To wear a real fur coat

[Seasidesunday]

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.

With the argument used for leather, where does rabbit fur come in?

Rabbit meat is eaten and is common in pet food too.

Is it therefore the same as leather because it's a by product of the meat industry?

Actually, perhaps I should have used sheepskin as the comparative product to rabbit fur as they both have the pelt intact, unlike leather which has it scrapped off.

Mind you, cow skins were popular as floor coverings a little while ago, along with "pony skin" boots - often with a leopard print on the fur.

However, rabbit fur looks like fur, unlike the above.

Does rabbit fur get a pass?

For me the key argument is if you're creating more demand for such things to be created.

If you go to the supermarket and buy meat, clearly you're creating demand for more animals to be bred, raised, slaughtered and delivered to the supermarket.

If you buy a puppy from a puppy farm, you're creating more demand for more breeding dogs and puppies to be kept in awful conditions.

If you adopt a rescue dog from a charity, even if that dog originated in a puppy farm, you don't create additional demand for more puppies to be bred in poor conditions.

If you wear vintage fur, but would never buy something new, you're not creating additional demand for more of it to be created.

Both rabbits and foxes are routinely shot because they are pests that can seriously affect farmers. Rabbits are non-native pests. Personally I'd prefer that the whole body of such animals was used, rather than left to rot - one of the cornerstones of sustainability is to waste nothing. Even as a vegetarian, if I hit and killed a pheasant on the road I'd stop, pick it up, offer it to DF for eating and if he didn't want it then I'd feed it to my dog.

Leather and sheepskin are byproducts of the meat industry.

This is a bit simplistic and not always true. In some cases yes, but not all. It's somewhat of a myth that all leather comes from animals who were killed for meat, or that it is a by-product.

It would be more accurate to describe it as a co-product. In some cases the leather is of more value than the meat, so meat is a by-product of the leather trade.

If I saw you in real fur I would think what a nasty person you are. But if you can cope with the dirty looks you will get when seen in public and maybe the odd negative comments then go for it.
Or you could always watch a fur farming video where they skin the animals sometimes whilst still alive and keep them.in the filthiest conditions and then reassess if you still feel like wearing it.

The animal was dead & probably would be dead if it lived it's natural lifespan by now anyway. You aren't giving money to a furrier, so paying to continue the fur trade. It's a waste of what is probably a great coat, & perfect for the revival, so wear it. I still occasionally wear my grandmothers vintage full length mink. I've never eaten meat in my life, but have no issue with vintage fur & don't understand why anyone would

@ThreeLittleDots

I would find it offensive to look at, sorry

Then don't look at it.

Honestly the animal is already dead and has been for decades, OP. It makes zero difference now and who cares if you would be seen by some as ' advocating' fur ( sheer nonsense btw)? Can't people make their own decisions as to what they will accept?

I would. Stuff you already own is the most sustainable way to dress.

Vintage fur is preferable to mass produced, fast fashion, faux versions.

I am against the fur industry but I think the environmental case for continuing to use second hand items is decent IMO.

Fur is biodegradable, warm, and tends to last a longer/ be treasured/ handed down than faux equivalents. I think any animals with usable hides/ pelts that have been slaughtered for food could be used (embracing nose to tail eating and making full use,) but there's no excuse for the fur industry, it's cruel practises and toxic processes.

I have my great grandmas fur coat that I occasionally wear. I also eat meat. I have sheepskin rugs. I have leather shoes, leggings and handbags. I have feather down pillows and duvets. I’m not sure that any of these are morally worse than the other.

@70isaLimitNotaTarget

Do you even know what the word "staged" means? Staged in the same way that Disney staged the mass suicide of lemmings for the "documentary" White Wilderness

Obviously not

But you mention PETA saying its staged .
So are you saying it isn't real ?

Staged as in "performed for the cameras" rather than being representative of what really goes on.

What is 'the revival?' Are they going to revive the animal who's fur it once was?
I'd wear it no bother, but I'm among traditional country folk, so no protests, being offended, etc.

I think the anti-fur movement was grounded in hatred for the better off. Most of the anti-fur people ate meat: what's the difference between eating rabbit and wearing rabbit? Also, most wore leather shoes which have far less impact on the environment than plastic shoes.

Fur stoles look stupid. The ones with heads and feet can distract from an otherwise good outfit.

If you're on about the Goodwood Revival (which isn't for months) you'll be walking and standing about a lot, unless you've got full £££ hospitality tickets. A cute cardi is more practical and period-accurate and won't have to be adjusted all the time.

