70s Nightclub Fashion Returns for a Comeback: Shaggy Coats Are the Festive Essential Key Piece
Although the iconic New York venue Studio 54 closed almost four decades ago, its distinct fashion influence remains strong.
Currently, the spotlight isn't on sheer bodysuits but on the plush, fuzzy coats and stoles worn by style icons and club-goers as well.
With the festive social calendar coming up, the distinctive Studio 54 coat is enjoying a major comeback.
Shopping Data Shows the Popularity
One of the hottest items from a recent partnership between a major retailer and a designer brand is a cropped, cream, long-haired jacket with oversized lapels.
At a leading retailer, online queries for taupe fake fur coats have jumped 190% compared to last year.
The demand for pre-owned fuzzy finds is also rising, with searches for faux fur increasing by 257% in the past six months on a major resale website.
"This is a one and done coat," says a senior style expert, adding that it serves as the main piece of an ensemble.
She prefers to style her personal colossal shaggy version with low-rise jeans or leggings and short shorts.
Television Fashion Echoes the Look
The style is showcased in a latest Netflix romantic comedy series, where a character wears a toffee-colored fuzzy jacket to a informal dinner.
When challenged about her daring look, the sister responds, "You told us to dress up. It's fashion!"
Emergence of the "Glamorous" Vibe
This look aligns with what an American trend forecaster is terming "boom boom."
Rooted in the glamour and excess of late-80s New York, this vibe evokes wads of cash, bubbly, cigarettes, high hemlines, carefree attitudes and, of course, fur.
Similar to that time, the trend is set against a volatile economy.
Boom boom is all about embodying the lifestyle you dream of rather than the one you have to endure.
Contemporary Fabrics and Playful Luxury
While real fur was omnipresent during Studio 54's heyday, current versions are mostly made from lambskin—a byproduct of the meat industry—or man-made materials like acrylic.
The trend embodies a knowing luxury—as if a famous Muppet has taken charge with overblown silhouettes and unexpected colors.
Star Endorsement and Exclusive Releases
A London designer was an early instigator of this trend. Her fluffy coats with poodle-like textures have been worn by famous pop stars.
Due to strong interest, these coats are now only sold in limited drops. An forthcoming launch includes a pink and charcoal version similar to a large pom-pom, as well as animal and zebra-print options with exaggerated fluffy frou-frou.
"If you can only purchase one thing, you don't want it to be a plain jumper or a pair of boring trousers, you want something dramatic," explains a magazine editor-in-chief.
The feeling is echoed by a style head at a leading retailer, who calls it "a surprising, fun touch" that doesn't require a whole new outfit.
The Ultimate Mood Booster
In the end, the shaggy coat can act as a fantastic pick-me-up.
"It won't cost a fortune," notes the editor, "and it's going to make you feel glam when everything else is rather gloomy."
