Designers who fashioned disco get second wind

You've seen the films, read the books, possibly even lived through the era the first time around

You've seen the films, read the books, possibly even lived through the era the first time around. Now wear the clothes from the glitter ball age of disco because 1970s fashion, in all its flared and afrohaired glory, is back in vogue.

Paris this week, at the ready-to-wear collections for next spring and summer, is marking the decade in several ways, not least a Nuit Seventies hosted by Yves St Laurent last night at which guests were requested to dress as they would have done in 1977 in order, according to the invitation, to "retrouver la disco attitude".

Some elements of 1970s style - baggy flares, platform shoes - have already been rediscovered by today's youth but more seem likely to follow. Ever since actress Christina Ricci appeared on cinema screens earlier this year in Ang Lee's The Ice Storm wearing a poncho, there has been a premonition that this item was due a revival.

And sure enough, it has popped up constantly in Parisian collections for next spring/summer. So too have lurex tank tops, hot pants and mirror discs, none of them seen in public for the past 20 years.

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But it is not just the clothes which are being given a second chance; so also are their original designers. Both Thierry Mugler and Claude Montana became fashion stars during the 1970s when their extravagant, disco-diva style of dressing looked fabulously modern. In the 1990s, however, it has appeared tacky and dated - until now. The re-emergence of Mugler and Montana this week confirmed that in fashion, the 1970s spirit is back.

Mugler showed first, late on Wednesday night, with a collection crammed with all his favourite period's campest excesses. The soundtrack offered Donna Summer and Barry White, the catwalk wide-shouldered white trouser suits (think Bianca Jagger and New York's Studio 54), stretch jersey columns in the manner of the late Halston, and hour-glass waisted jackets.

Then there were batwing sleeves, another signature of the 1970s, often just one with the other side of the garment left sleeveless, and flared jumpsuits worn with dominatrix stilettos. The close of the show served up a sequence of tiered tulle dresses, frequently off the shoulder and bouncing down to the ground in garish shades of yellow, pink and green. Understatement has never been Thierry Mugler's forte.

If Montana seemed a little less thrilling yesterday afternoon, perhaps this was because so many of his own best effects had already been seen the day before. But he too was in nostalgic form, with square-necked djellabahs - Morocco was a very 1970s destination - more white peplum-jacketed trouser suits and wide-legged catsuits and, once again, batwing sleeves on tunics with enormous pointed collars. Then there were harem pants in satin, slit to show georgette beneath and big crisp white shirts with billowing black paper taffeta skirts.

All that was missing to make this a complete 1970s moment were some of the dances from that time. Anyone ready for the return of the funky chicken?