This week, I did something I had never done before – I stepped out in a fur coat.
Obviously the fur was faux (shop it here), but considering that I had never worn fur before, it was a singular experience. I won’t even try to deny it – I felt stylish. Glamorous. Noticeable. As I made my way through icy London (this week, winter has officially hit us), I felt like it didn’t matter if makeup was smudged or if I was having a bad hair day – my coat pulled together my outfit and gave me a wow factor that was a cross between Hollywood glamour and rockstar cool. Even at the end of a long, tiring day, I was still confident about my look – a rare occurrence.
When I came home and hung the fur back onto my trusty pink clothes rack, I found myself wondering – if this is what faux feels like, why do people even bother buying real fur? If the glamour, style and luxe feel of fur can be captured so beautifully in a £29.90 faux jacket, why does the real deal still exist?
There used to be a time when faux fur looked cheap. Coarse, dull and with a clearly synthetic appearance, the fake coats of times gone by were nowhere near the glossy, chic creations that can be found with designers such as Shrimps, Faux England and Unreal Fur this season. But those times are long gone. Faux fur today exudes style and attitude – it’s versatile, exquisite and fiercely on-trend. Magazines all over the world are hyping faux fur for a reason: there is no excuse to wear animal skins anymore.
How to pull off a faux fur coat? Well, first of all, get ready to command attention. Wallflowers need not apply – this is a strong, powerful look. Secondly, a short jacket is best paired with slim trousers. I love wearing my fur with my ripped jeans or my skinny black trousers. A longer coat looks glamorous over a dress. A black or neutral coat needs a pop of colour – I often pair mine with my blue backpack from Bessie. A colourful coat? Wow, girl – no fear here. Keep the rest of your look subdued.
But most of all, DO IT. Go faux with pride. Show the world that fake is strong, compassionate and beautiful. Be proud of the fact that you fake it – you’re part of a revolution. And let us know! Tweet, Pin or Instagram your looks with #thefakeover hashtag and join the wonderfully furry world of faux.
Also – yesterday, fabulous veganista Victoria Moran tweeted: “I don’t say faux. We need to present superior items as superior” and I very much agree. Since we actually think that faux fur is better, not just a cheat-copy of the real deal, maybe labelling it as “a fake” isn’t the best idea? But otherwise, what should we call it? Any ideas are welcome.
Photo by David Camilli
