of Vogue.
Scattered Flowers (or Bows!)
Nancy Sinatra via Tumblr
“I love the idea of abandoning the more expected flower crown in favor of loose blossoms.”
A hallmark of the 1970s wedding look? Hair and makeup that takes the fashion to entirely new levels of glam. I love the idea of abandoning the more expected flower crown in favor of loose blossoms. Tiny flowers like daisies look so sweet when clustered near the crown and scattered down the tresses, almost like a floral veil. Bigger blooms, like Nancy Sinatra’s dahlias, unfurl beautifully from bombshell curls.
I like my 1970s-inspired hair big and voluminous, with lots of teasing and bouncy, lush curls. Pastel flowers look so lovely when nestled deep in the curls and then placed near the front of the face for multi-dimensional effect.
For an of-the-moment take on this style, create the same effect with tiny, scattered bows. At a recent awards show, Kate Beckinsale turned up with the puffiest ponytail adorned with tiny bows. We have perhaps all, by this point, embraced the charms of the singular velvet bow, but how adorable it is to see a collection of itty-bitty bows, scattered just so.
Ladies Home Journal Wedding Photo via Pinterest
2. Bridal Hats
If one there’s one accessory that captures that captures the essence of the 1970s bride, it’s the wide-brimmed hat. From Farrah Fawcett’s sweet sunhat to Bianca Jagger’s chic, veiled style, the hat is the crowning touch on a 1970s bridal ensemble. What I love most about these hats are their penchant for unpredictability, their expressive adornments, whether swathed in tulle or covered in big, creamy bows, luscious like buttercream swirls on a cake.
Farrah Fawcett, radiant on her wedding day
in a wide-brimmed hat adorned with ribbon bows.
Photo via The Stylist
For inspiration, I look beyond weddings to the red carpet and everyday styles of ‘70s style icons. On that note, no one wears a hat with quite the charm and verve of Ali MacGraw. Who else would have the swagger to pair a sleek Halston number with a hand-crocheted beanie? The contrast of Ali’s slinky, silky dress and jacket— all liquid elegance— with the homespun hat is so good.
Will you actually get married in a knit hat? Probably not (unless you have a frosted, winter ceremony somewhere high up in the Swiss Alps, in which case, yes!!). It’s all about assuming an air of offhanded cool, and of not being afraid of those unpredictable details which, in the end, become iconic.
Via Huff Post
3. Bows
Bows, it’s true, are everywhere at the moment, gracing the updos and curls of the internet’s chicest girls. While I know it’s a trend, I love this unashamedly feminine accessory; love the sweetness, purity, and irony of a perfect bow. Ribbon bows remind me of tea parties and dollhouses and Laura Ashley bedspreads— and honestly, there are worse things one could be reminded of.
How do bows fit into a 1970s look? Effortlessly, it turns out. Empire waist gowns were often accentuated with a ribbon, and floppy hats were the perfect canvas for big fabric bows. As we’ve already seen, brides wore tiny ribbons in their tresses, and, in lieu of flowers, bridesmaids often carried a basket full of bows.
To grace a present-day wedding with ribbons and bows, opt for a vintage-style cake with tiny buttercream bows or one grand ribbon to crown the cake. And of course, every flower bouquet needs a ribbon; embrace the bow trend by making yours sweet, tidy, small, and velvet.
Some artists, like Lisa Cooper, push the ribbon to its fullest artistic potential in sculpture-like installations and outré floral arrangements. This more intellectual and ironic take on the bow appeals to art-lovers and anyone who appreciates a bit of humor in design. Imagine floating ribbon installations or reception tables full of these expressive ribbon displays— your wedding space would take on the atmosphere and quality of a museum.
