🔗 Share this article

Although the legendary New York venue Studio 54 shut its doors almost four decades ago, its distinct style impact continues strong.

This season, the spotlight isn't on sheer bodysuits but on the plush, shaggy coats and stoles favored by celebrities and club-goers as well.

With the holiday social calendar coming up, the signature Studio 54 coat is experiencing a major comeback.

Retail Statistics Shows the Trend

Among the hottest items from a recent partnership between a high-street brand and a London label is a short, cream, shaggy jacket with giant lapels.

At another department store, searches for taupe fake fur coats have surged almost 200% year on year.

Interest for pre-owned plush items is also rising, with queries for synthetic fur increasing by 257% in the past six months on a popular secondhand platform.

"It's a one and done coat," notes a senior fashion editor, explaining that it serves as the main element of an ensemble.

The editor prefers to style her own colossal shaggy version with low-rise jeans or tights and short shorts.

Television Style Mirrors the Look

This aesthetic is showcased in a latest streaming romantic comedy series, where a character sports a caramel fuzzy jacket to a casual dinner.

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

The Rise of the "Glamorous" Aesthetic

This look aligns with what an American trend forecaster is calling "glam excess."

Rooted in the glamour and excess of the 1980s New York, this aesthetic brings to mind wads of cash, bubbly, smoking, short skirts, loose morals and, of course, fur.

Like that era, the trend is set against a volatile financial climate.

Boom boom is very much about embodying the lifestyle you aspire to rather than the one you have to endure.

Modern Materials and Playful Opulence

While animal fur was omnipresent during Studio 54's heyday, today's versions are primarily made from lambskin—a byproduct of the food industry—or man-made materials like acrylic.

The trend represents a tongue-in-cheek opulence—like a famous Muppet has taken charge with overblown proportions and unexpected hues.

Celebrity Adoption and Limited Releases

A London designer was an early instigator of this trend. Her fluffy coats with poodle-like textures have been worn by famous singers.

Due to high demand, these coats are now only sold in exclusive collections. An forthcoming release includes a pink and grey style akin to a large pom-pom, as well as leopard- and tiger-print options with dramatic fuzzy frou-frou.

"If you can only purchase a single item, you don't want it to be a basic sweater or a pair of boring pants, you want something dramatic," says a publication editor-in-chief.

This feeling is echoed by a style head at a major retailer, who calls it "an unexpected, fun element" that doesn't require a complete outfit.

Final Mood Lifter

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

"It won't cost a lot," says the editor, "and it's going to make you feel glam when everything else is rather dreary."