Dressing for a '70s-themed bash requires a bit of style savvy, a bit of sass and an abundance of glitzy, glamorous polyester in every imaginable shade of the fashion rainbow.

To capture the bell-bottom buzz of the '70s era, eHow spoke to sought-after wardrobe stylist Kallah Maguire, who founded The Emerald Scarab, a Los Angeles company that provides a full suite of styling, shopping and image consulting services. Maguire gives her take on how to do it up right for your next swinging disco-era soirée.

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Dressing for a '70s Party

Dressing for a '70s Party

By Malina Saval , eHow

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Overview

Got an invite to a flashy, fabulous '70s-themed party? Channel your inner disco diva or John Travolta circa 1977 and drape yourself in glitzy dance-club duds that scream "Saturday Night Fever." Comb the racks of vintage stores for jersey wrap dresses, Halston-inspired jumpsuits, bell-bottom trousers and flared, high-waisted jeans. For guys, invest in a retro three-piece disco suit that will make you look like the king of the dance floor. For girls, explore the softness of the mid-70s with suede miniskirts and earth tone boots, hair in a fuss-free plait or parted down the middle and hanging loose. When it comes to late-'70s fashion, it's all about fun, feathered hair and groovy, all-out fabulousness.

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Hair to Stay

When it comes to hair, big, bold and puffed-out tresses are a '70s staple. So let it all hang out. This is no time for pretty, sleek ponytails or demure shoulder-length bobs. Hair should be long and voluminous, teased and frizzy. For inspiration, look to Deborah Harry's shaggy "Blondie" layers or Cher's wild, untamed curls. Or pay homage to famed '70s pinup Farrah Fawcett, whose iconic feathered 'do continues to inspire millions of winged-hair imitators.

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Glitter & Glam

Makeup of the '70s was a marriage of the theatrical and the natural: flawless skin with minimal blush, sparkly eye shadow and a thick coat of heavy, black mascara. For eyes, choose a frosted blue or pearlescent green shadow, then blend in a top coat of gold or silvery glitter. Smudge black or metallic-colored eyeliner into the lash line on the top and bottom, then apply cream bronzer to cheeks to give your skin that sunny, golden glow. Finish the look with a slash of high-gloss red or iridescent pink lipstick.

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Halston, Gucci, Fiorucci

Imagine yourself spinning around the dance floor at famed New York nightclub Studio 54 and slip into a strapless Halston-inspired jumpsuit -- rayon or silk -- that recalls the glitzy glamour of such '70s fashion plates as Bianca Jagger and Anjelica Huston. Whether in sultry black or dramatic jewel tones (magenta, emerald or plum), accessorize the bare-shouldered look with a long, matching scarf that hangs loosely down your back and a flexible, coiling snake bracelet in gold tone.

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Jump Through Hoops

For a '70s girl, no party outfit can be complete without big, over-the-top, statement-making earrings. Toss those dainty diamond studs and go for giant gold hoops or dangling chandelier earrings that will swing as you swish across a crowded dance floor to Donna Summer's chart-topping disco anthem "Love to Love You Baby." And of course you can never go wrong with mirrored disco-ball earrings.

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Personal Flare

Bell-bottom jeans are a given when it comes to must-have '70s-era attire. Perfect for a casual, daytime '70s gathering, a high-waisted pair (slim through the legs, wide at the hem) rocks it with a vintage, brown leather belt (try one with a brushed brass buckle), midriff-baring bandeau or halter top, swirly rainbow-patterned, Pucci-esque head scarf, and a chic secondhand purse in a yellow or lime green hue. Top things off with big, square-shaped sunglasses.

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Boogie Woogie Dancing Shoes

Platform shoes were all the rage in the '70s, so step into a towering pair (at least 2 inches tall, but aim for 4 or 5 inches to get that extra, leg-lengthening height). Tan leather, peep-toe versions recall the subtle, laid-back style of '70s singer-songwriter Carly Simon, while glittery sequined styles harken back to Liza Minnelli's sexy -- yes, she used to be sexy -- 1970s heyday.

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Paper or Plastic?

Bring back trendy '70s plastics like Bakelite and Lucite in the form of chunky necklaces with a bright center stone, resin pins with pops of colorful crystals or peach-colored cuffs with a floral inlay design. Comb secondhand retailers or eBay for pieces by Trifari, a well-known company recognized for its collection of high-quality costume jewelry.

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Hello, Poly!

