Fall 2011 Trend Report - Fur Flows at New York Fashion Week

J. Mendel

Elie Tahari

Tory Burch


DVF

Chado Ralph Rucci

Oscar de le Renta

The Row

Michael Kors

Prabal Gurung

The Benefits of a Ranch Mink Coat

Terri Gold with Sabine Anton and Andrea Warshaw Wernick.
A ranch mink coat is one of the most popular styles of fur coats available while other fashionable furs include fox, rabbit and chinchilla. To be described as "ranch", the jacket's color must be extremely dark brown to very black. Many fur enthusiasts adore the numerous benefits of owning and wearing a ranch mink coat. Read on to learn more about this celebrated fur and its benefits.

Durability
Despite a sleek and lavish look, a mink coat is surprisingly durable when maintained correctly. This means taking it to a professional fur cleaner because the dry cleaning process is harmful to any type of fur. If you take proper care, a fur jacket can withstand decades of use and can even be restyled over the years to be at the forefront of fashion. The color of most mink jackets add to the resilience. Don't worry about white mink and light colors, the nature of fur and the natural of the oils it contains make them highly resistant to stains. Regardless of this, it is recommended that furs be cleaned and stored a minimum of once a year, even if it has not been worn. This is to slow the degradation process and keep it looking beautiful.

Soft, Silky Touch
Mink is an extremely soft fur compared to others. For this reason mink coats are very desirable and, of course, touchable. The pelt of a female mink is more popular than a male's because it tends to be silkier, have a lower nap, and is smaller in size, resulting in a narrower stripe in the construction of a mink coat. On the other hand, male mink pelts tend to be less costly and due to modern breeding techniques, can be just as silky and low nap as female mink pelts. However, male mink pelts do tend to have thicker leather than female mink pelts, resulting in a slightly heavier, but warmer, mink coat.

Versatility
The versatility of a mink coat ranges from casual everyday use to formal evening wear. The warmth provided by this type of fur jacket by far exceeds the average winter jacket making it the perfect piece of clothing to wear on a daily basis during the cold winter months. If you work in a business-casual environment, this type of fur is excellent to wear with your business clothes also. Finally, a mink coat makes the perfect fashion statement for a night on the town. Formal clothing can be worn with it to dress it up during your next fun night out.

If you do your research to find the best quality, whether you get a male or female mink coat, you will be happy with the outcome. The luxurious feel of a soft mink coat cannot be replaced by any other type of fur jacket.

There are many benefits of owning a quality rel=nofollow ranch mink coat that bring joy and pride to fur aficionados everywhere. Even if you have never owned a fur jacket in the past, deciding to invest in one may be the best clothing decision you can make due to its durability and versatility. Anyone can experience the feeling of luxury that mink fur provides.

About Fashion Furs

Fashion Furs sells high quality and value oriented fur fashion outerwear and fur accessories at lower prices than anywhere else. A US company that has been in business since 1983, Fashion Furs values honesty, ethics and reliability. With our experience and longevity you can confidently buy a wide array of genuine fur clothing pieces and trust that what you see on the website is what you will get in the box. Visit http://www.fashionfurs.com/ and see why none of the competition can offer better quality, fashion or value!

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Benefits-of-a-Ranch-Mink-Coat&id=5888947] The Benefits of a Ranch Mink Coat

Mink Fur Coats - Learn the Top 3 Reasons Why You Should Or Should Not Buy Sheared

When it comes to fur coats, the undisputable best seller is Mink. It's been the underlying anchor of the fur industry around the world, and rightfully so. It's soft, beautiful, light, and durable, but most importantly, it makes you feel like a million dollars when wearing it.


I recently came back from the biggest fur show in North America. This show only happens once a year and it's where the best of the best fur manufacturers go to show case their creations. This is where you go and look at what is going to be this year's fashion. You look, observe, analyze and then try to decide which ones you think you will be the best sellers. Its exciting work, but trust me it's not as easy as it sounds.



This year's creations were without doubt, one of the most glamorous and beautiful that I have seen in a long time. But when I was looking at our selection of purchases for this year, I noticed an increasing pattern in our collection fur coat styles. This trendy pattern is all about "sheared fur". If you do not know what sheared fur is, well, it's pretty simple. The fur is shaved before the coat is put together. An example I often refer to; it's like going to the barbers to cut all the long hairs. All that is left is the underlying furs that are all of equal length. The underlying furs are softer, but just as warm.


Of the collection of fur coats we had selected this year, eighty percent were sheared. It's not that we had planned on buying that many sheared fur coats, but this year's creations of sheared fur were so attractive, that we had to get them.

The advantage of sheared over traditional fur coats is the fact that they are much, much lighter; and people like that. In addition, they do not look like a traditional coat, since it has more of a velvety feeling. On the down side, the sheared fur will not be as durable as its counterpart. And that make's sense, you are removing a layer of fur that is used mostly for protection.


Although sheared furs are becoming more and more popular, we still have customers that come in and want the traditional black mink coat. They want the same fur coats Brook Shields or Madonna wears. One of the common reasons people tell me is the following; if they spent a lot of money on a fur coat, they want something they know will last them for 20 or 30 years and still be in style. And that is the beauty of mink fur, its everlasting. It's the definition of classic and elegance all in one. In addition, traditional fur coats make more of a statement.

From my perspective, the jury is still out regarding which style of mink fur (sheared or not sheared) I like the best. I like the lightness of the sheared furs, but I also like the elegance of a traditional fur coat. Either are excellent choices and none is better than the other. Truthfully, I think it's a matter a personal preference. But one thing is for certain, people are still attracted to its splendor and beauty and will continue to be for generations to come.

