Can't prove it by these examples from this 1971 Simplicity Fashion News.
Be a super peasant? Really? Maybe it's because I was there, but there isn't much to inspire fond memories here. Some of the prints were cool (note the green dress with the graphic lines), but the flip side was a LOT of bad knits and "man-made" fabrics. Also it looks like the expectations of a sewers skills had lowered. Those gals who could rock a shirtwaist dress a few years back now were making some pretty basic stuff. These kids clothes are especially plain and boring. Or maybe I'm becoming a grouch.
(A re-post from August, 2009)