PETA Slightly Accomplishes Mission

Nov 24, 2008 @ 4:31pm

liz hurley blackglama.jpg In case you haven’t heard, Liz Hurley’s the new face of Blackglama, the (in)famous line of furs.

The ad itself is kind of silly. She crouches, she pouts, she wears nothing but her mink, but it’s her presence in general that’s worth discussing.

In the past, women like Catherine Deneuve, Marlene Dietrich, Judy Garland and Elizabeth Taylor have posed for the fur house and Liz Hurley, as PETA and Animal Aid point out, isn’t quite of their caliber.

Who is?

Someone like Gwyneth maybe, but she’s spent the past week apologizing for getting caught under a fox stole in this season’s Tod’s ads, which means that aside from the obvious reasons, she’d probably say no to a Blackglama campaign. In fact, she’s the only really glamorous potential-face we can think of that might have posed for a house like Blackglama.

So what does this all mean? That PETA’s scary and sometimes dangerous tactics are working. That they’ve finally thrown enough pies and bags of flour and held up enough dead-baby-animal posters to make a serious impact on the way fashion, and the celebrities who wear it, feel about fur so that now even the most reputable fur house can’t get an equally reputable face attached.

We don’t expect J.Mendel to actually close, but at this rate, it’s just a matter of time before all the good stores, celebs and designers refuse to work with fur and PETA jumps for joy.

So, could it be that PETA’s (distasteful) means justify the (intended) end result? Or is this just ruling by fear?

posted by guest

Nov 24, 2008 5:11PM

The funny thing is that a lot of people may consider PETA to somewhat be an environmentally conscious organization.

However, fur is a much more eco-conscious "fabric" than many artificial and synthetic fibers. Faux-fur is made from plastic derivatives that do way more to damage the environment than any process used to process fur.

Sure, they may be saving thousands of animals right now but they advocate the damning of millions in the future...

posted by guest

Nov 24, 2008 5:18PM

You guys give Gwyneth waaaaaay too much credit. She is nowhere near that same caliber.

posted by guest

Nov 24, 2008 5:54PM

Yeah I agree with guest #2. Dont forget Gwyneth did Shallow Hal and Duets :shudder::

posted by guest

Nov 24, 2008 6:27PM

Go PETA you rock. I'm cancelling my RSS feed for this blog.

posted by fay

Nov 24, 2008 6:29PM

But who *is* of that kind of caliber nowadays?

We don't view actresses in the same way in our celebrity obsessed culture. I don't think there's anyone - not even Gwyneth - who you could draw a comparison to.

posted by guest

Nov 24, 2008 8:20PM

PETA disgusts me.
There tactics are disrespectful and childish. I don't take them seriously. I myself am against fur and am for animal rights, but the manner PETA goes about it disgusting. They even have the nerve to compare animals dieing to the holocaust! What type of crap is that? They are hypocritical as well euthanizing animals themselves, so does that mean that since they euthanize animals that now we have the right to euthanize people?

PETA needs to shove it.

posted by guest

Nov 24, 2008 8:36PM

Stupidest post ever. Until tomorrow.

posted by guest

Nov 24, 2008 9:57PM

Wouldn't Kate Moss be high caliber enough? She wears fur, right?

posted by cesarcmma

Nov 24, 2008 11:37PM

They (PETA) are disgunsting, and their tactics are so...ugh disgusting, bizarre, how can they do some really crepy things to people...fur is a more eco-conscious "fabric" like #1 said.

It's funny that you guys posted this after the muff article and I think that answer your question. How many people have commented in that post (42 at this hour)there will ALWAYS be people that woulb wear fur no matter what those...said.

posted by guest

Nov 24, 2008 11:56PM

Fur isn't environmentally friendly at all, because of the toxic chemicals used to process it. (Same goes for leather, BTW.)

posted by guest

Nov 25, 2008 12:33AM

#6 I am obsessed haha you are so right!!

i was on 5th ave during the holidays headed to barneys of course and all these peta people came out of no where and i literally got into an argument with them. They are insane and should be locked up for what they do... i will be at fashion week in feb and you'll know its me cause I'll be the one dumping flour and throwing pies in the PETA members faces !!! That reminds me I really want a chinchilla coat this winter.

posted by guest

Nov 25, 2008 4:17AM

I personally don't wear fur and I think that killing animals just for their skin is extremely cruel and should be stopped and considered a crime however I disagree with the tasteless tactics that PETA uses. Its not acceptable to physically attack someone because you disagree with what they are wearing (such as throwing flour and pies at them). I think the right way to go about it is to educate the people on how cruel and unjust it is to kill defenseless animals for no good reason. Once they do that and stop their childish antics they will gain an even broader support of people including myself.

posted by guest

Nov 25, 2008 9:40AM

PETA needs to get their priorities in order.

I've often wondered, aside from the fur issue - do die hard PETA members turn down mediciations due to probable animal testing prior to the drug's relase for safe human consumption?

