The Bell Sleeve Is Back — And These 70s-Inspired Dresses Are Worth the Hype
There's something about a bell sleeve that just makes sense. It's dramatic without trying too hard. Romantic but not fussy. And right now, the vintage-inspired 70s dress trend is everywhere — from street style to festival lineups to, honestly, just people running errands and looking incredible.
This isn't about costumes. The best versions of this look feel genuinely wearable. Flowy fabric, earthy or retro prints, sleeves that catch the breeze — it's a vibe that translates across seasons and body types better than most trends do.
Here's a rundown of ten dresses worth knowing about, and what makes each one actually worth your money.
The Maxi Moment: Long Dresses That Feel Authentically Retro
Maxis are the 70s silhouette that never really left. They just get better styling now.
The Belle Maxi Dress - Pink Floral from Petal & Pup USA ($109) is a strong opener. The print is soft — not loud — and the cut is the kind of easy, sweeping shape that photographs well but also just feels nice to wear. Bell sleeves, floral print, floor-length drama. It checks every 70s box without looking like it's trying to.
Image via Petal & Pup USA
The same dress comes in blue — the Belle Maxi Dress - Blue from Petal & Pup AU ($89.15) — and honestly, the blue colourway hits differently. It's cooler, a little more understated. Easier to style with sandals for daytime or block-heeled boots if you're going somewhere. Either version is a good buy; it really comes down to your existing wardrobe.
Image via Petal & Pup
For something with a slightly different energy, the Vintage Lover Bias Cut Maxi Dress Roma from VRG GRL ($28.71) is an absolute steal. Bias cut gives it that liquid, draped movement that feels very early-70s Californian. It's more understated than the Belle — no bold print, no bells — but the silhouette alone does the work.
Image via VRG GRL
Clean and White: The Minimalist 70s Take
Not every 70s dress needs a print. Sometimes the shape alone is the statement.
The Peta Dress - White from Petal & Pup USA ($79) is exactly what it sounds like — clean, white, and beautifully simple. It has that boho-meets-minimalist quality that works whether you're going to a rooftop dinner or a Sunday market. The bell sleeves add just enough vintage reference without overwhelming the clean palette.
Image via Petal & Pup USA
The Apollo Dress - White ($89) is a different cut — more structured at the top, which gives it a slightly more polished feel than the Peta. Both are white, both are very wearable, but the Apollo suits someone who wants a little more definition. The Peta is floatier. Pick based on what you want your silhouette to do.
Image via Petal & Pup USA
Retro Prints and Chiffon: Full Groovy Era Energy
This is where it gets fun. Trendy Hip Buys has leaned hard into authentic 70s aesthetics — checker prints, chiffon fabric, tent silhouettes — and the results are genuinely great.
The 70s Bell Sleeve Pink Floral Checker Chiffon Tent Dress ($79.99) is exactly what the name promises. Pink florals layered over a checker base, chiffon that moves, a relaxed tent shape that doesn't cling. It's got a real vintage market find quality — like something that actually came from 1973, but in your size.
Image via Trendy Hip Buys
The Disco 70s Style Bell Sleeve Yellow Checker Mini Dress ($79.99) is bolder. Yellow checker, mini length, chiffon again — this one has disco energy. It's the dress for someone who commits to the aesthetic fully. Pair it with platform sandals and you're done.
Image via Trendy Hip Buys
The Multicolor Tent Dress ($79.99) takes a different direction — earthy greens, bohemian print, that loose tent shape that was everywhere in the mid-70s. It reads more hippie festival than disco floor, which isn't a criticism. It's just a different occasion. If you love Woodstock-era aesthetics, start here.
Image via Trendy Hip Buys
The Case for Black: Vintage Silhouettes, Modern Ease
Two of the Trendy Hip Buys dresses go dark, and they're worth highlighting separately because they prove this trend doesn't have to mean pastels and florals.
The Retro Black Bell Sleeve A-Line Mini Dress ($79.99) is striking. Black chiffon, bell sleeves, A-line mini — it's a 70s silhouette that reads as completely contemporary. This one goes with more. Throw on gold hoops and ankle boots and it works for almost any evening occasion.
Image via Trendy Hip Buys
The Black and White Bell Sleeve A-Line Mini ($79.99) adds contrast into the mix — a graphic, retro quality that references the mod-meets-70s crossover moment. It's more eye-catching than the all-black version, a bit more playful. Both are from the same label at the same price; the choice is really just about how much contrast you want.
Image via Trendy Hip Buys
How to Actually Wear This Trend Without It Wearing You
The bell sleeve is the defining detail here, but the rest of the outfit matters too. Keep it simple. The dress is already doing a lot — you don't need to compete with it.
Flat leather sandals or chunky platforms work best. Minimal jewellery, or go big with a single statement piece. A straw bag or a simple leather crossbody. That's really it.
The maxis from Petal & Pup suit a more relaxed, boho-leaning approach — they're beach holiday dresses as much as they are going-out dresses. The Trendy Hip Buys mini styles have more attitude and work better in urban settings. The VRG GRL Roma is the quietest of the bunch — it would suit someone who loves the era but gravitates toward a more subtle interpretation.
Sizing note: if you're between sizes, size up in the chiffon styles. The floaty fabric is forgiving, but the tent and A-line shapes are cut quite true to size.
Not sure which of these suits your specific taste? The Collective Dress chat can help you narrow it down — describe what you're after and it'll pull recommendations that actually match your style, not just the trend.