70s Nightclub Fashion Returns for a Comeback: Shaggy Jackets Have Become the Festive Season's Must-Have
While the iconic New York venue Studio 54 shut its doors almost four decades ago, its unique fashion influence remains strong.
This season, the focus isn't on sheer bodysuits but on the furry, shaggy coats and wraps worn by celebrities and club-goers alike.
With the holiday social calendar coming up, the distinctive Studio 54 coat is enjoying a significant resurgence.
Shopping Statistics Reflects the Popularity
Among the most popular items from a latest partnership between a major retailer and a designer brand is a cropped, cream, shaggy jacket with giant lapels.
At another department store, searches for brown fake fur coats have jumped almost 200% compared to last year.
Interest for secondhand fuzzy items is also soaring, with queries for faux fur increasing by 257% in the past six months on a popular secondhand platform.
"It's a statement coat," says a lead fashion editor, explaining that it acts as the main element of an outfit.
She likes to wear her personal colossal shaggy version with hipster jeans or leggings and micro shorts.
Television Fashion Mirrors the Trend
The style is showcased in a new Netflix romantic comedy series, where a sister wears a caramel furry jacket to a casual dinner.
When challenged about her bold outfit, the sister responds, "You told us to look fancy. It's fashion!"
The Rise of the "Boom Boom" Aesthetic
This look fits into what a U.S. trend forecaster is terming "glam excess."
Rooted in the extravagance and excess of late-80s New York, this aesthetic evokes wads of cash, bubbly, cigarettes, high hemlines, loose morals and, of course, fuzzy textures.
Like that era, the trend is set against a volatile economy.
This style is all about embodying the lifestyle you dream of rather than the one you are stuck with.
Contemporary Materials and Playful Luxury
While real fur was omnipresent during Studio 54's heyday, current versions are primarily made from lambskin—a byproduct of the food industry—or man-made fabrics like polyester.
The trend represents a tongue-in-cheek opulence—as if a famous Muppet has taken charge with overblown silhouettes and surprising colors.
Star Endorsement and Limited Releases
An English designer was an pioneer of this trend. Her shaggy coats with poodle-like textures have been sported by famous pop stars.
Due to strong demand, these coats are now only sold in limited drops. An upcoming release includes a rose and grey style akin to a giant pom-pom, as well as leopard- and tiger-print versions with dramatic fuzzy frou-frou.
"If you can only purchase one thing, you wouldn't choose it to be a plain jumper or a pair of ordinary trousers, you want something dramatic," says a magazine editor-in-chief.
This feeling is echoed by a fashion director at a major retailer, who calls it "an unexpected, fun touch" that doesn't require a whole new ensemble.
Final Mood Booster
Ultimately, the shaggy coat can serve as a great mood lifter.
"It doesn't have to cost a fortune," says the editor, "and it's going to make you feel glamorous when everything else is pretty dreary."