Monday, December 30, 2013

To Wear Fur…..Or Not

Queen Elizabeth has been criticized by animal rights groups for wearing a fur coat on Christmas Day.
Credit: dailymail.co.uk
It seems the media were divided about whether to criticize her, or praise her for her thrift – the coat being more than 50 years old.

We all know the controversy surrounding the wearing of animal furs. Being an animal lover myself, I absolutely support the humane treatment of ALL animals in ALL cases.

Oh, I have heard the stories about the inhumane manner in which some animals are trapped and killed for their furs. It’s disgusting and I cannot bear to think about it.

But what about wearing leather? Or eating meat? There doesn’t seem to be the same outcry for these activities.

Some animals (minks) are farm raised for their pelts. Is this so much different from raising beef cattle or pork?

Is wearing a 50 year old coat going to bring back the lives of the animals who once wore the Queens’s coat? Or was she being castigated for what appeared to be an outward show of support for wearing furs?

Perhaps she wore the coat to keep warm! And in my opinion, the Queen should wear that coat whenever she pleases!

But what about the rest of us? Should we drag out our furs and wear them? Destroy them? Give them away for someone else to wear?




I bought mine more than 25 years ago. There wasn’t quite as much controversy on the subject then as there is today. My lifestyle then was such that I found occasions to wear them. And they are beautiful!

Now there are not that many days here that such a warm coat is needed. But when it gets really cold, nothing is as warm as a fur coat.

I haven’t worn mine in almost 20 years. Well, I take that back. I wore the long one a few years ago to walk the dogs on cold days. Is my mink coat now relegated to being worn in the fields and woods so that only the dogs see me?

I’ve been told wearing furs is not as controversial in other countries as it is in the U.S. What is your view on the subject.

I close this post with the story about a woman who inherited a fur coat. One day she was approached by an antifur campaigner who screamed at her, "What poor creature had to die so that you could wear that coat?"


Puzzled, the woman frowned and replied, “Why, my aunt. Why do you ask?”

I look forward to your comments and opinions.

12 comments:

  1. Your furs are beautiful Sanda, just like the Queen's! Like you I do not like to see animals killed to produce a fur coat - but I totally agree with wearing those coats made years ago when attitudes were different. In really freezing weather nothing is warmer - I keep a fur-trimmed coat in Canada for when I visit. New Year Greetings to you and your family, Sanda.

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    1. It's a conundrum for me, having the coats and not quite knowing what to do with them. It seemed the thing to do when I bought them and now I wish I didn't own them.

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  2. My mother always wore her mink and her russian squirrel and other fur coats. I had a llama jacket at one time. This however was years ago.
    I do not believe these days that we should wear animal furs. I dont agree with the farms or killing animals just for their fur.
    I am not sure the Queen should have worn that coat.. mind set is different than 50 years ago.! that is hard to answer.
    I love your coats Sanda.
    I belong to the guilty ones.. Who am i to really say anything.. I have a leather coat. ! A dilema..
    A member of my family, made a big booby this christmas.. bought a magnificent goatskin jacket for his girl. She went balistic. she is vegiterian and against all that.. The person in question had not put that into consideration. It was duly taken back..but a leather bag bought. A conundrum really.!!!
    Very interesting post, as always Sanda.
    Wishing you a very Happy New Year Sanda.
    This is a very interesting post.
    looking forward to more in 2014.
    val xxx

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    1. Well I imagine that was a difficult scene, the father who bought his girl the coat. But then a leather bag! Do the animal rights advocates make a distinction because the leather is a byproduct of Food and wearing furs is simply an end unto itself? I wonder if that's the reason we don't see them protesting against the wearing of leather.

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  3. I have never owned a fur coat myself and most likely never will. But we bought H a beautiful leather jacket when we were in Turkey without thinking twice about it. This is the question - is wearing leather just the same as wearing fur? surely the answer must be yes.

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    1. I was pondering that in my response above to Val. What do you think?

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  4. I am a lacto-ovo-vegetarian, because I don´t want to eat meat. I wear leather shoes, bags, belts, wallets, and I have a fur coat and one, with a fur collar.
    The above works for me.

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    Replies
    1. Good. I like it that you know exactly where you stand!

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  5. Here on Boxing day is the traditional Hunt day people travel miles to admire the beagles and the stunning red of the jackets,always the animal rights groups turn up (many from cities totally ignorant of rural life) their one aim is to cause mayham, and spoil the day for the hunt and its followers.These people think they have the right to tell us what to do/wear!!!! I will stop now as I don't wish to put your post at risk.
    The Queen looks elegant in her mink and hope she continues to wear it.I inherited a sable fur which I wear to charity functions as many women do.
    Back in the 70's I bought a full length red fox fur it was beautiful,and wore it
    without any problems,then passed it on to my daughter.
    As Rosemary mentioned most of us wear leather............

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    1. You are perfectly allowed to say anything you want to, and I understand where you're coming from.

      When it gets cold enough in a few days (low of 9 degrees F) I'm going to wear one of those furs and not care what anyone says/thinks.

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  6. Agree with Ida, people should wear what they want, what they are comfortable with. I don't see it as anyone else's business. I've never owned a fur coat because I've never lived in a climate that requires one. Well, that and the fact that I'm afraid I'd look like some sort of cuddly stuffed toy, I don't have the body type to carry off the look. I really don't care for groups that try to force their opinion/dogma on others - be that fur wearing or religion.

    Darla

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    Replies
    1. In agreement with you about those who try to force their opinions on others. Whatever happened to civility?

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