History's Best Selling Fashion of 1970

Revisiting 1970 presents a grand parade of fashion history, marked by retro grooves and analog innovation and enduring fan favorites. Unrivaled hits including Clog, Hotpants, and The Halter Jumpsuit took top honors in living rooms and storefronts alike. Master craftsmen from industry leaders like Traditional and Mary Quant led the vanguard, engineering high-caliber releases that defined the laid-back, radical spirit of the seventies. Dive into the full historical rankings below to see which standout creations won the day.

1. Clog

   Released in 1970 by Traditional, Multiple regional artisans

   The clog, a shoe with roots stretching back centuries, surprisingly blossomed into a global fashion sensation in the 1970s. Shifting from its humble origins as durable, protective workwear in agricultural and industrial settings across Europe and Asia, it found an unexpected niche in mainstream fashion. This sudden leap from utilitarian footwear to a style icon was fueled by a cultural shift towards more relaxed, natural aesthetics and a desire for comfort without sacrificing distinctive style. Its chunky silhouette and rustic charm captured the zeitgeist of the era, quickly establishing itself as a must-have item in wardrobes worldwide, marking a significant cultural and commercial success.

2. Hotpants

   Released in 1970 by Mary Quant, Jacques Esterel

   The early 1970s ushered in a bold and undeniably provocative fashion trend: hotpants. Coined by Women's Wear Daily in 1970, this term described a new wave of extremely short shorts that immediately captured the imagination of a generation. Far from being merely a fleeting style, hotpants became an emblem of burgeoning youth culture, sexual liberation, and a daring approach to self-expression. Their launch sparked both controversy and widespread adoption, rapidly transitioning from high fashion runways into mainstream wardrobes and cementing their status as a defining cultural and commercial success of the decade.

3. The Halter Jumpsuit

   Released in 1970 by Halston, Yves Saint Laurent

   The Halter Jumpsuit burst onto the fashion scene as a defining garment of the late 1960s and early 1970s, perfectly encapsulating the era's spirit of liberation, glamour, and youthful exuberance. While its elements had existed separately, their fusion into a single, sleek silhouette created an instant sensation. It swiftly moved from high-fashion runways to becoming a ubiquitous sight on disco dance floors and celebrity red carpets, offering women a sophisticated yet daring alternative to traditional evening wear. Its immediate success lay in its ability to combine comfort with undeniable sex appeal, marking a significant shift in women's fashion towards more dynamic and body-conscious designs.

4. Tube top

   Released in 1970 by Various Manufacturers

   The tube top burst onto the fashion scene in the early 1970s, quickly becoming a defining, yet deceptively simple, garment for a generation seeking effortless style. Emerging from humble beginnings as a basic fabric tube, it capitalized on a growing desire for casual, comfortable, and liberating attire. Its immediate popularity wasn't tied to a specific haute couture designer or a high-profile fashion show, but rather to its accessible design and adaptability, making it an instant commercial success and a cultural touchstone for youthful self-expression. It offered a fresh, unencumbered silhouette that resonated with the era's relaxed aesthetic, rapidly transitioning from a novelty item to a wardrobe staple.