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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To wear a real fur coat

202 replies

Seasidesunday · 31/03/2022 21:12

Off to the revival and have found a real 1950s vintage dress all picked out it needs a few bits mended but it’s perfect. I need some kind of 1950s shawl or coat to go with it As I get cold easily. I was thinking of buying one but then realised my mum had my grandmas real fur stole and a few coats in storage. Im very against real fur normally but as it’s a vintage event and already an old coat would it be ok.

OP posts:
Chesneyhawkes1 · 01/04/2022 09:22

I'd wear it!

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr · 01/04/2022 09:30

My grandad had a full Waffen SS uniform (no idea why), I wore it to a fancy dress party because it’s vintage innit.

Throughabushbackwards · 01/04/2022 09:39

I wear my mother's fox fur coat on special occasions. Very few people have ever commented on it and to those who do I simply say it is a family heirloom and that I enjoy wearing it for that reason. I wouldn't have bought it, but it exists and it has sentimental value so I wear it sometimes.

Lady089 · 01/04/2022 09:39

No I’d never wear fur, whether vintage or not.

I’m surprised people wear fur items after seeing how much cruelty is involved but I still see people selling it online.

DdraigGoch · 01/04/2022 09:40

If it's secondhand then you're not funding the continuing fur trade. Go for it.

Howmanydaysuntilfriday · 01/04/2022 09:42

No one will know

Lady089 · 01/04/2022 09:42

@DdraigGoch

If it's secondhand then you're not funding the continuing fur trade. Go for it.
It doesn’t matter, it is still glamorising fur. If you’re truly against fur, then you simply don’t wear it.
Gonnagetgoing · 01/04/2022 09:44

I've had people say the argument to me that if it's vintage it's fine, I don't think so and have never worn fur.

An family friend member runs a business selling fur and fake fur coats and other items which I think is disgusting (the real fur anyway).

With all the decent fake furs out there just wear that or something else.

Gonnagetgoing · 01/04/2022 09:45

In a village just outside Bath (where DB's ILs live) there is or used to be a vintage shop which yes, sold fur coats. I saw quite a few there which were unsold.

ikeepseeingit · 01/04/2022 09:47

Of course it’s okay. You didn’t buy it so nothing ethically is happening other than you wearing an old coat, if no one wears it the coat just goes to waste. if we want to think about the ethics of buying a winter/ themed coat brand new vs an old fur coat then in terms of environment this is much better. On ethics of not wearing fur, for me I see it as bad if you buy it new. When buying new fur you are actively paying into a trade. Wearing your grandmas old coat just means that your grandma bought it 60 years ago when times where different, and there no point in throwing away a perfectly good coat for that reason. It’s already done. Why waste the coat?

DdraigGoch · 01/04/2022 09:48

@Guineapigssweak

No not ever! Most animals are skinned alive for their coats! Bury it instead.
That's a myth. Why would you skin the animal alive? Much easier to skin a dead one than try and skin one which is wriggling around.
Ringmaster27 · 01/04/2022 09:53

It’s vintage. The mink has been dead a long time. It’s not going to get any deader, and you haven’t spent money on the coat, it’s just been sat in a cupboard somewhere. I still don’t think I’d wear it personally, but wouldn’t judge you for wearing it.
I remember one of my cousins fawning over a angora jumper at a country fair once, and she genuinely had no idea that those poor rabbits have their fur ripped out of their skin while they are still alive, are then left in agony until the fur grows back and the process begins all over again Sad She soon decided against the jumper.

RhiWrites · 01/04/2022 09:57

I can tell when it’s real fur and I would think less of you for wearing it.

Lady089 · 01/04/2022 10:03

@DdraigGoch

Type, animals skinned alive for fur into Google and click images, that should answer your question. Not only that many are kept in inhumane conditions, suffering mental and physical distress.

CapMarvel · 01/04/2022 10:05

They don't make golliwogs anymore so it's fine to display the ones we find in granny's loft, right?

LardyDee · 01/04/2022 10:11

@CapMarvel

They don't make golliwogs anymore so it's fine to display the ones we find in granny's loft, right?
I wear vintage fur, but I wouldn't go so far as displaying a golliwog.
Lu901 · 01/04/2022 10:11

It's bizarre as people don't bat an eyelid at leather being worn and probably eat meat ect but a vintage fur coat nearly 99 Percent of people will be like how dare you. It's a social thing that fur isn't acceptable does it make sense not really.

maddy68 · 01/04/2022 10:14

I would wear it. It's an old one.

Lockheart · 01/04/2022 10:15

[quote Lady089]@DdraigGoch

Type, animals skinned alive for fur into Google and click images, that should answer your question. Not only that many are kept in inhumane conditions, suffering mental and physical distress.[/quote]
Skinning animals alive is quite rightly illegal in much of the world.

A few horrible videos coming from a handful of countries (usually but not always China) does not mean the practice is widespread in the global industry. It's non-existent in the American and western European fur trade for one.

vitahelp · 01/04/2022 10:17

I would wear it. It's almost worse it never being worn again and going in the bin, as the animal died for less gain.
However I would not tell anyone at the event that it is real. I wouldn't want to inadvertently promote real fur to other people.

Lockheart · 01/04/2022 10:18

@Lu901

It's bizarre as people don't bat an eyelid at leather being worn and probably eat meat ect but a vintage fur coat nearly 99 Percent of people will be like how dare you. It's a social thing that fur isn't acceptable does it make sense not really.
It's because fur is not something most people will ever own. It's easy to be angry about because by and large it's not going to have any impact on you, so you're free to call it out or shout it down knowing that it's never going to be a choice which enters your sphere.

The cheap chicken nuggets produced under highly questionable welfare standards, however... In that case, people are outraged if you suggest that they SHOULDN'T buy them.

EmpressCixi · 01/04/2022 10:19

I’d wear it but tell anyone who asks it is faux fur because people are unreasonable about fur and see red.
It’s better for the environment to wear a biodegradable vintage real fur coat than buy a faux fur coat that will end up in a landfill for a hundred thousand years.
It’s over fifty years old, why should the animals deaths have been in vain?
It’s not for everyday wear but for vintage event in which historical accuracy is important- furs were worn and valued then. I think that is an acceptable reason and not “glorifying” fur wearing in any way.

DifficultBloodyWoman · 01/04/2022 10:20

How about this - how many people will actually know it is fur?

If you are happy, go for it.

PutinIsAWarCriminal · 01/04/2022 10:21

I picked up a real fur from a charity shop years ago. I think I last wore it 5 years ago for a glamorous event. Its vintage, its 50 years old, a charity shop received a donation for it. I wouldn't buy or wear new and I don't even eat meat. I know am a little hypocritical though as I buy leather shoes and bags.

EmpressCixi · 01/04/2022 10:22

@CapMarvel

They don't make golliwogs anymore so it's fine to display the ones we find in granny's loft, right?
Oh yes because the atrocity of slavery committed against humans is oh so comparable to the killing and skinning of rodents. You’ve just dehumanised all the slaves who have suffered and died by comparing them to animals in the same family as rats.