The Halston Heritage

I spent a solid couple of hours last night poring over old pictures of Bianca Jagger — the muse of 70s “It” designer Halston — and deciding that I need to tweak my personal styling tendencies to better align myself with her 70s glam look.

Jagger, arriving at her Studio 54 birthday soiree on horseback

Jagger and Halston

I’m instantly coveting breezy, floor-length caftans; silky bow-neck blouses; menswear-inspired trousers; off-the-shoulder tops and evening dresses.  Luckily, the fashion world seems prepared to give me what I want — likely thanks to Rachel Zoe, heir to the 1970s jet set aesthetic.

First on my lust list: to-the-floor maxi dresses in distinctly 70s prints and colors.  I don’t think it gets any more delightfully retro than this Tucker by Gaby Basora georgette number ($396, Tucker Web Shop):

If the floor-length dress seems a bit much for testing the trend, transfer the style to a blouse.  I’m bananas about the Tucker blouse, but this Armand Basi is a wicked find (on sale for $112, The Outnet):

Pair with enorma-shades a la Rachel Zoe — she favors these Balenciagas ($395, Balenciaga) — and some oh-so-70s stacked brown suede wedges (Michael Kors, on STEEP sale for $48, ChickDownTown):

Zoe seems to think that the bell bottom look is back in, but — not sure I’m ready to take that plunge.  I’ll stick to the chic, Halston-inspired 70s maxi dress, thank you.  Rachel Pally has come out with a whole range of caftans and floor-length dresses very much in the Halston tradition:

On sale for $163, Shopbop

($268, Shopbop)

The creamy milk color of the version above is perfect for capturing the laid-back chic that defined the post-hippie era.  Glam it up in Studio 54 style with a lariat necklace ($88, Loren Hope Designs) and a hard-cased clutch (Menbur, $134, Endless):

If you’re ready and able to spend a pretty penny, slip into this Missoni caftan — it’s right on the money ($1,185, Net-A-Porter):

Zoe would probably pair it with her Cartier panther ring (price upon request, Cartier) and a huge fur vest (M Missoni, on sale for $2,100, StyleBop):

You can achieve a similarly fierce look for less with this nOir cocktail ring — $207, ShopSHEBoutique — and this Juicy faux fur jacket — on super sale for $98, Ssense:

As Zoe would put it: D.I.E.

Of course, Halston’s recent reincarnation line — Halston Heritage — features a host of throwback styles, including this orange Plisse Double Layer maxi ($895, Net-A-P0rter) and this jet black satin jersey gown ($418, Singer22):

And if you’re really ready to go the disco route, check out this ridiculous Marc Jacobs “liquid” dress (on SERIOUS sale for $132, ChickDownTown):

Not for the faint of heart.  I’d be more inclined towards these Camilla Frank minis — they still capture the Studio 54 vibe without risking quite as much ($660, Camilla Frank):

(Frank, an up-and-coming Aussie designer, also has a number of punchy caftans in her new collection, and Rachel Zoe is bananas about them.  Check them out.)  Halston Heritage features some briefer dresses as well if you’re not sure about the full-length styles above — you’ve likely seen the one-and-only SJP in them over the past few months (she moonlights as a creative director for the line)!  This electric blue one has been all the rage this season ($435, Singer22), although I’m a little intimidated by the combination of the bold color, the metallic threading, and the fashion-forward shape:

This Isabella Oliver dress seems much more manageable (and comes in easier-to-wear black as well — on sale for $204, Isabella Oliver):

If you’re beginning to think that this little Fashion Magpie may have gone off the deep end with the bold (risky!) looks above, don’t fret: I’m just playing around in the space, wondering how to make things work a la Rachel Zoe.  I’m much more likely to keep things a bit more modest by testing out some less daring — though equally glam — daywear looks.  I’m loving, for example, the idea of an updated 70s look centered around this unscary See By Chloe bow-neck blouse (on sale for $106, ChickDownTown), some lived-in, lighter-washed jeans (pick your flavor), and this pair of killer Belle by Sigerson Morrison lattice espadrilles ($240, Ssense):

They’d pair well with the Marcie bag by Chloe (bag of my dreams — $1,790, Net-A-Porter), or, in true 70s style, this cross-body Madewell bag ($128, Madewell):

And if you dare…this ridiculous beaver fur jacket by Revillon to up the ante (on sale for $1,942, MyTheresa):

Chloe was all over this 70s-cool look on the runways (I’m obsessed) — check out these Jagger-esque separates:

I mean, the season could very well have been straight from Lauren Hutton’s closet!  (Lauren Hutton was another of the 1970s icons — you may remember her face from some recent J. Crew modeling she did.)  Love.  To achieve a similar aesthetic, I’m absolutely ogling over this Erin Fetherston “peignor” blouse ($625, Ssense):

For fall, go ahead and pair with wider leg tweed or textured taupe pants (Ann Taylor Loft and Ralph Lauren have good options in this department) — or, if you’re ready to take a plunge — go the Bianca Jagger route with a full on white suit (I’m in love with the Armand Basi blazer below — $218, TheOutnet):

Jagger on her wedding day

Jagger heading to Studio 54

Groovy.