70s Nightclub Fashion Makes a Comeback: Shaggy Jackets Have Become the Festive Essential Must-Have
Although the iconic New York venue Studio 54 shut its doors almost four decades ago, its unique fashion influence continues powerful.
Currently, the focus isn't on sheer bodysuits but on the furry, shaggy coats and wraps favored by style icons and party enthusiasts alike.
With the holiday social calendar coming up, the distinctive Studio 54 coat is enjoying a significant comeback.
Retail Statistics Shows the Trend
Among the most popular items from a latest collaboration between a major retailer and a designer brand is a short, off-white, shaggy jacket with giant lapels.
At a leading retailer, searches for brown faux fur coats have surged almost 200% year on year.
The demand for pre-owned fuzzy finds is also soaring, with searches for synthetic fur increasing by 257% in the last six months on a popular resale platform.
"It's a one and done coat," says a senior style expert, explaining that it serves as the main piece of an ensemble.
She prefers to wear her own colossal furry coat with hipster jeans or tights and short shorts.
Television Fashion Echoes the Look
The aesthetic is replicated in a latest Netflix romantic comedy series, where a sister sports a caramel fuzzy jacket to a informal dinner.
When questioned about her bold look, the sister responds, "You told us to look fancy. That's style!"
Emergence of the "Boom Boom" Aesthetic
The trend aligns with what a U.S. style analyst is terming "glam excess."
Rooted in the glamour and excess of the 1980s New York, this aesthetic evokes wealth, bubbly, smoking, high hemlines, carefree attitudes and, of course, fur.
Like that era, the trend is set against a uncertain economy.
Boom boom is very much about embodying the life you aspire to rather than the one you have to endure.
Modern Materials and Playful Luxury
Whereas animal fur was omnipresent during Studio 54's peak, today's iterations are primarily made from lambskin—a byproduct of the meat industry—or man-made fabrics like acrylic.
The trend embodies a tongue-in-cheek opulence—as if a famous Muppet has taken charge with overblown silhouettes and surprising colors.
Celebrity Adoption and Limited Releases
An English designer was an early instigator of this movement. Her fluffy coats with curly proportions have been worn by famous singers.
Due to high interest, these coats are now only sold in limited drops. An upcoming launch includes a pink and grey version similar to a large pom-pom, alongside animal and tiger-print options with exaggerated fuzzy frou-frou.
"If you can only purchase one thing, you don't want it to be a plain jumper or a pair of boring trousers, you want a standout piece," says a publication head.
The sentiment is shared by a style head at a major retailer, who describes it "a surprising, fun touch" that doesn't require a complete ensemble.
Final Spirit Lifter
In the end, the shaggy coat can act as a great mood lifter.
"It won't cost a fortune," says the expert, "and it will make you feel glamorous when the world around you is rather gloomy."
