Johanna Payton digs out her flares and waves goodbye to the ’80s.

Fashion Week is usually thrilling, but last September I breathed a sigh of sartorial relief; the ’80s were out and ’70s-inspired style was back. Last year’s catwalks have filtered into the real world now, and the summer swathe of flares, floppy hats and magnificent maxi dresses fill me with glee.

Don’t get me wrong, I love a legwarmer as much as the next fashion victim, but second time around, trends of an era that brought us shoulder-pads and stone-wash jeans didn’t look so hot. My puffball skirt rocked the school disco circa 1987, but in the 21st century, anyone over 18 in a rah-rah skirt and crop top looked like they were en route to a bad fancy dress party. ‘Bodies’ still presented an icky bathroom dilemma (to pop the poppers or pull to the side… that is the eternal question) and ‘Day Glo’ and ‘elegance’ have never been seen in the same room at the same time.

’80s fashion is fun and frivolous, but the ’70s was steeped in sophistication. Today’s influences are luxe – less Saturday Night Fever, more Studio 54. ’70s icons like Farrah Fawcett, Faye Dunaway and Jerry Hall embody the summer 2011 interpretation of ’70s cool, from Marc Jacobs’ stylish ’70s silhouette to Georgia May Jagger’s ’70s-tastic shoot for Vogue. Once again, wooden heels, humongous sunglasses, luxurious fabrics and outrageously decadent prints are a la mode.

I’ve already spent much of spring in the frenzied pursuit of ’70s-inspired outfits and vintage pieces. My denim flares are out of retirement, I’m practically living in a pair of platform sling backs and I’m deeply in love with a retro-print maxi dress. Even my partner is impressed. He usually mocks my trend-following (and won’t ever let me live down the pink prom dress that made me look, in his words, ‘like a prawn’) but he makes encouraging noises when I bust out the purple paisley kaftan, or white linen flares with a ditsy-print polo shirt.

Given my propensity for wearing anything that’s in vogue, I’m not ruling out the return of body cons and stilettos but, for now, I’m banishing double denim and boxing-up my bangles. Long live ’70s glamour!

Johanna Payton can be found blogging at www.fashiondetective.co.uk