The Magnificent 8 in “The Year You Were Born”
A short while back, I presented the idea to style outfits inspired by the year we were born to the wonderful ladies of this Magnificent 8 group. I thought it would be a fun sartorial challenge for a collaboration that consists of women born across 7 or 8 different decades.
If you have been following my blog this year, you probably already know that I have recently celebrated a big milestone birthday. I was born on Thursday, May 30, 1974, at 7:47 a.m. in Easton, Pennsylvania, 50 years, 2 months, and 1 day ago.
So let’s kick it back to 1974 and see what kinds of things were happening in the word when I entered it.
In 1974, the world population was 4.378 billion people (today’s world population is 7.951 billion people) and the population of the United States was 213.9 million people (today’s U.S. population is 342.0 million people).
My given name, Michelle, was the third most popular baby name for girls born in the United States in 1974. Jennifer and Amy were the first and second most popular baby girl names that year. The top 3 baby boy names in the United States in 1974 were Michael, Jason, and Christopher. England and Wales listed the top three baby girl names of 1974 as Sarah, Claire, and Niccola and the top 3 baby boy names were Paul, Mark, and David. In Canada, the names were ranked respectively as Jennifer, Michelle, and Lisa for girls and Jason, Micheal, and Christopher for boys. And Ireland listed the top baby girl names for 1974 as Mary, Catherine, and Margaret with John, Michael, and Patrick topping the boys’ list.
I share my birth month of May 1974 with Adam Richman of Man vs. Food (May 16, 1974), Major League Baseball player Nelson Figueroa (May 17, 1974), actress Fairuza Balk (May 21, 1974), politician Majorie Taylor Greene (May 27, 1974), and NHL hockey player David Wilkie (May 30, 1974),
My favorite movie of all time, Young Frankenstein, was released on December 15, 1974, and became the fourth highest grossing film of the year. Blazing Saddles was the number one, top grossing film that year. Barbara Streisand’s “The Way We Were” was voted by Billboard as the number one song of 1974. And All in the Family was ranked as the number one primetime television series in the United States.
There was no Pulitzer Prize awarded in the fiction category in 1974 but the New York Times bestseller list includes 4 books that reached number one that year: Burr by Gore Vidal, Watership Down by Richard Adams, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John le Carré, and Centennial by James Michener. I have not read any of those books. But I did read every work of fiction that was awarded a Pulitzer Prize from 1918-2011. Then I quit that reading project because I got bored and started having babies.
In politics, United States President Richard Nixon resigned on August 9, 1974, in the wake of the Watergate scandal. The Israeli Prime Minister also resigned that year in response to the high number of casualties caused by the 1973 Yom Kippur War. In Europe, North Cyrus was invaded by Turkey, the Carnation Revolution was happening in Portugal, and the Chancellor of West Germany resigned following an espionage scandal.
On October 30, 1974, the undisputed heavyweight boxing champion George Forman lost by knockout in the 8th round to Muhammad Ali in a match dubbed The Rumble in the Jungle in Kinshasa, Zaire, in front of 60,000 spectators. It was one of the most watched televised events at the time and can arguably be called the greatest sporting event of the 20th century. Also in October 1974, the Oakland Athletics won the 71st Baseball World Series, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-1 in a best of seven games series. Super Bowl VIII was held in January 1974 and saw the Miami Dolphins defeat the Minnesota Vikings in a 24-7 win to become the 1973 National Football League champions. Super Bowl IX which was held in early 1975, determined the 1974 Super Bowl Champions as the Pittsburgh Steelers in a 16-6 win over the Minnesota Vikings.
In the world of fashion, the 1970s was the era of new synthetic textiles that made fashionable styles available at any price point. The runways saw styles inspired by early prairie dresses influenced by hippie fashion, flashy party wear geared towards to discos and nightclubs, and the rise of athletic wear as the decade moved to the much more casual 1980s. The 1970s were a decade of fashion exploration as women began to really push the boundaries of personal style.
