70s Nightclub Style Returns for a Revival: Fuzzy Jackets Are the Festive Season's Must-Have
While the iconic New York nightclub Studio 54 shut its doors nearly four decades ago, its unique fashion influence remains powerful.
This season, the focus isn't on sheer bodysuits but on the furry, shaggy coats and stoles worn by celebrities and party enthusiasts as well.
With the festive party season approaching, the distinctive Studio 54 coat is enjoying a significant resurgence.
Retail Data Reflects the Popularity
One of the most popular items from a recent collaboration between a major retailer and a designer brand is a short, off-white, shaggy jacket with oversized lapels.
At a leading department store, searches for taupe faux fur coats have surged 190% compared to last year.
The demand for secondhand plush items is also soaring, with queries for faux fur growing by 257% in the last six months on a major resale platform.
"This is a one and done coat," says a lead fashion editor, adding that it serves as the main element of an outfit.
The editor prefers to style her personal oversized shaggy coat with hipster jeans or tights and micro shorts.
Screen Fashion Echoes the Trend
The aesthetic is replicated in a latest Netflix romantic comedy series, where a sister sports a toffee-colored furry jacket to a informal dinner.
When challenged about her daring outfit, the character responds, "It's what you said to dress up. That's style!"
The Rise of the "Boom Boom" Vibe
This look aligns with what a U.S. trend forecaster is calling "boom boom."
Inspired by the glamour and excess of late-80s New York, this vibe evokes wealth, bubbly, smoking, high hemlines, carefree attitudes and, naturally, fur.
Similar to that era, the trend is set against a volatile financial climate.
This style is very much about dressing for the life you aspire to rather than the one you have to endure.
Contemporary Fabrics and Tongue-in-Cheek Luxury
While animal fur was omnipresent during Studio 54's heyday, today's iterations are primarily made from lambskin—a secondary product of the food industry—or man-made fabrics like acrylic.
The trend embodies a knowing luxury—like a famous Muppet has taken charge with overblown proportions and surprising colors.
Star Endorsement and Exclusive Releases
An English creator was an pioneer of this movement. Her shaggy coats with poodle-like proportions have been worn by top singers.
Because of strong demand, these coats are now only sold in limited collections. An upcoming release includes a pink and grey version akin to a large pom-pom, as well as leopard- and tiger-print options with dramatic fuzzy frou-frou.
"If you can only purchase one thing, you don't want it to be a basic jumper or a pair of ordinary pants, you want something dramatic," says a publication head.
This feeling is echoed by a fashion director at a major retailer, who describes it "an unexpected, playful touch" that doesn't require a whole new outfit.
Final Mood Lifter
In the end, the shaggy coat can act as a great pick-me-up.
"It won't cost a lot," says the editor, "and it's going to make you feel glam when the world around you is rather gloomy."