Fake fur is in, but real fur is a fashion faux pas

Fur has always been a controversial garment in the fashion industry. Why people willingly spend an upwards of $50,000 to wear a furry little animal around their body is beyond comprehension to many. But even though a fur-less winter jacket will keep you just as warm and cost 20 times less, there are still those willing to shell out the dough to enhance their perceived elegance and sophistication with the pelts of animals.
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen most recently made headlines when they controversially wore full-length mink coats, in addition to the other items of fur they model on an almost daily basis. PETA decided to take action against the “Trollsen Twins,” as they coined them, with the headline: “Fur is worn by beautiful animals and ugly people.”
The campaign launched a backlash against both the twins and other fur-supporting celebrities, bringing the fur trend to the forefront of the media and demanding our attention be drawn to it.
Luckily since the scandal exploded in 2007, things have calmed down a bit, but fashion is ready to stir things up again with a reinvention of the fur trend this fall. But before you grab your picket signs - relax. This time faux fur is all the rage.
If you can’t wear it, change it. Real fur didn’t fly, but that wasn’t going to stop designers from trying to integrate the trend into their fall collections. Vests, coats, hats, scarves - the trend is everywhere and it’s almost impossible to walk into a store without seeing faux fur somewhere, whether it be on the outer lining of a hat or around the top rim of Ugg boots.
The most popular form of faux fur this season is definitely the vest. With a pair of jeans, boots and a long sleeve shirt underneath it’s chic but casual all at the same time, not to mention warm and comfy. The vest is a good alternative to the traditional fur coat because let’s be honest, a fur coat can look ridiculous and gaudy on anyone under 40 living in sunny San Diego. But if you like the fur look, then you can still try a vest and look a lot more practical. Faux fur can be cheap or somewhat expensive, but you’ll never find it in the price ranges of real fur. Juicy Couture has a faux fur vest for $230, but if that’s still too much for a trend-of-the-moment, then check out H&M or any similar store where faux fur will cost around $50.
If you’re not brave enough to wear fur as a garment, try it as an accessory. Boots are incredibly popular (especially Uggs), but this season fur comes on hats and scarves as well. Saks has launched a new line of elastic fur scarves that slip over your head and look like a collar to the shirt you’re wearing. You can also use the same piece as a headband if you want to mix it up. These cost around $150, but since you can use it as a collar or a headband, it might be worth the price. But of course, you can also play it safe and check out the fur-lined hooded jackets that have been on the market for years - Abercrombie and Hollister, sound familiar?
Whether you embrace the fur trend or not, you can rest assured that the items you see marketed in stores this season are most likely faux. Let’s hope the Olsen twins get the memo soon.