As the fashion world moved from the more conservative 1960s, it retained the hippie styles that began surfacing in the latter part of that decade, with bell bottoms, high waists, cropped tops, patchwork, crochet, embroidery, bright colors, and bold patterns dominating the sartorial scene in the early 1970s.
These eclectic bohemian styles that became representative of the 1970s are where my personal fashion preferences seem to firmly fit. So I styled today’s outfit with a bright, bold, bohemian polyester princess aesthetic in mind.
I bought these big bell bottomed crazy clown pants (that’s what my kids call them) in Asheville during my annual road trip to North Carolina in February. When I returned home, it was much too cold and wintery to wear them so they were closeted until spring. I really thought that I would struggle with styling these statement pants but surprisingly I have worn them four different times with four totally different tops and I have felt jubilant in each iteration.
To really capture the year 1974, I opted for a cropped sleeveless sweater underneath one of my trademark long flowy robes in a burnt orange color. My fringed clogs were the obvious choice of footwear although I never really wear these clogs because they are truly hazardous. I have twisted my ankle numerous times wearing them so they, too, have been closeted, only making occasional appearances for playing dress up.
I really wanted to incorporate something crocheted in this look so I wore my crocheted sunflower earrings and a crocheted slouchy hat which both epitomize 1970s fashion in my opinion. My rainbow straw bag and layered necklaces including my Shelbee mala beads, a crystal cage necklace, and a preloved multi strand seed bead necklace complete my 1974-inspired outfit.
I loved every part of this outfit so much that I have quite forgotten the other three stylings of these trousers. But I am certain I will remember when I want to wear them again and you will certainly see them restyled here at some point in the future.
Now let me introduce the ladies of The Magnificent 8 so you can see how their outfits were inspired by the year they were born.
The Magnificent 8 is a collaboration among 8 stylish women, each in a different age bracket, ranging from 20’s to 80’s. The mission of this collaboration is to show you just how ageless style is, how we can each dress however we’d like and in ways that make us feel fabulous. There are no age restrictions on style. So wear what you want, when you want, add a smile, and strut your style with confidence.
Every quarter, we choose a theme and each create an outfit that suits our own personal tastes and fashion choices and we post them on the last Wednesday of every third month. So be sure to go check out everyone’s posts for lots of style inspiration at any age!
- Grace of Graceful Rags
- Mica of Away from the Blue
- Roxanne of Glass of Glam
- Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge
- Rena of Fine Whatever
- Eugenia of Age of Grace
- Jodie, Charlotte, and Lesley of Jodie’s Touch of Style
What year were you born? Do the fashions from that era inspire your personal style?
Be sure to join us again on October 30, 2024, for our next collaboration of magnificently ageless style!
Keeping it on the edge,
Shelbee
Joining these Fabulous Link Parties.
28 Comments
Roxanne Birnbaum
I’m obsessed with these trousers! You nailed the 70’s look!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Roxanne! I am obsessed with them, too!
xoxo
Shelbee
Sally in St Paul
I was born just a few months before you, and I knew you’d absolutely nail the vibe of that era…and you exceeded even my high expectations with this look! *chef’s kiss*
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Hehehe, thanks so much, my friend! Sometimes I think I was born into the wrong era! Wouldn’t it have been such fun to come of age in the 1970s?!
xoxo
Shelbee
Anne M Bray
OMG! Those PANTS!!!!!!!!
I’m 1956 and my body shape no longer allows the “fit and flare” silhouette. Or the “slim hourglass” that my mom wore: https://spygirl-amb.blogspot.com/2013/05/for-mom.html
I have an extensive collection of Mexican hand-painted circle skirts from the 50’s that I still am holding onto. Considering turning them into dresses. Someday…
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Oh, I bet you will make something really fabulous from those 1950s Mexican circle skirts! Did you check out Eugenia’s post? She was born in 1955 and did a little history of gingham which was fun to read. By the way, slim hourglass is definitely not my body shape either!
xoxo
Shelbee
Doris
Those bell bottoms are a total 70’s dream! You styled them perfectly!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Doris! These pants make me so happy every time I wear them!
xoxo
Shelbee
jodie filogomo
I can see why you had to have those pants and I’m excited that you’ve worn them so much. Such a great prompt for the group.
