Studio 54 Style Returns for a Comeback: Shaggy Coats Have Become the Party Essential Must-Have
While the iconic New York venue Studio 54 closed almost four decades ago, its unique fashion influence remains strong.
This season, the focus isn't on see-through bodysuits but on the plush, shaggy coats and wraps worn by style icons and club-goers as well.
With the holiday social calendar approaching, the distinctive Studio 54 coat is experiencing a major comeback.
Retail Statistics Shows the Popularity
One of the most popular items from a latest partnership between a major retailer and a London label is a short, off-white, shaggy jacket with giant lapels.
At a leading department store, online queries for taupe fake fur coats have jumped 190% year on year.
The demand for pre-owned fuzzy finds is also soaring, with queries for faux fur growing by over 250% in the last six months on a major resale platform.
"It's a statement coat," says a senior style expert, adding that it acts as the main piece of an outfit.
The editor likes to style her own colossal furry version with hipster jeans or tights and short shorts.
Screen Style Mirrors the Trend
This style is replicated in a new Netflix romantic comedy series, where a character sports a toffee-colored furry jacket to a casual dinner.
When questioned about her bold outfit, the sister responds, "It's what you said to dress up. That's style!"
The Rise of the "Boom Boom" Vibe
The trend fits into what an American style analyst is terming "glam excess."
Rooted in the glamour and excess of the 1980s New York, this vibe evokes wealth, champagne, smoking, short skirts, carefree attitudes and, naturally, fur.
Similar to that time, the trend is emerging during a volatile economy.
This style is all about embodying the lifestyle you aspire to rather than the one you are stuck with.
Contemporary Fabrics and Playful Luxury
While real fur was omnipresent during Studio 54's peak, today's iterations are mostly made from shearling—a byproduct of the meat industry—or man-made fabrics like acrylic.
The trend represents a knowing luxury—as if a beloved character has taken over with overblown silhouettes and surprising colors.
Star Adoption and Limited Drops
An English designer was an pioneer of this movement. Her shaggy coats with curly proportions have been worn by famous singers.
Due to high demand, these coats are now only sold in exclusive drops. An forthcoming release includes a pink and charcoal style similar to a large pom-pom, as well as leopard- and zebra-print versions with dramatic fluffy frou-frou.
"If you can only purchase a single item, you don't want it to be a basic jumper or a pair of ordinary pants, you want something dramatic," says a magazine editor-in-chief.
This feeling is shared by a fashion director at a leading store, who describes it "a surprising, playful element" that avoids the need for a complete ensemble.
Final Spirit Booster
In the end, the fuzzy coat can act as a great pick-me-up.
"It doesn't have to cost a fortune," notes the expert, "and it's going to make you feel glam when everything else is pretty gloomy."