Page 2 | Can I wear fur?

CosmopolitanCocktail · 2025-12-31T17:16:13+00:00

I have two fur coats previously owned by my great grandmother. I have kept them in my wardrobe for the last 20 years. One is a short mink coat so now bang on trend. I am a total animal lover but these animals died 60 years ago and the pelts are beautiful. To just discard them seems wasteful so truly torn. So would I AIBU to wear it?

blacksax · 31/12/2025 19:52

AnnaQuayInTheUk · 31/12/2025 17:19

I personally think there is a lot of hypocrisy over fur. Most people have leather shoes, most women own at least one leather handbag. Some people have leather jackets. You're either ok with wearing the skins of dead animals or you're not. I wear leather shoes and boots

Be prepared for criticism though.

That leather is from the carcasses of animals slaughtered for food. The animals killed to make fur coats only died so someone well-off could wear a fancy outfit.

One is a by-product of the food industry which would otherwise be thrown away. The other is the unnecessary murder of animals (often endangered species) for no purpose other than human vanity. See the difference?

Sunandfrost · 31/12/2025 19:51

The problem with fur isn't even that some of it is sourced unethically. So is leather.
It's because it evokes image of cute furry animal🤷
Same reason some people wouldn't eat horse. Or rabbit.

ShagMeRiggins · 31/12/2025 19:49

Perhaps, perhaps not.

You know no more than I.

It is none of our business, and animals don’t care. Life is procreation and survival.

Wiltshiremum1986 · 31/12/2025 19:49

Yes, of course you can. The animals are long dead. Enjoy the coats.

ComewithmeIntotheseaofLove · 31/12/2025 19:44

ShagMeRiggins · 31/12/2025 19:23

Fur isn’t and wasn’t only about fashion. For many humans it is/was also about survival.

If it’s between me and the fox, I choose me.

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Not in this context

as you well know

caringcarer · 31/12/2025 19:35

If it fits me I'd wear it. People will assume it's a fake fur anyway.

Zanatdy · 31/12/2025 19:31

Not a chance I would. It’s the principle.

Calliopespa · 31/12/2025 19:29

AnnaQuayInTheUk · 31/12/2025 17:19

I personally think there is a lot of hypocrisy over fur. Most people have leather shoes, most women own at least one leather handbag. Some people have leather jackets. You're either ok with wearing the skins of dead animals or you're not. I wear leather shoes and boots

Be prepared for criticism though.

It is so heartening when you come across clear thinking in a world of hand-me-down attitudes parroted without any real thought.

Fur gets a hard time because it is traditionally seen as something wealthy people had, which is more the issue than the animal if you ask me. As you say, no-one bats an eye at leather, or, very often, a chicken burger.

LamettaTime · 31/12/2025 19:29

That coat is not particularly nice - it’s quite dated and frumpy.

Donate it to an animal sanctuary or a zoo where it can be put to good use and spend some money on a nicer coat for yourself

Nopenott0day · 31/12/2025 19:27

Rather wear fur that degrades then plastic that stays in the ground forever.

SereneCoralExpert · 31/12/2025 19:25

roastedrapidly · 31/12/2025 18:41

I absolutely could not wear the fur of an animal that has been tortured and suffered greatly to create that coat...
I inherited a fur coat years ago (and an ivory necklace) , I destroyed them and donated some money to PETA bought myself a faux fur coat instead. Not on my watch!

How stupid. Have you bothered researching the environmental and labor impact of the fake fur coat you didn't need, when you added to the problem?

ShagMeRiggins · 31/12/2025 19:23

MissMoneyFairy · 31/12/2025 19:11

No but it brings comfort to other animals which is more important than wearing fashion

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Fur isn’t and wasn’t only about fashion. For many humans it is/was also about survival.

If it’s between me and the fox, I choose me.

EdgeOfThirtySeven · 31/12/2025 19:23

Wordsmithery · 31/12/2025 17:36

Well, no. Leather is a by product of the meat industry plus the synthetic alternatives are not as good. Mink are bred purely for their pelt plus there are plenty of good synthetic alternatives.
There is a difference.

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Leather is not a byproduct of the meat, or dairy, industry. HTH.

