70s Nightclub Style Returns for a Comeback: Fuzzy Jackets Are the Party Essential Must-Have
While the iconic New York nightclub Studio 54 closed nearly four decades ago, its distinct style impact remains powerful.
This season, the focus isn't on see-through bodysuits but on the furry, fuzzy coats and wraps worn by style icons and club-goers alike.
With the holiday party season coming up, the distinctive Studio 54 coat is enjoying a major comeback.
Retail Statistics Shows the Popularity
One of the most popular items from a recent partnership between a major retailer and a London label is a short, off-white, shaggy jacket with giant lapels.
At a leading department store, searches for brown fake fur coats have surged 190% year on year.
Interest for secondhand fuzzy finds is also soaring, with searches for faux fur increasing by 257% in the past six months on a major secondhand website.
"This is a one and done coat," notes a senior fashion editor, adding that it serves as the central element of an outfit.
The editor prefers to style her personal colossal shaggy version with hipster jeans or tights and micro shorts.
Television Fashion Mirrors the Look
The aesthetic is replicated in a latest streaming romantic comedy series, where a character wears a toffee-colored fuzzy jacket to a informal dinner.
When questioned about her bold outfit, the character responds, "You told us to look fancy. It's fashion!"
The Rise of the "Glamorous" Aesthetic
The trend fits into what an American trend forecaster is calling "glam excess."
Rooted in the extravagance and opulence of late-80s New York, this aesthetic evokes wads of cash, champagne, smoking, short skirts, carefree attitudes and, naturally, fur.
Similar to that era, the trend is emerging during a volatile financial climate.
This style is very much about dressing for the lifestyle you dream of rather than the one you are stuck with.
Modern Materials and Tongue-in-Cheek Opulence
While real fur was omnipresent during Studio 54's heyday, current iterations are primarily made from lambskin—a byproduct of the meat industry—or synthetic materials like acrylic.
The trend represents a tongue-in-cheek luxury—like a famous Muppet has taken charge with overblown proportions and surprising colors.
Star Adoption and Exclusive Drops
An English creator was an early instigator of this trend. Her fluffy coats with poodle-like textures have been worn by top singers.
Due to strong interest, these coats are now only sold in limited collections. An upcoming launch includes a pink and charcoal style akin to a large pom-pom, alongside leopard- and tiger-print options with dramatic fluffy trim.
"If you can only purchase one thing, you wouldn't choose it to be a basic jumper or a pair of ordinary pants, you want a standout piece," says a magazine editor-in-chief.
The feeling is shared by a fashion director at a major store, who calls it "a surprising, playful element" that avoids the need for a whole new outfit.
Final Mood Lifter
Ultimately, the fuzzy coat can act as a fantastic pick-me-up.
"It doesn't have to cost a lot," says the editor, "and it will make you feel glamorous when everything else is pretty gloomy."