The hottest back-to-school fashion of 1973 was plain jeans
And 'a boy can dress as far out or as conservatively as he likes'
In 1973, shortages in wool and limited supplies of synthetics were driving up the price of new clothes in Canada, and that had bargain-minded mothers on the prowl for deals ahead of the new school year.
CBC reporter Norman DePoe was gauging their response. Among shoppers, "there was no real indignation" over the increased prices, he said.
"Grim acceptance is more like it," he added.
DePoe said the elevated clothing prices were due to "Nixonomics." Imposed by then-U.S. president Richard Nixon, this economic policy sought to curb inflation in 1971 by setting controls on wages and prices. After the policy was withdrawn, inflation increased once again, boosting the price of basic goods — including clothing.
And the effect was felt in Canada too.
You like colour? Blue is your option
But what did the kids want? For girls, dresses were becoming more popular, said DePoe, along with pantsuits and slacks.
"A boy can dress as far out or as conservatively as he likes," said DePoe, adding that for both sexes, plain blue denim would outsell everything else.
In past years, clothing manufacturers tried improving denim with appliques, different coloured denim, and different fabrics, but plain jeans were the most popular.
"You can get any colour you like, so long as it's blue," said DePoe.
A year earlier, in 1972, the CBC-TV youth-oriented program What's New? reported on a back-to-school fashion show.
Bell-bottomed slacks, a checkered tie and red vest made for a distinctly menswear-inspired look on one model, while polyester plaid pants made it off the fairway and onto the runway.
