About Fur...
In the fashion industry fur is always surrounded by controversy (and often red paint).
But the real controversy isn't just about the method of getting the fur it's about the method of wearing it...
Once only used for necessity from the harsh elements, royalty adopted it into ceremony and the turn of the twentieth century made mink stoles and exotic cats a popular luxury item for the wealthy.
Later into the twenties and through to the sixties fur could be seen on all the leading ladies in Hollywood until about the early seventies when the animal rights movement made fur less of a dinner-party accessory and more of a socially awkward dinner-party conversation.
Then we hit present day two-thousand and eleven where instead of accompanying ball gowns and galas we have Kate Moss wearing fur with denim cut-offs and tights as she runs into the local mini-mart.
If one of the functions of fur is to serve as protection form the elements, someone should send Ms. Moss a memo - I think she's missing the point.
With all the awareness PETA and other organizations have made about the use of fur - people know about the social consequences of wearing fur. Aside from that it's not illegal, so people are free to enjoy wearing it. But at what cost now - to the fashion industry - and its impressionable followers?
Fur just isn't the status symbol it use to be. Because of this I guess Hollywood feels like there is a free for all in reviving a classic, even using fur to make false eyelashes. What's being lost in translation is that fur is an elegant and sophisticated addition to a woman's wardrobe and you can't gain elegance because of status but you can gain status because of you have elegance.
Shoot, today fur isn't really even fur anymore - most of the time it is some blended synthetic impostor. And no, faux fur doesn't make wearing fur any better.
First of all, the only thing I can say about the faux fur of today that might be somewhat positive is that it doesn't even look like fur - its features unnatural colors and textures that makes everyone look like a prop from Where The Wild Things Are. Wearing fur that isn't made from fur and doesn't even look like fur but is suppose to be representative of fur - a dizzying prospect, again, defeating the purpose of wearing fur.
And a faux fur jacket is no better than a fake Louis Vuitton bag in theory - and much worse in person. The last time I tried on a faux fur scarf the synthetic fibers broke my neck out into a rash - too bad hives aren't in this season.
It's just better to not wear something that obviously says, "man-made fibers" when its known for its exclusivity and image of "wealth and status."
Have you ever washed a really fluffy dog and noticed how once its wet the dog becomes half its original size? Well that's because fur is meant to keep animals warm, instead it just helps make people look fat.
If the camera adds ten pounds then a fur vest adds thirty. Models probably drop their carrot sticks when they see fur on the line-up.
Without Alexander McQueen, I don't know if there are any designers out there crazy enough to the use fur while it's still on the animal - which would solve all our problems since then it would be animal-friendly and eco-safe as well as uber trendy.
Maybe someday we can figure something out that doesn't compromise the life of the animal the self-esteem of the wearer.
If that ever happens - I know a little ermine stole that has just been dying to accompany the Olsen twins to New York fashion week.
