🔗 Share this article

While the iconic New York venue Studio 54 closed nearly four decades ago, its distinct fashion influence remains powerful.

Currently, the focus isn't on see-through bodysuits but on the plush, shaggy coats and wraps worn by celebrities and party enthusiasts as well.

With the festive social calendar coming up, the distinctive Studio 54 coat is enjoying a major comeback.

Retail Data Shows the Trend

Among the most popular items from a recent collaboration between a major retailer and a London label is a short, cream, shaggy jacket with giant lapels.

At another retailer, online queries for brown fake fur coats have surged almost 200% year on year.

The demand for pre-owned plush finds is also rising, with searches for faux fur growing by 257% in the past six months on a popular resale website.

"This is a statement coat," notes a lead fashion editor, explaining that it serves as the main piece of an outfit.

The editor prefers to style her own colossal shaggy coat with hipster jeans or leggings and short shorts.

Television Style Echoes the Trend

The style is replicated in a new streaming romantic comedy series, where a character sports a caramel furry jacket to a informal dinner.

When questioned about her bold look, the character responds, "You told us to look fancy. That's style!"

The Rise of the "Glamorous" Aesthetic

The trend aligns with what an American trend forecaster is terming "boom boom."

Rooted in the extravagance and excess of late-80s New York, this vibe brings to mind wealth, champagne, smoking, short skirts, loose morals and, of course, fur.

Similar to that time, the trend is set against a uncertain financial climate.

This style is all about embodying the lifestyle you dream of rather than the one you have to endure.

Contemporary Fabrics and Playful Luxury

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

The trend represents a knowing opulence—like a famous Muppet has taken charge with overblown silhouettes and unexpected colors.

Star Adoption and Limited Drops

An English creator was an pioneer of this movement. Her fluffy coats with poodle-like textures have been worn by top pop stars.

Because of high demand, these coats are now only sold in limited collections. An forthcoming release includes a rose and grey style similar to a large pom-pom, alongside animal and tiger-print versions with exaggerated fuzzy trim.

"When you can only buy one thing, you don't want it to be a plain jumper or a pair of boring trousers, you want something dramatic," explains a magazine head.

This feeling is echoed by a fashion director at a major retailer, who calls it "an unexpected, fun element" that avoids the need for a whole new ensemble.

The Ultimate Spirit Booster

Ultimately, the fuzzy coat can serve as a fantastic mood lifter.

"It doesn't have to cost a lot," says the editor, "and it's going to make you feel glamorous when the world around you is pretty dreary."