As the autumn weather is slowly turning towards the nippy and wet, my favourite time of year comes: heavy coat weather. This will be my third winter wearing my favourite coat. I bought my vintage muskrat coat at a thrift store on Main Street for $45 during Winter Term in my second year. I was motivated to start wearing fur coats because I was taking two evening classes and at the time, there was only one bus that served my college and it only came every half hour at night, ignoring us poor students left to face the Canadian winter. But now that I had a fur coat, I was warm and cosy without having to bundle up in the morning and overheat in the afternoon in preparation for the freezing trek home at night. I now look forward to winter when I can take out my coat and wear it for as long as possible and I swear that owning a fur coat in no way influence my decision to go to a university on top of a mountain (okay, maybe a bit).
Naturally I was curious to see what the reaction would be from strangers as to my wearing fur, but disappointingly the reactions all tend to be to same few questions/comments and in the following order of popularity:
1. Have you ever had been attacked by animal rights people? (No)
2. Are you from Vancouver? (Yes)
3. That coat looks great on you!
4. Can I touch it? (Certainly)
5. My grandmother had one of those.
6. Are you Russian? (a small part)
7. You must be really warm.
I have only received one negative comment in three years. I was waiting at the bus stop when a school girl on her way to Starbucks said "Aren't you ashamed of yourself?". No I'm not, because I'm not the one wearing $200 jeans made by children. If any people actually do react negatively to my wearing fur coats, my response to them would be to ask them how much oil went into making their coat and did they buy it second-hand.
During last year's month of snow I was able to continue wearing skirts everyday and not freeze to death like people who had proper winter gear were.
I see no reason why people should not wear vintage fur coats. It would support local charities or businesses and it saves them from being sent to landfills and they look fantastic with all vintage outfits.
Last year when I got one of those government cheques meant to encourage people to follow a greener lifestyle, I did my bit. I bought a shorter fur coat for $45 at a vintage store Downtown that was having a moving sale. I now have two fur coats for less than the cost of one new synthetic winter coat and by doing so I saved the environment all by myself and I'm able to wear a piece of history.
But what do you think about fur coats and would you ever wear one?
4 comments:
I have several vintage coats that have real fur, either fully fur or just the collar and I love them! I prefer buying vintage for not just my coats but for everything I wear. I search hard and long for what I want as a vintage or second hand piece first. If I don't find what I want then I go to buying a new piece of clothing. There really is so much out there in vintage and consignment shops that there is really very little need to buy new.
The red gloves are a nice touch! This is my third comment... I promise I'm not a stalker. I'm new to blogging and I found yours very interesting!
What a lovely coat!
If I lived in a cold climate a would probably wear one myself.
Umm, unless people are vegan they have no business hating fur. Did an animal live and die to give you a warm coat, certainly. The same is true for for every bit of meat you eat as well. As long as they are treated with respect I think it is fine.
I'm Canadian too and in Ottawa when it's 30 below with a wind that will eat you alive, A long fur coat is the ONLY thing that will keep me warm and plus they have they added advantage of covering my legs. Calf-length coat, calf length boots, hat, two scarves, mitts, and you're all set!
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