Fur-get it

I have a confession-I am an incurable Vogue, Elle, Harpers Bazaar, fashion magazine addict. It is my porn mag. I hide this fact behind my current copy of the Great Gatsby and The Prosecution of George Bush for Murder. I decry their significant in my library infront of fellow bibliophiles but they are, nonetheless, my dirty, guilty, secret pleasure. A Saturday afternoon, a brand new Vogue and a glass of wine is my favorite escape. That said, I was disappointed and, frankly appalled when I saw a chinchilla coat featured in one of the pages.



I have three chinchillas. They are as smart (if not more) than my dog, they are sweet and trainable. I could no more wear dog fur as I could chinchilla. The method of destroying these animals is equally disturbing. I found this out when I unwittingly bought a guide to chinchilla health authored by a chinchilla farmer. She was and is an authority on chinchilla rearing, though my motives were much, much different. I can't recount here the method in which these lovely animals are dispatched, its too emotional for me. I am not a strict vegan, I love my Cole Haan leather purse, I don`t pontificate on the use of animals for food or clothing. A cow is killed and the meat is used for food. The skin is used for clothing. In the end the whole animal is used. I have plenty of vegan friends that would disagree with my rationale however, it is a fact. To create a chinchilla hat, for example, you require at least eight animals - EIGHT!- to make a hat. For a car coat at least 150 animals. They are small and the whole pelt is not used for clothing, only the dorsal portion, the belly fur being discarded due to colour and texture. The meat cannot be used, it is too muscular and sparse. I`ve never seen chinchilla on a menu even in the most progressive, outrageous restaurants. The chinchilla only looks large because their fur is long, but their bodies are quite slim and lithe.



I carry on about chinchillas because I am the joyful owner of three but my rant extends to all other animals which are destroyed solely for their pelts. We don`t need fur. Fur looks great and a beautiful fur bolero finishes off any outfit for winter. However, textile technology has progressed to such an extent that faithful reproductions can be made that only the designer themselves would be able to discern as an imposter. And seriously, if anyone approaches you and proceeds to pet your coat-they owe you a dinner.

Can we all stop using fur? I personally think that unless you're a mob moll from 1935, fur had its time as an emblem of luxury. If you want to display overt luxury and an 'I have more money than sense' aura, buy a conflict free diamond. Now there's a statement.