I was surprised that my extra-lazy Sunday post got so many comments . . . until I read them and found that most were about the controversial fur topic. Which I have to say I completely overlooked when I posted that photo. I've been wearing fur coats for so many years now that I don't even think twice when I see a girl on The Facehunter or The Sartorialist wearing fur. But again open up the comments box to these photos and you'll see mostly negative remarks about how disgusting or ugly or cruel it is to wear fur.And I never, never feel that way at all. I'm trying to come up with some kind of excuse, because I know I'm going to get a nasty comment or two! Can I blame old movies? Fur coats in old films (probably up until the '60s) were never shocking or controversial--they usually just symbolized wealth and luxury and kept women. Or better yet, independent career girls like Barbara Stanwyck in Christmas in Connecticut who save up their hard-earned money to buy their own mink coats.
But at the same time I have to admit that when I was younger I used to wear fur coats to shock people too. It isn't hard now. And in conservative environments (like the ultra right wing college I went to) where fur coats alone didn't really offend people I'd take to wearing mink stoles with heads and faces. And then there was a story involving a PETA shirt and a sewn-on fur collar but I don't think I should tell it. I was 19 and not very sensitive.
So I really loved finding out some readers' differing views on fur. Especially the really honest comments! Fur scares some people and I half wish it scared me because when I really stop to think about it it really is an ugly thing. It seems like there are others who feel the same way and will buy vintage furs but draw the line at buying anything new. The few fur coats and hats I own were bought at thrift stores or flea markets. And the little white collar in the second photo is from an antique store--I bought it a few weeks ago and I'm not really sure why. Everybody who sees it gets a little creeped out, but I think it's strange and nice, and I can never resist white fur accessories. And fur hats! Here are some from The Facehunter:
Vintage fur coats--the quirky old lady-ishness of these makes me like them so much more than modern fur coats anyway. . .
So what do you all think? One commenter from the post in question asked if she could get away with wearing vintage fur around her animal rights activist friends without offending them . . . Do any of you who are anti-fur make any leeway for vintage fur, since, as the commenter said, it doesn't encourage any fur production?
I'd love to find out!
48 comments:
we actually had to do a presentation/debate on fur farms in my fashion marketing class. I went for the side of pro-fur farms, only because the people in my group asked me to. Also, i thought it would make for more interesting research. Although there are some benefits of fur farms, i'm too much of an animal lover to see all those cute adorable minks trapped in little cages. I think if i ever became a millionaire, i would abstain from buying luxury furs... it does look beautiful on the runway, but i think fashion comes second to the welfare of animals. For them, fur is definitely something i could do without. However, for vintage fur, i really don't see a problem- although it could inspire someone else to want to buy new fur. It's just that vintage fur is actually a pretty nice alternative. I'm glad that someone brought this up for debate, because i was wondering the same thing myself.
Oh the great fur debate... Love the blog by the way!
I must say that the critters that had it before wear it better darling.
Even if I didn't give a hoot about where it came from,it's just very much a heap of mess. In a nutshell, not a good look unless you are 'shocking' people.
I guess it all depends, I saw one on ebay that is tiny and cropped and geeee is it cute! ..great posts! and i absolutely love your ebay store!!!! Very reasonable prices.
this past year I scored my first ever fur coat off the streets of oakland. rabbit fur. it is the warmest thing I have ever worn. ever. beyond wool and down. for a poor girl like me, affordable stylish warmth is a big blessing.
style wise fur can be brilliant. morally/environmentally...fur is complicated...just like cotton and silk can be as well (pesticides, sweatshops, etc)
my thing is to do what you gotta do, just be aware of what and why you are doing what you are doing (ie head out of rectum, please)
I stand to inherit a fur coat from my grandmother. I would love to wear it and feel that as it is vintage then its ok. I would never go out and but a new fur coat - i think it is out dated and cruel. But what is the point in wasting good quality vintage items.I am an animal lover, and believe that we use reuse what we have. no new furs please.
