70s Nightclub Fashion Makes a Comeback: Fuzzy Coats Are the Festive Essential Must-Have
While the iconic New York venue Studio 54 shut its doors nearly four decades ago, its unique fashion influence continues strong.
This season, the focus isn't on sheer bodysuits but on the furry, fuzzy coats and stoles worn by style icons and party enthusiasts as well.
With the holiday social calendar approaching, the signature Studio 54 coat is enjoying a significant comeback.
Shopping Data Reflects the Popularity
One of the most popular items from a recent collaboration between a major retailer and a designer brand is a cropped, cream, shaggy jacket with giant lapels.
At a leading retailer, searches for brown fake fur coats have jumped almost 200% year on year.
The demand for secondhand plush items is also soaring, with queries for synthetic fur growing by over 250% in the past six months on a popular secondhand platform.
"It's a one and done coat," says a senior style expert, adding that it acts as the central piece of an outfit.
The editor prefers to wear her personal oversized shaggy version with hipster jeans or leggings and micro shorts.
Screen Style Echoes the Look
The aesthetic is replicated in a latest streaming romantic comedy series, where a character sports a caramel fuzzy jacket to a informal dinner.
When questioned about her daring outfit, the character replies, "You told us to look fancy. It's fashion!"
The Rise of the "Boom Boom" Aesthetic
The trend aligns with what a U.S. trend forecaster is calling "glam excess."
Inspired by the glamour and excess of the 1980s New York, this vibe evokes wads of cash, bubbly, cigarettes, high hemlines, loose morals and, of course, fur.
Similar to that time, the trend is set against a uncertain financial climate.
This style is all about embodying the lifestyle you dream of rather than the one you are stuck with.
Modern Fabrics and Playful Opulence
While animal fur was omnipresent during Studio 54's peak, current iterations are primarily made from lambskin—a byproduct of the food industry—or man-made materials like acrylic.
The trend represents a tongue-in-cheek luxury—as if a famous Muppet has taken over with exaggerated proportions and unexpected hues.
Celebrity Endorsement and Limited Releases
An English designer was an early instigator of this trend. Her fluffy coats with poodle-like textures have been sported by top pop stars.
Because of strong interest, these coats are now only sold in limited drops. An forthcoming release includes a rose and charcoal style akin to a large pom-pom, as well as animal and tiger-print options with dramatic fuzzy trim.
"When you can only buy a single item, you wouldn't choose it to be a basic sweater or a pair of ordinary trousers, you want something dramatic," says a magazine head.
The sentiment is shared by a style head at a major retailer, who calls it "an unexpected, playful element" that doesn't require a complete ensemble.
The Ultimate Spirit Lifter
Ultimately, the shaggy coat can serve as a great mood lifter.
"It won't cost a fortune," says the expert, "and it will make you feel glam when the world around you is pretty dreary."
