Etsom·ni·a (/etˈsämnēə/), noun, 1. a sleep disorder caused by obsessive Etsy browsing. 2. The surprising arrival of weird handmade merchandise ordered when one is only half conscious. (True story.) 3. An excuse for me to be an obnoxious, snarky New Yorker once per week.
About a decade ago, my friends and I entered the Coney Island Mermaid Parade with a Studio 54 float. The float’s design was bare bones, but it did include a live DJ, a bartender, a bouncer, and lots and lots of fabulous disco-era costumes. There were 40 people associated with our the float, and we had an absolute blast. That parade popped into my feed recently, and it got me thinking about disco – the style, the fashion, the design, all of it. So today is dedicated to the disco era and that one summer when I spent all my time looking for seventies dancing costumes.
I still wear these things, but I try to keep my boredom to myself… By AtomicRocketVintageVintage disco ball punchbowl by MidsummerNightcap. Yes, please!I had one of these goofy butterfly tops. I was so proud of it! By TheTradingPostStoreYou’d think a print this loud would make him easier to spot in a crowd, but no. Everyone was wearing terrible, noisy prints. By SmallEarthVintageI’m sorely tempted to get this 1970s disco book bundle just for the illustrations… By ThePeppySquidThis looks good on exactly 0% of the population. I wore something alarmingly like this little number to one of my proms. By ZwzzyJust no. I would have been all over these beauties! By ParisGoesPopYes, kiddies, we really did wear these things. By YouLookAmazingThis is a “Light-n-up roller disco arm band.” I decided the actual item is unimportant in comparison to the hilarious packaging. By GamGlamVintageThis would have been adorable on our parade float! By HoneyChildLovesIf I had her figure, I’d wear this now! By VintageHookers (which I presume refers to crochet, not crotch)
Love IT!!!! Yes, lets Dance!!! That ERA was peaceful. Yes, there have been some really outstanding things decovered in the year after this but also there have been REALLY STUPID things also. Just for the record, I fully approve “Gay” marriage but I don’t approve the marches and in your face junk that goes with it. Can’t we alll just hold hands and be friends???? Hal
Alas, my friend, change doesn’t happen by keeping quiet. I am a happy marcher rather than an angry one, but I still think ‘in your face’ is the only way to make sure we’re not lurking in the shadows. XO
What could be better than in-you-face DISCO PRIDE? I have or have sold a number of 70s disco dresses–I even have an amazing 70s palazzo jumpsuit listed here:
It’s disco AND nautical, what more could we ask? Well, I’d like more parades, drag story telling, open PDAs, and general over the top fabulousness….in polyester and beyond!
That jumpsuit is FANTASTIC!!! I want to wear it on a sailboat. (I also want to be that size). I’m with you (obviously) about the parades and the drag and the just living our lives in the open. Mmmwah!
It is *almost* my size, so it may be disappearing from the offerings soon—alas no boat–at least not yet. Everyone should be able to Live Out Loud and without fear of reprisal (getting harder and harder these days, sadly). But I’ll always be there to wear something dramatic and cheer you on.
I try not to let it get me too down when things swing back the other way. I think of the politics of sexuality and gender as a pendulum. It’s going to go right, but eventually, it will come back to the left. Then, of course, it will head back the other way. As long as they don’t come for my marriage, I can wait for the next swing.
Lol, yeah if you can picture the scene of John Travolta and the pose…on Saturday Night Fever… of course disco was short lived, til I got into rock and roll, ( 38 special, Aerosmith, Those types of groups ) any who
Chat soon
D
I still enjoy listening to some disco music – even when it conjures up memories of how terrible I was at disco dancing class – but I do not possess nostalgia for the era’s fashions. They are so big and bold that they definitely make for wonderful fun costumes when celebrating other things about that era but otherwise I am not a fan.
I didn’t enjoy the “fashions” of the seventies during the seventies either. I did, however, LOVE disco dancing. My bestie Vic and I were very good at it. We had big fun at school dances dominating the dance floor (at least in our minds).
