🔗 Share this article

While the legendary New York venue Studio 54 closed almost four decades ago, its unique fashion influence continues powerful.

This season, the focus isn't on sheer bodysuits but on the plush, shaggy coats and wraps worn by celebrities and club-goers as well.

With the holiday party season coming up, the distinctive Studio 54 coat is experiencing a significant resurgence.

Shopping Data Shows the Trend

One of the hottest items from a recent collaboration between a major retailer and a London label is a short, off-white, long-haired jacket with giant lapels.

At a leading retailer, online queries for brown fake fur coats have jumped almost 200% year on year.

The demand for pre-owned plush items is also rising, with searches for synthetic fur growing by over 250% in the past six months on a popular resale platform.

"It's a one and done coat," says a lead style expert, adding that it acts as the central element of an ensemble.

She prefers to style her personal oversized shaggy coat with hipster jeans or tights and short shorts.

Television Fashion Mirrors the Look

This aesthetic is replicated in a new Netflix romantic comedy series, where a character wears a toffee-colored fuzzy jacket to a casual dinner.

When questioned about her bold look, the sister responds, "It's what you said to dress up. It's fashion!"

The Rise of the "Glamorous" Vibe

The trend fits into what a U.S. style analyst is terming "glam excess."

Rooted in the extravagance and excess of late-80s New York, this vibe evokes wads of cash, bubbly, cigarettes, short skirts, loose morals and, naturally, fur.

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

This style is very much about dressing for the lifestyle you aspire to rather than the one you are stuck with.

Contemporary Materials and Playful Luxury

Whereas real fur was omnipresent during Studio 54's heyday, today's versions are mostly made from shearling—a byproduct of the food industry—or man-made fabrics like acrylic.

The trend embodies a tongue-in-cheek luxury—as if a famous Muppet has taken charge with exaggerated silhouettes and surprising hues.

Celebrity Adoption and Limited Releases

A London creator was an early instigator of this trend. Her shaggy coats with poodle-like textures have been sported by top singers.

Due to high interest, these coats are now only sold in exclusive drops. An upcoming release includes a pink and charcoal style akin to a large pom-pom, as well as animal and zebra-print versions with exaggerated fuzzy frou-frou.

"If you can only buy one thing, you wouldn't choose it to be a plain jumper or a pair of ordinary pants, you want a standout piece," says a magazine editor-in-chief.

The feeling is shared by a style head at a leading store, who describes it "an unexpected, fun touch" that doesn't require a complete outfit.

The Ultimate Mood Lifter

Ultimately, the fuzzy coat can act as a great mood lifter.

"It doesn't have to cost a lot," notes the expert, "and it's going to make you feel glam when everything else is rather dreary."