The 70s was a pretty shameless decade and these terrible 1970s menswear ads bear testament to that. Let's not bring any of these fashions back... please?
If you were lucky enough to untangle yourself from the rainbow macramé that was the 1970s, then these photos of what was then considered “fashionable” will be a disco-dance down memory lane.
If you are a post-’70s baby, looking at these images may cause some wincing and general discomfort. Please take the ensuing terrible 1970s menswear ads with the pill of knowledge that one of the most popular films of 1972 was actually a porno:
Lesson one: There existed an unnatural affinity for anything cable-knit. Hot Penguin
Likewise, the optimal pant waist should've just about reached your chin.Hot Penguin
The giraffe print leotard: the height of the American Empire.Hot Penguin
In the '70s, it simply was not a party without silk pants or mustard-colored onesies.Hot Penguin
Only in the '70s would something be described as "the ultimate fashion climax."Hot Penguin
Luckily the matador-about-town look never made it to the 1980s.Bored Panda
Male models of the '70s, ladies and gentlemen. Hot Penguin
Which is more unsightly: the cut or the pattern?Hot Penguin
Not quite sure why the slogan "slack power" didn't stick. Hot Penguin
Forget everything in this picture except for the fact that people used to hang their underwear on circular hangers.Hot Penguin
Plunging necklines and denim pantsuits — the '70s epitome of sportive.Plaid Stallions
The '70s were all about ... bottoms.Pinterest
Dramatic coats and collars defined the '70s. A global recession clearly didn't cause any cuts in fabric usage.Plaid Stallions
In the '70s, you could also purchase a new, fashion forward shirt for just $1.94.Hot Penguin
The advert on the right says that "the men people pay attention to will be wearing these coats," but we're wondering if this kind of attention is desirable.Plaid Stallions
"Just imagine how everyone will talk!" Yes, imagine... Plaid Stallions
These ensembles brought to you by the Council for the Color Blind. Plaid Stallions
'70s fashion kills: "Arnel" fabric was used in this garment, and was apparently discontinued because the fabric was made using a toxic chemical that likely affected brain function.Plaid Stallions
18 Terrible 1970s Menswear Ads That Prove The Decade Is Better Left Forgotten
Want more of the disco decade? See 48 eye-opening photos of America's 1970s hippie communes, or check out these space colonies as imagined by NASA in the 1970s.
