Fashionista - Fashion Designers, Models, Shopping, Style

Nov 14, 2007 @ 12:55pm

We've been trying to pinpoint the difference between wearing fake fur and wearing real fur.

While we know it's far more ethically responsible to don fake instead of real- after all, no animals would have been harmed in the making- part of us thinks it still makes the wearer guilty by association. Kind of like smoking fake cigarettes on the playground- you're sending the same message whether the vice is real or not.

Like when we saw Kate Moss wearing her leopard print jacket on the Vogue Best Dressed list, we craved an animal print bomber just like hers, even if only for a moment. But, how are we supposed to know if Kate chose a Stella-approved fake, or a real vintage find from TopShop's basement?

We've also been wondering why faux fur is so expensive. We spotted a leopard cover-up (just like Kate's!) from Urban Outfitters- but with a price tag of almost $200. Couldn't we find a real vintage fur for less? And wouldn't that be more ethical since it's vintage and not a harmful, synthetic "fast-fashion" jacket?

Would you choose fake over vintage? Or is it never okay to rock any animal's skin but your own?

--BRITT ABOUTALEB

posted by Raina

Nov 14, 2007 1:14PM

Faux fur is made from petroleum, hence the cost. It takes about a barrel of crude to make one bomber length faux fur coat. That's what cracks me up about vegan clothing - save the animals, kill the planet.

posted by guest

Nov 14, 2007 1:15PM

its kind of like eating veggie dogs or veggie burgers... why eat something that resembles meat?!

posted by fashionursta

Nov 14, 2007 1:21PM

The fake ones from the 60s (mod, flare-y or swingy single breasted) and from the 70s (fitted and double breasted) that I have in my closet are worn more for the look of that time (fake fur) and the warmth factor, rather than wearing it as a pretend fur coat. It's fun to take a coat like that and make it modern by pairing it with something that you don't expect. That's why Kate looks so fresh. All of a sudden it's a new look. Personally, I would never buy a fur coat, but I do have a vintage mouton swing coat from the 40s that i do wear, it's like recycling. I wear it more for the style of the coat. It looks increible with rolled up skinny jeans and boots!

posted by catsnphilosophy

Nov 14, 2007 1:22PM

I have never felt badly about wearing faux fur. The only faux fur I have is on the collar of a parka and I have a faux fur blanket on a chair in my living room. The collar doesn't look real AT ALL, so no one is going to even suspect me of trying to wear real fur, but cheaper. I'm not a fan of wearing real fur. The exception? Native tribes who kill the animal, eat the animal, and wear the animal in any way they like. Shit, they deserve it. My two cats are way disturbed by my faux fur blanket, tho, btw, and I often wonder if they suspect (in their tiny kitty minds) that I've killed an animal and put it out on display in my house. Ew. Can you imagine? There's no right or wrong in my mind. It's weird, but....it's so soft....!

posted by jen b

Nov 14, 2007 1:45PM

It's funny that you used Terrence as your photo subject!

posted by gen

Nov 14, 2007 2:47PM

wouldn't wear fur, and fake fur seems like a grouchy imitation. wouldn't preach at other people for it, because i do wear leather, but i figure just because i wear one, doesn't mean i have to do the other too. better a half-assed attempt at being good than not trying at all, right?

wouldn't wear vintage fur either, because it just seems like passing the buck... 'it was made for other people, not me, so it's fine' - so? you still know where it came from. if yr gonna wear it at all, one should take some share of the responsibility for how it was made. if you're cool with that, fine. if not, don't wear it at all.

Nov 14, 2007 4:05PM

would never wear faux fur!!!..so tacky looking(synthetic hair..ugghh)..like that roberto cavalli coat for H&M horrible!...the main pic of the fendi coat from the fall runway illustrates that real fur is really difficult to imitate as in the feel and movement and drape..also kates coat on vogues best dressed list is labeled as vintage for a reason..that coat is not leopard printed..it is the real deal..leopard fur..its illegal now but people buy them from vintage stores usually from the 50's and 60's

posted by mpw

Nov 14, 2007 4:40PM

Most faux fur looks pretty faux to me, but I'd wear vintage fur. Obviously, it would be better not to go around killing animals in the first place, but if one's already dead, I think it's better to get as much use out of the fur as possible instead of letting it rot in an attic somewhere.

posted by alien man

Nov 14, 2007 5:35PM

i can't help but wonder, though

what if faux-fur is worn, not because it looks like fur, but because it looks warm and fluffy? a down parka couldn't imitate that look and a sweater coat can only go so far

not that i own anything that has fur, faux or no, nor have i been able to bring myself to wearing anything of the sort

just one of those conflicts in my head i haven't made a decision about...

Nov 14, 2007 6:48PM

i just bought a vintage rabbit fur coat. i wore it once and about every 3rd person hounded me with the obligatory "i can't believe you're wearing fur! do you know how many baby rabbits died to make that!"

i love my fur coat and it only cost me 20 pounds. if i can get the same faux coat for the same price, maybe i'll start buying faux.

Nov 14, 2007 11:32PM

I have some beautiful vintage furs- mink jacket from the 50's, white fox collar on cashmere from the 60's, sheared beaver from the 70's - and I do wear them because they are light, extremely warm, extremely comfortable and very chic.... and I reason they are already dead. Its not a cop out to say that they are dead either as someone above suggested, I cant travel back in a time machine to bring them back to life- but ...
I always feel guilty, defensive and ashamed when I wear them.. typical neurotic new yorker..
I would never wear or by new fur, its evil and expensive...
However I do wear leather and I eat meat ( not a lot, and only organic , free farmed etc), but still...
how's that for inconsistent?

posted by hellonheels

Nov 15, 2007 1:41PM

I have a beautiful mink that was given to me by my grandmother, which I wear often on special occasions. I figure if being vintage isn't enough of a reason to wear it, it being a family heirloom is. Of course, I really don't have a problem with fur in general. Faux fur seems so unappealing to me...the texture is always lacking, and if you're ethically opposed to real fur, I don't see much of a point in approximating the look in a synthetic.

Nov 15, 2007 3:52PM

Anybody w/ all these ethical issues about fur who wears leather simply needs to zip it, sorry...it must be said.

As for the plastic stuff, Raina said it best. Stella McCartney, let's NEVER forget works for Gucci...which became famous and is known for WHAT? LOL

Gen, how can one "take responsibility" for something that preexists? This seems rather navel grazing and strange. Everyone knows where fur comes from...same as leather....but if the coats/shoes/purse/etc was made before you were born, it is what it is. Does this also apply to leather goods.

It always interests me as to what one is supposed to do w/ preexisting fur or any other animal product. Is the correct thing just to throw it away?

posted by Sally

Nov 15, 2007 4:16PM

If it's older than you are, it's fair game. That's my rule.

Nov 16, 2007 2:51AM

If you work in an industry where you need to wear a fire retardant fur-lined parka, then yes you do need to wear real fur, because synthetic will melt to your face.