Faux Fur: Yay or Nay?

on September 2, 2010 at 6:50 PM

Michael Kors I went shopping today and saw a most disturbing development:

FAUX FUR! EVERYWHERE I LOOKED!

Yes, fur is back in style -- specifically, fur vests -- but there are two problems.

1. Most women can't afford real fur.

2. Our society has developed a "conscience" about fur and many women are consequently afraid to wear it.

Enter faux fur.

I was certain that by now, designers would have come up with a more realistic faux fur than the stuff that lined our puffy jacket hoods back in the early '80s.

And when I touched the faux fur in the department stores today ...

Let's just say that it was not good.

Express I was disturbed to find that faux fur, even ones offered by nicer brands, still has the feel of a stuffed animal's hide. Like this (Minus the) Fur Embellished Vest (Express, $98). It looked great from a distance, but up close? Hello, Teddy Ruxpin!

I've always believed that if you're going to do fur, it should be the real thing. If you're not comfortable with that, just leave this trend alone.

Unfortunately, I don't make the fashion rules, so expect to see plenty of hideous faux fur coming your way this fall.

So what do you think of the new faux fur vests out there?

Yay or nay?

Images via Michael Kors and Express

Filed Under: clothes, fall/winter 2010, trends, horrors

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Comments (15)

Facebook comment from Beth Dickerhoof Weimer

on Sep 2, 2010 at 7:55 PM

Faux fur is just not the same. I have no problem with real fur, as my dad used to be in the fur trade business and that was our main source of income in the winter months when I was a kid. I was actively involved in the every aspect of his business. I love the feel of real fur.

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Cafe Suzanne

on Sep 2, 2010 at 10:24 PM

I have a vest similar to the one in the first photo. It's Ralph Lauren and I got it for free on a fashion shoot (never would have paid that much for the thing). I had no idea it was back in style (remember, country life = fashion death), so I appreciate this post. Gotta say, though, get a lot of compliments on it ... and it's faux. I'm gnerally staunchly anti- knock-off, but not when it comes to fur. I challenge you to a blindfold test .... you can write a post on it. :)

LindsayFerrier

on Sep 2, 2010 at 11:16 PM

That's a great idea, but you'll have to um, send me that vest. And it might take me a season or two to return it. ;)

on Sep 2, 2010 at 11:25 PM

You're right. And I'll probably have to send you the insanely fabulous vintage custom real fur cape that my husband's elderly aunt sent me (across the country in a cardboard box). It's only fair that you have a control specimen for the study to be truly scientific. God knows I have no place to where it -- except when I'm washing dishes.