Are You Fur Real? The Never-Ending Fur Coat Debate

For some people, the rules about fur coats, stoles etc (ie they are bad) change when the item in question is ‘vintage’. Why is this?

Because if anyone is familiar with that scene in Ghostbusters II where a snooty woman’s white mink fur coat gets into contact with some of the pink goop and turns into a bunch of snarling minks eager for revenge, you’ll know that ‘vintage’ fur was once as alive and kickin’ as ‘new’ fur.

I think that those who only buy vintage fur rely on two main arguments, namely:

1) The money I spend on this item will go to a charity/vintage shop, not a fur producer, and will therefore not support the ongoing production of fur, and:

2) It’s vintage baby!

This, of course, is complete codswallop. The continued glamourisation of mink, fox, ermine or whatever other pelt one fancies draping all over oneself is an endorsement of the trade as much as going to one of those sleazy fur boutiques on Collins Street or in Crown Casino (these are the people you’re mixing with, vintage fur lovers…). And even if you do feel like Marilyn Monroe or Ava Gardner sashaying around in an oversized, plushy fur garment, the reality is that you probably look a whole lot more like a pimp/J. Lo/someone who shops at Crown Casino, only on a budget.

For my own part, I acknowledge the Golden Age of Hollywood glamour that fur has to offer. I’m also the first to admit that I run my hand over the racks of russet, black and chestnut furs in op shops, because they are tactile and I can’t resist. However I just don’t dig on wearing the stuff. I see it more as a historical artefact…kind of like smoking, or painting white lead on one’s face or foot binding. It’s a sign of glamour/beauty/luxury that has had its time, and doesn’t translate into Our Modern Age.

So while this means that I’ll never be able to put a vintage fur clip to its true usage, I’m not too concerned that I won’t be seen sporting some kind of mammal arranged to look as though it’s gnawing its own foot off.

But some of my friends differ in their view on fur. In fact, I have one who looked my white cat up-and-down, gave him a pat and said ‘I’d love to make a coat out of you’. She figures that if the animal is a pest, or common, there is no ethical concern in wearing its fur, and has been known to sport a blue leather/rabbit fur vintage jacket (it sort of looks like a bomber jacket with fur panels on the front) that constantly sheds hairs which float around her and on to passers-by/commuters/me.  

Also, the beau’s stepmother bought a fur hat when she was in China. She said she was fully aware that it was probably made out of a cat or someone’s loveable mutt, but that she was so cold that she didn’t care (she still has the hat, however, so there’s the possibility that it could have been more than sheer desperation…)

Then there are those who believe that wearing fur is no different to eating meat or wearing leather. I think there is a degree of difference here; animals bred for fur are usually slaughtered in more ‘cruel and unusual’ ways to preserve the fur. Also, when an animal is killed for meat, the skin/hooves/bones are often used as well, whereas fur animals are discarded once skinned, which is a whole lot of wastage. 

There are also less lofty reasons for not wearing fur. It’s just such a WAG item these days. And once the WAGs are onto something, you know it belongs in the Victoria Beckham House of Horrors, and not clad to your body.

How about you? Would you wear fur? Have you kept furs that are family heirlooms (a whole other minefield…)? Do you avoid fur because of ethical concerns, or because you don’t want to look like one of the more ‘mature’ extras from The Young and The Restless? Now’s the time to ‘fess up.