The Vintage Fur Thread

[Miss sofia]

What a lovely idea GI Jane. I would perhaps make sure Teddy is not hear a radiator and preferably stored somewhere cool. You could perhaps get away with spraying a light mist of oil on him or rubbing some into his seams. Something like a sweet almond oil or a dry oil of some kind. Obviously you don't want to get him greasy, but a light mist might work. I'd give it a go anyway.

I will ask for you, as i work next to a teddy bear shop and she sells all manner of vintage and new bears.

 

[RodeoRose]

Luckily I don't find vintage stoles with faces and feet inherently offputting; the catch is when they're in rather rough shape (moth-eaten, shedding, withered paws, etc.), which will give the finest fur the look of roadkill. It may sound convoluted, as I'm also an animal lover, but my rationale is that since the poor little critter was killed all those years ago anyway, I want to treat its remains with dignity and give it a safe, loving home. I'm sure I sound like a perfect creep now, but it's kind of fun (and awfully glamourous!) to go out with a furry pal cuddled around your neck.

I have utmost respect for anyone empathetic enough to avoid fur altogether, too.

 

[Miss sofia]

Luckily I don't find vintage stoles with faces and feet inherently offputting; the catch is when they're in rather rough shape (moth-eaten, shedding, withered paws, etc.), which will give the finest fur the look of roadkill. It may sound convoluted, as I'm also an animal lover, but my rationale is that since the poor little critter was killed all those years ago anyway, I want to treat its remains with dignity and give it a safe, loving home. I'm sure I sound like a perfect creep now, but it's kind of fun (and awfully glamourous!) to go out with a furry pal cuddled around your neck.

I have utmost respect for anyone empathetic enough to avoid fur altogether, too.

I couldn't agree more RodeoRose!!

 

[Retro_GI_Jane]

What a lovely idea GI Jane. I would perhaps make sure Teddy is not hear a radiator and preferably stored somewhere cool. You could perhaps get away with spraying a light mist of oil on him or rubbing some into his seams. Something like a sweet almond oil or a dry oil of some kind. Obviously you don't want to get him greasy, but a light mist might work. I'd give it a go anyway.

I will ask for you, as i work next to a teddy bear shop and she sells all manner of vintage and new bears.

That would be wonderful, Miss Sofia...I await any info you find out.

 

[Marla]

Whenever I wear a stole I find myself absentmindedly stroking the little bodies the way one strokes a cat. Does that seem grotesque? It's actually strangely comforting, though it isn't something you would see a Golden Era Screen Diva doing. (Except perhaps Bette Davis as Baby Jane Hudson?) I considered naming one of my fox stoles Pyewacket, but maybe that's pushing it.

 

[Miss sofia]

That's not grotesque at all Marla, i do the same. I find it hard not to stroke any kind of fur i find myself in the vicinity of. Quite often i see customers at work do the same to fur tippets with the head on. I have actually had customers absentmindedly stroke the coat or wrap i have been wearing too, which is a little strange, but again, it's so tactile, it's hard not to i guess for some folk. Even the few people who have been negative about me wearing fur, have not been averse to having a bit of a stroke.

I did read somewhere, that part of our attraction to fur, aside from the tactile and aesthetic aspect, is because it arouses a subconcious, primaeval instinct/memory, after all we spent a great deal of our time on this planet, wearing only fur clothing. I'm not sure about how i feel about this statement,

 

[Marla]

Ha, what a good retort. If anyone takes issue with me wearing fur, I'll tell them I do it because it's an evolutionary instinct.

 

[Miss Flora]

...

I must say I adore them, they all have names (Fred, Vincent and Nol) and I honestly cherrish them.

I also named my fox stole! It seems so nice to wear one when it has a name

 

[Mrs Chaddsley_Corbett]

I Can imagine Miss Crawford walking into the 'Brown Derby' or 'Ciro's' dragging one of these furs on the ground behind her!........."Isn't that Joan Crawford?"

http://www.joancrawfordbest.com/joanfurs.htm

 

[Highball Emy]

My 1950s musquash in St. Petersburg:

 

[Miss sofia]

You look gorgeous. I love your red accessories, so glam with the fur. Btw, i have been hacking pairs of tights this evening, as per your blog. I'm going to be working outside on my friends vintage stall tomorrow. So here's hoping!!