I think the way PETA presents their cause, things can be skewed and there are realities within the fur farming industry that are unknown to the public...
That said, I would still say go vintage with the furs because they have a certain essence about them anyway...
I would have no problem with fur if it came from animals that were treated well and killed humanely. And not from an endangered species obviously. It's the same way I feel about other animal products, including leather and indeed food. I am against animal cruelty but I don't see a pleasant life and a quick and painless death as cruel.
And mink are not cute, they're vicious! And where they've escaped from, or been released from, farms in the UK, they've wiped out the local population of small mammals.
I love furs and used to wear them more often.When I was a child, wearing fur was very common in Poland, so at the time I had a collection of lovely fur hats. I recently got one vintage fur from my old neighbour and I'm planning to make it short and wear it this winter. I especially love vintage grannyish furs, but I don't mind anyone wearing new fur coat either. Eastern Europe is pretty damn cold place you know;]Love your blog btw!
Yes, the only fur I would wear is secondhand fur. I don´t think dead animals are digusting but I think you should treat live ones well. I don´t want to support the furindusty, but the only one I supported by buying my vintage furcoat was the little old lady who own the thriftshop were I bought it.. I can live with that..
But that´s easy to say when I can´t afford new fur anyway..
Some sensible people wear fur when It's Chilly
fur provides a unique texture that nothing else can, which is why it's so appealing in fashion. i obviously love it, but i wish that they could do a better job with faux fur (less plastic/shag carpeting-feeling), because then not wearing real fur would be a more feasible and attractive alternative.
for the record, my favorite fur coat in hollywood is tippi hedren's in 'the birds.'
I wouldn't wear a new fur, but strangely enough a concern for animal rights is not my principal reason. Granted, I think that in 2008 we have enough warm and chic alternatives to fur and perhaps new fur shouldn't be produced.
Beyond that, what bugs me about fur is the fact that a new luxury fur strikes me as intentionally, self-consciously bourgois in a way that few other things are. Of course, not everyone wearing a new fur is trying to project this image, but I can't help but respond to it that way. That said, I think that luxury furs perpetuate the idea of fashion as a status symbol rather than a mode of expression, and I really dislike that concept in the first place. It seems to me that vintage furs were at least produced in a different moral and cultural context, and I can't morally fault someone in the 1950s without the same cultural resources (the mere presence and publicity of this debate, for one thing) as I have in my own experience.
Still, I don't much crave a vintage fur coat either. I think that fur coats are pretty unflattering and add a lot of bulk to a frame.
Against.
There are so many other ways to create.
Loving the blog &your style.
I have to say I've never felt really strongly about the fur issue. I don't really have any, although there was a vintage coat I passed up on last week because I didn't have any cash on me, although I think some of my gloves/scarves are lined. Which, I have to say, when it gets -20 here nothing else is as warm (and keeps hands from getting sweaty while shoveling!).
I agree with the commenter who was more concerned with the cruel practices involved than wearing the actual fur itself, and that if those practices were cleaned up it would be a different story. That said, it's never really been an issue I pay a whole lot of attention to.
I own vintage fur which I wear, including stoles w/ the paws/heads attached; I also collect Victorian taxidermy. I find it odd that people won't think twice about buying new leather boots/shoes/bags and sneer at vintage fur. One plus for the fur side, fur is the warmest thing you can wear. I hate puffy parkas and synthetic rubbish, vintage wool/fur coats are the way to go! Another terrible thing, so-called new 'faux' fur trim is dog fur. Seeing THAT is what makes me sad, not collecting the bodies of animals long since gone. I could go on, but I'm so incoherent!
What a discussion! It is so good to see all the different opinions and views.
Personally, I'm against fur. I've never seen the allure of it, although my Granny had mink coats, well the whole shabang actually! I remember vividly 'stroking' it (Gosh, that sounds wrong!) and being deeply perturbed. For me, I love animals too much, and I have looked after rabbits since I was little so I don't think I could ever wear it.