If you look at pictures of spectators from when the circuit was operational, there are very few fur coats or big '50s dresses in evidence. More macs, headscarves, slacks, tweeds and ladies' walking shoes with a small heel.

Wear what you like, don’t be influenced by others, they can mind their own fucking business.

I have a few fur coats and don't often find the "occasion" to wear them which is a shame really-if an event like this came up I wouldn't give it a second thought- wear yours and enjoy!
Huge amounts of the population eat meat, wear leather etc.... it's not for anybody to tell you what you can wear or not!

I would judge someone for wearing fur, especially because of the cruelty behind it. There’s no need for fur, as there’s many alternatives that don’t involve, gassing, electrocuting, bludgeoning an animal to death. It’s so easy for people to say wear what you like, however, if they were the ones kept in tiny cages, being killed in inhumane ways, they wouldn’t be saying, wear what you like. It amazes me how many people lack basic compassion for another species.

Old or not it’s crass and really grim. I wouldn’t touch it. Because it’s old I suspect the animal cruelty then was even worse, just knowing the suffering of that animal I couldn’t

It would be ok in the sense that a new animal won’t be killed. It would not be ok in the sense that one (or more) still did previously and you’d be making the statement that you’re ok with wearing them as fashion. It’s a moral issue so only you can decide where you stand with it.

I personally think a vintage fur coat is equally unappealing to look at and wear as one from a modern fur farm. Wearing either endorses farmed fur as a fashion choice.

Just so people don't forget - not all fur coats were made of rabbits or mink.

My grandmother owned two coats - one Snow Leopard.

And she had several hats trimmed with the feathers of now extinct birds. Extinct because of the trade in feathers for hats.

My grandmother owned two coats - one Snow Leopard.

@NeverDropYourMooncup imagine wearing a Snow Leopard . No disrespect to your grandmother, because she probably didn't know any better, but it would now be seen as akin to modern day trophy hunting I would imagine.

I hope that all the people who are disgusted by the OP are at least vegetarian and don't wear any clothing made from animals. As a vegan, I'd be disgusted by someone buying fur - creating a demand, but not by someone who wears leather/fur which is already in existence - second hand/charity shop/passed down.

@sjxoxo

I think it’s not really acceptable now..sorry! I work in vintage clothing & we no longer sell vintage fur as it doesn’t sell - I think times have moved on. My friend said to me “yes ok it’s vintage but if someone saw you in it & liked it you’ve encouraged it.. you’re still advocating it if you’re wearing it”. I think there’s some truth in that x

Because this.

@NotMushroomInEre

My grandmother owned two coats - one Snow Leopard.

@NeverDropYourMooncup imagine wearing a Snow Leopard . No disrespect to your grandmother, because she probably didn't know any better, but it would now be seen as akin to modern day trophy hunting I would imagine.

I hope that all the people who are disgusted by the OP are at least vegetarian and don't wear any clothing made from animals. As a vegan, I'd be disgusted by someone buying fur - creating a demand, but not by someone who wears leather/fur which is already in existence - second hand/charity shop/passed down.

Oh, my grandfather was pretty clear on what he thought of them. 'They're for vanity, not warmth' and 'Those poor bloody dead things in your wardrobe'.

What I'm thinking though, is that the people arguing it's OK to wear an old fur because the rabbit or mink has been dead for decades forget that a large number of the fur coats weren't made of rabbit or mink; they were made of other animals, including big/medium/small cats and species that were decimated or literally became extinct because of the desire to have something that a famous influencer movie star, socialite, posh person or their equally wealthy friends also had one.

@Wren44

I personally wouldn’t. Even a few decades ago, perhaps it was more acceptable because fur coats were truly one of the best ways to stay warm during very cold winters. But these days, there is amazing science behind winter coats that will keep you more warm than any fur could. This in turn means no animals have to suffer for what is now no more than a very cruel and unnecessary fashion statement, vintage or not.

When I left University I worked for a fashion designer and I got a fantastic designer coat with a faux fur collar. I loved it, felt a million dollars. Until one day someone spat at me in the street because of it. Late 80s. So it's not been acceptable for a very long time.

@NeverDropYourMooncup totally agree. Oh, and your grandfather sounds/sounded like a very kind man.

I don't get how anyone who says they are against the fur trade could feel at all good wearing fur, vintage or otherwise.