GI Jane - I haven't forgotten about asking the teddy lady about your teddy. She has actually been closed for a week, sensibly, as naff all seems to be happening business wise in our area. But i will report on her findings asap.

Today i was actually a very good girl on the fur front. I spied a lovely child's ermine collar. Really beautiful and in lovely condition. I walked away and bought necessary things instead like loo cleaner and cat litter!

 

[Louise Anne]

Looking fabulous Highball Emy
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/member.php?23542-Highball-Emy

My 1950s musquash in St. Petersburg:

 

[Highball Emy]

Thank you you two! The coat, hat, scarf and gloves were a 21st birthday present from my Grandma and Gramps - I think she always wanted a fur coat but couldn't afford one back in the day!

Hope your wool stockings go well Miss Sofia... they changed my life!

 

[Retro_GI_Jane]

Bumpity bump. Any ladies with fur collars care to clue me in how they attach them to their sweaters and coats? My husband bought me a beautiful rabbit fur collar and I can tell that at one time, there may have been hooks or something attached but they are long gone. The collar would look wonderful with several cardis I own as well as my wool coat but I don't really want to be sewing hooks and eyes to everything when I wouldn't be wearing the collar exclusively whenever I wore those items.

 

[Drappa]

I have one with a hook and eye attached to each end of the collar, slightly underneath. When you close it the furry bits hide the hook and you just wear the collar on top of whichever clothing you wear that day.
Others I believe have loops underneath and then buttons on the coat or cardigan to attach them. Otherwise maybe fur clips?

 

[Retro_GI_Jane]

^^Oh the hook and eye at the ends sounds doable to hold it together until I find a fur clip that fits my budget. I will have to give it a try. I should have initially stated though that my collar is long, more for v-necks so I am concerned about it flapping in my lunch plate and shifting around with movement.

 

[Drappa]

^ I have a long fake fur one. There is a long loop on the underside of one end and you can pull one end through the loop on the other end (a bit like a scarf is tied). Maybe you could loosely sew a bit of ribbon onto one underside and feed the other end through?

 

[Grnidwitch]

Jane,

Take the collar to your local dry cleaners. They might be able to help you with some type of fastener. I have a mink collar and there are clips on the undersid to attach to a jacket or sweater.

 

[absinthewilde]

I do not support the modern fur industry but I do like vintage furs and am particularly fond of the wraps that have the head and legs and all that. Do those go by a particular name? I usually call them stoles but if there is a more particular term I'd love to know it so I can weed out the typical mink stoles that do not look like the animal form. Sorry if that's not making any sense, I don't know how else to put it. I just bought this one on Etsy https://www.etsy.com/transaction/95357015 Anyone know when they stopped making these types of stoles? Or am I wrong in thinking they don't make them anymore? One of the reasons I prefer these types of furs is that it was my belief that these won't be mistaken as modern but maybe I am wrong in assuming they will all have a decent amount of age to them. Also, anybody know if the way it is lined is an indication of quality? By this I mean in the example I bought it has a satin lining on the under belly but one that I own already which is a marten or ermine I think, it has it's natural fur belly. I'm wondering if one is better than the other.

 

[LinaSofia]

I have a question for you all about getting rid of dust mites from old fur.... I know the tricks like putting it in the freezer and in a bag with fresh coffee, but it's difficult to do these things because what I'm working with is a very large/thick/heavy 40s sheepskin coat that doesn't fit in my freezer!!

It arrived today from the seller and it's got a very heavy musty smell! I've had it hanging outside all day to air it, and I've vacuumed the pelt, but of course it still honks to high heaven! Does anyone have any other tips for how I can get the smell out in time for Christmas eve? :help:

I read somewhere that rubbing it down with white wine vinegar helps?!

Thank you ladies...