When you think of the 70s, what comes to mind? If you're like most people, you might imagine bell-bottoms, platform shoes, and outrageous patterns. But while the fashion of the 1970s was undoubtedly over-the-top, it was also full of unique style ideas that are still influential today.

One of the most prominent trends of the 70s was disco. This style was characterized by tight-fitting clothes, glitter, and bright colors. While disco might not be in fashion anymore, many of the elements of this style have been recycled into modern looks.

Let's look back at some of the most inspiring jewelry trends from the 1970s.

Let's start with the choker craze. Choker jewelry was huge in the 70s, with everyone from royalty to runways sporting these tight necklace styles. Wearing a choker-style necklace was so popular you might have been considered a social outcast if you didn't have one on. Now, we're not just talking about a suede or velvet little ribbon around the neck. Choker-style necklaces in this decade were also thick and wide and made of unusual materials like wood or outlandishly large metal.

The most popular way to wear chokers in the 70s was to layer them. The more chokers you had on, the better. The 70s was the decade of excess after all!

Next, layering necklaces in the 70s was an excellent way for women to show their friends that they were not just any plain Jane or Jill but had some serious style. To do this, women would wear several necklaces on top of each other to make a unique statement—long necklaces over short necklaces, with an oversized pendant or two thrown in for good measure. According to 70s style, it was all layering necklaces until they clanked and made noise as you moved around. If you could hear your jewelry, you knew you were doing it right.

You may be wondering, who made layered necklaces popular in the 70s? One of the most prominent style icons of the time, Jane Birkin. The British actress and model was photographed numerous times wearing her signature layered necklaces, known as the "Birkin look." Jane Birkin's influence on jewelry and fashion in the 70s was so significant that many of the trends she popularized then are still in style today.

Another style icon who popularized this trend is Jackie Kennedy. The former first lady was photographed often wearing several strands of pearls, which were seen as the ultimate sign of luxury in the 70s. Jackie Kennedy's layered necklace style was copied by many women who wanted to emulate her chic and sophisticated look.

Let's start with the choker craze. Choker jewelry was huge in the 70s, with everyone from royalty to runways sporting these tight necklace styles. Wearing a choker-style necklace was so popular you might have been considered a social outcast if you didn't have one on. Now, we're not just talking about a suede or velvet little ribbon around the neck. Choker jewelry in this decade was also thick and wide and made of unusual materials like wood or outlandishly large metal.

While the typical choker was simply a band of material around the neck, some variations included charms. These chokers with charms could be anything from small pendants to dangling bells or even miniature animals. Whimsical chokers with charms gave the 70s look (bell bottoms, wild prints, and all) an extra touch of fun.

The most popular way to wear these choker-style necklaces in the 70s was to layer them on. The more chokers you had on, the better. This was the decade of excess after all!

Another major 70s fashion trend was extra large earrings. In the 70s it became fashionable to wear earrings so big they would touch your shoulders. Thanks to disco fever, no earring styles were too big, long, asymmetrical, or glittery. Everyone wanted to get noticed on the dance floor, and razzle-dazzle earrings were the accessory to do just that. So you could spot club-goers in everything from oversized stud earrings to large geometric styles to big, bold chandelier drops.

This earring trend probably became popular because of a combination of two things – the first being that women were trying to find ways to stand out in a sea of big hair and over-the-top clothing. Secondly, many women were working in more professional jobs and wanted to show their power via their jewelry. So extra-large earrings meant you were in control, you were powerful, and you weren't afraid to show it.

Next, a big trend in women's jewelry in the 70s was hoop earrings. 70s hoop earrings came in all different sizes and colors and were worn by every type of woman out there, from school girls to homemakers to teachers and more. Everyone loved hoop earrings, and everyone had a pair.

Hoops got even more prominent as the 70s style progressed. At the beginning of this decade, hoop earrings were not much more than small decorations. But then, 70s hoop earrings started to grow and grow until they had become big enough to wear as bracelets. So even though there is no way they would stay in place as bracelets, this design was cool, and many women wore them as such.

Some of the biggest celebrity hoop lovers during the 70s were Cher, Diana Ross, and Farrah Fawcett. They all wore big, bold, and flashy hoops that made a statement. If they were wearing it, then you knew it was in style.

70s jewelry trends also dictated that you had to have a ring or two on your fingers at all times. Who didn't dance the night away in a flashy cocktail ring and sequined jumpsuit during the 70s? And if you were really in the know, you'd wear several rings at once.

70s rings were created in all sorts of different designs. Everything from clover to flower petals, but they all had one thing in common: color. 70s rings came in every hue imaginable and with stones that ranged from diamonds to rhinestones. Big gems, little gems, and every color gem in between.

It was a way for women to show their different personalities. For example, you could wear a ring that said you were fun and flirty or one that showed you were a serious businesswoman. There was a ring style for everyone, and it became commonplace to see women of all ages sporting them on every finger.

And last but not least, the 70s started a major love affair with mix-and-match bracelets. This style meant that you could wear a bracelet made of all sorts of different materials and stones, but they didn't have to match anything. So it was perfectly ok to wear a giant, colorful charm bracelet over a bangle set with a giant gemstone. Mixing up the look was a major fashion statement and one you could frequently make, as long as you had too many arm candy options to choose from.

The mix and match bracelet trend in the 1970s was popular because it allowed women to express their unique style. This funky bracelet trend allowed women to layer their jewelry and make a bold look. Whether you were at a disco or out running errands, a mix and match bracelet stack let everyone know that you were in the know about fashion.

Some of the most well-known celebrities of the 1970s who helped popularize the bracelet trend were Farrah Fawcett, Cher, and Diana Ross. These women wore mix-and-match bracelets regularly and set the standard for cool and trendy. So if you wanted to look like a superstar, you needed to have a mix and match bracelet stack.

As you can see, the 70s were a decade of big jewelry trends. There was no wrong way to accessorize from layering necklaces to wearing hoop earrings as bracelets and mix-and-match bracelets.

So, if you're looking for some fashion inspiration and want to add a bit of glitz and glamour to your look, why not take a page from the 70s? You can draw inspiration from this decade without taking a look too far – just a few elements will do. So have fun with it and enjoy wearing your 70s inspired jewelry!