Fur Fashion for 2009!

Fur accessories are a better option than a badly made fur

Everyone knows that a fur coat is a wonderful investment that will last you for years. So for all you fur lovers, I’m going to supply you with some useful information on how you can tell a good fur coat from a cheap fur coat that has poor quality, and may not stand the test of time.

Pricing for a fur coat is determined by a great many factors, and each of these is important when you are evaluating a coat for quality. Here are some things to consider when looking for that perfect fur coat:

The craftsmanship - Examine your fur coat for the quality of the craftsmanship. An excellent fur coat will have clean stitches, with no fur caught in them. A cheap fur coat, or poor quality fur coat may have sloppy stitches, fur caught in linings and zippers, and it might have a lining that is closed off at the hem. A closed lining will not allow you to see the underside of the fur, so examine the coat as closely as you can.

The amount of leather included -A cheap fur coat may use strips of leather underneath to space out the fur. This means that less pelt is used in construction, and the resulting garment will be less durable, and slightly cheaper. This can be a great fur for someone who is cost conscious, but if you’re ready to spend on the very best, look for a fur with no space between the pelts.

The color of the leather underneath - A natural fur coat should have a creamy, off white colored leather beneath the fur. An undyed coat will be a little more expensive because the pelts need to match, in order to look consistent. If you see colored leather beneath the fur, and the coat is being marketed as natural, then look elsewhere.

The number of pelts used in the coat - This number can be hard to pin down, so don’t obsess over it, but do keep in mind that the more actual fur in the garment, the higher the quality will be. If a fur feels thin, ridged underneath, or you can find a lot of spaces in the leather that may or may not show up on the outside, then you are probably looking at a cheap fur coat, rather than a top quality fur.

How you feel about the coat - Price is never the only factor when purchasing a fur coat. How you feel about it should speak more loudly than money. When buying a new fur coat, try it on. Move around in it a bit. If it doesn’t feel comfortable, then it’s not the coat for you. You may find that you prefer the lighter feel of a cheap fur coat, or you enjoy the way a cheaper coat is cut, as opposed to a similar expensive one. Just make sure that if you choose a poor quality fur coat, that you must be prepared to bring it to a furrier very often to repair damages. A cheap fur coat will simply not last as long as a quality fur.

Black Sheared Mink Stroller w/ Indigo Fox Tuxedo

Are you thinking about buying a fur coat? There are many styles to choose from. Who knows the best and latest styles on the market, as well as the latest trends in top quality fur coats? Who also knows how best to care for your fur coat? A furrier of course!

Furriers are specialized merchants that are professionals in their fields. From the first moment you walk into a furrier, it is about building a relationship that will last beyond your purchase. A fur is not your average purchase and a furrier understands this exactly. Furs need care and maintenance throughout the time you own them if you want to enjoy them for many years to come. A furrier can help you understand how to protect the investment of your new fur coat.

When buying a fur coat, some people may look to large retail outlets, thinking they may save a few dollars. But in the long run, a fur is an investment. Staff in a large retail store may lack the expertise to advise you on how to store and care for your fur coat. Additionally, they may not be there when you have questions or concerns months after your purchase.

For example, a furrier will offer a cold storage vault facility to store your fur coat. In the warmer summer months, furs need to be properly stored to protect it from heat, humidity and air conditioning. Fur vaults control for temperature and humidity, keeping your fur safe and ready for the next winter. Because you have built a relationship with your furrier, you can be confident that your fur coat will be left in competent and caring hands.

A furrier will know best how to care for your fur something you may or may not get at a large retail outlet. There are special processes to maintain a fur coat and a furrier will know all about them. For example, furs need to be cleaned and glazed annually, a specialized process that a furrier can perform. Also, in order to prevent the premature cracking and drying of fur pelts, they must be moisturized each year. This process is something that furriers are experienced in doing.

By having a relationship with a furrier, you can ensure that your fur is properly taken care of. And also, that it is in hands that you can trust. A furrier understands that furs need care and attention. Because of their expertise, they can provide that to you.

In a retail store, the sales clerks may lack this type of expertise. Maybe last week they worked with raincoats. You will not have this experience with furriers. A furrier has one job – to understand fur coats. When you buy a fur coat from a furrier, you are buying more than a simple coat. You are investing in a relationship. A furrier sees your purchase as a relationship and will provide you with the service, advice and counsel you expect when building a lasting partnership.

