Fur - The BIG Debate.

I am a vegetarian. I love animals. Goes without saying. I did not choose however to become a vegetarian, I was born this way and then raised as one. I am allergic to the fats and protein in meat. They make me sick, literally.
Now, I don't like touching meat full stop, which I think those who you who know me will I'm sure of heard me mention before. Can't stand it. Reminds me a a corpse on a slab and I don't like it. Yet I still cook and prepare meat for those I love every week. It is their choice to eat meat not mine.

Simone D'alliencourt. Loius Vuitton pic by Henry Clarke 1930's.

Okay.........fur. It is the bi-product of the meat production, both for animals (cat and dog food) and humans. Leather is a bi-product of the beef dishes and burgers fast food joints and rabbit fur is the bi-product of all the tins of pet food consummed in their billions every week. An where do you think the fleece of the lamb or mutton goes after it's been killed? Into any kind of wool product industry they can sell it to of course.
There are some furs that I won't wear though, I absolutely don't agree with killing an animal for it's fur coat alone, like cute baby seals, foxes, minks, leopards, bear, tigers etc - but I do wear leather and wool. I love leather coats, bags and shoes. I love knitted dresses and scarves. However I don't agree with using animal skins either just for the sake of it, I'm thinking crocodile skin bags here and the such like.
I don't agree with killing an animal just for it's skin or fur alone is what I am trying to say, but if it is a bi-product of the meat eating industry then it I've come round to the conclusion that it's okay for me to wear it. Use all of the animal, don't waste it's life......Or.......... and here is where some real controversy may kick in -  if it is vintage. And I mean at least fifty years old. Where the animal has died long ago and it seems a sin to just destroy the fur, otherwise the animal really did die in vain. Of course these are my own personal opinions and everyone else is entitled to their own. To some it may seem like I am muddled in my ethics but to me they make absolutely perfect sense.
I already own faux fur coats, boleros and wraps and I did own two adorable full length fur coats when I was a teenager. Vintage 1920's white mink and a 1930's brown rabbit, but I was a teenage kid, I looked too frumpy in them, I hadn't quite matured into them yet. Then when we got stuck for money as a young loved up married couple, I sold them to a vinatge clothes dealer for good money. Hurrah, we could pay the mortgage that month!
Only, I really regret selling them now, because I want another fur coat. I have always missed them, always thought rather fondly off them, and now I wish I had them. So along with my other three coats I desire, I am adding a fourth to the list - a vintage fur. Or it could be a faux fur - I don't mind - it would be much easier to look after.
Oh yes, a real fur needs constant care - I learnt that as a small child from elderly relative's wardrobes and their  furs, they were like Narnian Wardrobes of delight for me as a tiny nipper. You have to keep them at a constant low temperature, (to avoid moulting and moths......yes really, it will moult but not grow back!), never store them in a plastic bag - as they need the air to circulate around them, try not to wear shoulder strap bags as this can wear and rub on a vintage fur shoulder, if it gets wet in the rain - just shake it off and let it dry naturally - never use heat to dry it, place cedar moth balls in the pockets and hang some in a bag on the hanger to keep them safe from moths, gently smooth it and love them as you would almost real human hair otherwise you will end up with a patchy bald fur coat - not very attractive.

The big craze this winter in all the stores is the fur. They are everywhere. Topshop have some beautiful faux fur coats at the moment and they also have some amazing faux fur capes , faux fur stoles glam rockette style, and their fur wrap tie collars. Other stores such as the divine  Oasis 60's style Peggy coat  both stores are filled with extremely stylish and reasonably in priced stroke-able items. I just wish I didn't have to choose one, because I could easily purchase them all. Oasis has a whole heap of faux furs in store and online. I will definitely be checking them out come the January sales!!!
Meanwhile I am on the hunt for vintage 1940's furs. It's my pre-Christmas Winter gift and I will know the coat and wrap when I see them. It will be my special, special - I can wear a slinky little Summer number underneath, even in the cold heart of Winter, coat. My, have to look after it for life coat.