Photos Where the '70s Are Anything But Strait-Laced
The 1970s are often flattened into shag carpet, fondue sets, and polite nostalgia. That version ignores what people were actually wearing while walking, skating, biking, running errands, or killing time in public.
Street photos from the decade show a casual rebellion hiding in plain sight. Shorts crept higher, shirts vanished entirely, uniforms bent their own rules, and leisurewear spilled into every corner of daily life. Nothing looks styled for approval, just worn with confidence.
Bodies were visible, gender lines softened, and comfort beat convention almost everywhere. This is the ’70s in motion, not posed icons or studio shots, but regular people moving through the world while the decade quietly stopped caring what anyone thought.
Crosswalk Red
City traffic frames a passerby whose bright shorts dominate the street scene.
Southern Rock Stance
Barefoot fan of Marshall Tucker Band poses by a Mustang in torn denim.
Wagon Mural
Psychedelic station wagon mirrors its owner’s printed shorts and sunny attitude.
Raft Party Build
Friends crowd a wooden raft wearing little more than cutoffs and swimsuits.
Resort Minimalism
Ralph Lauren pairs tailored white shorts with a tucked gray sweater on villa steps.
Bearded Baseline
A shirtless tennis player rocks denim shorts, long beard, and patriotic headband.
Yellow Confidence
Bright shorts and a knit sweater turn a bus stop wait into a fashion statement.
Stone Masters
Young climbers show off tan lines, flower shorts, and a carabiner clenched between teeth.
Van Shorts Club
Four friends pose proudly in front of a blue van wearing tight denim and trucker caps.
Tennis Off-Duty
Björn Borg and John McEnroe relax courtside wearing casual takes on match gear.
Mustang Break
Bare feet on asphalt pair easily with denim cutoffs and brand loyalty.
Platinum Push
Bleached hair, skateboards, and a parked VW lock in late-decade cool.
Jogging Season
Tiny denim and dolphin shorts flood the street with color and movement.
Muscle Miles
Arnold Schwarzenegger smiles on a racing bike in tiny gym shorts.
Gun Deck Gym
Man practices with a rifle on a boat wearing only khaki shorts.
BMX Attitude
Sunglasses and a cropped tee sell teenage confidence before the trick even starts.
Pedal Freedom
Long hair, cut-off denim, and bare feet cruise through traffic without concern.
Shorts Patrol
Uniformed officers pose casually while official leg exposure does the talking.
Venice Crop Crew
Roller skaters pose curbside while one man wears a cropped STREAKER shirt and matching confidence.
Boombox Kennedy
Shirtless man carries a boombox down a sunny street in skin-tight shorts.