Photos, top left to bottom right: Wedded Wonderland, Doctor Cooper, Doctor Cooper, Wed Vibes
4. Juliet-Style Dresses
Photos and gown: Danielle Frankel
Romantic, Italianate, and slightly gothic, a Juliet-style dress feels perfectly at home in a 1970s wedding. And who better to embody the style than Juliet herself? Olivia Hussey’s star(-crossed) turn as Miss Capulet may have made her a film icon, but her wedding gown made her one of my personal fashion icons. The gown’s square neckline gives it a period feeling, and the floral appliqués impart such a feeling of youthfulness and innocence, further enhanced by barely-there makeup and natural, free-flowing hair. She’s perfectly accessorized with a cross necklace and beribboned bouquet: so small, so sweet, arranged with equal parts flowers and bows. Bishop sleeves adorned with blossoms culminate in a beautiful wrist, decorated with self-covered buttons and delicate beadwork. In the end, it was a moment in time, one that transcended fashion. So young, so beautiful, so tragically in love with Dean Paul Martin, who was gone far too soon. “A Time For Us,” indeed.
Left to right: Olivia Hussey’s wedding photos via Pinterest and Tumblr
For the quintessential Juliet look, opt for a gown with a Juliet sleeve. As dramatic as her namesake, the Juliet sleeve begins with a puffed top and abruptly transitions to a straight, fitted bottom. An extra seam, placed where the gown transitions from gathered to sleek, makes the puff all the more pronounced, like a cloud set aloft and apart.
Left to right: Photos and gowns by Odylyne the Ceremony, Danielle Frankel.
5. Statement Sleeves (Bell, Bishop, and Poet Sleeves)
Via Odylyne the Ceremony. Follow their Instagram here!
The Juliet-style alludes to what must be the most exquisite and defining detail of a 1970s gown: the statement sleeve. Billowing bell sleeves give a rocker feeling to silhouettes, perfectly suited to the ‘70s. The poet sleeve, meanwhile, is ethereal, angelic. Poet sleeves can be modest, mostly fitted through the arm with a ruffle at the wrist. But the poet style can become more elaborate by creating several puffed sections. Gowns with these poufs look like a reverie, a daydream, some concoction made of clouds and spun sugar.
Star-crossed Lovers Collection by Odylyne the Ceremony.
Puff sleeves likewise lend a fairy tale feeling to gowns; there’s something particularly sweet about short, extra flouncy puff sleeves. But the most beautiful sleeve of all may be the bishop, which combines the volume and airiness of puff and poet sleeves with a regal, finishing touch: a fitted wrist, usually involving self-covered buttons. The contrast between the delicate, fitted wrist and the flowing sleeves— simply exquisite.
Photos, left to right: Odylyne The Ceremony, l’eto bridal.
6. Petite Posies
Images, left to right: Doctor Cooper, Into the Gloss.
Some of the 1970’s most glamorous brides would carry petite, tidy bouquets— and the chicest of these were composed with equal parts flowers and ribbons. The tiny bouquet has the potential to act like an evening clutch, the gown’s perfect accessory. Small, neat arrangements of a single flower variety work so effectively— it’s always so chic to do one thing, and do it very well. Airy flowers like sweet pea and lily of the valley work beautifully in single flower arrangements, and a single variety of antique garden roses suits more pavé-style small bouquets. Brides like Bianca Jagger would carry bouquets with bits of bridal lace and tulle, little connections that allow the bouquet to feel like a cohesive part of the bridal look. Indeed, a masterful bouquet will feel as seamless and as integral to the overall wedding look as well-chosen jewelry or a sac à main. Realize the couture potential of flowers by approaching them as part of the overall styling.
7. Bold Colors & Patterns
A 1970s motif should always include a brightly patterned print, with Marimekko-esque florals and a kaleidescope of colors. The return of color to weddings offers a welcome counterpoise to last year’s quiet luxury aesthetic. From vivid bouquets to bold table linens, a 1970s-inspired wedding will embrace color and pattern with abandon.
