70s Nightclub Style Returns for a Comeback: Shaggy Jackets Have Become the Party Season's Must-Have
Although the iconic New York venue Studio 54 closed almost four decades ago, its unique fashion influence continues powerful.
Currently, the spotlight isn't on sheer bodysuits but on the furry, fuzzy coats and stoles favored by style icons and club-goers as well.
With the holiday social calendar approaching, the signature Studio 54 coat is experiencing a major comeback.
Shopping Data Shows the Popularity
Among the hottest items from a recent partnership between a high-street brand and a designer brand is a cropped, cream, shaggy jacket with giant lapels.
At another department store, online queries for taupe fake fur coats have surged 190% year on year.
Interest for secondhand fuzzy finds is also soaring, with queries for synthetic fur growing by 257% in the past six months on a major secondhand platform.
"It's a statement coat," says a senior fashion editor, explaining that it acts as the central element of an outfit.
The editor likes to style her own oversized shaggy coat with low-rise jeans or tights and micro shorts.
Screen Style Mirrors the Look
The style is replicated in a latest Netflix romantic comedy series, where a character sports a toffee-colored furry jacket to a casual dinner.
When challenged about her daring look, the character replies, "It's what you said to look fancy. It's fashion!"
Emergence of the "Boom Boom" Aesthetic
This look aligns with what an American style analyst is calling "glam excess."
Inspired by the extravagance and opulence of the 1980s New York, this aesthetic brings to mind wads of cash, bubbly, cigarettes, short skirts, loose morals and, naturally, fuzzy textures.
Similar to that era, the trend is emerging during a uncertain financial climate.
This style is all about embodying the life you dream of rather than the one you are stuck with.
Contemporary Fabrics and Tongue-in-Cheek Luxury
Whereas real fur was omnipresent during Studio 54's peak, current iterations are primarily made from shearling—a byproduct of the meat industry—or man-made fabrics like polyester.
The trend represents a tongue-in-cheek opulence—as if a famous Muppet has taken over with exaggerated silhouettes and surprising hues.
Star Endorsement and Exclusive Drops
An English designer was an early instigator of this movement. Her fluffy coats with curly proportions have been sported by famous singers.
Because of strong demand, these coats are now only sold in exclusive collections. An upcoming release includes a pink and charcoal style similar to a giant pom-pom, alongside leopard- and zebra-print options with exaggerated fluffy trim.
"When you can only buy one thing, you don't want it to be a basic sweater or a pair of ordinary trousers, you want something dramatic," says a publication editor-in-chief.
This feeling is echoed by a fashion director at a leading retailer, who calls it "an unexpected, playful element" that avoids the need for a whole new ensemble.
Final Spirit Lifter
Ultimately, the fuzzy coat can serve as a fantastic mood lifter.
"It doesn't have to cost a lot," notes the editor, "and it will make you feel glamorous when everything else is pretty dreary."