A peace pendant and a daisy flowerchain. Glitterball earrings, go-go boots and a swinging macrame handbag. If this all sounds like something from a bad fancy dress party you'd better brace yourself for what's around the corner because 1970s accessories are back - again.

"The last time this look was this popular was sometime in the early 1990s when people were going in for the OTT funkadelic thing but actually that is not what you're seeing on the streets now," says Will Walsh who runs Wild Child Originals vintage clothing on Drury street, Dublin

"It's a much more chic and so­phi­s­ticated look, not disco wear - large perspex sunglasses, skinny tan belts and leather satchels, that kind of thing."

Walsh's vintage shop, which also stocks furniture and lighting and has recently moved from South Great Georges Street, is well stocked with trilby hats, midi skirts and chunky roll and cowl neck jumpers - "All very Ali MacGraw in Love Story - that's the look people are really going for now."

Around the corner in designer shoe boutique Coco­belle in the Hibernian Mall in Dublin, buyer Catherine Kelly has seen the same trend. She stocks 70s-afficianado Nicole Richie's House of Harlow label which has a strong line in wedges, espadrilles and banded sandals for the new season.

"Irish girls got so comfortable in their maxi dresses last summer it's no surprise that footwear grew to reflect that. This year the '70s thing is in full swing again but it's not a time warpy kind of look; it's very now - more street cool than flowery and meadowy."

Meanwhile, Brian Atwood, the sexy shoe designer with legions of A-list fans including Madonna and the cast of Sex and the City, comes to Brown Thomas this season with a collection that is pure Studio 54. You can imagine these beauties with a pair of black floaty palazzo pants or an all-in-one, skinny envelope handbag and Charlie's Angels hair. Sigh. Roll on the summer.

Shopping Audit

* We're loving pretty prints

Oh to have some Erdem in our wardrobes. That's the dream but the January reality is this seaside prom dress from Penneys (€21) and very charming it is too.

* We're not sure about Rihanna's perfume

Silly name (Reb'l Fleur), smells of berries and coconut milk and according to Ri-Ri is "like high heels with a short flirty dress". We are far from convinced.

* We're lusting after asos boudoir underwear

Pretty and flirty and very comfortable, this soft caged bra is €20.51 and the knickers are €10.26. Their petticoat slips are also worth checking out.