Studio 54 Style Makes a Comeback: Shaggy Coats Have Become the Party Essential Must-Have
While the legendary New York nightclub Studio 54 closed nearly four decades ago, its distinct fashion influence continues powerful.
Currently, the focus isn't on see-through bodysuits but on the plush, fuzzy coats and stoles favored by style icons and club-goers as well.
With the festive party season approaching, the signature Studio 54 coat is experiencing a significant resurgence.
Shopping Data Shows the Popularity
Among the most popular items from a latest collaboration between a high-street brand and a London label is a short, cream, long-haired jacket with giant lapels.
At another retailer, searches for taupe faux fur coats have jumped almost 200% year on year.
The demand for pre-owned plush items is also rising, with queries for faux fur increasing by over 250% in the last six months on a popular secondhand website.
"It's a statement coat," says a senior fashion editor, explaining that it acts as the central piece of an outfit.
The editor prefers to wear her own oversized furry coat with hipster jeans or tights and micro shorts.
Television Style Echoes the Look
The aesthetic is replicated in a new streaming romcom series, where a character sports a toffee-colored fuzzy jacket to a casual dinner.
When challenged about her daring outfit, the sister replies, "It's what you said to dress up. That's style!"
Emergence of the "Boom Boom" Aesthetic
This look aligns with what a U.S. style analyst is calling "boom boom."
Inspired by the glamour and excess of late-80s New York, this aesthetic evokes wads of cash, champagne, smoking, high hemlines, carefree attitudes and, naturally, fuzzy textures.
Like that era, the trend is set against a uncertain economy.
This style is all about dressing for the lifestyle you aspire to rather than the one you have to endure.
Modern Fabrics and Playful Luxury
Whereas real fur was everywhere during Studio 54's peak, current versions are mostly made from lambskin—a byproduct of the meat industry—or man-made fabrics like polyester.
The trend represents a tongue-in-cheek luxury—like a famous Muppet has taken over with overblown proportions and unexpected hues.
Celebrity Endorsement and Limited Drops
An English designer was an early instigator of this trend. Her shaggy coats with curly textures have been sported by top pop stars.
Due to strong interest, these coats are now only sold in exclusive drops. An forthcoming release includes a pink and charcoal style akin to a large pom-pom, as well as leopard- and zebra-print options with dramatic fluffy trim.
"When you can only buy a single item, you don't want it to be a plain jumper or a pair of boring trousers, you want something dramatic," explains a publication editor-in-chief.
The feeling is shared by a style head at a leading retailer, who calls it "a surprising, fun element" that doesn't require a complete outfit.
Final Mood Lifter
Ultimately, the shaggy coat can act as a fantastic mood lifter.
"It doesn't have to cost a fortune," notes the editor, "and it's going to make you feel glamorous when everything else is pretty dreary."