the hemline switch of 1970

[michael c]

the show's costuming always has me on the edge of my seat.

but nothing prepared me for the drop in hemlines during the summer of 1970.

when the show premiered in 1966 skirt lengths were squarely at the knee and over the next few years progressively got shorter until we hit the panty-skimming highs of early 1970.that's how i was used to seeing the characters.

but i noticed something was amiss during the early episodes of dvd set 22(which i'm watching now)when liz shows up in a pink suit with a skirt worn below the knee.a length not worn on the show in years.but still liz was a mature women so it wasn't totally out of line.the full on visual assault occured a few episodes later when quentin,david,maggie and carolyn go on a picnic and carolyn appears in a full-fledged,calf-length granny skirt!the shift in proportion was jarring.i felt like some alien element had seeped into the show.around this same time maggie gets a zig-zag knit top and full length maxi and in general the make-up and hairstyles are looser and more natural.

i'm not old enough to remember the whole "mini" "midi" "maxi" debate of the early 70's but i can see here how all the fuss was started.it takes some time for the eye to adjust!

style-wise things had been slouching toward bohemia for some time but here the shift was abrupt but decisive.a visual cue that we're drifting towards gas lines,watergate and the symbionese liberation army.

[Roland]

I remember Marlo Thomas suddenly switching from minis to midis (or was it maxis?) in the last season or two of "That Girl."  For some reason, I found it very disconcerting at the time (and I know next to nothing about women's fashions!).

[ClaudeNorth]

In one of those "Transcending Time" books that collects period DS articles from various magazines, there is a piece discussing a mini vs. midi debate that took place at the DS studios, and another piece (or it might be the same piece) detailing the DS cast's opinions about hot pants. 

[CyrusL]

Diane and I will often be watching an episode together, especially the later '60s,  and she will give me a smile and punch me saying, "KLS's skirt is practically indecent." To which I usually reply, "Yeah, guys hate that." 
Michael 

[BuzzH]

I'm currently finishing up volume 21 (1970 PT) and Carolyn in one ep is wearing a hippie-esque outfit w/pants and vest etc...VERY 70's!  And very different from what we're used to seeing on DS too.    But I liked it cause it reflected the times.  

[Stop reading if you haven't seen PT 1970 --moderator]

BTW, I really wasn't upset at all when [spoiler]she's killed by Roger as she was an annoying twit who got more annoying when Will died and she started drinking.[/spoiler]

[BuzzH]

[Stop reading if you haven't seen PT 1970 --moderator]

Question, why was the above added to my post?  I put in spoiler tags.  Just curious...

[Midnite]

Because the spoilers are huge and the topic of hemlines might be deceiving. 

[BuzzH]

Because the spoilers are huge and the topic of hemlines might be deceiving. 

Ah, okay. 

[Gothick]

Forget the hemlines, what about Sebastian Shaw's utterly sexxxalicious leather trousers, seemingly sprayed on!  EEEEEEE-YOWWWWW!

Talk about sights that can cause a strong man to slither in a gelatinous puddle to the floor...

G.

[michael c]

I remember Marlo Thomas suddenly switching from minis to midis (or was it maxis?) in the last season or two of "That Girl."  For some reason, I found it very disconcerting at the time (and I know next to nothing about women's fashions!).

i know what you mean.

there is something sour about the drop from mini's to midi's.

the mini has a breeziness to it.it's girlish.it's unfettered and fun.the midi makes some for heavy weather.it sort of symbolizes that the bubbly,jet-set cocktail of the 1960's is over and the grim hangover of the 1970's has begun.

i re-watched these episodes last night and i couldn't take my eyes off that damned granny skirt.i was much relieved a few episodes later when carolyn returns to the mini.

[retzev]

In one of those "Transcending Time" books that collects period DS articles from various magazines, there is a piece discussing a mini vs. midi debate that took place at the DS studios, and another piece (or it might be the same piece) detailing the DS cast's opinions about hot pants. 

Interesting. Tell me  more about this book, please, sounds like something I might need to keep an eye out for.

[Raineypark]

I lived through the mini-maxi fashion debacle while I was in high school.  It was bad enough on us teenagers.  The teachers should have been slapped for attempting it.  With the exception of the first year teachers  (barely into their own twenties) it was not a good idea.

Right about then I gave up everything else, and stuck to jeans.  And my opera cloak....

[BuzzH]

Interesting. Tell me  more about this book, please, sounds like something I might need to keep an eye out for.

Ah, Retzev, I had them all, but sold them several years ago at the last Brooklyn Fest.  You may be able to find them in the dealor's room at the Fest though.

[retzev]

Ah, Retzev, I had them all...

So it's a whole line of books? Are they actually books, or more like fanzines?

[BuzzH]

So it's a whole line of books? Are they actually books, or more like fanzines?

There were a couple, at least I had a couple.  It was done by a fan so I guess technically it is, but it was a compilation of old teen rag articles from back in the day.