Sheared Rabbit Stroller Dyed Purple Degrade

When deciding to buy a fur, there are many options available. Each should be considered thoroughly, as this piece is really an investment into your wardrobe and potentially a heritage piece to be handed down through generations. Before you choose “the one,” you need to narrow down exactly what you want out of this fur coat.

Are you looking for durability rather than to make a fashion statement? What type of fur do you prefer? What length or style do you like? What price level do you feel comfortable with? And finally, do you want natural colored fur or a dyed fur coat? These decisions will culminate in your perfect coat.

Perhaps, it is wise to note that all of these choices are intertwined, especially the choice between natural color and dyed fur.

Natural colored fur is the more traditional approach to wearing a fur. It allows the natural qualities of the fur to truly stand out for admiration. The natural fur color and sheen will compliment a more conservative, or classic, silhouette for an owner that wants to invest in a piece that will stand the test of time as well as pay homage to fur coats of the past.

If you would like to blend the past with the present, you may consider having a coat made of natural color fur but updated with a modern cut. This updated approach will appease today’s trends, but will still have a sophisticated feel.

Natural fur coats will cost more than dyed fur for a few reasons. When a furrier is creating a natural color fur garment, he must find furs that can be sewed together for a cohesive look. All of the furs used in this process must match on several levels. The furs should all have the same consistency. The owner must be able to run his or her hand over the garment and not feel a textural change. The furs must also have the same color so there is not a noticeable difference. To lower the final cost of particular garments, smaller pieces that do have differences can be sewn together. This will add to the overall texture and pattern of the coat.

Using dyed fur is an alternative to using traditional natural color fur. This is a fashion forward trend that allows the owner to have a fur piece of any color. This is perfect for the owner that wants to stay atop of all of the latest color trends. This option works well with any silhouette. If you want a garment to be totally trendy, you can opt for a piece sewn in an ultra modern cut and made out of a trendy color. To blend modern and vintage, use a trendy color on a classic cut. When furriers create a dyed piece, it is slightly less expensive because pelts to not have to match in color, only texture, when they are sewn together. The dye will create the cohesive look desired.

K COUTURE RANCH MINK WITH LACE COAT

When you think fur coat, you probably imagine a loose-fitting, mid-calf length coat with long sleeves and a generous collar. But what’s commonly known as a Three Quarter length fur coat isn’t your only option when it comes to style.

Trendy, classic, long or short, here is a list of the most common styles of fur coat with tips to help you choose the one that’s right for you.

Coats
A coat is a fur that is made to cover most, if not all, of the garment underneath. The most popular style is the Three Quarter or mid-calf length. Go with a sophisticated, classic cut and this is a coat that will last you a lifetime.

If you prefer your coat on the shorter side, consider a Seven Eights length  fur coat. This is a coat that skims the knee. Not as heavy as a Three Quarter length, the Seven Eights will give you more freedom of movement, particularly if you’re getting in and out of a car.

If you’re looking to make a statement with your fur, consider a Great Coat. A great coat is a longer, fuller coat that goes all the way down to the ankle. It’s the perfect coat for a Broadway opening or a night at the opera.

Jackets

If you don’t care for the weight of a full-length fur coat, consider a fur jacket.

The Bolero is a short jacket that rides at the waist or slightly above. A Bolero worn over a long, flowing gown will have you looking like a 1930’s Hollywood starlet ready to walk down the red carpet.

If walking along the boardwalk in Atlantic City is more your thing, then go with a Stroller. A Stroller, or fur  Walking Jacket comes down to the hip, giving you warmth and coverage with a freedom of movement.

Capes

When it comes to drama, nothing beat a fur cape. By definition a cape is a sleeveless garment that rests on the shoulders. A cape generally hangs to the waist and may have a single closure at the neckline.

A fur Stole is the simplest form of cape. It’s actually just a narrow length of fur that wraps around the shoulders and crosses mid-chest without any type of closure. Simple and elegant, it’s perfect for a night on the town, a gallery opening or cocktails with friends.

A fur Opera Coat is the complete opposite of a Stole. Despite it’s name, an Opera Coat is a long, flowing cape that barely skims the floor. It was designed to be worn over an evening gown and though some are made with sleeves, they’re very loose and open and not at all tailored as they would be in a true fur coat.

When it comes to choosing a style of fur, think about how you’ll be wearing the garment. If it’s for black tie parties, a short jacket or simple stole might be just the thing. If you’re off to the theater on a regular basis, a stroller or three quarter length fur coat will do the trick. But if you’re out to make a grand entrance, great coat or opera coat will assure that all eyes are on you.

