70s Nightclub Style Makes a Comeback: Shaggy Coats Have Become the Party Season's Must-Have
While the legendary New York venue Studio 54 shut its doors almost four decades ago, its unique fashion influence continues strong.
This season, the spotlight isn't on sheer bodysuits but on the furry, shaggy coats and stoles favored by celebrities and club-goers alike.
With the holiday social calendar approaching, the distinctive Studio 54 coat is experiencing a significant resurgence.
Shopping Statistics Reflects the Trend
Among the most popular items from a latest collaboration between a major retailer and a London label is a short, off-white, long-haired jacket with oversized lapels.
At a leading retailer, searches for taupe fake fur coats have jumped 190% year on year.
The demand for pre-owned fuzzy items is also rising, with searches for synthetic fur growing by over 250% in the past six months on a popular resale platform.
"This is a statement coat," notes a senior fashion editor, explaining that it acts as the main element of an ensemble.
The editor prefers to wear her personal colossal shaggy coat with hipster jeans or leggings and micro shorts.
Screen Style Echoes the Trend
This aesthetic is replicated in a new Netflix romantic comedy series, where a sister sports a caramel fuzzy jacket to a informal dinner.
When questioned about her bold outfit, the character replies, "It's what you said to look fancy. That's style!"
The Rise of the "Glamorous" Aesthetic
The trend fits into what an American trend forecaster is calling "boom boom."
Rooted in the glamour and opulence of the 1980s New York, this aesthetic evokes wealth, champagne, smoking, high hemlines, loose morals and, of course, fuzzy textures.
Similar to that era, the trend is emerging during a uncertain economy.
Boom boom is very much about embodying the life you dream of rather than the one you have to endure.
Contemporary Fabrics and Tongue-in-Cheek Opulence
Whereas animal fur was omnipresent during Studio 54's peak, today's versions are mostly made from lambskin—a byproduct of the meat industry—or man-made materials like polyester.
The trend embodies a knowing luxury—as if a beloved character has taken charge with exaggerated proportions and unexpected colors.
Star Adoption and Exclusive 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.
Due to strong interest, these coats are now only sold in limited collections. An upcoming launch includes a pink and charcoal version akin to a giant pom-pom, as well as animal and tiger-print versions with dramatic fluffy frou-frou.
"If you can only purchase a single item, you wouldn't choose it to be a plain sweater or a pair of ordinary trousers, you want a standout piece," says a magazine editor-in-chief.
The feeling is shared by a fashion director at a leading store, who describes it "an unexpected, playful element" that avoids the need for a whole new ensemble.
The Ultimate Spirit Lifter
In the end, the shaggy coat can act as a fantastic pick-me-up.
"It doesn't have to cost a lot," says the expert, "and it will make you feel glamorous when everything else is rather dreary."
