Beauty in the 1970s had many faces, from feathered hair and fresh skin to glittery makeup and bold stage outfits. The women who shaped those looks brought more than pretty pictures to magazines, movies, and television.
They broke barriers, showed confidence, and gave fans new ways to express themselves. Their styles still offer plenty of inspiration, whether you love simple outfits or a little sparkle.
1. Farrah Fawcett: The Feathered Hair Sensation
A single hairstyle could send people rushing to the salon, and Farrah’s bouncing layers did exactly that. Her role on Charlie’s Angels in 1976 helped turn her sunny smile and feathered hair into symbols of the decade.
Her famous red swimsuit poster made that image even more familiar. For a modern nod to her style, try soft volume around your face rather than stiff curls, and let a relaxed smile complete the look with easy charm.
2. Lynda Carter: Strength With Star Power
Saving the day looked stylish when Wonder Woman arrived on television with dark waves and a confident smile. Lynda Carter played the hero from 1975 to 1979, giving viewers a memorable mix of kindness, courage, and glamour.
Her appeal was about more than the famous costume. She showed that strength could belong beside elegance, not compete with it.
Borrow that spirit through good posture, clothes you feel comfortable wearing, and confidence in your own abilities.
3. Bianca Jagger: The Art of Sharp Dressing
A white wedding jacket helped rewrite the rules of bridal style. When Bianca married Mick Jagger in 1971, her Yves Saint Laurent outfit offered a striking alternative to the usual gown and made fashion history.
Later, her tailored suits and dramatic hats became part of Studio 54’s glamorous scene. The useful lesson is balance: one sharp jacket or standout accessory can carry an outfit without needing several bold pieces fighting for attention all at once.
4. Debbie Harry: Punk With a Glamorous Twist
Platinum hair and a fearless stare gave New York’s music scene a face nobody could ignore. As Blondie’s lead singer, Debbie Harry mixed punk attitude with pop glamour, making rumpled hair and bold makeup feel exciting rather than unfinished.
Her look worked because it had personality, not because every detail matched. Pairing a simple shirt with striking lipstick captures that approach today.
Keep the rest relaxed, and choose one feature that makes you feel truly yourself.
5. Donna Summer: Disco’s Radiant Queen
Under the dance floor lights, sparkle was practically a language of its own. Donna Summer spoke it beautifully through flowing hair, shimmering outfits, and makeup that matched the joyful energy of her disco hits.
Known as the Queen of Disco, she helped make evening glamour feel bold and celebratory. You can borrow a little of that mood without dressing for a stage: try a touch of shimmer on your eyelids or one bright accessory after dark.
6. Jane Fonda: Beauty That Refused One Label
Not every beauty icon stayed with one polished image. Jane Fonda’s changing hairstyles, including her famous shag, reflected a decade when women were questioning old rules about appearance, work, and public life.
Her acclaimed acting and political activism shaped her seventies identity; her major workout fame came later, in the 1980s. That distinction matters when exploring her influence.
Her example offers a simple reminder: changing your haircut or wardrobe can reflect growth, not a mistake.
7. Liza Minnelli: Big Drama, Short Hair
Who needed long waves when a pixie cut could command the room? Liza Minnelli made short hair, striking lashes, and expressive eyes unforgettable, especially through her Oscar-winning performance in the 1972 film Cabaret.
Her beauty style suited a performer who could tell a story with one glance. For everyday inspiration, focus on defining your eyes while keeping other details simple.
A neat haircut and carefully applied mascara can create impact without requiring a full theatrical makeover.
8. Iman: A New Presence in High Fashion
Fashion magazines gained a remarkable new presence when Iman began appearing in Vogue in 1976. Born in Somalia, she brought elegance and poise to an industry that still offered limited opportunities to Black models.
Designers admired her striking features, but her influence also came from the confidence she carried into photographs. Looking back at her early work reveals how posture changes an outfit.
Relax your shoulders, lift your gaze, and let the clothes support you.
9. Beverly Johnson: A Cover That Changed Fashion
August 1974 brought a cover with lasting meaning: Beverly Johnson became the first Black model on American Vogue’s cover. Her achievement challenged a narrow beauty standard and helped open doors for other models.
Beyond that milestone, her full hair and glowing makeup offered plenty of seventies inspiration. Warm bronze or gold tones can echo the era, but the bigger takeaway is representation.
Seeing more kinds of beauty helps people recognize value in their own features.
10. Cher: Fearless Fashion on Full Display
Playing it safe was never the point when Cher stepped onto a television stage. Her long, dark hair, daring costumes, and dramatic makeup made her variety shows a showcase for fashion as well as music.
