70s Nightclub Fashion Makes a Comeback: Fuzzy Jackets Are the Party Essential Must-Have
While the legendary New York nightclub Studio 54 shut its doors nearly four decades ago, its distinct style impact remains powerful.
Currently, the focus isn't on sheer bodysuits but on the furry, fuzzy coats and wraps favored by celebrities and party enthusiasts alike.
With the festive party season coming up, the distinctive Studio 54 coat is experiencing a major resurgence.
Shopping Data Shows the Popularity
Among the hottest items from a latest partnership between a high-street brand and a designer brand is a short, cream, shaggy jacket with giant lapels.
At a leading department store, searches for brown faux fur coats have jumped 190% year on year.
The demand for secondhand plush finds is also rising, with searches for faux fur growing by over 250% in the last six months on a popular secondhand platform.
"This is a statement coat," says a lead fashion editor, adding that it serves as the central element of an outfit.
The editor likes to style her own colossal shaggy version with hipster jeans or leggings and micro shorts.
Television Fashion Echoes the Trend
This style is replicated in a latest streaming romantic comedy series, where a sister wears a toffee-colored furry jacket to a casual dinner.
When challenged about her daring outfit, the character responds, "It's what you said to dress up. That's style!"
Emergence of the "Glamorous" Vibe
This look aligns with what a U.S. style analyst is calling "boom boom."
Inspired by the extravagance and opulence of the 1980s New York, this aesthetic evokes wads of cash, bubbly, cigarettes, short skirts, loose morals and, naturally, fur.
Similar to that time, the trend is emerging during a uncertain economy.
Boom boom is very much about embodying the life you aspire to rather than the one you are stuck with.
Contemporary Fabrics and Tongue-in-Cheek Opulence
While real fur was omnipresent during Studio 54's peak, current iterations are mostly made from shearling—a secondary product of the meat industry—or synthetic materials like acrylic.
The trend represents a tongue-in-cheek luxury—as if a beloved character has taken over with exaggerated proportions and surprising hues.
Star Adoption and Limited Releases
An English creator was an early instigator of this movement. Her shaggy coats with poodle-like proportions have been sported by top pop stars.
Because of high demand, these coats are now only sold in limited collections. An forthcoming launch includes a pink and grey version akin to a large pom-pom, as well as animal and tiger-print options with dramatic fuzzy frou-frou.
"When you can only purchase one thing, you don't want it to be a plain sweater or a pair of ordinary trousers, you want something dramatic," says a magazine editor-in-chief.
The feeling is echoed by a fashion director at a major retailer, who calls it "a surprising, fun touch" that avoids the need for a whole new outfit.
Final Spirit Booster
In the end, the shaggy coat can act as a great mood lifter.
"It doesn't have to cost a lot," says the expert, "and it will make you feel glam when the world around you is rather gloomy."
