70s Nightclub Style Makes a Revival: Shaggy Coats Are the Party Season's Key Piece
Although the legendary New York venue Studio 54 closed almost four decades ago, its unique style impact continues powerful.
This season, the spotlight isn't on see-through bodysuits but on the furry, shaggy coats and stoles favored by style icons and club-goers as well.
With the festive social calendar coming up, the distinctive Studio 54 coat is enjoying a significant resurgence.
Retail Statistics Reflects the Popularity
Among the most popular items from a recent partnership between a major retailer and a designer brand is a short, off-white, shaggy jacket with giant lapels.
At a leading department store, searches for taupe fake fur coats have jumped 190% compared to last year.
The demand for pre-owned fuzzy finds is also soaring, with searches for faux fur increasing by over 250% in the last six months on a popular secondhand website.
"This is a statement coat," says a lead style expert, adding that it serves as the main element of an ensemble.
The editor likes to wear her own colossal shaggy coat with hipster jeans or leggings and micro shorts.
Screen Style Echoes the Trend
The aesthetic is replicated in a new Netflix romantic comedy series, where a sister wears a toffee-colored furry jacket to a informal dinner.
When challenged about her daring outfit, the sister replies, "It's what you said to dress up. It's fashion!"
Emergence of the "Boom Boom" Aesthetic
This look aligns with what a U.S. trend forecaster is calling "glam excess."
Rooted in the glamour and opulence of late-80s New York, this aesthetic evokes wealth, champagne, smoking, short skirts, loose morals and, naturally, fuzzy textures.
Like that era, the trend is set against a uncertain economy.
Boom boom is very much about embodying the lifestyle you dream of rather than the one you are stuck with.
Contemporary Materials and Tongue-in-Cheek Luxury
While real fur was everywhere during Studio 54's heyday, current iterations are primarily made from shearling—a secondary product of the food industry—or man-made materials like acrylic.
The trend represents a tongue-in-cheek opulence—like a famous Muppet has taken over with exaggerated proportions and surprising hues.
Celebrity Endorsement and Limited Drops
A London creator was an pioneer of this movement. Her shaggy coats with poodle-like proportions have been sported by top pop stars.
Because of high interest, these coats are now only sold in exclusive drops. An forthcoming launch includes a pink and charcoal version akin to a giant pom-pom, as well as leopard- and tiger-print versions with exaggerated fuzzy trim.
"When you can only purchase a single item, you wouldn't choose it to be a basic jumper or a pair of ordinary pants, you want something dramatic," says a publication editor-in-chief.
This feeling is echoed by a fashion director at a leading retailer, who describes it "a surprising, fun touch" that avoids the need for a complete ensemble.
The Ultimate Spirit Booster
In the end, the fuzzy coat can act as a fantastic mood lifter.
"It doesn't have to cost a fortune," notes the editor, "and it will make you feel glam when the world around you is pretty gloomy."