But, in saying this I don't object others wearing vintage fur.I don't think that the fur industry should be supported though, so I don't object vintage fur.
P.s. I love your blog! Tis mighty!
I'd say against just because I don't really like the way they look.
Yes, it's animal skin and yes, that could be cruel, but to me wearing a leather jacket or using a crocodile wallet or snake skin shoes is on the same level. Just because fur is so blatant and visible people get upset.
I love fur hats though, such as the two girls you posted :).
I'm definitely not going to support the current fur industry, but I love vintage furs. I just picked up a mink stole at a vintage shop on sale for less than $100. I think they are incredibly classy and unique. But I would never go out and buy a new fur. I'm sure that's hypocritical somehow, though. :)
New fur is a complete no-no for me, but I see nothing wrong with vintage fur (although I probably wouldn't wear it myself, being slightly squeamish about the idea). Killing animals for the sake of warmth/fashion is something I hope we have bypassed in Western society now that we have realistic-looking (though perhaps not realistic-feeling) fake fur and thermal fabrics.
However, having a vintage fur coat hanging unused somewhere is a bit of a disgrace, and a waste as well. By buying it, one is not directly supporting any trade except the secondhand/vintage trade, which isn't particularly subversive. Also, it's better to use a fur coat/stole that's already there than to buy a new non-fur coat that uses up various resources and possibly/probably causes environmental damage in the making. Plus, it would look better on someone's back keeping them warm than taking up landfill space.
I recently came accross three vintage fur coats at an estate sale. I wore one yesterday, then i ate beef jerky.
new fur is terrible. buying one is just creating more demand.
old fur is fine. it looks amazing, its the warmest and buying vintage is the most eco friendly thing a consumer can do.
people who throw paint never have all the facts
i am against fur. in this day and age, we have so many other high tech fabrics and natural materials to wear, that it is completely unnecessary to kill other living beings for the sole purpose of our own adornment.
in theory, i'm okay with faux and vintage, but from a tactile (and maybe subconsciously moral?) sense, i just can't bring myself to personally wear them. i've bought myself things with faux fur trimmings in the past, but found myself uncomfortable wearing it. i just didn't like the feel of it.
however, while in theory i'm okay with faux and vintage, i suspect that maybe that's hypocritical of me. wearing fake and vintage means the IMAGE of fur is still out there. and that means "fur" (as a concept) is still covetable in some way, and that goes against my anti-fur opinions.
to make things even more complicated for myself...i rather like the look of fur coats worn on girls with attitude...much like yourself and the two facehunter coats! i guess i don't have anything conclusive to say....
I own many vintage furs and I adore them. They have all been either given to me or thrifted by me. I would not purchase a new fur because I would not support the market. Times have changed. Our society is more educated (or should be) now on the treatment of animals. I do not think that was something the ladies of the 20s were thinking about. Vintage furs are around and they are gorgeous. I think purchasing them and prolonging their usability is a very positive thing to do.
As a vegetarian and i don't really have much of a moral objection to vintage fur although i don't own any myself. However, I doubt I'd ever would wear fur at all because people don't necessarily realise it's vintage and i worry that my wearing it could inadvertently be playing a small part in the purchase of new fur. Obviously new fur is super expensive mostly, so it's unlikely, but still..
I think fashion icons such as the Olsens are disgustingly iresponsible in wearing new fur.
This is one of my favoite topics to discuss. the wide range of opions i get from people facinate me.
I really do not think that wearing fur is wrong. i think it is a little nieve and hypocritical for people to say that it is morally wrong. you cant pick and choose by saying, "you can wear leather, but not fur."
"you can wear fur only if the animal is killed in a humane way"
which yea, sounds great.. but i dont think its right to decieve yourself with that kind of thinking.
if you eat meat you are "guilty" of killing animals. you cant say, "i only eat meat that was killed in a humane way."
you can find some sort of fault in everything humans do for themselves. people go to the mall and buy things from the gap that were made by children. no one bats an eye at that.
the fur thing is kind of self-rightous to me. "i dont believe wearing fur is right because i am a better person than you"
i believe it should be each person's decision and that should not be critisized by anyone.
do i think its right to kill a dear for its head mounted on a wall? no.... but i dont judge anyone that does it.