Gloriia · 31/12/2025 19:19

Ugh no. Ugly item produced by very ugly means.
Just chuck out.

FuckRealityBringMeABook · 31/12/2025 19:15

roastedrapidly · 31/12/2025 18:41

I absolutely could not wear the fur of an animal that has been tortured and suffered greatly to create that coat...
I inherited a fur coat years ago (and an ivory necklace) , I destroyed them and donated some money to PETA bought myself a faux fur coat instead. Not on my watch!

I woukd be willing to bet more animals die from the faux fur trade (loss of habitat, pollution etc) than from vintage fur

Millytante · 31/12/2025 19:14

moderate · 31/12/2025 19:04

By which argument we should ban eggs and coffee.

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Not really. I was not referring to a ban, but to the proposal that a new dawn for furriers could come if mink and sable coats were labelled as ‘Humanely sourced’.
First out of the traps would be international criminal networks with every intention of skinning alive every animal in sight, not some nice ‘old hippie’ animal-loving fur enterprise in rural Wales.

moderate · 31/12/2025 19:12

1dayatatime · 31/12/2025 18:54

So 60 years ago several minks were killed for sake of fashion and to keep someone warm. I think most reasonable people would agree that to do the same thing today would be ethically unacceptable.

However we cannot turn back time, the mink are long dead. To now throw away the coat (when someone still wants to wear it) would in my mind mean that the killing of the minks was even more pointless.

I think most reasonable people would agree that to do the same thing today would be ethically unacceptable.

Maybe so, but unless they are vegan (and all else being equal e.g. farm life and slaughter method) it would be interesting to hear them attempt to defend this position.

MissMoneyFairy · 31/12/2025 19:11

CosmopolitanCocktail · 31/12/2025 17:27

Doesn’t bring them back to life though does it?

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No but it brings comfort to other animals which is more important than wearing fashion

ShagMeRiggins · 31/12/2025 19:08

Wear them. If anyone asks, tell them they’re real, they were from your grandmother, or just tell them it’s none of their business.

Don’t lie—it would be disrespectful to your grandmother.

I have my own fur, and my own story, but this about you. Wear your furs and feel your grandmother every time you do.

CurlewKate · 31/12/2025 19:08

Of course you CAN wear it-but I would judge.

Toottooot · 31/12/2025 19:04

If only there was an eye roll reaction for half the posts on this thread 🙄
Wear it - you look great.

moderate · 31/12/2025 19:04

Millytante · 31/12/2025 18:36

And we all know how such guarantees very, very often turn out to be bogus.

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By which argument we should ban eggs and coffee.

moderate · 31/12/2025 19:02

ShamedBySiri · 31/12/2025 18:40

A friend had a beaver fur she had inherited from her grandmother. It was gorgeous. So soft and velvety and a marvellous nearly black but not quite deep brown colour.
An expensive vintage shop near me has a gorgeous silver fox fur in the window, over a lovely silver dress. It’s so soft with impeccable silk lining.

I agree with others that the animals are long dead and the best way to respect them is to make use of their sacrifice.

If anyone asked I’d say it was fake, obviously, though, just to avoid argument or being doused in tomato soup.

I would never dream of wearing a coat from newly killed fur animals. I do however wear leather shoes, handbags and have a suede jacket. I eat meat and have a sheepskin rug in the bedroom.
Still, none of that justifies killing endangered species in a most cruel way just for their pelts, so obviously new fur is a big NoNo.

But farmed and humanely killed would be fine. Except that humans are not rational.

moderate · 31/12/2025 19:01

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 31/12/2025 18:26

I don’t know, maybe if it was a certified byproduct of meat.
Come to think of it I wish you could choose that with leather too.

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I don’t really understand why it would be deemed acceptable to kill animals for their inner flesh but not their outer. Both are luxuries in most parts of the modern world.

1dayatatime · 31/12/2025 18:54

So 60 years ago several minks were killed for sake of fashion and to keep someone warm. I think most reasonable people would agree that to do the same thing today would be ethically unacceptable.

However we cannot turn back time, the mink are long dead. To now throw away the coat (when someone still wants to wear it) would in my mind mean that the killing of the minks was even more pointless.