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Original poster

WWYD if you really needed a winter coat, bought one in a charity shop and then found out it was real fur?

108 replies

HettyAmaretti · 06/12/2011 16:49

That's what I did.

Obviously I could see it was furry when I bought it but I assumed it was fake, think the staff did too otherwise I'm sure it would have been more expensive. Paid 25 quid for it.

It's lovely. It's very cold outside and I have no other coat Sad

Fuck.

WWYD?

OP posts:
belsize77 · 06/12/2011 20:13

I would wear it. I have no problem with wearing fur at all. I used to work in some very very cold countries and nobody gave it a second thought - vintage or otherwise. There was often no choice of other fabrics that would be suitable in the temperatures. People who think they would go without coats are obviously not planning being anywhere really freezing this Winter.

I presume the OP is in the UK but nevertheless the idea that no fur of any age should ever be worn again or no animal killed for its skin or fur is an argument that it's rather easier to make in a centrally heated home with the temperature rather more than 20 degrees below freezing where you can go to shops and buy a wool, down or gortex alternative.

Viewofthehills · 06/12/2011 20:14

Can you sell it on e-bay as a vintage fur coat? With the proceeds buy a cosy non-fur coat and if you like make a charity donation.

My own reservation with fur would be whether the animal suffered when it was killed. Providing it was killed humanely i wouldn't have an issue,but I know that most animals used for fur are not killed humanely so I don't wear it.

However if i could catch the pole-cat that killed my chickens I would probably turn it into a key-ring

LDNmummy · 07/12/2011 01:32

IMO when it comes to 'vintage' furs, the animal has already died and the item already made for wearing. I would just wear it. I would never wear a new item made from fur though, unless it came from an animal I eat. I feel if an animal is killed for consumption, it is better to use every part of the animal possible. I would never wear anything made from an animals fur when the animal was bred specifically for that purpose.

I think it can promote wearing fur, but I also think people are clued up enough to wear fake fur instead of opting for the real thing just because they saw someone else wearing fur and thought it looked good. If a person wears real fur, they would have done so regardless of you wearing this coat. There are enough fake fur items that the appealing look of fur wouldn't drive another person to wear the real thing IYSWIM.

Thats my view on it anyway. I would wear it.

worldgonecrazy · 07/12/2011 08:23

Think hard about why you would feel 'weird' wearing it. Is it because of societal pressures, because of a genuine ethical distaste for fur, or because you are worried about other people's reactions? Only you know what your ethics are.

If we're going to get ethical about coats, then remember that 85% of our wool comes from the slaughter house (not nice places!), fake fur and synthetic materials are increcibly destructive to the environment, but most of the destruction happens where we can't see it so it doesn't matter , and cotton involves the use of terrible pesticides and herbicides which cause early death in a lot of the cotton workers. You pays your money, you takes your choice. I know which I would consider the more ethical out of a fur, cotton, fake fur/synthetic and wool coat.

Trills · 07/12/2011 08:46

I have read the whole thread and am still not sure.

Now you've linked the style - I don't like it.

So I can say easily that I wouldn't wear it.

Methe · 07/12/2011 08:49

Wear it and enjoy it :)

PostBellumBugsy · 07/12/2011 09:00

If you feel uncomfortable, take it back to the charity shop.
If I liked the coat, I'd wear it. I really can't see the point in getting my knickers in a twist about old fur coats. They are functional pieces of clothing & it is wasteful to just destroy them.

Takver · 07/12/2011 09:11

I would absolutely wear it and be warm. Personally, I would have thought that wearing a 60 yr old coat from the charity shop that has been made over repeatedly is much more ethical than buying a cheapy coat from Primark or the like.

I really don't agree with the 'normalising fur' thing - everyone will think it is fake fur anyway, particularly if it looks like the picture you've linked.

My mum had an old rabbit fur coat that she'd inherited from her nan - she wore it until it fell apart so far that it was unreclaimable. TBH I think that was definitely the most ethical thing to do with it, especially as she isn't a vegetarian and would eat rabbit meat without a second thought.

ISawPINOTSnoggingSantaClaus · 07/12/2011 09:17

Does it smell? Nanna's one smelt musty.