Do i think its honorable for someone to go vegetarian because they dont believe in killing animals for meat? sure! but i am not going to go vegetarian. that is my choice.
my grandma gave me a fur coat she wore when she was my age. would i throw that away because its wrong? no, its already done and there is nothing you can do about that animal now.
i think it comes down to personal choice. there is no "right or wrong" vintage fur coats are beautiful.
I missed the first round but I'm pretty obviously anti-fur. I think you can't really get away with wearing vintage fur because it still promotes fur-wearing and a lot of people can't tell the difference between vintage or not. Hell, even some of the fake fur that came out this year and last was real fur and was sold to the masses under the "faux" label.
Overall, I don't understand people who have cats or dogs and agree that it's find to contain and torture another "less-deserving" species to wear when there are suitable alternatives. I feel like while it's crappy to shit all over what someone is wearing, a *discussion* about it isn't bad, fur or otherwise. I don't mind when people ask me what I'm wearing or why. A lot of people just don't bother to think about how the things they bought got to them - at what price, whether human or animal, was extracted in the making of a replaceable object.
And (no offense to you, but just in my experience with my "shocking" friends) I often wonder why the shock always has to come from hurting something else rather than making that sacrifice and hurting oneself for attention. Not that I'm advocating self-injury or any such -- just playing devil's advocate about who pays for "shock value" whereas the "beneficiary" gets off scott free.
I think its great that you are conscientious..that is a big step. I get turned off by the women I see on the upper east side of NY wearing new furs. I feel they are vain and that never makes one beautiful. If fur was the by product of a $1 hamburger, I wouldn't care. I also think, we have to decide for ourselves. I love animals, but I dont feel the need for a label or to satisfy the american animal right folks. See, I grew up in India, and everyone there respects the right of some to be vegetarian and some to not. There is not this animosity or lack of respect for each other..so I try to minimize the eating and consumption of animal products to only those I can kill. (fish!) because that is the way I truely feel..
I just want to reiterate that my last comment was nothing personal - I just got paranoid after I posted it that people would take it the wrong way. It was really supposed to be a devil's advocate/food for thought type of comment rather than an attack on anyone here. I know I posted a disclaimed but I feel you can never be too clear about your intentions and my intention was not to make it a personal comment. I have love for the blog and thank you for bringing up the topic overall, despite our differences in opinion on it.
I am against the fur industry, but wearing vintage fur is OK with me. I can't imagine a more sustainable way of dealing with the fur items that already exist.
Even with vintage I prefer sheep fur, at least sheep aren't held in cages. And I only wear my sheep fur coat when it's really cold. Partly this is because the fur coat is very heavy, and way hot indoors so even grocery shopping can be pain.
i guess i am pro-fur. i own 2 mink coats and a mink shawl from my grandmother, a rabbit fur vest (bought new), a mink stole bought vintage, and a variety of rabbit fur hats... honestly, i just never really thought about it much. i do love animals, but to me it doesn't seem like breeding/keeping animals for fur is any more cruel than harvesting them for meat or eggs or anything else. it should matter more if the animal is cute..
oh, and that fur coat the woman's wearing on the left is gorgeous!!
fur = the senile look
Okay, on that note how do you think that the human species survived under cold weather conditions. That might be messed up logic for people who are more fond of animal than people but it's just the way it is.
Unlike many, I don't believe that you can draw a comparison between the wearing of fur and leather.
I am an animal lover, but I eat meat, and wear leather. I am a biology student, and firmly believe that this is all part of the cycle of life, (to sound really corny!)
What I mean is, I don't feel guilty eating meat because this is simply nature- humans are carnivorous by nature (historically, not as a rule!). But I do believe in these educated times, we have a responsibility to value all life on earth- that means treat animals with respect.
