70s disco sparkle is back, now with softer fabrics, smarter styling, and zero patience for body-shaming. Here’s how to work sequins and Lurex into your party outfits and lingerie drawer without feeling like a costume.
From Studio 54 to Saturday Night
Back in the day, 1970s disco glamour meant sequined halter dresses, Lurex knits, and platform heels twirling under mirror balls. The whole point was to catch the light and show off a body in motion, not hide it.
That same “more is more” energy fuels today’s disco bachelorette weekends, where brides lean into sequins, metallic jumpsuits, and flares. I’ve dressed bridesmaids who wore sparkly rompers on Friday, sequin flares on Saturday, and still re-wear the pieces for New Year’s Eve. This comeback isn’t just nostalgia; it’s a rebellion against “safe” black dresses and flat party photos—your body is allowed to be the disco ball now, at any size, age, or budget.
How to Wear Sequins Without Feeling Like a Disco Ball
The easiest formula is one serious sparkle piece and keeping everything else relaxed. Stylists consistently balance sequins with basics—think leather, denim, or soft knits—so you shine without feeling overdressed.
Think a sequin mini with an oversized sweater and boots for a cheeky but cozy vibe, sequin pants with a sleek tank and blazer when you want your legs to do the talking, or a sequin top with high-rise jeans and simple heels for low-effort glam.
If you want to wear sequins before 8:00 PM, ground them with flat shoes and denim, then swap in heels and a camisole later; stylists show how easily you can style sequins for day and flip them for night. Your personal “too much” line is allowed to move depending on your mood, your cycle, and how extra your friends are tonight.
Lurex Lingerie and Innerwear-as-Outerwear
Here’s where the lingerie drawer crashes the dance floor: Lurex is a fine metallic thread that turns a simple knit bralette or bodysuit into a subtle shimmer bomb. Prioritize lined or layered pieces so the sparkle stays on your outfit, not your skin.
Lingerie stylists regularly show how to wear lingerie beyond the bedroom: think a metallic slip peeking under a blazer, a lace bodysuit under a sheer top, or a sparkly bralette with high-waist trousers. Even a historical look at lingerie through the decades notes how 70s slips and barely-there bras blurred the line between under and outer, which is exactly the energy your Lurex pieces bring to date night.
If you want support without killing the vibe, stack your lingerie: a comfy T-shirt bra in your skin tone under the Lurex bralette, or high-waist shaping shorts under a sheer Lurex skirt. The structure is doing the work; the shimmer is taking the credit.
Disco For Every Body (Yes, Yours)
Sequins do not come with a size limit; they come with a fit limit. Curvy stylists rave about how a good sequin skirt or pair of trousers makes them stand taller and own the room, because shimmer draws the eye to movement—not “flaws,” which we’re not entertaining here.
For people in their 40s and 50s, fashion editors now recommend subtle sequin details on tux-style suits or knitwear, and sites like 40-plus sequin dress outfits prove sparkle looks incredibly chic on grown bodies. Some stylists say “less is more,” others love full-on shimmer; pick the level that lets you forget about your outfit and enjoy your night.
Honest note from the fitting room: choose pieces you can sit, dance, and use the bathroom in without gymnastics.
A slightly looser waistband or stretchy Lurex knit will look better at midnight than the tightest, shiniest thing that digs in by 9:00 PM.
Romantic Occasions and At-Home Disco Nights
You don’t need a rooftop club to justify sparkle; start with your next date night at home. A silky slip with a shimmery bed jacket nods to vintage lingerie styling, and a vintage-inspired thong or bra retro-influenced lingerie collections under a sheer Lurex dress turns your living room into Studio 54.
For bigger moments—disco bachelorette, Vegas weekend, New Year’s Eve—build your look the way I style clients: comfortable lingerie first, then the sequin hero piece, then weather-appropriate layers. Bottom line: you decide whether you’re a glimmer, a sparkle, or a full-on disco ball—and all three are completely valid.
