Studio 54: The Epitome of Glam, Glitter, and the Golden Age of Fashion
Studio 54: The Epitome of Glam, Glitter, and the Golden Age of Fashion
By Audrey Cooper — May 7, 2025
Few places in history have encapsulated glamor, wild parties, a permissive atmosphere, and high fashion quite like Studio 54. This nightclub fascinated the minds of generations and has become an iconic symbol of the disco era.
Studio 54 opened its doors at 254 West 54th Street in New York City in the spring of 1977—only to close a few years later. The building was formerly an opera house and a television studio that hosted CBS programs.
Outside of Studio 54
The club was owned by Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager. Rubell played a key role in promoting the club, attracting masses of celebrity elites and giving the club its exclusive reputation. Rubell famously stood behind the rope and chose who was allowed in and who was not on the spot.
Although the studio enforced an exclusive door policy, the club drew in people from all walks of New York City life. The club was a haven for people from different backgrounds, sexual orientations, and gender identities, who could all celebrate and converse in an area of no judgment. Celebrity regulars included authors, designers, singers, models, actors, and artists, from Andy Warhol, Mick Jagger, Elizabeth Taylor, David Bowie, and Cher, to Halston, Grace Jones, Bianca Jagger, and Liza Minnelli.
Andy Warhol
Bianca Jagger
Studio 54 was a living runway where designers showcased daring, original looks that would go on to influence the fashion of the late 1970s, 1980s, and even now. The fashion was all about self-expression, blending disco, high couture, and androgyny in a way that pushed boundaries and forced people to pay attention.
Cher, Elton John, & Diana Ross
The disco glamor featured sequin dresses, metallic lamé gowns, and wrap dresses. The infamous designer, known simply as “Halston,” dominated this scene with minimalist yet elegant designs. He was known for his glamorous silk jersey gowns, deep necklines, and flowy jumpsuits. Halston was essentially the club’s unofficial uniform cultivator, with his designs often seen on Liza Minnelli, Elizabeth Taylor, and Jerry Hall. Designer Bob Mackie also created dramatic styles with sheer fabric, feathers, and beading, often seen on Cher.
Liza Minelli & Cher
Elizabeth Taylor & Halston
Jerry Hall
Cher
Gender-fluid styles were influential at Studio 54. David Bowie and Gracie Jones wore sharp suits with large, dramatic shoulders and bold, bright makeup. Men adorned the club in silk shirts, tight leather pants, and platform boots, while women rocked tailored tuxedos, wide-leg trousers, and large sunglasses.
David Bowie
Grace Jones
There were no rules regarding fashion at the club: anything went. Skin-baring styles were all the rage at Studio 54, with naked dresses and sheer fabrics alluding to the club’s aura of challenging traditional trends. Some ditched clothing altogether and opted for body paint, glitter, or lingerie.
Bold accessories and statement pieces were also influential, with feather boas, fur coats, metallic platforms, knee-high boots—worn by women and men—diamond chokers, chunky gold jewelry, and statement belts.
Grunge and rock looks with leather jackets and fishnet stockings made appearances at the club as well, giving the club a contrasting rebellious look compared to the disco aesthetic. Grunge and rock looks with leather jackets and fishnet stockings made appearances at the club as well, giving the club a contrasting rebellious look compared to the disco aesthetic.
Studio 54 maintained an “anything-goes” atmosphere that contributed to not only those who attended but also to the openness of drug indulgence and the utter wildness of the parties. The club had hidden rooms and VIP areas where celebrities and socialites engaged in substance abuse openly. Rubell and Schrager turned a blind eye, and sometimes even encouraged, the dangerous party culture that would eventually lead to the club's downfall in 1979 with an IRS raid.
The style, atmosphere, and guests of Studio 54 made it the place to be in New York City, and it is why it still excites creative fashion looks. The style of Studio 54 was not just about what one wore but about how one wore it. Confidence, individuality, and the freedom of being able to express oneself without judgment were at the heart of this legendary club.
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