Very conversational- fur coat

[Mitzicoco]

I inherited a fur coat from my mother who left me it in her will. I know it was already a second hand coat when my father bought it for her in the sixties. Should I wear it? Am complete torn. I did not buy it new, so didn't pay for the poor rabbit's death. But then again I wear leather shoes and eat meat. Feel really confused as to what to do with it. It was my mother's (although she never wore it!) so don't know what to do with it. Sorry if this seems stupid.

I once bought a fur scarf from a trader outside Selfridges and was pretty surprised to discover it was real fur... I did wear it because I do eat meat & wear leather etc. However, I probably wouldn’t have bought it if I’d known upfront because I don’t actively want to contribute to a cruel industry ( and I suspect that was from China where I dread to think what the farming practices are). My friend inherited a beautiful 1930s leopard coat and told everyone it was fake. I was in two minds about that one.... firstly it was vintage and seemed a shame to waste an otherwise beautiful item but god I’m not sure I would have felt good wearing it. Other than that I can’t think of occasions where I see people actually wearing coats that aren’t fake in “ fun” colours. Is the style something contemporary or are you going to end up looking a bit Joan Collins from Dynasty in it?

RIVERSDISGUISE that, I hadn't thought of!

SIGNEDUPJUST4THIS will have to give this some thought. Good idea.

How nice is a 60s fur coat though?

People might not say anything, but ime of wearing a coat of my mum’s that has a big fur trim all the way round the collar and down the front, is that people stare at it and assess you. It’s fairly obvious when something is real fur.

I'm a veggie, and try to follow a vegan diet as much as possible, and still think it's fine to wear the coat in these circumstances. Fast fashion is incredibly damaging to the environment so using what is available makes sense.

Not to me it isn't. The issue of cruelty is a whole different debate. I eat rabbit, hence it wouldn't make much sense to refuse to wear a coat based solely on the fact that the animal may have suffered.

But rabbit fur doesn't come from animals killed for meat. It comes from animals skinned alive.

I wonder if they used real fur in Game of Thrones? I haven't watched it but have seen stills from it and it all looks pretty real. But I guess that is a whole different discussion....

I would donate it to an animal rescue centre-they sometimes use them to provide warmth and comfort to baby animals whose mothers have died.

I wouldn’t wear it. Fur farms are abhorrent, and wearing fur clearly gives the message that you support them.

goodonyou.eco/how-ethical-is-fur/

I used to have a vintage (40's) rabbit fur coat. Black fur, gorgeous, soft, silky.... I even wore it out once.
Really really hot to wear and surprisingly heavy too.
I turned it into a fireside rug.
Best naked sex I ever had was on that rug.

WILLOWMELANGELL that sounds great!!!!! :)

I would donate it to an animal rescue centre they sometimes use them to provide warmth and comfort to baby animals whose mothers have died

That's a lovely idea!

I had a 1940s ocelot trimmed coat for a while but I just couldn't bring myself to wear it even though I wasn't responsible for it's death etc etc etc..

Please consider the animal shelter option.

But TBH, fur is just so, Essex isnt it?

Oh do fuck off. I live in Essex and I can’t remember ever seeing a fur coat being worn.

I don't associate wearing fur with Essex. What an odd thing to say!

I have similar, although mine is an evening jacket affair. I rarely wear it and feel very conflicted as I hate to admit that, when I put it on, I feel so elegant and almost regal.
I realise that the poor 1950’s beaver felt pretty cosy until someone ripped his skin off though... so

Game of thrones used the IKEA sheepskin rugs.

I don't associate wearing fur with Essex. What an odd thing to say!

Quite. Obviously stuck in a time warp. Essex jokes are so 80s.

I think if you do wear it then you will get either verbal abuse or worse like something thrown on you.Personally I'd either throw it away or give it to a cat rescue place if they will have it for bedding etc.
You can tell the difference between a synthetic fun fur and a real one.

A lot of the 'faux fur' these days is from Chinese dogs.

I would be worried about reactions from people, have seen it a few times with furs, people that are unhappy about dead animals being worn know which are the real fur, they don't care how old it is.

My first experience of aggression was a bunny jacket being worn in the 1970's, it wasn't pleasant to see, neither was the full length and beautiful coat being thrown on the floor of a cloakroom by the coat check person.

It is the cruelty that affects people. The creatures are not bred for food so it isn't a by product.

My worry is that all these ‘back of the closet’ furs ‘normalize’ fur-wearing again and it encourages unethical trading in fur because people will lie about their new catskin coat made in some 3rd world sweatshop factory, “Oh it’s ok - it’s vintage”. Yes, of course it is. Nope, I’d find it hard not to side eye you, tbh.

It's vintage and not an endangered species, I imagine the rabbits were eaten and not one iota of their being was wasted. There is no difference between fur and leather/ mohair/cashmere/wool/silk. All of these trades have good and really fucking awful trade practices, depending on the company that produces them. Fake fur is one of the most environmentally polluting fibres available, plus they are made from polymers which are essentially plastics- why only kill one species when you can create ecological havoc instead?
Wear the coat if you want and enjoy the warmth if you wish, the idea of donating it to an animal shelter is wonderful too if you don't wish to wear it.

I didn't know about the animal shelter thing. I will certainly look into it. I think my mother would like that idea as she loved animals. Which is probably why she never wore it. The problem is, is that I love it as it was hers. But is seems a bit pointless in keeping it at the the back of a cupboard. (And secretly I love the feel of it- yes I probably am a horrible person).

I'd really have no issues wearing that because I also eat meat and wear leather. If you do decide to wear it then just say it's fake if anyone challenges you.

There’s no way I’d wear it in public unless I wanted to attract a load of abuse.

My grandma had a fur coat and it was unwearable even back in the 90s. She gave it to a woman from Moscow where it passed unremarked.

I have an inherited rabbit coat from my mum. It mostly stays in the wardrobe where I randomly stroke it.