The Budget Fashionista

My grandmother wears fur, and yes, I live in the ridiculously cold Midwest. She’ll trade in a fur coat and purchase another used, which I think is not only budget-friendly, but considerably more animal-friendly as well. Buying vintage furs means no new animals are dying just to be worn, and she gets to be stylish and warm. And lord knows there are plenty to go around.

Personally, I think fur is always a NO-NO.  With that being said, you won’t see me cursing out my grandmother over her fur stole or throwing blood on some stranger’s mink.  I think if more people educated themselves about the way in which the animals are killed and treated to make these coats, they would no longer want one.  There are many fabulous faux fur options if you really must have the look or feel of fur.  I would choose compassion for animals any day over wearing a “status symbol” to “keep me warm” in the winter.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with wearing fur in those locations that are seriously SERIOUSLY cold.  What I do think is seriously wrong are those that feel their own opionion can be forced upon others ie throwing paint on someones coat.  Other choices are available without destroying property.

One alternative is to suggest that those that have inherited these garments is to donate them to the humane society (or other similar) for use in caring for animals.  This is actually a great alternative for those that are morally/politically/fashionably opposed to fur.  A friend of mind with pet rabbits inherited her grandma’s rabbit fur lined gloves-- she found the best way to resolve her moral dilemma by donating them to rabbit rescue.

Me… I live in Miami-- no need for fur, but am emotionally attached to my inherited fur… so it lives in my closet, and I occasionally look at it and remember when I was a child and lived in cold country.

On the one hand, nothing feels like real fur, and nothing really keeps you as warm. And a fabulous vintage or grandma’s fur--I think there should be some dispensation for that. But the ethical issues are real, and I would not buy a new, real fur. I have a very nice faux fur that I bought at Burlington Coat Factory last year. I love it, but I’m always a bit nervous wearing it. I feel like I have to announce, “it’s fake!” I don’t have that worry when I step out in my leather shoes with my leather bags. I think the difference may stem from (1) the way furs and leathers are acquired, fur is crueler; but also (2) there is just something that much more “showy” about fur. Which can be fun, yet off-putting in the wrong setting.

I, too, fall into the gray area.  I am personally opposed to wearing fur, but understand and emphathize with those who live in ultra-cold climates and therefore choose to wear it.  However, I DO have a problem with the militant animal rights activists who go to extreme lengths to make their point.  I was Christmas shopping in San Francisco about 4 years ago when a mini-riot broke out in Union Square.  The activists were throwing “blood” (red paint) on fur-wearing shoppers, and then went so far as to smash out the front windows of the beautiful Neiman Marcus store (which, you guessed it, was showcasing fur). It was an awful (and scary!) display, but I guess that was their intent: to shock people to promote their cause.

I can only imagine what would happen if protester through red paint on them as they walked up the steps to church

The image of this is so hilarious.

I live within a few blocks of several black churches. I’ve never encountered anyone less than very pleasant, not to mention fabulously dressed. (The hats alone are positively drool worthy)

But dear God, heaven help the ignorant moron who might dare to do such a thing. If it ever happens I pray someone vidoes it!

It’s because fur comes from “cute” animals and leather usually does not.

I have a set of fur earmuffs and a white rabbit purse that I’ve had since I was 5.  I think they may have been my mother’s.  I still wear the earmuffs and have never received a negative comment about them - maybe because they are more discreet than a full fur coat.

I’m kind of ambivalent.  I don’t think I would purchase fur, but if there was an item that I really, really liked, I might.

Someone who wears a fur coat obviously loves fur.  If you throw red paint on fur coats, some will just buy another one, adding to the “demand” for fur that retailers see.

Why not wear vintage or hand-me down fur? While I’m against going out a buying a brand new fur and supporting the fur industry, i do appreciate the glamour of a thrift-store fur!

Unless you are an Eskimo who killed an animal, used the entire animal, and turned it’s fur into a coat, I say NAY. Huge NAY. Watch any of the videos on the fur trade and then decide...some animals that don’t die from having their heads bashed in are actually skinned alive. It is a horrible, violent way to die.

And there is no reason, no matter what the climate. We ingenious humans have things like Thinsulate these days...you don’t have to wear fur to stay warm. That’s just an excuse IMO.

I go to college in the “ridiculously cold Midwest” and get by just fine with my Columbia sportswear coat that no animal suffered to provide. I’m even from the south, so adjusting to the cold temperatures was not an easy task. Regardless, I will never support wearing fur.

I think it’s very interesting that most people who have a problem with fur don’t have a problem with leather.  As if cows are less important because they aren’t furry. The conditions in which they’re slaughter and the impact of grazing on our environment is a real concern.  Yet we wear leather.

Frankly, I am getting tired of this fur debate. All we are doing is passing judgement on one another. I am also tired of the whole save the animal campaigns that PETA does. It is a person’s perogative to buy a fur or wear it. It does not make them less caring. Everybody has different passions when it comes to making the world a better place. People from PETA dislike people who wear furs, but I’m quite sure their are some people in PETA who contribute to the global warming, so should the green people throw paint at people who use enormous amounts of electricity or dont drivr hybrid vehicles? My point is we should not judge others simply because they do not believe in our cause. I personally will wear a fur coat, it looks great and is keeps you warm. If the tables were turned I am quite sure an animal whould not hesitate to eat me let alone wear me!