Dino Karatzios is a third generation furrier, learning the trick of the trade from his Father (Dimitrios who is the actual master furrier) from the day he was born, furs and luxury outerwear is practically in his blood. Currently managing Frank's Furs and Fashions ( http://www.franksfurs.com ), he always likes to help his clients find the right product and give the right advice. For more information regarding furs, leathers or specialty wools, please feel free to contact Dino at Frank's Furs and Fashions ( http://www.franksfurs.com )

Dennis Basso Summer Fur Runway Show!!!!

Spring 2011 Designer Fur Fashion

As designer ready-to-wear collections for the spring 2011 season hit the runways, it would seem that fur fashion is most definitely here to stay.

The Autumn/Winter collections of 2010/2011 saw a fur revival like never before and many challenged its staying power outside of cold conditions but as the seasons change, the winning versatility of fur has shone through. Designers have been lining up to showcase their renewed love of fur by expressing fresh and original ways to utilise it in their latest catwalk creations with innovative styles coming in the form of shorts and skirts from high profile designers such as Yves Saint Laurent, Georgio Armani and Oscar de la Renta.

Coats took on lively new contours from the high sheen offerings of Rick Owens in his trademark jet black and the more lightweight variations appeared in short, tailored waist and thigh-length vests and jackets in serene neutrals from the ultra chic J. Mendel.

Dennis Basso’s sultry coat stylings ranged from cut out and see-through swing jackets with sumptuous snug collars that accentuate the inner silhouette to capped sleeve capes that captured the playful nature of the a-line 60’s but oozed a contemporary feel. Master fur manipulator Fendi displayed a variety of slinky boleros and accessories were still smoothing out the competition with colourful stoles from Dries Van Noten.

Helen Yarmak’s flirty designs used the attention grabbing bold primary hues of royal blue and canary yellow alongside strong shades of black and white cut in pure rock star mode while Oscar de la Renta brought a vintage feel back with a selection of opulent lines, trims, stoles and jackets. The stark whites, soothing browns and slinky blacks in off the shoulder and wide collar designs wouldn’t have looked out of place in the Hollywood glamour set of the 1950’s.

Prada went all out on their spring collections shown at the end of last year with high colour and bold stripe designs in fox fur stoles. Vibrant shades of pink, blue, teal, green and an eye-catching stark orange (which is set to be one of spring’s signature colours) sit surprisingly comfortable alongside thick black stripes. These striking and instantly recognisable stoles are already a store favourite which has no doubt been helped along by a fun ad campaign, endorsements from famous fans such as renowned designer Marc Jacobs and pop sensation and fur advocate, Rihanna, who is rocking the look in her new music video “S & M".

From celebrity wearers to celebrity designers, The Row is a label fronted by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. Already making a stir with the level of fur used in their collections this dynamic twin duo have carved their own niche in the fashion world with their sophisticated and classy sharp tailored pieces that focussed on trims, fur hats and animal prints during New York’s fashion week, with menswear and accessories promised for future lines.

With so much fur still gracing the coming season’s collections, it would seem that as spring approaches and the air heats up, our love of fur most definitely hasn’t cooled.


IFTF is an independent international federation of national fur trade associations and organisations. Iftf is working for conservation welfare and promoting fur fashion. Fur industry is highly regulated and committed to environmental conservation.

DESIGNER FUR COAT

MINK JACKET

How to Choose Your Perfect Length Mink Coat or Mink Jacket

When you decide to invest in a luxurious mink coat it may be a little daunting trying to decide what length would be best. Considering mink coats are made in every length from full length to the shortest little bolero style jacket there's a huge selection to choose from. Take the below 3 factors into consideration and you should be able to decide what is the perfect length for your mink coat.

#1 - Climate
Needless to say it probably gets quite cold where you live during the winter months. However, some of the northern areas tend to get even colder with temperatures dipping below freezing on many a night. If you live in a colder climate you may need more coat tro keep you warm. A full length mink coat is definitely going to give you more coverage and more protection from the elements than a mink jacket.

If you live in a warmer climate and it rarely even freezes, then a full length mink coat may not get much use. In that case a mink jacket or mink cape which looks great with formal wear or jeans will be more useful.

#2 - Body Type
When it comes to deciding on your perfect length mink coat then your body type may help you decide. If you have a perfect model shape then get whatever length mink coat you like. Otherwise you may want to accentuate the positives and camouflage the rest. If you have a petite upper body but a little more "junk in the trunk" then a swing style mink coat may be your perfect choice. If you're heavy on top but have great legs you may want to go with a shorter jacket style mink. Plus size ladies always look ultra glamorous in full length mink coats.

#3 - Price
A full length mink coat will cost on average anywhere from $3000 to $10,000. A lot more pelts go into making a full length coat, so of course it will cost more. If that's a little too pricey for you then consider getting a mink jacket or mink stole which will cost considerably less.

Mink Coats - There No Longer Just Your Mother's Coat

The younger generation is flocking to mink coats and mink jackets like never before. It was once considered the coat of a more mature woman, mostly due to it's larger price tag. The mink coat has now become much more affordable and loved by the youthful and hip. Also the younger generations have more fun with fur, wearing mink stoles with skinny jeans and boots or mink jackets with maxi dresses and floppy hats. The 18 to 30 year olds have truly embraced the versatility of real fur and are teaching the mature ladies a trick or two about fabulous fur fashion.