70s Nightclub Style Makes a Revival: Shaggy Jackets Have Become the Festive Season's Must-Have
While the iconic New York venue Studio 54 closed nearly four decades ago, its unique fashion influence remains powerful.
Currently, the focus isn't on sheer bodysuits but on the furry, shaggy coats and wraps favored by celebrities and club-goers as well.
With the festive party season coming up, the distinctive Studio 54 coat is experiencing a major resurgence.
Retail Data Reflects the Popularity
One of the hottest items from a recent collaboration between a high-street brand and a London label is a cropped, off-white, long-haired jacket with oversized lapels.
At a leading retailer, online queries for taupe fake fur coats have jumped almost 200% compared to last year.
The demand for secondhand fuzzy items is also soaring, with searches for synthetic fur increasing by 257% in the past six months on a major resale website.
"It's a statement coat," notes a lead style expert, explaining that it serves as the main piece of an outfit.
She prefers to style her own colossal furry coat with low-rise jeans or leggings and micro shorts.
Screen Fashion Mirrors the Look
The style is showcased in a new Netflix romcom series, where a character sports a toffee-colored fuzzy jacket to a informal dinner.
When challenged about her bold look, the sister responds, "You told us to dress up. It's fashion!"
The Rise of the "Glamorous" Aesthetic
The trend aligns with what an American trend forecaster is calling "glam excess."
Rooted in the glamour and excess of the 1980s New York, this aesthetic evokes wads of cash, champagne, smoking, high hemlines, carefree attitudes and, naturally, fuzzy textures.
Similar to that era, the trend is emerging during a uncertain financial climate.
Boom boom is very much about dressing for the life you aspire to rather than the one you have to endure.
Contemporary Fabrics and Playful Opulence
Whereas animal fur was everywhere during Studio 54's peak, today's versions are mostly made from shearling—a byproduct of the meat industry—or synthetic materials like polyester.
The trend represents a tongue-in-cheek opulence—as if a famous Muppet has taken over with exaggerated proportions and surprising hues.
Star Adoption and Exclusive Drops
A London creator was an pioneer of this trend. Her shaggy coats with poodle-like textures have been worn by famous singers.
Because of strong interest, these coats are now only sold in exclusive collections. An upcoming launch includes a rose and grey version similar to a large pom-pom, as well as animal and zebra-print versions with exaggerated fluffy trim.
"If you can only purchase a single item, you wouldn't choose it to be a basic jumper or a pair of ordinary trousers, you want something dramatic," explains a publication editor-in-chief.
The sentiment is shared by a style head at a major store, who calls it "an unexpected, playful element" that avoids the need for a whole new outfit.
Final Spirit Lifter
Ultimately, the shaggy coat can act as a fantastic pick-me-up.
"It doesn't have to cost a lot," notes the expert, "and it's going to make you feel glamorous when everything else is pretty gloomy."