70s Nightclub Fashion Returns for a Revival: Fuzzy Coats Are the Party Essential Must-Have

Although the iconic New York nightclub Studio 54 shut its doors nearly four decades ago, its distinct fashion influence continues strong.

Currently, the spotlight isn't on see-through bodysuits but on the plush, fuzzy coats and stoles favored by style icons and club-goers alike.

With the festive social calendar approaching, the signature Studio 54 coat is experiencing a major comeback.

Shopping Statistics Shows the Popularity

One of the most popular items from a latest partnership between a major retailer and a designer brand is a short, off-white, long-haired jacket with oversized 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 items is also soaring, with searches for faux fur growing by 257% in the last six months on a popular secondhand platform.

"This is a one and done coat," says a senior style expert, adding that it acts as the main piece of an ensemble.

She likes to style her own colossal furry coat with hipster jeans or tights and micro shorts.

Screen Fashion Mirrors the Trend

This style is replicated in a new streaming romcom series, where a sister wears a caramel furry jacket to a casual dinner.

When challenged about her daring outfit, the sister replies, "It's what you said to look fancy. It's fashion!"

The Rise of the "Boom Boom" Vibe

The trend fits into what an American trend forecaster is calling "glam excess."

Rooted in the glamour and opulence of the 1980s New York, this vibe evokes wads of cash, champagne, smoking, high hemlines, loose morals and, of course, fuzzy textures.

Like that era, the trend is emerging during a volatile financial climate.

Boom boom is all about embodying the life you aspire to rather than the one you are stuck with.

Contemporary Materials and Tongue-in-Cheek Opulence

While real fur was omnipresent during Studio 54's peak, today's iterations are mostly made from lambskin—a secondary product of the food industry—or synthetic materials like polyester.

The trend embodies a tongue-in-cheek opulence—like a famous Muppet has taken over with exaggerated silhouettes and unexpected colors.

Celebrity Endorsement and Limited Drops

A London designer was an pioneer of this trend. Her shaggy coats with poodle-like proportions have been sported by top pop stars.

Because of high interest, these coats are now only sold in limited collections. An forthcoming launch includes a pink and grey style akin to a large pom-pom, as well as leopard- and zebra-print options with exaggerated fluffy trim.

"When you can only purchase one thing, you don't want it to be a basic sweater or a pair of ordinary trousers, you want a standout piece," says a magazine editor-in-chief.

The feeling is echoed by a style head at a major retailer, who calls it "a surprising, playful element" that doesn't require a complete ensemble.

Final Spirit Booster

In the end, the shaggy coat can serve as a great mood lifter.

"It doesn't have to cost a fortune," says the editor, "and it's going to make you feel glam when everything else is pretty dreary."