Makes you think, uh?

posted by guest

Nov 25, 2008 10:24AM

How dare you list Gwyneth along with Liz Taylor and Marlene Dietrich? Not even close to the same class. I don't mind Gwyneth but she doesn't have that kind of style--I love her clothes but they are very London yummy mummy with a stylist and not like her own fabulous Liz Taylor diamonds or Marlene Dietrich hamburgs.

posted by Lala

Nov 25, 2008 10:50AM

PETA needs to get a reality check, i wear fur and no amount of pscyhos will stop ever because its my personal prerogative!!!!

posted by guest

Nov 25, 2008 11:26AM

Comment 15 has a point, if she chooses to wear it its her choice and it should be respected. PETA doesn't have the right to impose their radicalism on anyone. In the USA its actually a crime to attack someone, people who are attack better start calling the police filing a report against the individual/s followed by filing a lawsuit in small claims court for damages and physical endangerment, just to prove a point that people shouldn't get away with committing a crime in public such as assault. I don't wear fur however I strongly disagree with PETA's radicalism

posted by guest

Nov 25, 2008 11:32AM

It's pretty laughable when someone who wears a tortured animal carcass calls PETA "psychos" (#15). I never found the appeal in fur or leather - the only reason they don't rot is from all the horrendous chemicals piled on. And the way minks, chinchillas, etc have their genitals electrocuted then skinned alive is disgusting.
As a fashion lover, I have to get more creative since I don't wear animal skins. I just find wearing dead animals so creepy.

posted by guest

Nov 25, 2008 12:14PM

Ruling by fear.
Although I agree that Liz Hurley isn't of the calibur of previous celebrities.
I do think she fits the campaign.
She wears quite a bit of fur and refuses to stop despite PETA's distasteful means so it's fitting that she fronts the famous fur brand in my opinion.
I personally stick to faux fur but don't even wear that much anyways.
I also find wearing real fur creepy lol.

posted by guest

Nov 25, 2008 1:13PM

Gwyneth? Are you serious? What about Charlize Theron. She may be too young, but she's way more beautiful and sophisticated than Gwyneth. No one really cares about Liz Hurley.

posted by guest

Nov 25, 2008 1:32PM

Those PETA (People Eating Tasty Animals) radicals need to be hit by a bus driven by a mink.

Every time I see an article discussing them I go home and BBQ meat before going hunting the next day.

Why aren't they out closing down sushi bars the celebrities go to? Fish are people too aren't they?

Morons!

posted by guest

Nov 25, 2008 2:11PM

Doesn't PETA have anything better to do? Those crazy people need to care about something that matters, like world peace. Their just animals! Why don't they make sure all the children in the world are feed. That would be a good investment of their time.

posted by marichon

Nov 25, 2008 5:07PM

I can't believe how many readers are talking about wanting to eat meat or wear fur just to spite PETA. Now who's childish? Wearing fur is very different than eating meat or taking medication that has previousely been tested on animals. I do not wear fur, although I do eat humanely raised meat (i.e. grass fed beef). While I do not personally support PETA, I know that animals are NOT OBJECTS. Those who treat them as such have no humanity. There are many important causes in this world, and I certainly think fighting for animal rights is one.

posted by guest

Nov 25, 2008 5:10PM

Good for PETA. And Fashionista, you may not agree with their cause or their tactics, but you would do well to respect that many of your readers may and come here to read fun posts about clothes, not have their values insulted. You can disagree in a less dismissive and alienating way.

posted by guest

Nov 25, 2008 10:30PM

guest or "fay", you need to get a life and find something better to do.

posted by fay

Nov 26, 2008 4:40AM

Guest @ 10:30pm - lol what?

posted by guest

Nov 26, 2008 8:35PM

Come on people it's 2008! Can't we move on from tradition? That's what fashion is about- reinvention. Imagine it! We would all be wearing the same things if it wasn't for inspiration and recreation. I think we can and should move on from fur. There are so many great alternatives to new fur and I'm sure the options will get even better.

I also wanted to add that fur is not environmentally friendly either. Most furs except bobcat and larynx are produced by factory farms which not only produce dead carcasses as waste but also the waste of the animal, it is similar to factory farming for food. The most environmentally friendly fur is vintage so if you are going to wear it I think it is the best option. Plus- it's vintage!

Get inspired.

posted by guest

Nov 26, 2008 8:43PM

Peta is a terrorist organization, although to a much lesser degree than those organizations that kill people, bomb buildings, etc. (I don't think that most Peta members are truly evil, just misguided in their tactics and zealous to the point of losing their logic and courtesy.) But Peta uses attacks on a few famous people as a way to browbeat and frighten large groups of people into doing what they want. They think that they are superior and more enlightened than everyone else and therefore can use scare tactics to make their point. If a pro-hunting person threw paint or flour on a Peta person, they would consider it assault and scream that it was immoral and childish to do. But if a Peta person does something like that, it's okay because they believe their end justifies their means. That is the same mindset that radicals all over the world use to justify wrong deeds and hate.

posted by guest

Nov 26, 2008 9:27PM

Whoa - biased much? I realize that this is a blog and journalistic standards are accordingly low, but jeez, maybe lay out the issue and THEN dig in - none of this passive-aggressive crap. And PETA's "ruling by fear" - a little melodramatic, no?

