70s Nightclub Fashion Makes a Comeback: Shaggy Coats Have Become the Party Season's Must-Have
While the iconic New York venue Studio 54 shut its doors nearly four decades ago, its unique fashion influence remains strong.
This season, the spotlight isn't on see-through bodysuits but on the furry, fuzzy coats and wraps favored by celebrities and party enthusiasts alike.
With the festive social calendar coming up, the signature Studio 54 coat is experiencing a significant comeback.
Shopping Statistics Reflects the Trend
One of the most popular items from a recent partnership between a major retailer and a London label is a cropped, off-white, shaggy jacket with oversized lapels.
At a leading retailer, searches for brown fake fur coats have jumped 190% year on year.
The demand for secondhand fuzzy items is also soaring, with queries for synthetic fur growing by 257% in the last six months on a popular resale platform.
"This is a one and done coat," says a senior style expert, explaining that it acts as the main piece of an outfit.
The editor likes to style her personal colossal furry version with low-rise jeans or tights and micro shorts.
Television Fashion Echoes the Trend
The aesthetic is showcased in a new Netflix romcom series, where a sister sports a caramel furry jacket to a casual dinner.
When questioned about her daring outfit, the character responds, "It's what you said to look fancy. That's style!"
The Rise of the "Boom Boom" Aesthetic
The trend fits into what an American trend forecaster is calling "glam excess."
Inspired by the glamour and excess of late-80s New York, this aesthetic brings to mind wealth, champagne, smoking, short skirts, loose morals and, of course, fur.
Like that era, the trend is emerging during a volatile economy.
Boom boom is all about embodying the lifestyle you aspire to rather than the one you have to endure.
Modern Fabrics and Tongue-in-Cheek Luxury
Whereas real fur was everywhere during Studio 54's heyday, today's iterations are primarily made from shearling—a secondary product of the food industry—or synthetic materials like acrylic.
The trend represents a tongue-in-cheek luxury—like a famous Muppet has taken charge with exaggerated proportions and unexpected colors.
Star Endorsement and Limited Drops
An English designer was an pioneer of this movement. Her shaggy coats with curly textures 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 rose and grey version akin to a large pom-pom, alongside animal and zebra-print options with dramatic fuzzy trim.
"If you can only purchase a single item, you wouldn't choose it to be a plain sweater or a pair of boring pants, you want something dramatic," says a magazine editor-in-chief.
The sentiment is shared by a style head at a major store, who calls it "a surprising, fun touch" that avoids the need for a complete ensemble.
Final Mood Lifter
Ultimately, the fuzzy coat can act as a fantastic pick-me-up.
"It won't cost a fortune," says the editor, "and it will make you feel glamorous when everything else is pretty dreary."
