Fur coats?

[MrBaggyTrousers]

Hey fellas,

This is my first post but I figured I might as well just jump in!
What's the consensus here on fur coats? Ever since I saw "The Third Man" I wanted a coat like the Baron's - political incorrectness aside. Does anyone here have any tips on finding one, short of the ubiquitous eBay search? How were they perceived, back in - as it were - "the day?" I've heard several conflicting opinions, ranging from "they look pimp" to "they're exceedingly flamboyant." Any thoughts fellas?

 

[miles_archer]

Unless you are wearing it to a particularly cold Harvard-Yale football game might be a bit much. Actually even then it would help to be drunk and old enough to remember at least one Roosevelt fireside chat.

 

[Edward]

I may be wrong, but the impression I have is that for the most part men's furs were more fur-lined, or fur-collared coats rather than the fur being on the outside. You could try eBay. I recently saw what appeared to be a very nice vintage fur-lined overcoat on there, though I don't know how long it will stay: some firneds were trying to sell old family furs years ago, and their auctions were shut down because they were real furs. [huh]

Wearing one nowadays - the ethical debate and negative attention it may consequently draw aside (you'll find the arguments all raked over in great depth on an old thread if you search the Lounge) - is most likely to be perceived, IMO, as affected flamboyance in the manner of a "gangsta rapper"... indeed, the only men I can recall seeing wearing furs in recent years have been the likes of Puff Diddyman (or whatever he is calling himself nowadays). Irrespective of your historical intentions, this is most likely what you will be associated with by others - up to you whether that matters or not.

 

[scotrace]

I hope Tony in Tarzana will post here. He has a fantastical fur-lined-fur-collared coat.

A fur collar was, I believe, perfectly acceptable. There's a good photo around here of general George Marshall, as US Secretary of State, attending a meeting in Moscow in a fur-collared over coat.
A full-length fur coat, again in my opinion, would be over the top. Fur lined should be fine.

Here's a bartender warning: please keep this thread to the aesthetics of fur, and not the modern ethical questions. That means not even a glancing blow, i.e. "Of course, I think wearing fur is reprehensible, but if you must, then I say yes, a collar is..." Not a peep. Or else. The rest is covered, in depth, elsewhere. Stay on topic.

 

[MrBaggyTrousers]

Fur coats

Yes, I meant fur-collar coats - Full furs being a little "Oscar Wilde," in my opinion. I was more thinking of those creepy Central European sorts who Peter Lorre and his ilk specialize in portraying. Invariably they must have a large bow-tie, an Austrian accent, and they must be involved in all manner of sinister plots and conspiracies...

This was the sort of thing I was thinking of.

Having been involved in medieval costuming, the first thing I learned was that films certainly never can be taken as representing any sort of historical fact. How many people actually walk around dressed like they do in films made today?

Bartender edit: NOT KIDDING. Don't bring it UP. (And welcome to the Lounge - I just saw you're new, and from Ohio. Very cool! But please, aesthetics only -scotrace)

 

[Edward]

As an alternative option, if you can't find anything vintage, Magnoli does this:

Available with an optional faux-fur collar for USD750 (includes shipping, I believe). Certainly visually correct, to my eye. Would look great with a sharp navy pinstripe DB and a homberg...

 

[MrBaggyTrousers]

Bartender edit: NOT KIDDING. Don't bring it UP. [/COLOR] (And welcome to the Lounge - I just saw you're new, and from Ohio. Very cool! But please, aesthetics only -scotrace)

My apologies, your post didn't register with me somehow - I need to engineer my life so I can sleep more. Thanks for the welcome!

Deary me, but Magnoli does have some simply beautiful things for sale - that coat's simply the bee's knees. (I'm getting the hang of this already!) If I had 750 bucks sitting around they'd already be spent...

 

[Indy Magnoli]

Here is a customer of mine in the complete outfit:

Kind regards,
Magnoli

 

[John in Covina]

In the 20's didn't those college boys wear full length racoon coats?
Boo-lah, Boo-lah!

 

[Tomasso]

Here's a current offering from Gucci :

Yes, I meant fur-collar coats

It's always good to post a photo with your queries.

 

[B. F. Socaspi]

I personally don't like the look, regardless of moral/ethical connotations. I think it's rather in-your-face bourgeois, reminiscent of Mr. Burns or Scrooge.

However, if it works for you, it works for you. Magnoli's coat is attractive, and the man he posted can pull it off well enough.

 

[mike]

Jack Johnson circa 1910 in a surprisingly lowkey fur collared coat...

 

[_RAGNAR_]

Unless you are wearing it to a particularly cold Harvard-Yale football game might be a bit much. Actually even then it would help to be drunk and old enough to remember at least one Roosevelt fireside chat.

I have a full length beaver coat that would be very at home at a harvard game. But since we are dressing "vintage" I don't see the need to be old to wear it.

It look great IMO and of course goes very well with a hat.

Fur jackets were very common place in the NE in the winter. Last time I was in Buffalo in jan and it was zero out I saw plenty of men and women downtown dressed to go out with fur jackets.

I love fur and I wish we had the weather up here to wear them more often (not cold enough and too much rain)

 

[Dr Doran]

The Lorre photo is godlike, and the gentleman whose photo Magnoli posted looks marvelous, although the earlier photo that Edward posted without the person inside it doesn't do much for me.

I would wear a fur-lined collar but that would only be wearable for about a month in California. It's just not practical to have so warm a coat here.

 

[BinkieBaumont]

Jeeves Dissaproves

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYf5YPNnfRY

 

[Foofoogal]

To Magnoli and his customer:

Now that is a fine looking gentlemen and outfit. :eusa_clap :eusa_clap
The cane is amazing. :

Regardless of how or what I went to a Christmas show recently that had a booth full of vintage fur (both faux and real) the ladies were fighting over them so there is a market.

 

[carter]

Hey, Whippenpoofers !

How 1920's Ivy League is this!

_____________________________________________

There's an interesting memory recorded here.

Rudy Vallee and the Raccoon Coat
http://images.google.com/imgres?img...&ndsp=20&um=1&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&sa=N

Written by someone who was involved with the TV series Combat.

 

[Tomasso]

How 1920's Ivy League is this!

A Boater with a fur coat? :eusa_doh:

 

[HadleyH]

Aesthetically strange! [huh]

 

[thunderw21]

1922 Mont. Ward catolog

Embrace the fur coat.