As the temperature drops, fashionistas everywhere will start the search to find both a functional & stylish coat for the fall/winter season. Whether you are thinking of purchasing a vintage fur coat or already have one hanging in your closet inherited from your great aunt, many people don’t know where to stand on wearing vintage fur.

Wearing vintage fur is a personal choice .

Rolling Stone Vintage

What exactly is vintage fur? After much searching to find a source defining vintage fur, it seems even the definition for this category is also a personal opinion. In a previous post we defined the term vintage as: an older fabric, style or piece, typically representative of its time. Sekas International LTD defines vintage fur as: “A previously owned garment that combines a high degree of workmanship with quality materials to create a valuable antique fur.” Technically, the term vintage should be followed by a year, ex: vintage 1970s, vintage 1956, but is popularly used as more relaxed term defining a type of fashion.

Some people have had a vintage fur piece for decades or received one handed down to them and is currently boxed up in the attic. One reason people chose to wear vintage fur is because they feel they’re appreciating the animal and that by wearing it, the animal didn’t die in disgrace.

Sex & the City

Vintage fur is also a natural and biodegradable product unlike most faux fur and can be recycled. Wearing  vintage fur is a personal choice. Wearing truly vintage fur doesn’t mean you support current fur trading. Remember also that you must be confident in what ever you are wearing – including vintage fur.  If you choose to wear vintage fur, please make sure it’s truly vintage and fully research when the coat was manufactured.

Some people are afraid of what others may think of them for wearing  vintage fur or feel guilty.  If you chose not to wear your vintage fur, check out a program called Coats for Cubs. They use donated old furs to warm baby animals naturally when they’ve been orphaned. For more information visit: http://www.coatsforcubs.org

More interesting sites on vintage fur:

Adored Austin: Fur or Fury?

Ebay:  Buyer’s Warning

Vintage Fur Coat

Fur gifts: How to Protect a Vintage Fur