Fur
Filed in: Fashion, Secondhand
I went to a thrift store today and ended up finding two fur coats I liked, both affordable. The first is a wolf fur. It´s knee length and has a slim fit and a very classic look. The second is a brown Persian lambs fur coat. It has a more vintage look with an A-line shape that is very right at the moment. The first is about $125 and the second about $80. I asked them to put the coats aside for me while I decide. I´ve always wanted a fur coat, but then again I don´t really need one. What do you think? None, one or both? I´m afraid the first looks too butch and the second will get old too fast. I wish I had pictures.
When it comes to the whole to fur or not to fur question, I don´t have a good reason why I shouldn´t buy the lambs fur coat since I do eat lamb and I think it´s better to use the whole animal than to throw away half of it. I know little about wolf fur and whether it´s part of a fur industry nasty kind of thing or whether these were happy wild wolfs. I was kind of unprepared for this discussion cause I have always thought by myself that secondhand fur is OK and that my boyfriend shared my thoughts. He was with me when I looked at these and he said he thought it was kind of nasty to wear fur, but that he thought the wolf fur was the nicest. I don´t really want to turn this into a fur discussion since it´s kind of a sensitive matter an we all probably have different opinions, but I found myself having to deal with the question in a different way than expected.
Leave a Comment or Trackback
24 Comments
November 29th, 2006 at 4:38 pm
I wish you had pictures as well, it’s hard to tell when there’s no picture. Ask yourself the normal questions. Do you really want them? Badly? Both? Are you going to wear them if you do? If you’re not completely sure, it’s probably not a good idea.
November 29th, 2006 at 5:17 pm
It is a toughie. The prices are certainly right. Fur coats is a hard one for me too. I don’t think I’ll ever get a fur coat, I love small fur accents. Recently I got a faux fur shrug, which I’m pretty happy with.
November 29th, 2006 at 5:35 pm
i say NO FUR. i think the thought of wearing fur is kinda gross. and i think if you’re not wanting to go “there” with the whole to wear fur or not to wear fur discussion… you will get that everytime to wear it.
November 29th, 2006 at 6:02 pm
I agree with C. I think you just need to think about whether your really really want them and based on your post, it sounds like you’re on the fence, so I’m going to go with no. I would just wait and when a fur coat really truly strikes your fancy, you will buy it. But for $80 (or $125), you want to be sure that it is absolutely something you want.
November 29th, 2006 at 6:07 pm
I think if it’s already fur, and obviously vintage, then don’t worry about it. It’s past and done with for about 30 years, at least. I think you should pick the one that fits your personality and your clothing style the best. If the wolf, could you glam it up?? If the lamb, are there ways to alter it if you get bored with it?? Oh! Maybe add a 1 inch to 3 inch wide Red Satin ribbon to the wolf coat in some area. That could look very ironic red riding hood. :) Good Luck!
November 29th, 2006 at 6:16 pm
I think you should only buy it if its necessary for the weather you live in. Otherwise it looks completely useless.
November 29th, 2006 at 7:25 pm
I think only buy one if you really want one - they are pretty pricey. Personally I have no problem with vintage fur. As you said, you eat meat anyway and I find this all-out fur hate really hypocritical especially when it comes from meat-eaters. If they were thinking straight, then everyone eating any kind of meat would be getting paint thrown at them (a la PETA) and not just those wearing fur. To whoever said ‘the idea of wearing fur is kinda gross’, is it just as gross to eat a bacon sandwich once in a while! I say if you have no problem with it then go for it, treat it the same as every other expensive purchase you make.
November 29th, 2006 at 8:16 pm
that seems like a lot of money for a coat at a thrift store. i bet if you look around you can find cheaper ones..maybe even look on ebay.
November 29th, 2006 at 8:19 pm
do you love it? i think that’s the question i always have to ask myself before making a big/controversial purchase. there are alot of things i dismissed as being ‘at the moment’ that i’ve worn for years and still get tons of compliments on (ie. bright orange square handbag with a blue star). let’s face it, you live in cold weather, and you might as well fab up the cold weather gear. living in california, there is no way, no way at all i could get away with fur. besides, what’s worse a synthetic coat that will survive the apocolypse or a biodegratable fur coat. please.
November 29th, 2006 at 8:25 pm
I’m late chiming in, but if you like them and can justify the funds buy them. You only answer to yourself on the whole fur issue. For me it isn’t an issue because it is just too hot here for fur.
November 29th, 2006 at 9:37 pm
I don’t think fur should be considered fashionable. It just seems so ‘aristocratic’. (You eat to survive; and unless you hunted the animal yourself then you do not actually need to wear fur. As far as it being ‘okay’ because it is vintage on the surface makes sense; however, it reverberates out - you are still contributing to the style of wearing fur. )
November 29th, 2006 at 10:41 pm
I say no fur. I must say that I am not against wearing fur it just that I find the real thing kind of well…disgusting. I would go for a good fake one. If you can find it.
