While the legendary New York nightclub Studio 54 shut its doors nearly four decades ago, its unique style impact continues powerful.
This season, the focus isn't on sheer bodysuits but on the plush, shaggy coats and stoles favored by celebrities and party enthusiasts alike.
With the holiday social calendar coming up, the signature Studio 54 coat is enjoying a major resurgence.
Among the most popular items from a recent partnership between a major retailer and a London label is a short, off-white, long-haired jacket with oversized lapels.
At another department store, online queries for taupe faux fur coats have jumped 190% compared to last year.
Interest for secondhand plush finds is also rising, with searches for synthetic fur growing by over 250% in the last six months on a major resale platform.
"This is a statement coat," notes a senior fashion editor, adding that it serves as the main piece of an ensemble.
The editor prefers to wear her own oversized shaggy version with low-rise jeans or tights and micro shorts.
The aesthetic is replicated in a new Netflix romantic comedy series, where a sister wears a toffee-colored furry jacket to a informal dinner.
When challenged about her daring look, the sister responds, "It's what you said to dress up. It's fashion!"
The trend fits into what a U.S. trend forecaster is calling "boom boom."
Inspired by the extravagance and opulence of the 1980s New York, this vibe evokes wealth, champagne, smoking, high hemlines, carefree attitudes and, naturally, fur.
Similar to that era, the trend is emerging during a uncertain financial climate.
Boom boom is all about dressing for the life you aspire to rather than the one you have to endure.
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 man-made fabrics like polyester.
The trend represents a tongue-in-cheek opulence—as if a beloved character has taken charge with overblown proportions and surprising hues.
An English creator was an pioneer of this trend. Her shaggy coats with poodle-like textures have been worn by top singers.
Because of strong interest, these coats are now only sold in limited collections. An forthcoming release includes a pink and charcoal version akin to a large pom-pom, alongside leopard- and zebra-print options with exaggerated fuzzy frou-frou.
"If you can only purchase a single item, you don't want it to be a plain sweater or a pair of ordinary trousers, you want something dramatic," says a magazine editor-in-chief.
This feeling is echoed by a fashion director at a major store, who describes it "an unexpected, fun element" that doesn't require a complete ensemble.
In the end, the fuzzy coat can act as a great mood lifter.
"It won't cost a lot," notes the editor, "and it's going to make you feel glamorous when everything else is pretty dreary."
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