Ultimately, a 1970s-style bride is one who is unafraid to bring her everyday, personal style into her wedding design. She wants to look like herself on her wedding day, and if, on a given day, she wears eclectic combinations, expressive colors, flowing silhouettes, tassels, and beadwork, her wedding style will reflect this. Although weddings deserve reverence and formality, there’s no need to lose all of that stylistic freedom and cool; to suddenly become stiff and dress like one imagines a bride should. A wedding look should be the most elevated version of one’s everyday style and beauty, and in order to achieve that, there’s no need to sacrifice color, movement, pattern, or expression.
8. Daisies & Chamomile
Photos, left to right: Instagram, Pinterest.
When it comes to 1970s wedding flowers, daisies were the stars— and yes, you can read into this a not-at-all-subtle Daisy Jones pun. If daisies stole the show in every bouquet, their flower sisters, especially chamomile, made for the most gorgeous bandmates (the Suki Waterhouse of this particular metaphor). These sweet, tiny clusters will pull at your heartstrings— I am hard-pressed to think of a more adorable flower— and they lend such graceful movement to bouquets, as the float, dance, and bob their tiny little chamomile heads. And of course, their fragrance is so pure and calming, a relaxing scent to breathe in before walking the aisle.
Wear daisies in your hair or carry them in a cheerful bouquet, and pair them with bright, bold, maximalist prints, whether in the form of patterned tablecloths or printed dresses. When it comes to styling daisies, the groovier the pattern, the better— daisies were positively made to set against swirls, curves, ovals, and funky floral prints.
9. Fur Coats
The 1970s look is all about artful layering, and there’s no chicer top layer than a fur or faux fur coat. In my everyday styling, I’ve found there’s something intangible and magical about the combination of a free-flowing bohemian dress and a fur coat. The bohemian dress gives the fur coat a kind of nonchalance, an insouciance— oh, I just grabbed this on my way out the door. The pairing of a glam fur coat and an expressive, gypsy dress is so unexpected, yet so natural. It gives one the feeling of a 1970s rock or folk star, going on tour or heading in studio for a recording session. And it’s very reminiscent of Lauren Hutton’s gorgeous 1975 Oscars look, a Halston gown, as sleek as any Halston gown is famed to be, but rendered ethereal in pastel, sorbet colors of apricot, mint, vanilla, and blush. Most surprising was the fox fur she wore on her shoulders. What a mysterious, unexpected, and utterly winning combination between light and airy, smoldering and glam elements.
When it comes to bridal looks, the fur coat possibilities are endless and exquisite; and while white furs are beautiful, don’t be afraid of a ravishing color, like a regal teal (something blue!).
10. Cowgirl Boots
Channel Daisy Jones in the Aurora music video shoot— gorgeous in all white against the stark Joshua Tree backdrop— by pairing cowgirl boots with your vintage gown. Cowgirl boots read more desert gypsy or rock star than rustic, in this context. I love the idea of custom bridal boots, perhaps hand-stitched with your wedding flower (and of course, you and your husband’s initials and wedding date). Have your ‘maids catch the rock fairy vibe by styling them in great boots with long dresses and fur jackets or vests and loads of vintage jewelry.
11. Bohemian Styles
If there’s anything I feel I should have basically a PhD in by now, it’s the art of wearing and styling the bohemian dress. Hand-embroidered, embellished, with a tapestry of colors and charming idiosyncrasies, the bohemian dress speaks to my heart. I love its free-flowing silhouette, its artistic essence. Whether you opt for a flowing, bohemian bridal dress (hopefully adorned with tassels and embroidered with graceful colors) or dress style your bridesmaids in cool, gypsy dresses, you’ll be interpreting some of the best qualities of 1970s style. Layer your bohemian dress with all the 1970s styles: fur coat, 1920s deco jewelry, cowgirl boots, bright blooms, and voluminous hair for max retro glam.
And Just for Fun…
A little scrapbook of photos from my aunt’s wedding. Isn’t she gorgeous in a gown and headdress handmade by my Gram? And my mom is the littlest bridesmaid, adorable in her powder blue, floppy hat and ribboned, empire waist dress.