Many of her memorable outfits came from designer Bob Mackie, whose creations matched her bold presence. You do not need sequins from head to toe to learn from Cher.
Choose something expressive, wear it proudly, and leave room for playful reinvention.
11. Jacqueline Bisset: Understated Screen Elegance
Sometimes the quietest look leaves the strongest impression. Jacqueline Bisset brought soft hair, clear eyes, and understated polish to seventies cinema, with films such as The Deep in 1977 raising her profile even further.
Her appeal often rested on simplicity rather than heavy decoration. That makes her a useful reference for anyone who prefers an easy routine.
A flattering neckline, softly brushed hair, and light makeup can feel finished without hiding the person beneath them.
12. Stevie Nicks: Rock’s Dreamy Free Spirit
Flowing sleeves seemed to dance along whenever Fleetwood Mac’s singer took the stage. Stevie Nicks built a dreamy visual world with layered fabrics, long hair, shawls, and boots that suited her mysterious songs.
After joining the band in 1975, she helped make romantic, bohemian dressing part of rock style. The trick to borrowing her look is movement, not costume.
Add a light scarf or loose sleeve to a simple outfit, then let the fabric do the talking.
13. Tina Turner: Energy You Could See
Before anyone noticed a hemline or hairstyle, the energy hit them. Tina Turner’s powerful singing and fast, fearless dancing made her stage presence one of the most exciting sights in seventies music.
Fringed dresses and bold hair added movement to performances that already felt electric. Her example shifts the focus from looking perfect to feeling capable.
Wear clothes that let you move comfortably, and remember that enthusiasm can make a stronger impression than any accessory.
14. Diana Ross: Glamour With Endless Range
From smooth elegance to clouds of curls, one singer made glamour feel wonderfully flexible. Diana Ross expanded her solo career during the seventies while also starring in films, including Lady Sings the Blues and Mahogany.
Her wardrobe could be sleek one moment and richly dramatic the next. That range is the real inspiration: personal style does not need a single setting.
Try different textures or hairstyles for different moods while keeping comfort and confidence at the center.
15. Ali MacGraw: The Fresh Face of Simple Style
A center part and a simple sweater could feel just as memorable as a glittering gown. Ali MacGraw’s appearance in Love Story in 1970 helped make clean, relaxed beauty a defining look of the decade.
Her straight hair, natural makeup, and classic clothes offered an approachable kind of polish. Think good knitwear, tidy basics, and colors that work together.
The appeal is not about buying more; it comes from choosing pieces that feel comfortable and look intentional.
16. Marisa Berenson: Fashion With an Artistic Heritage
Fashion was almost part of the family story for Elsa Schiaparelli’s granddaughter. Marisa Berenson became a celebrated model and actress, bringing a striking presence to magazine pages and films such as Cabaret and Barry Lyndon.
Her expressive eyes and adventurous wardrobe suited the decade’s taste for rich color and texture. Rather than copying a complete vintage outfit, borrow one interesting element.
A patterned scarf, unusual earrings, or a flowing dress can add character to familiar basics.
17. Lauren Hutton: The Smile That Broke Rules
A gap between her front teeth became a signature, not something to hide. Lauren Hutton challenged polished modeling expectations with an easy smile and a natural look that stood out across magazine covers and beauty campaigns.
Her major Revlon contract in 1973 also marked an important business moment for models. The personal lesson feels refreshingly direct: a distinctive feature can be an asset.
Before trying to cover yours, consider whether it makes your face more memorable.
18. Jane Birkin: Effortless Style With a French Twist
Wispy bangs, long lashes, and a basket carried like an everyday handbag made casual dressing look charming. British-born Jane Birkin became closely linked with French style through her music, films, and life in France.
Her seventies outfits often relied on plain shirts, jeans, and relaxed dresses rather than complicated styling. That ease is worth remembering when getting dressed feels like work.
Start with comfortable basics, add one personal detail, and allow a little imperfection to remain.
19. Olivia Newton-John: Sweetness Meets Movie-Star Spark
Movie audiences watched a dramatic style switch when Grease arrived in 1978. Olivia Newton-John’s Sandy moved from soft, sweet looks to curls, bold makeup, and a fitted black outfit that became instantly recognizable.
Offscreen, the singer’s bright smile and approachable image added to her appeal. Her late seventies influence shows how hair and clothes can help tell a story.
Experimenting with a different look can be fun, but it never needs to erase who you are.