So I don't believe that an animal life should be wasted. If we are going to kill an animal for its meat, then we should also use the other resources it provides- eg leather. And I know it sounds a bit funny that by using the entire animal for human resources is respecting an animals life, but I feel that to throw away a part is to throw away its life.
It is also not unreasonable to expect to be able to say that you "only eat meat if it was killed humanely", as one commenter stated. At least in Australia and the UK, the organic farmers movement is trying to change that. I'm not sure about the US, but I'm sure that there is something similar happening there, too.
On to the fur though, which was the point of all this! Fur farms are disgusting. Keeping multiple animals in tiny cages is not respecting life.
Cows, sheep etc are farmed and killed for meat to eat and their hides, and so on. Animals eat other animals in nature- you can argue till you're blue in the face that as humans we have the choice to go vegetarian, but it's a fact. Lions eat other animals, sharks do it, etc. Humans are carnivores too. (By the way, I am not trying to offend vegetarians one bit!) So the farming for meat is part of nature.
Farming for fur is not nature. You show me any other animal that kills so it can wear the skin of another animal to look good. Yes, it was done in the past for warmth. But as has been pointed out, in modern times we have new fabrics for this. The only reason we have left for fur farming is vanity, and to kill for vanity is pretty disgusting.
At the end of all this, morally I have nothing against vintage fur. It fits in with my "not wanting to waste a life" thing. If it has been made, it might as well be preserved. In fact if the furs existing are well looked after, there might be a reduced need (if there isn't already) for the creation of new fur. But I do agree with the point made that the wearing of it keeps the look alive, which isn't really a good thing.
In theory, vintage fur shouldn't bother me. In practice, it creeps me out and I've passed along the coats I've found with fur collars. However, I'm kind of an example of hypocrisy since I ride horses and adorn myself in leather while doing so.
I'm very much against wearing fur. I buy leather secondhand, as long as I can tell it's quite old. Leather is unfortunately quite difficult to avoid buying new (if you want to wear shoes at all!)
I think that discouraging the production of animal products is just as important as shunning the idea that it's fashionable. I agree that there are much more creative ways to show that you're stylish- why not make a faux fox stole with fake fur and a felt-and-beads face? That would be far cuter and Etsy store-worthy.
I am an opera student and I see plenty of women at operas in the winter with fur coats- I feel so terrible that my profession represents that kind of unrepentant consumerism at the cost of animals. Many of the practices of killing the animal before skinning it are inhumane (I will spare you the details and suggest speaking to a PETA rep if you really want to know). There are cruelty-free ways to afford luxury. No rabbits are harmed when you buy angora because they are brushed for their hair.
I don't have massive feelings towards wearing fur - I think it is just another material to create out of.
But that said I do not support the way in which they kill these animals, it is completely inhumane, not to mention unnecessary!
Vintage fur is alright, I think, because the damage has already been done and It'd be such a waste to not wear it. I only have one vintage fur coat - it's fox fur and it's beautiful, and it was only $5!.
Fabulous blog =]
You enjoy wearing skinned mothers?
It is insensitive and cruel.
My Mother was given a large fur coat from her boyfriends mother and proceeded to bury it in our back garden.
I have no sympathy for your legs either, and I wont be buying anything from your 'charming' parade of a store.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_8Ko-9uKRs
Now, if this is the so called educated people of today, imagine what it was like when men used step ladders to kiss the leading lady.(debateable?)
Have fun at the gates of heaven!
Sarah. xxxx
I saw Christmas in Connecticut for the first time a few weeks ago and I absolutely loved it. As for fur, I'm ok with it as long as it's vintage and you're not directly supporting the industry. People have been wearing fur for thousands of years and its important to stay warm. I received a fur caplet for dress up when I was a kid but I'm wary about wearing it now because of the reactions I know I will get.
this subject has been bothering me recently too! I have this absolutely gorgeous 60s swing jacket, and come wintertime i hope to wear it a lot! but the problem is the fur collar, which i think looks great, but i've never liked people wearing fur. and i got a few friends I know would be gobsmacked
its only a collar though, and it is vintage.
but still.....
b.t.w all those anti-fur protesters really need to take a more polite tone! Nobody will listen to your message if your gonna bitch about it
Just seems like fur is kind of needless in modern times. Holy crap!