November 29th, 2006 at 11:26 pm
It’s really easy for people to get all pious about the fur issue, but when you think about it, so much of what we wear is unethical. Nobody bats an eye when somebody else wears a brand name notorious for their Sweatshops, but when somebody wears the fur of an animal that’s been dead for decades then they get hit with red paint. There are still so many human rights issues (ie. conflict diamonds) within fashion that need to be delt with before we should start obsessing over the cute little animals.
November 30th, 2006 at 7:52 am
I personally would not wear a fur coat because I find it unattractive, but whether or not fur trim would be acceptable to me on a vintage coat is a question I have pondered. I’m rather conflicted, but the opinion that I decided upon is that by wearing any fur I would be contributing to its popularity, and I wouldn’t want to help to make fur any more fashionable than it already is. You, my dear, are a trendsetter, and how would you feel if, based on seeing you wear vintage fur, some rich girl went out and bought a new fur? Not likely, but possible–just something to consider.
November 30th, 2006 at 10:19 am
Thanks for all your input - you really have some good points. I think I´ve decided not to buy the coats simply because I don´t need them. The big fur question is something I have to think some more about though…
November 30th, 2006 at 11:07 am
Do you have a problem with leather? Leather is shaved fur. If anyone would tell you it’s wrong to wear fur, just ask what kind of material their coat or shoes are made off. Chances are pretty high they are wearing something leather.
Fur is wrong in some cases, when the animals are breeded only for the purpose of fur for example. Of when you are wearing fur of endangered species.
November 30th, 2006 at 2:55 pm
That´s so true Ann, and I only have objections to fur from animals that are breeded for that purpose. As long as I´m not a vegetarian I can´t really say anything about the rest.
December 1st, 2006 at 2:01 am
Hi Agathe,
It’s been awhile since I’ve posted, and I still owe you a book. ( I haven’t forgotten.) Anyways, I used to be totally against fur, vegetarian, animals rights activist etc., but then my aunt died six years ago and I inherited a handful of very expensive, beautiful fur items including a beautiful coat from Saks. I once said that I would NEVER wear fur, but here I was with this gorgeous coat that looked stunning on me and made me feel that way too. Now, I LOVE fur coats. It feels gooooooooood to wear. It really does. Maybe it’s something primal. I don’t know, but I know that you’re a glamour girl, like myself and I say, if you have the money… but it. I also recently found a little Prada jacket on ebay that has a rabbit fur collar. I LOVE IT! Yes, my friends give me a hard time, but I’ll live with it.
December 1st, 2006 at 2:05 am
One more comment… Check the coats out really well. Sometimes fur deteriorates over the years. I just had to part with a different fur coat from another aunt this past weekend because the fur was detaching itself from the base, leather part.
December 1st, 2006 at 10:17 am
hmm I don’t mind fur trimming (like collars/cuffs) but I don’t think I could do a whole fur coat
December 3rd, 2006 at 6:29 pm
hm……please,watch the video,just to remember the way that a fur coat is made,do you really want to have a dead animal on your back?you really want to support this terrible way to death?imagine yourself in their place.oh,no..I don’t think that you want it,because it’s very painfull…ok,just watch it,I hope that you change your mind about it
http://www.bloodyburberry.com/videos.asp
see the first video and think again about you “beautiful and vintage fur coats”..they have nothing to beautiful.
December 4th, 2006 at 7:54 am
There is nothing warmer or more cosy than a fur coat when the weather is bitterly cold. If you wear leather (shaved fur) or eat meat, I don’t see that an anti-fur coat stance would make any sense. All come from the same place. It is laughable that one of the most prominent and most air-headed PETA spokespeople was regularly photographed wearing UGG boots. She was shocked, shocked I say, to find out the boots were fur! To me this exemplifies the intellectual level of this discussion.
Make sure the fur feels supple and not dry or stiff, check that if you pull the fur,none comes off in your hand. I find many old fur coats have hardly been worn and are in excellent shape, as long as they haven’t been stored in an attic. The wolf coat sounds funky and unusual, but Persian lamb is usually very slimming, especially if it’s a-line. Go for it!!
December 4th, 2006 at 10:43 am
Interesting debate that you have going here!
December 5th, 2006 at 11:40 pm
Kind of expensive. I think you could get something for much less if you shop around and you’ll want to get it dry cleaned too so the big price tag isn’t worth it. If you were getting one over the other I’d choose the persian lamb. Less ostentatious. I have one and get lots of wear out of it where as wolf is more dressy.