posted by guest

Nov 29, 2008 6:08AM

Not a gwyneth fan...maybe they could consider Jennifer Lopez...or just use a standard model...
Guest 1 is correct, synthetic fur is awful for the environment...
If you choose to wear fur (which i do), the best choice is to wear rabbit. Not only do you get the fur but you can also get a tasty meal!!!

posted by guest

Nov 29, 2008 10:40PM

ok - Here's the deal - every day MILLIONS of animals die for fur alone. Millions MORE die for food. It IS GENOCIDE. Every day. And if you eat meat, ingest dairy products, use glue, film, wear fur, pretty much EVERYTHING big corporations market to us "mindless" masses has some type of animal product in it. But we have to start somewhere. Eating meat and wearing fur are two subjects that are easiest to target because you are either eating a dead animal, or wearing one. I personally think it is disgusting, however that is my opinion. But I think any of you stating that these are "JUST ANIMALS" are truely sickening and extremely brainwashed. Animals have SOULS. They feel PAIN, FEAR, LOVE, JOY, etc. How could you? If you are going to turn a blind eye, then so be it. Go ahead and participate in the mass murdering of other species on a daily basis. It's no big deal, right?

posted by guest

Dec 01, 2008 12:17AM

Peta disgusts me, too, but those of you who seem to hate animals so much are just as disgusting.

A society can be judged by how it treats the helpless - and animals are as helpless as infants and the elderly. I somehow have a feeling that those of you spewing the most vitriol at those of us who disagree with fur and cruelty to animals have never in your lives been hunting, or slaughtered an animal, or cleaned and dressed an animal - and if you say you have, you are a liar, nothing you can say will make me believe you've ever killed, skinned, and cooked an animal that you later ate.

I guess so long as the animal's throat is slit somewhere else that you don't have to see it, it's okay, right?

posted by guest

Dec 01, 2008 3:48AM

You people who clearly don't seem to give a sh*t about animals should be thrown into the gas chamber and suffocate to death...because, if you don't realise it, animals are a very important part of our environment, and ever since human beings have occupied this planet...it's iminent failure is becoming more and more clear...people like you make me sick...and just like those animals who are thrown into tiny cages and force bred, or skinned alive, you too, should experience the fear and pain they endure on a daily basis...there is nothing on this earth, that is worse then the pain they suffer, and you deserve nothing better than what they go through...it is because of heartless, disgusting 'people' like you, that this world has become a living hell, and you make it embarrassing to be human...we are supposed to be compassionate for ALL living beings...but typically, human's have gone back a few centuries, and become barbaric...you carry on living your life not giving a sh*t about the pain and suffering that are forced upon these animals...you will feel their pain...and you will suffer...and it will never end...just like the pain never ends for them! Good luck... hope you don't make it!

posted by guest

Dec 01, 2008 4:27AM

geno·cide: the deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial, political, or cultural group.

Semantics, really, but seriously, slaughtering animals is *NOT* genocide since animals are neither a racial, political, or cultural group, not that I advocate that animals should or should not be slaughtered. Ever heard of moderation, people?

posted by guest

Dec 01, 2008 11:06AM

So death is okay if it is in moderation? Really? It never fails to amaze me that humans think that we are so superior to animals that we can do whatever we want to them.

Just because you can doesn't mean you should. It is about ethics, respecting all life, not just humans.

Can a human fly? No. Does that mean we are weaker than a bird? A human has to invent a way to fly. Does that make us smart? Sure, but regardless it doesn't make us strong enough to fly like a bird.

Humans will never know true freedom because of the reign of terror we cause other living things. Think I'm being overdramatic? Think about nature. Man will only be able to fight it so long before it puts us out like a flame. We are destroying what was given to us. God doesn't want us to kill, read it in your precious bibles folks its in there.

Animals are a group of living things. They feel, have social structures, languages and bonds with each other. Why doesn't that mean that they deserve consideration?

And I am willing to bet that those who have spoken poorly of what PETA does or stands for probably hasn't gone to the website to see what they really do. Do your research, then formulate an intelligent response. If PETA is radical, what is the factory farming industry? Have you watched how they "make" your food? I'm willing to bet you haven't. You may want to do some research before spouting off.

Oh, I'm wasting my time I know. But someday it will be incredible that we slaughter everything in sight for no reason.

posted by guest

Dec 01, 2008 11:19AM

charlize thereon is of that status!

posted by guest

Dec 04, 2008 3:50AM

Whoever wrote blog 15 and blog 21 are DISGUSTING people. People like that - I didn't think those views actually existed in most, unbelievable!

posted by guest

Dec 04, 2008 9:34PM

Spot on comment 28,
fur hag at comment 15 if wearing animal fur is your "personal prerogartive!!!" then you really need to get a life!
Come on people if all it takes to convince you that fur is not going to make you look like a prostitute is some old has been then you seriously are vulnerable to suggestion. Fur allways looks trashy and really spanks of insecurity and vulnerable ego's.
No. 21, what are you if not an animal? Perhaps you are a mineral or vegetable?
I'm not a Peta member but I have examined their site and pretty much all they do is tell it exactly as it is, maybe it's guilt that makes people over react to them? Who knows.