I watched that youtube video from a few posts up and if that doesn't make you wanna give up on fur....besides, it's TACKY!
OK!
Thank you all again for your comments--there are some really really great points here that I never even considered before . . . .
Rachel--yeah, I really don't know anything about fur farms so it would be interesting to find out more information about them . . .
Stitch--thank you!!!
Cheyenne--claws out, jungle red!!!!
Monika, thank you! I know, some are cute on Ebay . . . I just bought one there but it doesn't fit me right so I'm putting it up in the store.
Annabananna--agreed. When I lived in Minneapolis and had to walk to work in the winter months I'd always wear my fur coat. They're the warmest by far.
Ubercherry--that's pretty much the way I feel.
Susie Bubble, yeah, I'd love to find out more about what goes on in the fur farms. But I like vintage better anyway so it works out.
Duana, I love your reasoning! That makes me want to go buy a mink coat! :)
Triss, thank you! And I wonder if eastern Europe has the same controversial fur debates as we do over here . . . probably not I'm guessing.
Klara--absolutely, I can't afford new fur and old ones can be bought for so little.
Lesle, I love it!
LC--I love the Tippi Hedren coat, but my favorite is probably the big old fur coat Joan Crawford wears in Mildred Pierce. With the handgun!
Whimsical nerd--yes, I completely agree! The whole showiness of new furs isn't fashionable to me . .. just kind of boring, like status bags or anything logo. But I like the bulkiness of old furs! Especially when they're a little short and worn with a skirt . . .
Charlotte, thank you!!
Kaitlin, yes, I don't feel super strongly. It's something I'd like to learn more about but on the whole I think there are a lot more important issues out there.
Hannah--First of all I love that you collect Victorian taxidermy. And I agree--the more I've gotten into vintage the last few years the less patience I have with synthetic fabrics, faux anything. And dog fur trim sounds disgusting.
Glad you like the blog, Pinch!! Yeah, I remember being disturbed by old fur coats too when I was a kid. I don't know how I got over it actually . . . when I was little I was obsessed with rabbits too and now I own two rabbit fur coats!
Tara Diane, yeah, there are so many holes in the argument. And I love fur hats but I haven't worn one out yet . . . I need to get up courage first!
M., I don't think it's hypocritical, since when you buy vintage you're not giving money to the fur industry. And I really need to get a vintage stole!
Dahl, that's a really really good point.
Virginia, I think I'm more against beef jerky than wearing fur. I've never been able to eat it in my life, and I'm not a vegetarian by a longshot.
Olives, that's really true and I love this argument that it's more eco friendly to wear vintage fur rather than let it go to waste.
Dreamecho, no way, you have great points and that's what I was wondering when I wrote the post . ..
vintagevixxen, agreed, it's funny how many things are taboo now that were perfectly acceptable even 40 years ago.
Alice, I'm not an Olsen fan for one thing, but, yes it's kind of true that wearing a fur coat (even a vintage one) might inspire someone to buy a new one. Like The Facehunter girls . . . they're probably wearing vintage and made good moral decisions about then, but who knows how many people get inspiration from that site and make purchasing decisions based off of photos they've seen on it. I know I have.
Anonymous--Yes,I think that's exactly the reason I tried to "shock" people by wearing fur coats . . . and the reason why I'm not a vegetarian and why I don't buy into trendy eco-friendly movements. All the self-righteousness and finger pointing drive me crazy.
Jesse, no, you made a good point . .. I tried to dress to shock mainly because I was immature and I was in a straight-laced environment and I was a bit insecure.
Anonymous, yes, I'm hesitant to take sides on the matter too. On a side note, aren't militant vegetarians and vegans a little scary?
