70s Nightclub Fashion Returns for a Comeback: Shaggy Coats Have Become the Party Season's Key Piece
While the legendary New York nightclub Studio 54 shut its doors almost four decades ago, its distinct fashion influence remains powerful.
Currently, the focus isn't on sheer bodysuits but on the furry, fuzzy coats and wraps worn by style icons and club-goers as well.
With the festive party season coming up, the signature Studio 54 coat is enjoying a significant comeback.
Retail Statistics Reflects the Trend
One of the most popular items from a recent partnership between a high-street brand and a designer brand is a short, off-white, shaggy jacket with giant lapels.
At a leading department store, searches for brown faux fur coats have surged almost 200% year on year.
The demand for pre-owned fuzzy items is also rising, with queries for faux fur growing by over 250% in the past six months on a popular secondhand website.
"It's a statement coat," says a lead style expert, adding that it acts as the central element of an ensemble.
She likes to style her own colossal shaggy version with hipster jeans or leggings and micro shorts.
Screen Fashion Echoes the Trend
This aesthetic is replicated in a latest Netflix romantic comedy series, where a character sports a toffee-colored furry jacket to a informal dinner.
When questioned about her daring outfit, the character replies, "It's what you said to dress up. It's fashion!"
Emergence of the "Glamorous" Vibe
The trend fits into what a U.S. style analyst is calling "glam excess."
Rooted in the extravagance and excess of the 1980s New York, this aesthetic brings to mind wealth, bubbly, cigarettes, short skirts, loose morals and, of course, fuzzy textures.
Like that era, the trend is emerging during a volatile economy.
This style is very much about dressing for the lifestyle you dream of rather than the one you are stuck with.
Contemporary Materials and Playful Opulence
Whereas real fur was omnipresent during Studio 54's peak, current versions are primarily made from shearling—a byproduct of the food industry—or synthetic fabrics like polyester.
The trend embodies a knowing opulence—like a beloved character has taken charge with overblown silhouettes and unexpected colors.
Celebrity Endorsement and Limited Drops
A London creator was an early instigator of this movement. Her shaggy coats with curly textures have been worn by top pop stars.
Because of high interest, these coats are now only sold in limited collections. An upcoming launch includes a rose and grey version similar to a large pom-pom, as well as animal and tiger-print versions with exaggerated fluffy trim.
"If you can only buy a single item, you wouldn't choose it to be a plain jumper or a pair of ordinary pants, you want a standout piece," explains a publication editor-in-chief.
This feeling is echoed by a style head at a major retailer, who calls it "a surprising, playful element" that avoids the need for a whole new outfit.
Final Mood Lifter
In the end, the fuzzy coat can serve as a fantastic mood lifter.
"It won't cost a lot," says the expert, "and it will make you feel glam when everything else is pretty dreary."
