AA-2026-69A3F4
On the image
In the 1970s, the notion of 'good manners' in photography began to diverge dramatically. One subject here is sticking her tongue out, a clear statement that posing demurely was no longer a universal obligation. Her male companion, with his wide lapels and patterned tie, maintains a smile of almost unwavering politeness, perhaps still operating under the older assumption that one should always look one's best for posterity.
His suit jacket, with its slightly exaggerated lapels, and her bold floral print, are perfect indicators of early to mid-1970s fashion. These were the clothes worn for relatively informal but still 'dressy' events, suggesting a casual outdoor gathering where appearances still mattered, but not enough to prevent someone from making a face.
The entire scene hints at a period when dressing up still held some weight, but the internal urge for irreverence was growing stronger. This particular portrait captures the generational divide in real-time, even if it’s just for the family album.
The historian's note
This photograph from the 1970s depicts two individuals, a man and a woman, outdoors. Their attire is consistent with fashion trends of the period, notably the woman's floral-patterned dress and the man's wide-lapelled suit jacket and patterned necktie.
The 1970s saw a significant shift in sartorial choices, moving away from the more structured silhouettes of previous decades towards looser, more expressive styles. Men's suits often featured wider lapels and flares, while women's fashion embraced bold prints and flowing designs.
This image serves as a visual record of these transitional fashion elements and evolving social norms regarding personal expression in an informal context.
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Visually related — by likeness
1970s Couple: Formal Attire, Playful Pose. 1970–1979. Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library, AA-2026-69A3F4. https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/1970s-couple-formal-attire-playful-pose.
@misc{aaAA202669A3F4,
title = {1970s Couple: Formal Attire, Playful Pose},
year = {1970–1979},
howpublished = {Archive \& Atlas, Historical Image Library},
note = {Accession AA-2026-69A3F4},
url = {https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/1970s-couple-formal-attire-playful-pose}
}TY - ART TI - 1970s Couple: Formal Attire, Playful Pose PY - 1970–1979 PB - Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library AN - AA-2026-69A3F4 UR - https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/1970s-couple-formal-attire-playful-pose ER -
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