Jesse, don't worry! I think it's a really good point and I should really get to writing a post about the whole "dressing to shock" thing some day.
Vasiliisa, I love sheep fur too! I've been on the look out for a coat with a sheep fur collar . . .
Tamara, you sound like me! :)
Nootka, I addressed this in a post. Thanks for the inspiration!
Katjax, definitely in the past fur was a necessity, and I don't think it is anymore but at the same time I have to agree that there are much bigger issues to get upset over . . .
Gill, that's not corny at all! I'm glad you brought this up because I was wondering about the same thing and I was never any good at biology.
Sasha, no, that makes sense. When I really really think about it fur is creepy to me too! :)
Anja, it seems like that's the logical way to go if you're against the production of new fur . . . that you'd be against the wearing of old ones too.
Fashion fake, thank you! And 5 dollars for a fur coat is such a bargain ... .
Sarah Skinner, why can't we be friends?
Sarah, isn't Christmas in Connecticut lovely?
Lola, yes! Strangely enough I haven't really gotten negative comments when I've worn my fur coats out (and I used to all the time!). And the anti-fur protesters can be sort of ridiculous. I love the ones who left really short, odd, uninformative comments here.
Iron Chic, well we can't all agree!
Wasn't there a story once about a guy who skinned people and sewed their skin together to make a garment? Isn't that the same thing? Oh and about getting warm ... ever heard of wool? how about flanalette? Cotton maybe? And the synthetics? not warm enough either? I can't believe this is the age where we are all still debating about fur coats. It's wrong! BLOODY WRONG! For those that consider a vintage coat... yes get one and return the dead animals back to earth ... bury their remains somewhere in your back yard with a nice tombstone that says "Sorry to all the cutesey critters of the world. Sorry we are such a violent, cruel and bestial species and because of us, you little guys live very very dangerously - if at all when we find you"
your blog is pathetic. I'll be sure to never visit here again.
btw... here's an interesting thing, type the words "fur coat" into "YouTube", you'll soon get the picture.
For a new spin on this debate, check out www.eco-luxuryfur.com. All of the luxury, none of the guilt.
I love a good fur. I preffer a used on, like you, so one does not contribute to the overall issue.
I got a used fur coat and then, sometimes,when I am feling very fabulous, I rent a fur.
I just came across a website that reminded me of this post. It's late to link it - but it's such a cute DIY fox stole for the vegan-and-vintage-inclined that I couldn't resist.
http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall02/PATTveganfox.html
Wearing fur to shock people is the main reason most people seem to wear fur. Sad but seems to be true.
It's a point raised recently, that during world war two there was a trade set up using the skins of Jews (also the scalps of native indians). Very odd, yes.
Before anyone says you can't compare people to minks, bear with me, after all both can experience pain. Both the Jews and the minks were products of a horrible conditions and deaths. So why would you wear vintage fur but not vintage skin of a Jew? (although I think it was more lampshades etc that these unfortunate people was used for). By wearing both you could influence someone else to buy new fur(that can be up to 70 new minks or over 125 chinchilla's) or skin lampshade(although I imagine that would be hard to do today but you never know, Falun Gong anyone?) and you have the reminder that you are wearing the remains of a lot of real suffering.
Cuddle up to this thought ever time just to wear fur? don't think I could.
I am currently bidding on a 30 year old fur coat on ebay. I've always pondered about fur, and sure when I was a teenager I was appalled at the idea behind fur coats... but I'm pretty sure that if the poor creatures died, someone had better wear the coat - even 30 years on. Otherwise it would be a waste of life. So I'm going to buy this coat. Everyone is wearing them in Spitalfields area of London, because we have so many vintage clothing shops here. I see it as thrifty, stylish and old-school glamourous. Besides, I am currently channelling Krystal Karrington. My housemate says if I wear my fur near our other friend Sam, she will kill me. I will be hiding my coat from Sam. Your fur coat is beautiful. x
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