Buying a fur coat is a pleasant experience for every woman, but also quite expensive. And after the joy, many are met with disappointment when the fur turns out to be not what they expected. This is especially true in some countries: the company and trademark are registered, for example, in Greece, where the head office and sales team are located, while the collection is entirely manufactured in China.
Furthermore, to make fur garments lighter, some manufacturers overstretch the flesh side (the reverse side of the pelt), which significantly reduces the coat's lifespan. Therefore, to avoid all these problems when purchasing a fur coat and experience only joy, comfort, and pleasure when wearing it, it's worth following the recommendations listed in this article.
Criteria such as body type and structure, lifestyle, favorite clothing style and color, and fashion trends play a major role in choosing a stylish mink coat that suits a particular woman.
What needs to be done to make the right choice
Carefully examine the fur, touch and knead it with your hands, and lift the coat by the hairs. If the fur feels pleasant to the touch, is soft, dry, uniform, shiny and shimmers in the light, smells pleasant, and the hairs don't come out easily, we're on the right track.
Next, you need to check the flesh side. On fur coats from reputable manufacturers, the lining is usually not sewn on tightly, so the buyer can be sure of the quality of the flesh side. Undyed flesh side is white, without the yellowish tint that older fur has. It should be fairly dense and elastic, with neat and even seams. For a one-piece garment, the pieces should be 15 x 15 cm. This instills confidence in the good quality of the flesh side, and therefore in the durability and longevity of the fur coat.
It is known that there are five main types of female figures:
- «An hourglass figure is when the shoulders and hips are equal and the waist is clearly defined.
- «"Triangle" or "Pear" - if the chest is narrower than the hips.
- «"Inverted triangle" - if the chest is wider than the hips.
- «"Rectangle" - shoulders and hips are equal, but the waist is poorly defined.
- «"Circle" or "Apple" - women with a large waist.
How to flatter your figure with a fur coat
Women with an hourglass figure can choose a fur coat with coarse or long fur, but accentuate the waist with brightly colored or leather belts. If you have a pear-shaped figure, you might want to shift the emphasis to the top, choosing a fur coat with sheared fur, perhaps with a high waist, a chunky collar or hood, a knee-length coat, and an A-line silhouette. You should also choose a coat with varying fur colors: lighter on top and darker on the bottom.
Women with an inverted triangle body shape should emphasize the bottom. The Chanel style is most preferred: a round neckline, straight or tapered raglan sleeves, a low-waisted, side-cut coat, and a fuller hem. For women with a rectangle body shape, a straight-cut coat with built-in sleeves and a wide belt that accentuates the waist is ideal.
Avoid long or short fur coats with voluminous fur; the length should end at the hips. A loose-fitting coat with vertical fur stripes and a luxurious shawl collar is ideal for women with an apple-shaped figure.
The warmest furs are considered to be those of reindeer, fox, beaver, marten, and sable. The most durable furs are those of otter, wolverine, bear, beaver, and sable (16 to 20 years of wear). Moderately heat-resistant and durable furs include raccoon, marten, sheepskin (mouton), karakul, and arctic fox (7 to 10 years). Nutria, fox, squirrel, and rabbit fur coats last, on average, 2 to 5 years.