Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To wear my mum's fur coat?

58 replies

longtrainrunning · 04/12/2012 08:54

i inherited my mum's coat and it's been sat in my wardrobe for years - I didn't know what to do with it. However, it's so cold and the other day I tried it on -it is just so gorgeous and fabulously warm; full length with a collar that sort of comes up over your ears.

Now I am fiercely opposed to farming or trapping animals to satisfy some foolish woman's vanity ..... but but but ... these poor creatures (canadian squirrel I think) have been dead since about the 30's. Should I wear it? Or sell it? Or bin it? I am tempted to wear it, even if it's only in the garden or under the cover of darkness! WWYD?

OP posts:
ImperialSantaKnickers · 04/12/2012 08:58

I'd wear it. It was not your decision to kill those animals. But as a coward, I'd be leery of wearing it in public.

CasperGutman · 04/12/2012 09:02

I'd have no problem wearing it, ethically, but like Imperial I'd be concerned about other people's reactions. I'd probably look into how much it would fetch by selling it -- you could probably buy a few coats you wouldn't feel so self-conscious wearing. Then again, if it has significant sentimental value to you then keep it and enjoy it when you feel comfortable doing so.

BoffinMum · 04/12/2012 09:09

I would not buy a new fur but I am happy wearing my grandmother's old one, especially when I am in Munich as it's much colder there in winter. I would say wear it if you want to. Most people will assume it's fake anyway - many people do with mine! Otherwise wasting it is an insult to the poor creature who died for the thing to be made in the first place.

BoffinMum · 04/12/2012 09:10

By the way, if you are storing it, remember to keep it cool or it will go funny.

MistletoeAndTomHardyPlease · 04/12/2012 09:11

I'd wear it. Am very Envy

BoffinMum · 04/12/2012 09:11

I would add that furs are brilliant over skimpy evening clothes, very practical.

longtrainrunning · 04/12/2012 09:17

Thanks for the replies. Yes Boffin I could indignantly insist it was fake - my guilty face might betray me tho! Might try it in the house first - tempted to add a cocktail glass and a ciggie in a long silver holder - oh what a visual!

However, I might feel the little animals staring at me accusingly - oh god!!!

OP posts:
Saski · 04/12/2012 10:30

I'd wear it.
Personally, I don't understand how people eat meat but oppose fur. Meat is optional. Fur is optional.

forgetmenots · 04/12/2012 10:36

I have my gran's vintage astrakhan. It's an immaculate swing coat (perfect for bump) with a mink collar. It's lovely and warm. I felt wry strange wearing it last winter and was worried but I eat meat, I wear leather shoes and I wouldn't buy new fur because of the methods used to obtain the fur. I will be wearing it this winter again.

worldgonecrazy · 04/12/2012 10:46

If you do wear it (and I would) there are some rules which we have forgotten as it's many decades since wearing fur in public was acceptable.

Never, ever wear a shoulder or cross body handbag. Always take a handbag with carry handles and hold them in your hand, not in the crook of your arm. If you carry a handbag you will wear away the area where the handle rubs the fur.

Always take your coat off if getting in a car or sitting down. Again, sitting down in a fur rubs away the fur so you get dull areas. If you don't want to take it off, just hoist it up a bit so you're not sitting on it, and don't lean back in the seat.

In the summer months keep it in the coolest part of the house and stick cedarwood balls or moth repellant in the pockets.

To clean a fur, you need to rub silver sand gently into the fur, then give it a good shake, or get it cleaned professionally.

If your fur gets wet, don't dry it on a radiator, give it a good shake to remove the water and then let it dry naturally. Try to avoid getting fur wet in the first place.

I have been wearing fur for a long time and have never had any negative comments, only compliments. Fur is warm and, if looked after, lasts for decades. I can't imagine many of us handing down our M&S Cashmere coats to our great-grandchildren, yet I have fur coats made in the 1920s which still look new.

