70s Nightclub Style Makes a Revival: Shaggy Jackets Have Become the Party Season's Must-Have
While the iconic New York nightclub Studio 54 closed almost four decades ago, its unique style impact remains powerful.
This season, the spotlight isn't on sheer bodysuits but on the furry, shaggy coats and wraps favored by style icons and club-goers as well.
With the holiday party season coming up, the distinctive Studio 54 coat is enjoying a significant resurgence.
Retail Data Reflects the Popularity
One of the hottest items from a recent collaboration between a high-street brand and a designer brand is a cropped, off-white, long-haired jacket with oversized lapels.
At a leading department store, online queries for brown fake fur coats have jumped 190% year on year.
Interest for secondhand fuzzy items is also soaring, with queries for synthetic fur increasing by over 250% in the last six months on a popular resale website.
"It's a one and done coat," notes a lead fashion editor, explaining that it acts as the main piece of an ensemble.
The editor prefers to style her own colossal shaggy version with low-rise jeans or tights and micro shorts.
Screen Style Mirrors the Look
The aesthetic is replicated in a latest streaming romantic comedy series, where a sister wears a toffee-colored fuzzy jacket to a casual dinner.
When questioned about her bold outfit, the sister replies, "It's what you said to dress up. It's fashion!"
The Rise of the "Glamorous" Vibe
This look aligns with what an American trend forecaster is terming "boom boom."
Rooted in the glamour and opulence of the 1980s New York, this aesthetic evokes wealth, champagne, smoking, short skirts, carefree attitudes and, naturally, fuzzy textures.
Like that era, the trend is set against a volatile economy.
This style is very much about embodying the lifestyle you dream of rather than the one you are stuck with.
Modern Fabrics and Playful Opulence
While real fur was omnipresent during Studio 54's peak, current versions are mostly made from lambskin—a secondary product of the meat industry—or synthetic fabrics like polyester.
The trend embodies a tongue-in-cheek luxury—as if a famous Muppet has taken charge with overblown silhouettes and unexpected hues.
Celebrity Endorsement and Exclusive Drops
A London designer was an pioneer of this trend. Her shaggy coats with curly proportions have been worn by famous singers.
Due to strong demand, these coats are now only sold in exclusive collections. An forthcoming launch includes a pink and grey style similar to a large pom-pom, as well as animal and zebra-print options with exaggerated fluffy trim.
"When you can only buy one thing, you don't want it to be a basic jumper or a pair of ordinary pants, you want a standout piece," explains a magazine editor-in-chief.
This sentiment is echoed by a fashion director at a leading retailer, who describes it "a surprising, fun touch" that doesn't require a complete ensemble.
The Ultimate Spirit Lifter
In the end, the fuzzy coat can act as a great mood lifter.
"It doesn't have to cost a lot," notes the editor, "and it will make you feel glamorous when everything else is rather dreary."