Oh and it's not sensible to go without a coat at this time of year.

emsyj · 07/12/2011 09:19

I would wear it and feel toasty warm and tell anyone who asked that it was fake. Nobody will ask though - they will assume it's fake anyway (just like you did).

SparklyCloud · 07/12/2011 09:55

belsize77 antarctic explorers do not wear fur so your argument does not hold water!

emsyj · 07/12/2011 10:01

Antarctic explorers probably have access to high tech fabrics that ordinary people in very cold parts of the world either can't buy because they're not available, or can't afford.

Wearing fur is 100% normal in Siberia (just by way of example). It isn't an 'argument' to say it is worn in cold parts of the world - it's just a fact.

Original poster
HettyAmaretti · 07/12/2011 10:04

Hell no! it doesn't look like the coat in the link - the fur is the same (ish) but the style is totally different. But, yes, it definitely looks fake. It's in such good nick, the fur is so unusual for real fur and its so evenly black that anyone would assume, as I did, that it was fake.

As far as the ethical dilemma goes, I almost feel as if I have to wear it now I've got it. I wouldn't be comfortable selling it on because It'd be going to someone who, by definition, wants to wear fur. Chucking it out wouldn't sit right with me either. Not at all.

I think I'll just wear it for a bit and see how I feel about it.

Google says I can't wear in in the rain. This is an problem.

Someone asked if it smells, it does a wee bit. A sort of musty charity shop smell, so I've hung it up in a coat bag with some fresh coffee in the bottom, which will apparently freshen it up.

OP posts:
Original poster
HettyAmaretti · 07/12/2011 10:11

TBBH I wish I'd bunged it in the washer before I knew what it was. But I didn't.

It's beautiful. I shall wear it and see how I feel.

OP posts:
sprogger · 07/12/2011 10:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
HettyAmaretti · 07/12/2011 10:16

Yeah sprogger, that swung it a bit for me too.

I was looking for a boring good, plain black job. as others have pointed out it turns out that wool is also far from an ethical product.

OP posts:
JennyPiccolo · 07/12/2011 10:26

I would wear it. If you give it away/sell it then someone will still be wearing the fur.

HarrySantaatemygoldfish · 07/12/2011 10:31

Sounds lush! I'd wear it! But then I shoot rabbits as they are vermin on my laaaand!

Original poster
HettyAmaretti · 07/12/2011 10:56

Have put a couple of photos on my profile for the nosy interested amongst you.

OP posts:
WhoWhoWhoWho · 07/12/2011 11:15

I wouldn't buy a furry coat in the first place as not my cup of tea style wise but if I had bought one assuming it was fake and then discovered it was real, I think i would just wear it. There are tons of fake fur coats in the shops at the moment and I would imagine people will assume it's fake like you did.

On a shallow note it does look like lovely fur.

Original poster
HettyAmaretti · 07/12/2011 11:20

No, I wouldn't normally buy anything fury - not the sort of thing that usually floats my boat. Have had a succession of dull, classic wool-type coats forever and was looking for the next one.

Just fell in love with this at first sight Sad

I shall wear it on the school run this afternoon and see if anyone sees fit to attack me.

OP posts:
ChristinedePizanne · 07/12/2011 11:22

I have a coat like that which really is fake. I wouldn't buy fur but if I'd bought it by accident, I'd wear it.

I have a coat which I bought in a second hand shop in New York which I'm fairly sure has a real fur collar but I thought it was fake when I got it. It's much warmer than fake

Pootles2010 · 07/12/2011 11:23

If you did want to take it back, i think it'd be worth a try, on the basis that they could get an awful lot more for it?

Clownsarescary · 07/12/2011 11:26

Hetty its beautiful. Wear it.

worldgonecrazy · 07/12/2011 11:26

If it helps at all, I've had a look at the photos and it looks like a fur called "curly lamb" or astrakhan, so it's no different to wearing sheepskin.

The bonus side is that it can also tolerate a light shower better than other furs. Just allow to dry naturally. Buy some cedarwood balls to keep in the pockets to prevent moths. The warning about not carrying a shoulder bag still stands though, and remember to take it off when you are sitting down.

£25 is a bargain!

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