Knitted Fox Shrug

A long, luxurious Mink coat often conjures up images of periods in our history. Golden ages, when furs meant royalty, nobility, and the elites of their time. Now, furs are more accessible than ever, and the most difficult part of finding a fur is choosing what sort of fur coat is the right one for you.

Getting your hands on the coat of your dreams, whether long fur coats, mink fur coats or any other type is a breeze-especially in the age of the internet, where you have a world of choices with just a few clicks. Sometimes, all the choices can make it even harder to narrow down what you want. You want to do more than just find a great deal on a fur coat. You want to find the fur that will showcase your unique style. To help you do that, we’ve come up with a few tips to help you choose the best fur coat so that you can be sure that you’re delighted with your investment for a long time.

Tips for Choosing the Best Fur Coat

• Consider your needs. Are you looking for something that you hope to wear for a very long time or are you looking for something more fashion forward and trendy? Is it strictly for special occasions, in which case a long fur coat might be best, or do you want something to wear with anything, including jeans, like a shorter mink fur coat or jacket? Determining your need will make it easier to narrow things down.
• Have a budget and an open mind. We’d all love to get our hands on a gorgeous long fur coat or glamorous mink fur coat for bargain basement prices, but if a good coat is what you’re after then you’ll need to keep an open mind as far as budget goes. Don’t throw your budget out the window and give in to a whim, either! Just have a little leeway to play with.
• Peruse the types of furs available. It may seem that mink fur coats are THE coat to have, but after a little research you may find that you prefer the look of chinchilla or fox. All furs offer you a very different look and feel, so getting to know the different types of fur will make choosing a lot easier.
• Browse the styles. I don’t mean as in long fur coats or short, I mean sheared or non sheared, dyed or natural furs. If you prefer a classic look then long fur coat or short, you’ll be best off with something natural in color. Furs come dyed in all kinds of fashionable and even outlandish colors for those looking for something bold and unique.
• Look for things like shine and fur length. The outer fur should always look luxuriously soft and shiny and should be longer than the fur on the inner layers. This can actually mean the difference between a coat that looks high quality and one that just looks cheap.

With these tips in mind you’ll be able to make the best choice for you no matter what your taste. So get out there and get yourself that mink fur coat you’ve always longed for.

Fox fur jewelry

If your fur is beginning to look a bit out of date, there’s no reason to banish it to the back of your closet when you can simply have it restyled instead. A restyle for a fur coat can add years to the life of the fur, by updating the look and shape to fit you better, as well as to keep it fashionable. Morris Kaye and Sons has extensive experience restyling furs, and we can make sure that you’re looking your absolute best in your fur coat.

Fur has nearly limitless opportunities for restyling. It can be taken apart and reconstructed, shorn to have a shorter plush, given a new collar or sleeve; and the excess fur can be used to make keepsakes, collars and trim for wool coats and cashmeres, fur purses, and fur vests.

Before we restyle a fur coat, we take a look at the condition it’s in. We definitely don’t want you to spend money on a fur that isn’t going to last. If the coat is still soft and supple, and isn’t too dry, we can make suggestions on the best way to update your fur for a modern look. If you shorten your coat and there is fur remaining, we can also use this to make smaller items for you.

The best type of fur coat restyling is done on mink fur, since mink is often purchased new, can last over 50 years with care, and is very lightweight and easy to manipulate. Mink also makes a great lining for fabric and wool coats. A good mink coat in prime condition has limitless restyling options. Fox also makes a great fur for restyling, because a jacket can be transformed into a dramatic capelet, and fox makes a great trim on other garments.

Sable is not restyled very often, because sable is often very classically and conservatively cut to begin with. Chinchilla is another type of fur that is not often restyled, due to the fragile nature of chinchilla fur. Sheared beaver is rarely used as a coat lining due to the weight, but it can be restyled into vests and bags nicely.

Once you decide how you’d like your fur to be styled, we will take your measurements and then reinvent your fur so that it once again shows off your unique personality and style. Our pricing for this kind of work is also as unique as your new garment. We will talk with you, and cover all the information you’ll need to know before we begin. We have been doing this for generations, but it can be easy for you to get lost in all the technical aspects of fur restyling. We want to make sure that you are never confused or out of touch. A fur restyling is a labor of love.

If you want to have your fur coat restyled, we suggest that you allow plenty of time for it. The summer is the perfect time to have your fur restyled, because you will not need to wear it again for a few months, which gives us plenty of time to work. We can also restyle a fur, and then store it for you until you are ready to wear it for another season.

