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Although the legendary New York nightclub Studio 54 closed nearly four decades ago, its distinct fashion influence remains powerful.

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

With the festive social calendar approaching, the signature Studio 54 coat is enjoying a significant comeback.

Retail Data Reflects the Trend

One of the most popular items from a recent collaboration between a high-street brand and a designer brand is a short, off-white, shaggy jacket with giant lapels.

At a leading retailer, searches for brown faux fur coats have jumped almost 200% compared to last year.

The demand for secondhand fuzzy items is also soaring, with queries for faux fur growing by 257% in the last six months on a popular secondhand platform.

"This is a one and done coat," notes a lead style expert, explaining that it serves as the central element of an outfit.

She likes to style her own colossal furry version with hipster jeans or leggings and short shorts.

Television Fashion Mirrors the Trend

This style is showcased in a new streaming romcom series, where a sister wears a toffee-colored fuzzy jacket to a informal dinner.

When challenged about her bold outfit, the character responds, "It's what you said to look fancy. That's style!"

The Rise of the "Glamorous" Vibe

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

Inspired by the glamour and excess of late-80s New York, this vibe evokes wealth, bubbly, smoking, high hemlines, loose morals and, naturally, fur.

Similar to that time, the trend is set against a volatile economy.

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

Contemporary Fabrics and Playful Luxury

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

The trend represents a knowing opulence—like a famous Muppet has taken charge with exaggerated silhouettes and surprising hues.

Celebrity Endorsement and Limited Releases

An English creator was an early instigator of this movement. Her fluffy coats with poodle-like proportions have been sported by famous singers.

Because of strong interest, these coats are now only sold in limited collections. An upcoming release includes a rose and grey style akin to a giant pom-pom, as well as animal and tiger-print versions with dramatic fluffy frou-frou.

"When you can only buy one thing, you don't want it to be a basic sweater or a pair of boring trousers, you want a standout piece," explains a magazine editor-in-chief.

The sentiment is echoed by a fashion director at a major retailer, who calls it "a surprising, fun touch" that doesn't require a complete outfit.

Final Mood Lifter

In the end, the shaggy coat can act as a fantastic pick-me-up.

"It won't cost a fortune," says the editor, "and it's going to make you feel glam when the world around you is rather gloomy."