70s Nightclub Style Returns for a Comeback: Shaggy Coats Are the Festive Season's Key Piece
While the iconic New York venue Studio 54 closed almost four decades ago, its distinct style impact continues strong.
Currently, the spotlight isn't on sheer bodysuits but on the plush, shaggy coats and stoles worn by celebrities and club-goers alike.
With the festive party season coming up, the signature Studio 54 coat is experiencing a major comeback.
Shopping Data Reflects the Popularity
Among the hottest items from a recent partnership between a major retailer and a London label is a short, cream, long-haired jacket with giant lapels.
At a leading retailer, online queries for brown faux fur coats have jumped almost 200% compared to last year.
Interest for secondhand plush finds is also soaring, with searches for faux fur growing by over 250% in the last six months on a popular resale website.
"This is a one and done coat," notes a senior fashion editor, explaining that it acts as the central element of an outfit.
She prefers to wear her own colossal shaggy coat with low-rise jeans or leggings and micro shorts.
Screen Style Mirrors the Look
This style is showcased in a latest streaming romantic comedy series, where a character wears a caramel furry jacket to a informal dinner.
When questioned about her bold look, the sister responds, "You told us to look fancy. That's style!"
The Rise of the "Boom Boom" Aesthetic
The trend fits into what an American style analyst is terming "boom boom."
Inspired by the extravagance and excess of late-80s New York, this vibe brings to mind wealth, bubbly, smoking, short skirts, loose morals and, naturally, fur.
Like that era, the trend is emerging during a uncertain financial climate.
Boom boom is very much about dressing for the life you aspire to rather than the one you are stuck with.
Contemporary Fabrics and Playful Luxury
While animal fur was omnipresent during Studio 54's heyday, today's iterations are primarily made from shearling—a secondary product of the food industry—or man-made fabrics like polyester.
The trend embodies a knowing luxury—like a famous Muppet has taken over with overblown proportions and surprising hues.
Celebrity Endorsement and Exclusive Drops
An English creator was an early instigator of this movement. Her fluffy coats with poodle-like proportions have been sported by famous singers.
Due to high demand, these coats are now only sold in exclusive collections. An upcoming launch includes a pink and charcoal style akin to a large pom-pom, as well as leopard- and tiger-print versions with dramatic fuzzy frou-frou.
"If you can only buy one thing, you don't want it to be a basic sweater or a pair of boring trousers, you want something dramatic," says a magazine head.
The feeling is echoed by a style head at a major store, who calls it "a surprising, playful touch" that doesn't require a complete ensemble.
The Ultimate Spirit Lifter
In the end, the shaggy coat can act as a fantastic mood lifter.
"It won't cost a lot," notes the editor, "and it's going to make you feel glam when everything else is rather dreary."
