What?s for lunch?a fake fur dilemma

November 26, 2007

I needed a new winter coat to replace the ratty, misshapen thing that sat in my closet for the year I lived in Los Angeles (and never needed it). So I spent my lunch break today shopping for it.

In case you hadn’t noticed, fake fur is big this year. It’s on hoods, collars, hats, gloves—even headbands. I’ve always had an aversion to fake fur—my reasoning being that I would never dream of wearing real fur, so why would I buy something that’s trying to look just like it?

Then I came across my dream coat—waterproof, chocolate brown, big pockets, removable hood, lined with polar fleece—only it’s trimmed in, you guessed it, fake fur. I bought it. And, I love it, despite the qualms I have pulling a fuzzy collar around my neck. I tell myself plenty of vegetarians don’t have a problem with fake fur—VT‘s Executive Chef carries a super-stylish animal print purse. You could probably argue that more animal rights are compromised by a jacket that’s 100 percent wool from poorly cared-for sheep than mine that’s zero percent leopard (the trim) or goose (the down). But still. I’ve already found myself on the lookout for a different coat, even though this one is perfect in every other way.

And what do you think? I’d really like to hear your thoughts and opinions so I can be clearer about my own.

—Mary Margaret Chappell, food editor