XOXO
Jodie
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Jodie! They are definitely the happiest pants I own! This was a really fun prompt. I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the outfits!
xoxo
Shelbee
Nancy
What a fantastic trousers! They actually remind me of carnaval in Rio. Not that I ever been there…… what a fun theme.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Nancy! They are like carnival pants! But they will forever be called my clown pants according to my kids! Haha.
xoxo
Shelbee
Marsha Banks
I love these pants, Shelbee! You really hit the 70s look on the head! Of course, I remember those fashions because I was a teenager in the 70s and loved fashion even way back then. One of these days, I want to crochet (or maybe it’s macrame) the iconic vest Janis Joplin wore. That may actually be in the 60s, though. I think this must have been a fun prompt for the others in your group.
Thanks for sharing all the information. I remember the day Nixon resigned so vividly. We were traveling to Gatlinburg, TN back when it was small and a really quaint little town. Some of the things you mention I don’t recall, though.
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Marsha! I just commented that it would have been really cool to come of age in the 1970s. Was it?! Now I want a Janis-inspired crochet vest! I just did a quick Google search which led to me this listing at Christie’s for Janis Joplin’s shirt gold crocheted vest. It is listed at auction for $30,000-$50,000! I guess you better make your own if you want one! LOL
xoxo
Shelbee
Jacqui Berry
What a fun theme. Nice to read about all those things. Some I knew, others not. Great look to you wear it well
Shelbee. Xx Jacqui
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Jacqui! This was a really fun theme!
xoxo
Shelbee
mireille
I bought a pair of very similar pair of pants in navy this summer adn I will be sharing them on the blog soon! They are so comfortable! Love how you style yours and will have to get some inspiration from this!
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Mireille! I can’t wait to see your navy blue pants like these! You should send them in for this month’s Good Buy theme of Shades of Blue!
xoxo
Shelbee
Eugenia Russell Hargrove
Shelbee,
What an excellent post about your birth year! I knew you had a birthday in May, but I didn’t think it was a milestone birthday. Congratulations! I need these wide-leg flounced pants; they are divine and well done with representing a 70’s fashion look.
So come next year, I turn 70, should I move on from the Magnificient 8 and let someone enjoy the opportunity to join the influencer group?
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you so much, Eugenia! I had fun writing this post. I can’t believe that your next birthday is 70. I thought you were only a few years older than me. There is no need to move on from our group when you turn 70 though. We are just 8 ladies of various ages having fun with our clothing!
xoxo
Shelbee
Emma Peach
This is such a fabulously groovy outfit! I love those pants! I was born in the summer of 1974 too which is probably why I love 70s fashion. Thanks for linking!
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Emma! I had a feeling you would get a kick out of these colorful pants!
xoxo
Shelbee
Mongolian
Great styling! Very colorful and interesting.These shoes and wool beret are great!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much! I really appreciate that. I felt very cheerful wearing this outfit!
xoxo
Shelbee
Michelle
The minute I saw those very familiar bell bottoms, I knew I had to read this post. I love the way you’ve styled them and you truly look fabulous in them. (Actually you truly look fabulous. Period.) The quintessential bohemian hippie vibe. So awesome! Also, Young Frankenstein is my very most favorite movie. 😄
xoxo
Michelle
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Aww, Michelle, thanks so much! I appreciate you so very much!
xoxo
Shelbee
Patrick Weseman
You nailed the 70’s look. Love all the facts you have there.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Patrick! I am glad you enjoyed reading it.
xoxo
Shelbee