WHITE AND BLACK SHEARED RABBIT SHAWL

Q: What if my fur’s style needs to be updated? Can you restyle  fur at Morris Kaye and Sons?

A: We can restyle any fur that is in good condition. A fur that is in good condition will be a fur that has soft leather, that moves easily. The fur will not be dry or molting. We can restyle a fur several times, provided it is kept in good condition.

Q: My fur coat doesn’t quite fit me anymore. Can you re-style it so that it’s more comfortable to wear?

A: You may find that as you age, your fur no longer fits the way it did ten years ago, even if your weight has not changed. This is because over time, the human bone structure changes to increase the span of the shoulder blades and hips. We can let out several inches across the back and bust, and drop the armholes so that you are able to wear your fur more comfortably, drive without any constriction, or wear bulkier clothes on underneath.

Q: My coat is too long. Can you make it a shorter style?

Yes, we can restyle a fur coat to make it a stroller style coat or a jacket. We can also update the sleeves, collar, and cuffs to give your fur coat a more modern appearance. If there is sufficient fur left over, we can use the excess material to create fur keepsakes, vests, or purses.

Q: Can you repair damage such as rips and tears in the lining, and holes in the fur?

A: We can repair any damage, as long as the fur itself is in good condition. To repair any damage in the lining of the fur, we take special care not to change the appearance of the outside. To repair damage in the fur itself, we may insert new fur into the damaged areas in such a way that it is not visible to the naked eye.

Q: How does Morris Kaye and Sons clean a fur coat?

A: We use the same ground corn cob formula used by my grandfather, when he was a furrier. These natural chemicals have been used for over 200 years, and are still the best cleaning agents for fur. They will very mildly clean, while at the same time, remove excess dirt and oils. This process can now be done by a special machine that is designed to clean a fur with minimal handling, but very old furs that need special care are still cleaned by hand, just as they have been for hundreds of years. After the cleaning process, the fur is carefully glazed.

Q: What is glazing, and why is it necessary?

A: Glazing is a process that restores shine and luster to a fur coat, as well as adds essential oils to the follicles of the fur to keep the hairs from drying out and breaking. Without glazing, furs will not only look dull, but they may develop sparse patches, where brittle fur has broken off. During glazing, the fur will be lightly steamed and ironed depending on the type of fur, and then the glaze will be applied. the glaze is a powder, similar to a silicate, and it will go a long way toward restoring a fur. This process should be done every other year by a professional furrier.

Fox fur Stole

Any fur lover knows that heat and humidity are a fur’s worst enemy. This can be especially true if you live in a sweltering southern state. If you need to store furs in Texas, or any place with less than perfectly maintained climate control, you should consider putting your fur in cold storage during the warmer months. Fur coats are often put into cold storage for the duration of the hottest part of the year, and it is this process that will most protect their value and lifespan. While in cold storage, your fur will be safe from extreme heat and humidity, both of which can deplete the fur of the oils that keep it lustrous and glossy. Without cold storage, a fur may dry out, or even molt.

Cold Storage vaults are specialized storage rooms that lack any exposure to direct sunlight or bright lights, as these can discolor or fade fur. Cold Storage rooms are controlled year round, to ensure that temperature and humidity levels never reach a point that can harm the furs. The cold temperature also ensures that pests like insects and rodents will not infest the storage rooms or disturb the furs.

For anyone intending to store a special fur, it is absolutely imperative to deal with a reputable and professional furrier. If you need local fur storage in Dallas, Morris Kaye & Sons offers an impeccable service. If need to find a local furrier for another area, ask around for a good referrals. Many businesses, such as dry cleaners may claim to be fur storage specialists, but this is unlikely to be the case. Your best option is to store your fur with the furrier it was purchased from, as that furrier will be guaranteed to give it the best care.

If you are unsure about who you should store furs with, here are some guidelines to follow:

· Request information regarding the cold storage unit, such as size, temperature settings, etc.

· Pay attention to how the furs in the showroom are stored. They should be hung properly on the hangers to guard against wear on the seams of the shoulders, and they should be spaced with plenty of room in between one another to prevent crushing of the fur. How the furrier displays his own furs will give you an indication of how he cares for them.

· Ask what temperature furs are stored at, and try to find out how heat and humidity levels are monitored.

· Ask the furrier about pest control, and whether or not they have had any recent problems with moths or mice.

· Any fur storage facility that puts your garment in a plastic or restrictive bag is a definite warning sign. Furs should never be crushed. If you see this happen, immediately remove your garment, and search for another location.