The 3 piece suit. 70s semi formal wear.

I miss the three piece suit.  Dress slacks, vest and blazer/suit coat. Worn usually with an open polyester blouse.  I had mine a light grey polyester three piece suit made from the label called Tomboy.  I wore it with a Huck-a-Poo blouse and clogs I felt like Farrah Fawcett on Charlie's Angels.  My three piece suite was bought on a sale rack. the blazer fitting perfectly, the vest and pants were two sizes too big and I sewed them in to fit.  It came out alright and nobody knew. The clogs were my one pair of dress shoes, beige to go with any color.  The shoes were covered up by the flare of the pant leg so it didn't matter.  I was so happy to have one as it was the ultimate business in school outfit. The open shirt provided an ease, the collar added confidence and the light color, contrast.  Each piece is not overdone, over fitted, when you wore your three piece outfit, you had a different proportion, with the blazer, open collar, and flare on the slacks. You had some kind of heeled shoe, not too high and you walked like you owned your own business.  WE never really said it out loud but with Mary Tyler Moore and then Charlie's Angels, TV shows were beginning to shoe a trend of women in the workplace, looking good and holding roles of the decision maker..

 

 

 

This was the beginning of menswear being worn by a women as sexy right before Diane Keaton developed the entire menswear look on the set of Annie Hall. She challenged the proportions, and taboos, and made loose clothing the norm.  We also covered ourselves up for a good part of the 70s into the 80s with the preppy turtlenecks and layered clothing. 

 

 

The three piece suit was a style statement for men in the any event that needed dressing up. After Saturday Night Fever with John Travolta in a three piece suit reinvented for the club in bright with and a dark shirt brought a new confidence and ease to the moves of the Bee Gees. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We knew what we were doing.  We had the care to dress up more often, wear clothes that fit our style and the occasion. The three piece suit of the seventies added fun and ease to an otherwise formal statement.  Men started to wear suit jackets without ties.  Jeans would soon incorporate themselves into this casual yet dressy style of dressing. Long hair was not forbidden but it was not raggy either.  It had simplicity and ease unlike todays suits, too fitted to a point where they crease everywhere.  You are bonded both in clothing and shoes that are not meant for standing never mind walking with a swing in your stride. The three piece suit started the whole trend of menswear, women's business wear, high heels with dress pants, beautiful fabrics, silk, rayon, georgette, wool, and velvet for men and women alike..

 

You could also wear the velvet version of the vest and maybe matching pants. We loved wearing the velvet version with a blouse underneath and wool slacks.

 

 

Here Kate Jackson wears the dress version of the 3 piece suit. Farrah in a blazer and flared slack.  Jaclyn Smith is in some type of "cruise "wear however she looks fantastic in white pants

 

 

There's something to be said about dressing up for semi formal events, parties, business or friends and family.  I do like the idea of dressing up a bit without always relaying on jeans and high heels to do the entire job for you. It's a look a effort of respect for the party or the restaurant or the event. 

 

 In all fairness Mary Tyler Moore had so much to do with this movement of her show being centered around women back in the workplace, making decisions, and looking professional. She made it OK to be a single professional women who was not subjected to the role of a secretary. 

 

 

Here is Kate Jackson's version of Mary Tyler Moore. She was always just a slight bit harsh with menswear, her straight short hair, tight expression and a thousand turtlenecks.  However, many girls did want her no-nonsense confidence in style and in profession.

 

 

So bring back the three pieces suit, dress pants, blazer, women's wear interpretation without the crazy price tag, quality, cut , and fit.  We need to walk upright and with confidence. adjusting for our sense of style without having to be bonded into someone's else brand, careless cut, too tight muffin top pants.  What happened to the slick wool dress pants with a blouse that floats away from your back as you walk into a room?  Why are they so hard to find?  I miss how we used to talk about what we were wearing to which event, getting out the iron if necessary and most importantly feeling as good in our dress clothes as we did in our jeans.