70s Nightclub Style Makes a Revival: Shaggy Jackets Are the Festive Season's Must-Have

While the legendary New York venue Studio 54 closed nearly four decades ago, its distinct style impact continues strong.

This season, the spotlight isn't on see-through bodysuits but on the furry, fuzzy coats and wraps favored by celebrities and club-goers alike.

With the holiday party season approaching, the distinctive Studio 54 coat is enjoying a significant comeback.

Retail Data Shows the Popularity

One of the most popular items from a latest collaboration between a major retailer and a designer brand is a short, off-white, long-haired jacket with oversized lapels.

At another retailer, online queries for brown faux fur coats have surged almost 200% compared to last year.

The demand for pre-owned fuzzy finds is also soaring, with queries for faux fur growing by 257% in the last six months on a major resale platform.

"It's a one and done coat," notes a senior style expert, explaining that it serves as the central piece of an ensemble.

The editor likes to wear her personal oversized furry coat with low-rise jeans or leggings and micro shorts.

Screen Fashion Echoes the Look

The aesthetic is showcased in a latest streaming romcom series, where a sister sports a toffee-colored furry jacket to a informal dinner.

When questioned about her daring outfit, the sister responds, "You told us to dress up. That's style!"

Emergence of the "Boom Boom" Aesthetic

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

Rooted in the glamour and opulence of late-80s New York, this aesthetic evokes wads of cash, bubbly, smoking, short skirts, carefree attitudes and, of course, fur.

Like that time, the trend is emerging during a uncertain economy.

This style is very much about embodying the life you aspire to rather than the one you have to endure.

Contemporary Fabrics and Playful Opulence

Whereas real fur was everywhere during Studio 54's heyday, current versions are mostly made from shearling—a secondary product of the food industry—or synthetic materials like acrylic.

The trend represents a tongue-in-cheek opulence—as if a famous Muppet has taken over with overblown proportions and surprising hues.

Star Adoption and Limited Releases

A London designer was an early instigator of this trend. Her fluffy coats with curly textures have been sported by famous pop stars.

Due to high interest, these coats are now only sold in limited collections. An upcoming launch includes a rose and grey version similar to a giant pom-pom, as well as leopard- and zebra-print versions with exaggerated fuzzy frou-frou.

"When you can only buy a single item, you don't want it to be a plain sweater or a pair of boring pants, you want something dramatic," explains a magazine head.

The sentiment is shared by a style head at a major store, who calls it "an unexpected, playful element" that doesn't require a whole new outfit.

The Ultimate Spirit Booster

In the end, the fuzzy coat can serve as a fantastic pick-me-up.

"It doesn't have to cost a fortune," says the expert, "and it will make you feel glamorous when the world around you is pretty gloomy."