Vintage Pictures That Show Just How Cool People Were Back In The Day
Wow, people really knew how to look effortlessly cool
Can you believe that the ’70s are already 50 years ago? It’s crazy how time flies. Over the years, peoples’ sense of style has really changed. Today, young people are often copying the newest trend they see on Instagram. Back in the day, we didn’t have Instagram or Facebook, but we still managed to pull off some very cool looks.
Today we’ll take a trip back to the past and show you just how cool people in the ’70s and ’80s used to look. Make sure to stick around until the end, because we have a surprise for you!
In the 70s and 80s, fashion was all about looking effortlessly cool. People would wear distressed denim jeans with a graphic t–shirt and a leather jacket, pairing them with a pair of stylish sneakers. Women would pair loose–fitting jeans with a tank top, a blazer, and a scarf. They would accessorize with bold jewelry and statement sunglasses. Makeup was all about creating a natural look, and hair was kept simple and effortless. Whether it was a perm, afro, or just a simple blowout, people in the 70s and 80s knew how to look effortlessly cool.
Continue on to the next page to start off on this journey through time.
We had cool cars too!
Back in the ’70s, these cars were all the rage. Sports cars still had personality back then. This young woman is extremely proud to be able to take a picture with this amazing car. Do you remember any cool cars from back then? We’d love to hear which one used to be your dream car.
This picture could have come straight from a magazine, just like the one on the next page! Continue to take a look.
Biker heartthrob
You might think this man was a professional model back in the day, and that this picture was part of some kind of fancy photoshoot for an advertisement. This couldn’t be farther from the truth, however. This is just a regular Joe, who just happened to look effortlessly cool. It shows just how carefree people were back in the ’70s. What a picture!
Almost as cool as the following couple, who you will find on the next page.
Cool couple
These two lovebirds are another example of just how effortlessly cool people were back in the day. This couple from the ’60s seems to be the rebellious type, which was pretty characteristic for the period. Self expression became a lot more prevalent as young people were rebelling agains their parents’ expectations. We wonder where these two ended up!
Take a look on the next page for a picture of a group of young women from this time period, who look absolutely stunning!
Concertgoers
These four young women look like they are at a festival. We’re not sure where this picture was taken, but it looks like they’re having a great time! The woman in the middle is wearing a hat with the logo of the popular rock band Rush, which places this picture somewhere in the ’70s. We hope she got to see her favorite band!
These young women show an amazing sense of style, just like the two you’ll find on the next page!
Best friends
These two ladies also look like they’re on a festival, but it seems the party is over and they’re trying to hitchhike home. Hitchhiking was massively popular in the ’70s, but fell out of favor when people learned just how dangerous it could be. We hope these two got home safe.
On the next page you’ll see two young people who look just as happy and carefree as these two friends.
Chilling out
These two young people are having a great time in what looks to be a cave. People used to be really creative with their hangout spots back in the day. They look completely carefree and happy, something that you don’t quite see nowadays. And take a look at their long hair! What would their parents have thought of that?
Some people used to have stranger ways of expressing themselves. Like the people on the next page.
Mermaids
These 8 friends decided to dress up as mermaids at the swimming pool. Yes, that’s right, that’s not a costume. Mermaids don’t really exist. It goes to show that people have always been obsessed with the mythical creatures. It’s not a phase, mom! We’re curious about what the other poolgoers thought of this extravagant display.
Mermaid tales aren’t the only things that you can still see around today. High-waisted jeans are another. Continue on to the next page to take a look at a woman wearing them!
High-waisted jeans
Oh, high-waisted jeans. This was one of these trends from back in the day that most people thought would never ever come back. But then the 2010’s came and young people all around the world discovered this style of pants that had been out of fashion for so long. Today, it’s trendy again. We wonder how long it’ll last this time.
There’s another trend from back in the day that we think wont ever come back, but who knows. You’ll find it on the next page.
Jorts
Jorts. Jean shorts. They are about the most uncool thing you can imagine today, but for some reason, this guy from the ’70s looks great in them. How did he manage to pull that off? Or is it the fact that, back in the day, people were so effortlessly cool that they could pull off just about anything? We’re leaning towards that explanation.
We have another example showing this on the next page. You wont believe they managed to look cool in those.
High socks
Whereas today, we tend to want to hide our socks under our pants or in our shoes, this wasn’t the case back in the ’70s. Back then, we would wear our pristine white tube socks as high as we could wear them. They were as much a part of popular culture as the aforementioned high-waisted jeans.
Something else that was really characteristic for the time: the music festivals. Do you remember Woodstock 1969?
Tie-dye shirts
Woodstock ’69 is one of the most famous festivals of all time. It’s known for being hosted right in the middle of the “hippie era”. In the picture above you can see a stand selling tie-dye shirts, which became synonymous with hippie fashion in the late sixties. The festival didn’t have official merchandise, so these shirts were the closest they got to festival-specific clothing. Today, you can still find tie-dye shirts in a lot of stores. But it all began back in the sixties.
You’ll find more incredible Woodstock photos on the next page!
Flower crown
Another example of hippie fashion: the flower crown. Today, you’ll find people at other festivals like Coachella and Sziget mimicking this trend, which has its roots in the sixties. You couldn’t turn a corner at Woodstock without seeing someone with the iconic headdress. Looking at the picture above takes you straight back to ’69.
You’ll find more incredible Woodstock photos on the next page!
More hippie fashion
This woman is also dressed in true hippie fashion. Back in the late sixties, this was a very popular look. In the following photo’s you’ll see a lot of visitors who look similar to the woman in the picture above. Dressing like this was a real statement of the counterculture. And of course Woodstock was visited en masse by cultural rebels.
You’ll find more incredible Woodstock photos on the next page!
All aboard
On the picture above, you can see a group of friends who arrived at Woodstock in a van. The van serves as a makeshift raised platform to watch the shows from. A great way to watch acts like The Who, Jimmie Hendrix, Santana, Janis Joplin and Creedence Clearwater Revival. Yes, all those iconic bands played at this particular festival back in 1969.
You’ll find more incredible Woodstock photos on the next page!