No '70s party can be complete without the presence of polyester, the fabric that launched a million wide-collared, button-down men's disco shirts with tacky, garish prints like florals and zig-zags. Vintage stores or online shopping sites like VintageTrends.com are gold mines for retro polyester shirts of the sort worn by '70s sex symbols David Cassidy and Leif Garrett. Throw on a matching pair of polyester pants and a suit jacket, add a pair of white patent leather loafers and you're ready to do the hustle.

Malina Saval - Demand Media

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Viewing 1 of 9

Got an invite to a flashy, fabulous '70s-themed party? Channel your inner disco diva or John Travolta circa 1977 and drape yourself in glitzy dance-club duds that scream "Saturday Night Fever." Comb the racks of vintage stores for jersey wrap dresses, Halston-inspired jumpsuits, bell-bottom trousers and flared, high-waisted jeans. For guys, invest in a retro three-piece disco suit that will make you look like the king of the dance floor. For girls, explore the softness of the mid-70s with suede miniskirts and earth tone boots, hair in a fuss-free plait or parted down the middle and hanging loose. When it comes to late-'70s fashion, it's all about fun, feathered hair and groovy, all-out fabulousness.

Malina Saval - Demand Media

eHow: Big gorgeous hair was a signature hallmark of 1970s style. What are some tips on creating the ultimate '70s hairstyle, and who are some celebrity icons to look to for inspiration?

Kallah Maguire: In the 1970s, Farrah Fawcett had the ultimate, all-American, girl-next-door look with big, fluffy, bouncy hair with more body than anybody could ever hope for. To get the look, start off by back-combing the hair: brush hair back and then upward, so that it becomes ratty and textured. Next, curl your hair forward using a 1-inch curling iron and then flip it back. This style generally works on people who already have a lot of body in their hair and a little bit of a wave to it.

If you’ve already got really curly hair, you need to straighten it first and then curl it. Or, you could replicate the Cleopatra-meets-Cher coif with long, gorgeous, straight black hair. You could even go really '70s retro and use a clothing iron to smooth it out like girls used to do. Pam Grier was the biggest '70s icon to wear her hair naturally. She had this big beautiful Afro and she was revered and loved for it because she had such a beautiful face. You could also copy Diana Ross’s frizzy locks, or slick your hair back with gel or mousse using a round boar-bristle brush for a more glamorous feel.

In the 1970s, Farrah Fawcett had the ultimate, all-American girl-next-door look with big, fluffy, bouncy hair with more body than anybody could ever hope for. Kallah Maguire, founder of The Emerald Scarab

For guys, if you’re going bald, get an awesome bowler hat and add some sequins and a pair of giant sunglasses like Elton John. If you’ve got fine, straight hair, you could take a page from the de facto fashion manual of '70s teen heartthrob David Cassidy and feather your hair. Or leave it a little bit messy like the sexy, sandy blond, wavy hair of '70s stud Leif Garrett.

eHow: What about '70s pants? Bell-bottoms and flared trousers?

KM: Yes! Bell-bottoms, bell-bottoms, bell-bottoms -- for both men and women. I like them high-waisted, but this is more so for women than for men. Hot pants and really short shorts were a major '70s trend. Jane Birkin was photographed wearing hot pants and made them wildly popular. For girls, stretchy, shiny, tight, high-waisted pants like the ones Olivia Newton-John wore in "Grease" would be awesome, and a gold lamé tube top. Right now, American Apparel sells stretchy pants and tube tops in every color. You can pretty much meet all of your '70s clothing needs at American Apparel.

For guys, flared polyester trousers were huge. They came in every imaginable color, with a perma-pleat down the front, and everything in the outfit matched: powder blue pants, powder blue button-down, power blue shoes. Flared jeans and bell-bottoms are really popular right now, so you can basically find them anywhere, including any thrift and secondhand vintage store.

eHow: What about '70s-style tops to wear with your bell-bottoms?

KM: Ponchos and fringe vests were a huge deal. At thrift stores you can find them in leather, cotton, wool and polyester. You can find knitted ones with intricate roses embroidered on them, which makes them sort of crafty-looking. Or you could go for a more über-glam look like Barbra Streisand and wear one of those silk chiffon ponchos where when you raise your arms it looks like you have wings. Blondie’s style is seen more as '80s, but she actually pioneered the rocker-chic look in the '70s, wearing big, baggy T-shirts that fell off one shoulder. Leotards were also big, worn with a long skirt. Floral caftans were also huge -- for men and for women. Wear one with awesome wide bellow-bottoms.

For guys, definitely wear a button-down shirt unbuttoned down to your "man cleavage." Denim is also a big '70s must: denim pants, denim jackets, even denim blazers and suit jackets. Or get yourself a pastel or white three-piece disco suit like the one John Travolta wore in "Saturday Night Fever."