PETA definitely needs to stop throwing the paint and interrupting fashion shows, there are better ways to get their point across. Maybe they should come out with a line of coats that do not use animals, that would be a more appropriate approach.

Leather and fur are very different in terms of eww factor.  First, it take several dozen furry critters to make a fur and you get alot more skin from a cow or sheep.  Also, minks are killed only for their fur, whereas most leather is a side product of the meat industry.  While I don’t advocate leather, it is less wasteful, at the very least, than fur.

I have no problem with people wearing furs as long as the furs were acquired in appropriate fashion--ex. would be rabbit fur from a place where the rabbits are also eaten a food (Germany). Deliberate slaughter and the waste of the rest of the animal is not appropriate. There are areas in the world where fur is what keeps one warmest and where it’s not a status symbol, merely a way to keep warm or culturally attached. I grew up with a rabbit fur coat and when it was too small, it was given to Goodwill.

Actually GMG. grumpy is right.. the grazing of cattle- whether it be for food or for hide- is one of the BIGGEST issues facing our environment at the moment.

I’m not telling people to skip the beef, but we need to make sure we don’t get so caught up in the marketing of one cause (ie anti fur, breast cancer, etc) that we ignore the impact of other, probably more wide spread, issues (grazing of cattle, heart disease)

If one must wear real animal fur, let it be from a recycled or inherited fur coat rather than a new fur coat, so no new animals may die for the sake of fur.  Faux fur (I like to call it phur) is preferable, however.

My husband and I had this debate.  I said I would most definitely wear fur.  He said, Not walking down the street with me, you won’t.  Fur’s murder.  I said, Oh yeah?  What about that burger you just ate?  What about the leather shoes you wear and leather briefcase you tote around?  What about your down-filled leather jacket in the closet?  Do you really think those geese and those cows are still alive and well?  Are you prepared to give up wearing leather and eating meat and using ALL animal products if you’re going to take the anti-fur stance?  If I could afford a fur coat, and if I could find a vintage fur in my size, I would wear one.  I, personally, see no problem with it.  If you choose not to wear fur, that’s your choice, but for heaven’s sake don’t throw paint on one who does wear it.  There are better ways to make your point than by ruining someone’s personal property.

I am personally NOT into fur for a variety of reasons… but here’s a point that hasn’t been brought up:
It is TERRIBLY unflattering!!!  Seriously!  You take a size 10 woman, put her in a full length fur and you’ve suddenly, visually speaking, added 50 pounds of bulk to her frame! 

This is the same reason that I’ve never understood the whole full-length puffy coat trend. 

I’ve lived in very cold climates before, but I guess I always bundled up in wool, added scarves, etc.
Maybe I’m too vain to ‘get it’??

For me fur is a huge NAY. I would not throw red paint on someone wearing fur, but I do find it offensive. I am in Richmond VA and some of these old biddies wear their full length furs to the opera when its 55 degrees at night, but I get that they have had that coat since about 1962 and its their big going out thing, so I don’t ruin their evening and mine my making anything of it. Full disclosure - I am a member of PETA (since 1985) and a vegetarian, but consider leather a by-product of the meat industry and therefore not wasteful (until everyone stops eating meat!), but fur is killing JUST for the fur and to me that is barbaric and unnecessary in the 21st Century. There are many better alternatives, leaving more $ in the clothing budget for shoes, etc!

I too am from the upper Midwest and am used to seeing women wear fur coats in the winter. In fact when she retired, 35 years of working 2 jobs to support her 6 daughters my family bought my grandma one because it was something she’d always wanted. So though I’d never buy one for myself, I have nothing against those who do. The thing that gets me however is you don’t see people wearing leather coats being spit on or having paint thrown on them. If they really are against cruelty to animals then why the seeming double standard that it’s okay to wear leather and not fur?

It’s a nay for me, but that’s my choice and I am not going to wag my finger in anyone’s face who chooses otherwise, and I’m certainly not going to destroy someone’s property because of it.  I think the paint-throwing tactic is awful.

As a lifelong resident of the Midwest, I vote this as a huge NAY, especially in light of the recent Macy’s dog fur debacle. Yes, I have my great-grandmother’s vintage fur, and I choose not to wear it based on principle. I find fur coats tasteless and tacky, and in same class as pinky rings and pleather.

I actually adore fur.  I think its glamorous and sexy in a vintage way.  I have several fur coats inherited from my mom and grandma, including mink and chinchilla.  I can understand why some people don’t like it though.  Fur is always such a personal choice.  But I don’t approve of some of PETA’s antics.  They put a dead racoon on Anna Wintour’s desk! lol!

I have to agree with those who find fur somewhat tacky and unflattering.  I’ve always thought fur looked MUCH better on the animal for which God originally intended it than draped on one of us pathetically hairless humans.  Also, the debate over cows being less “worthy” of concern than the cuddly, fur-bearing creatures reminded me of this quote:  “Squirrels are really just rodents, but with cuter outfits.”