Thursday, January 14th 2010

By leanne mark

LEANNE MARK

SILHOUETTE STAFF

From time-to-time Fashion struts off the runway, and we discover an equally comfortable and stylish item that we can embrace and wear until it fades into the back of our closests.

Both cozy and glamorous, the trend right now is the highly controversial fur. We’ve seen fur-trimmed hoods and boots spike in popularity over the last few years and now we’re seeing a revival of the 70’s hippie fur vest and extravagant fur bomber of the 80’s. Real or fake, this style is totally winter-proof as it guarantees warmth and glamour. However the fur debate goes on as designers and retailers prepare for the rush of consumers looking to decide whether to “go faux” for this winter season.

Leading in the pro-faux team are top brands like Vivienne Westwood, Lacoste, Calvin Klein, the BCBG Max Azria group (including BCBG Max Azria, Max Azria and Hervé Léger), Ralph Lauren, and  of course Stella McCartney. While some designers like Stella McCartney have been fur free since conception, many of these brands have been continuing their transition up until fall 2009. Prompting this transformation in many cases have been organizations who promote cruelty-free fashion such as PETA and the Humane Society.

This dispute remains a difficult and unfriendly conversation. Many luxury labels from Chanel, Prada, Fendi and Marc Jacobs continue to use fur in their latest Fall/Winter collections despite ongoing protests. To make matters worse, some organizations against animal cruelty have resorted to dramatic displays for attention. Both Alexander McQueen and Donna Karan have been notorious victims of runway crashing from members of organizations like PETA.

These rowdy and messy paint-stained protests are often ignored and ineffective in gaining listening power from designers. The message however, does prompt fair questions to shoppers about purchasing fur and other animal-based products. While the choice is individual, your fashion purchases will show where you stand. Celebrities who have remained silent in their words but loud in their style are: the Olsen twins, Nicole Richie and Rihanna, who all continue to wear fur despite being on PETA’s worst dressed lists.  However, in a more positive effort to persuade others to take a stance against animal-based fashion, PETA recently launched their “Fur-Free and Fabulous” campaign with influential figures like Oprah and Michelle Obama.

Whatever the reason – celebrity influence, passion for luxury, ethical beliefs or a love for animals, the choice remains personal. Fashion is and always will be an expression of one’s self, of art and of the imagination. But for many, being conscious of the way we live and the effect of our actions precede even the most impulsive shoe purchases. Only the fashionista beneath the clothes will know where the items come from and what they are made of—faux fur is quite believable, and often very cheap.

Tags: fashion, faux, fur