Wallison · 04/12/2012 10:51

Wear it! I also inherited one a few years ago and it is proper toasty warm (much warmer than any other coat I have) and looks fantastic. I wouldn't buy one new, but I think it's different if it's second-hand and actually it would be wasteful to get rid of something that's been around a long time and isn't faulty in any way.

Rhinestone · 04/12/2012 10:54

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.

LlanbaubleOnTheTree · 04/12/2012 10:55

Wasn't there a similar AIBU not so long back? A poster asking about selling/wearing their mother's furs?!?! Maybe OP could do a search and see what the consensus was?

Personally if it's ever had a face and a pulse I'm not prepared to eat it, wear it or sit/lie in/on it. That's my choice. Do believe animals shouldn't have to die to keep us warm (especially in the modernised world).

Am most amused by the advice "not to get your fur wet"???? How do you think the rabbit/ chinchilla/fox/ocelot etc coped?
In short animals die so a person can pander to their own personal vanity and parade their wealth - surely only the wealthy can afford the folly of a very expensive winter coat you can't get wet. AngrySad

Rhinestone · 04/12/2012 10:57

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.

chrismissymoomoomee · 04/12/2012 10:59

I wouldn't wear it ever, knowing how much those animals suffered to make that coat would make me feel sick to my stomach tbh. I would donate it to PETA

However, I think to call people vacous, selfish and immoral is a bit much Xmas Hmm

Rhinestone · 04/12/2012 11:00

Well I don't. Was quite restrained actually.

worldgonecrazy · 04/12/2012 11:03

Rhinestone - as I have reported, the instances of paint throwing have never happened to me and if they did I'd probably accidentally break the jaw of the person doing it whilst I was doing my civic duty of preventing criminal damage. I suspect such instances were few and far between but picked up on by the media.

Could I suggest that you do some googling of your own - try Norwegian Fur Farm Industry Standards? That might give you another viewpoint. I don't think anyone can condone the treatment of animals in China, but given that the Chinese businesses often treat people little better, I'm presuming that you don't buy anything made in China either?

And I am neither vacuous, selfish or immoral. I am aware of exactly what happens in the fur trade, and as far as I'm concerned, fur animals are treated a lot better than food animals.

chrismissymoomoomee · 04/12/2012 11:06

Rhinestone over-reactions like yours just piss people off, instead of rationally explaining your reasoning you head straight for the insults which makes people switch off.

Believe me, I am as passionate about animal welfare as you are, but thats not the way to go about it.

Alisvolatpropiis · 04/12/2012 11:07

I wouldn't buy a new fur coat. I would probably wear a vintage one I had inherited.

Rhinestone a tin of paint? Get a grip. If anyone ever threw a tin of paint on me I would ensure they were arrested and I would pursue the matter as far as it would go.

Fluffycloudland77 · 04/12/2012 11:11

I wouldnt wear it. You know it's old but it normalises wearing fur to others.

NolittleBuddahsorTigerMomshere · 04/12/2012 11:11

Do you like it? If yes, wear it.

worldgonecrazy · 04/12/2012 11:12

For anyone who wants to know about European fur farming standards link here.

FergusSingsTheBlues · 04/12/2012 11:14

I wear my grannys fur. I am too preggers to fit anything else. It is eighty years old. What should i do with it, exactly....landfill? Sell it? Charity? Whts the best thing to do ethically? Of course I wear it.

Although nobody ever sits next to me on the underground, bit of a plus in London!

Frontpaw · 04/12/2012 11:15

I hate fur coats. My mum had a wardrobe full (like the lion the witch and the wardrobe) when I was little,and I used to open it up and touch the fur to scare myself.

KinkyDoritoWithJingleBellsOn · 04/12/2012 11:20

Just googled the Norwegian Fur Farm Industry Standards as you suggested and the first thing that came up was an animal rights horrors video Confused. Obviously not as humane as you are trying to make out, worldgonecrazy.

I don't really want to watch all of this, but I've seen the start and it's not very nice.

You should be ashamed of yourself.

Swipe left for the next trending thread