I LOVE that someone on your float is on quad skates! I’ve recently become re-obsessed with roller-skating after not donning a pair of skates in over 30 years. I think the last time I was actually IN a roller-disco was in the early 90s when The Roxy was still doing Roller Disco Night on Tuesdays in the city. 😀 ❤ ❤
My OBT 
September 1, 2022 at 7:41 am
Love IT!!!! Yes, lets Dance!!! That ERA was peaceful. Yes, there have been some really outstanding things decovered in the year after this but also there have been REALLY STUPID things also. Just for the record, I fully approve “Gay” marriage but I don’t approve the marches and in your face junk that goes with it. Can’t we alll just hold hands and be friends???? Hal
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 1, 2022 at 8:59 am
Alas, my friend, change doesn’t happen by keeping quiet. I am a happy marcher rather than an angry one, but I still think ‘in your face’ is the only way to make sure we’re not lurking in the shadows. XO
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 1, 2022 at 8:52 am
What could be better than in-you-face DISCO PRIDE? I have or have sold a number of 70s disco dresses–I even have an amazing 70s palazzo jumpsuit listed here:
https://www.etsy.com/ArtfulBlasphemy/listing/1084657483/amazing-vintage-70s-gigi-palazzo-pant?utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1662040253297
It’s disco AND nautical, what more could we ask? Well, I’d like more parades, drag story telling, open PDAs, and general over the top fabulousness….in polyester and beyond!
LikeLiked by 2 people
September 1, 2022 at 9:01 am
That jumpsuit is FANTASTIC!!! I want to wear it on a sailboat. (I also want to be that size). I’m with you (obviously) about the parades and the drag and the just living our lives in the open. Mmmwah!
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September 2, 2022 at 9:03 am
It is *almost* my size, so it may be disappearing from the offerings soon—alas no boat–at least not yet. Everyone should be able to Live Out Loud and without fear of reprisal (getting harder and harder these days, sadly). But I’ll always be there to wear something dramatic and cheer you on.
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 2, 2022 at 9:32 am
I try not to let it get me too down when things swing back the other way. I think of the politics of sexuality and gender as a pendulum. It’s going to go right, but eventually, it will come back to the left. Then, of course, it will head back the other way. As long as they don’t come for my marriage, I can wait for the next swing.
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September 1, 2022 at 10:49 am
Lol, my high school years just flashed before my eyes, does anybody remember “Angel Flight” pants ???
D
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September 2, 2022 at 9:22 am
Good grief, yes! https://www.awmok.com/2010/01/21/angels-flight-mens-sexy-pants-70s-fashion/
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September 2, 2022 at 9:22 am
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September 2, 2022 at 9:44 am
Lol, yeah if you can picture the scene of John Travolta and the pose…on Saturday Night Fever… of course disco was short lived, til I got into rock and roll, ( 38 special, Aerosmith, Those types of groups ) any who
Chat soon
D
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September 4, 2022 at 12:21 pm
I loved disco to dance too, but once I discovered alternative, disco was dead to me!
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September 27, 2022 at 3:48 pm
Lol, of all people my sister is the one who liked disco, ( I had thing for one of her friends) well, a long time ago..,
Thank for the response 😎
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September 1, 2022 at 12:52 pm
I still enjoy listening to some disco music – even when it conjures up memories of how terrible I was at disco dancing class – but I do not possess nostalgia for the era’s fashions. They are so big and bold that they definitely make for wonderful fun costumes when celebrating other things about that era but otherwise I am not a fan.
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September 2, 2022 at 9:26 am
I didn’t enjoy the “fashions” of the seventies during the seventies either. I did, however, LOVE disco dancing. My bestie Vic and I were very good at it. We had big fun at school dances dominating the dance floor (at least in our minds).
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September 2, 2022 at 10:04 am
I loved disco dancing but I was terrible at it. It was especially obvious when doing those big group formation dances. I was always a beat off.
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September 4, 2022 at 12:22 pm
Lol. You have other talents…
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September 1, 2022 at 2:02 pm
I LOVE that someone on your float is on quad skates! I’ve recently become re-obsessed with roller-skating after not donning a pair of skates in over 30 years. I think the last time I was actually IN a roller-disco was in the early 90s when The Roxy was still doing Roller Disco Night on Tuesdays in the city. 😀 ❤ ❤
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September 2, 2022 at 9:27 am
We were likely at Roxy on RD nights at the same time!
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