If the decades could be distilled into seasons, the '70s would be autumn. Corduroy, leather, wool, fur, mustard, burnt orange, rich browns—the textures and color palette of the era just scream pumpkin spice. Maybe it's just me, but I literally picture the decade with a slight sepia tint. So before we jingle-bell-rock into the holiday season and the Love Actually of it all, let's turn to '70s classics for late fall fashion inspiration. Here, we've gathered a few of our favorite sartorial moments from '70s cinema to inspire you to break out the calf-length boots and A-line skirts, and perhaps experiment with a poncho.
Jane Fonda in Klute (1971)
Photo: Getty
I frequently revisit Klute for the plot, and by plot I mean every single one of Jane Fonda's iconic looks in this salacious '70s thriller. Rocking a mullety shag some Bushwick babes would give up their spot on the Telfar waitlist for, Jane Fonda is the queen of the A-line skirt, turtleneck combo. In this iteration, she is styled with a patterned skirt, ribbed turtleneck, chunky belt, and fabulous snakeskin boots. The outfit is a reminder to play with different textures and colors and that multiple statement patterns can coexist without overwhelming the wearer.
Faye Dunaway in Eyes of Laura Mars (1978)
Photo: Getty
Like Klute, The Eyes of Laura Mars also features a style icon looking incredibly glamorous while in the crosshairs of a mysterious killer. This time, Faye Dunaway is a photographer who shoots all of her images while crouched on the ground with one leg extended long (as the true crime would be to waste an opportunity for maximum Faye Dunaway gam). In an early scene, Dunaway is styled in a brown pussy-bow blouse, a fur-lined trench, brown suede boots, and a midi skirt with two slits to allow for her acrobatic leg mobility. The double-slitted skirt evades me, but I found one with an extra high cut to make up for it.
Diana Ross in Mahogany (1975)
Photo: Getty
Any list of '70s style icons would be incomplete without Diana Ross. If you haven't seen her in Mahogany, ignore the Rotten Tomatoes score and try to find it online because it's worth it just for the clothes. The movie follows a young fashion student's overnight success as a model and the ensuing drama, but all that is secondary to the fantastic fashion she wears throughout. For fall, we love the silhouette of the handkerchief hem dress with a matching poncho (a '70s staple) paired with calf-length boots.
Zouzou in Love in the Afternoon (1972)
I'm a sucker for French New Wave (the hours I spent scrolling through photos of Anna Karina on Tumblr as a teen), and I can always count on an Éric Rohmer or Jean-Luc Godard film for a healthy dose of fashion inspiration. In fact, I went to a Rohmer-themed party recently, and everyone looked fantastic—an abundance of turtlenecks, trench coats, and sunglasses can really elevate a roof soirée. To prep for such an event, I watched Love in the Afternoon then immediately added all of Zouzou's looks to my Fall/Winter Pinterest board. I love this outfit because it really demonstrates the power of a statement coat; it's a reminder that you can look effortless, sexy, and cool without sacrificing warmth.
Ali MacGraw in Love Story (1970)
Photo: Getty
I come to Love Story for two things: a good cry and Ali MacGraw's coats. He was a Harvard boy in tweed, she was a Radcliff girl in camel—starcrossed love never looked so collegiate. While I don't think I'll be locking eyes across the quad with a wealthy grad student anytime soon, I could see this coat-and-boots combination in my future.
Top photo: Courtesy of Instagram/@cinematography.scene
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