Fashion: The shining

Dallasty dressing - late Seventies/early Eighties glitz - is back on the fashion agenda along with Saturday Night Fever revivals, Lurex boob tubes and disco fever. Styling by Sophia Neophitou. Photographs by Donna Trope.

Left Gold strapless swimsuit, pounds 170, by Liza Bruce, available from Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge, London SW3; 18 carat gold scorpion necklace, pounds 4,700, 18ct gold bone cuff bracelet, pounds 7,000, gold disk earrings, pounds 780, all by Elsa Perretti, available from Tiffany, 25 Old Bond Street, London W1; bronze, spike-heeled mules, pounds 230, by Gucci, 33 Old Bond Street, London W1, 18 Sloane Street, London SW3 This page Black patent leather knee-high stiletto boots, pounds 470, by Gucci, 33 Old Bond Street, London W1, 18 Sloane Street, London SW1

omething strange has happened in fashion circles: everyone wants to be a star, or shine like one, at least. If it's made out of gold Lurex, beaded with sparkly sequins, or dripping patent leather, the fash pack are interested. They are like magpies; things that glitter in the sunlight, or sparkle under the disco ball catch their eyes. If you can't have diamonds, always settle for less, and a bit of diamante here or a rhinestone there is just the thing.

The last time putting on the glitz was so much in vogue was around 1979 when "who shot JR" were the words on everyone's lips. Dallas, with its wide shoulders and Texan trash dressing, has proved a strong influence on designers from Gucci to Yves Saint Laurent. There is something unmistakably tacky and vulgar about clothes that glitter and shine, and that is half of the appeal.

At the height of disco fever in the Seventies, all you needed was a Lurex boob tube and the world was your disco. Clothes that sparkle are a good investment. You can happily shine on well into next summer. At the recent collections for next Spring/Summer in Milan, Alexander McQueen looked to shiny, brash country and western style and even painted models' lips ruby red glitter for Givenchy, and from Gucci - and the sharper end of the high street - expect sequinned bikinis, designed with the dance floor rather than the swimming pool in mind - and shimmering batwing sleeves. Dallasty dressing is here to stay. Who did kill JR?

Gold mesh halterneck top, pounds 350, by Seraph, available from Ghost, 36 Ledbury Road, London W11; black skirt with slit, pounds 230, by Gucci, as before; black stilettos with asymmetric strap, pounds 195, by Ghost for Gina, enquiries 0181-960 3121. Diamante scarf, pounds 10 from Cornucopia, 12 Upper Tachbrook Street, London SW1

Hair Earl Simms at Debbie Walters

Make-up Chris Ardoff at Public

Body make-up AlexSandra Byrne using Nars

Stylist assistant Holly Davies

Photographed at 19 Upper Brook Street, Mayfair London W1. Asking price pounds 8.75 million. Agents are Wetherell, DTZ Debenham Thorpe and De Groot Collis.

Retouching Gareth at 1st base 0171-307 5313.