We took a look at some of the most popular, yet most hazardous, clothing staples, accessories, and fads of the 1970s. While there are certainly dangerous articles of clothing from other decades (stiletto heels come to mind), the wide availability of synthetic materials, a willingness to bare the body to reveal the soul, and tight-fitting garments made the '70s a particularly hazardous time.

POLYESTER SHIRTS Made from 100 percent synthetic materials designed to simulate satin, silk, and even cotton (albeit with a slimy and slightly spongy feel), these shirts were de rigueur for many men and women. They had wide, long lapels, and the really scary ones were cut to fit close to the body. The most memorable polyester shirts screamed with outrageous multicolored patterns -- swirls and paisleys; Egyptian, Roaring '20s, Bicentennial, and nature motifs; photographs and neck-to-waist landscapes. People knew the wearer was Mr. Casual or Mr. Swinger or Ms. Kooky. Oh, and they were wash'n'wear.

Dangers: Highly flammable, would melt upon contact with flame; hangnails snagged easily on fabric; did not "breathe" as natural fabrics do, often reducing Mr. Swinger to Mr. Sweaty 'n' Stinky.

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ELEPHANT BELLS AND FLARES The '70s saw the '60s bell-bottom refashioned with a looser thigh and increasingly wider leg. Also, by the mid-'70s, the once "outre" bell-bottomed look of the '60s had been toned down, and flares were worn by suburban moms in polyester knits (like Mrs. Brady) and natty pinstriped lawyers in suits. The early-'70s bells featured a do-it-yourself trend: Swatches of groovy fabric could be sewn into trouser legs to give them even more dimension. As platforms and other high heels became standard, the bells grew wider and longer to cover the increasingly high shoes.

Dangers: It was possible to trip inside your own pants leg; you could trip over the flap of your other pants leg; they got caught in bicycle chains.

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TIGHT JEANS Jeans for both men and women were to be worn TIGHT at the waist, hips, buttocks, crotch, and thigh. Ideal tightness revealed all that nature intended to remain secret and mysterious.