6 Hot Ways to Wear Faux Fur

When it comes to winter we instantly think of cashmere socks and blankets and snuggling up in front of the fireplace wearing sumptuous fabrics and faux furs. Fur has always been a popular choice for the cooler months, but real-looking fur is on the out (after all, no one wants to be mistaken for heartless!), and obviously faux-looking fur is in. Here’s how to get the look –minus the cruelty– this winter:

Faux fur headgear

Headbands, Cossack hats and fur-trimmed beanies are all great ways of wearing faux fur this winter without going all out with a huge faux-fur coat. Leopard print is resurging again this season as a print and looks great as a complement to an all-black outfit while out shopping on Madison Ave or dashing to Starbucks on your lunch break.

A faux fur vest

Throw one of these bad boys on over your favorite work outfit to ensure you stay warm even when the boss is saving pennies by keeping the thermostat at 67 degrees. You can opt for a plush faux fur option or a ‘hairy’ design – a great alternative to the traditional faux fur designs.

A faux fur bag

A faux fur bag is an unconventional but stylish design, although probably not the best choice for your everyday bag, as faux fur can get really dirty, really fast. However, it’s a great way of introducing a little faux fur into your winter wardrobe, and it feels nice to hold when you’re out and about. A faux fur handbag feels like you’ve brought a kitten out with you to the bar, and acts as a comforting distraction when that creepy guy starts chatting you up. You can even make your own via this tutorial.

A faux fur collar cape

Capes have been big news this year and they don’t look to be going anywhere this winter. You should definitely choose a style that features a faux fur collar –it will make up for your arms being out in the cold more than usual and help the cape work as a winter coat instead of an Autumn cover up.

Faux fur boot cuffs

Now, don’t panic and have flashbacks to Snooki from Jersey Shore circa 2011 when you hear the words faux fur and boot cuffs together — fashion has come a long way since then. The market is full of heeled boots featuring cute fur cuffs that should keep those calves toasty, while introducing a hot look to your winter wardrobe.

Pom poms

Fluffy pom poms are big news this season and it’s a trend many big designers have jumped on. Clip yours onto your handbag or keys to carry around with you this winter. You can also pick up cute pom pom shoe clips in a variety of colors and mix-and-match them with your various shoes and bags.

The bottom line

When it comes to wearing fur this winter, always ensure you are donning the cruelty-free kind. Amazingly, when samples from retailers including Sean John, Rocawear, Neiman Marcus, Kohl’s, Baby Phat, Macy’s, Burlington Coat Factory and JC Penny — and even the haute couture labels like Calvin Klein, Max Mara and Michael Kors — were sent to labs, it was discovered that almost all of the “faux” fur was actually REAL fur from dogs (yes, DOGS), rabbits, and raccoons. These are animals that were raised or trapped and kept in horrifying conditions.

So make time to check that the fur you are buying is completely faux (here’s how), and if you’re not 100% sure that it is, don’t buy it (or return it to the online store where you bought it — and tell them why). Stay away from “faux” fur made in China (or Asia in general), as their laws surrounding animal welfare and labeling are, well, pretty much non-existent.

The bottom line is that clothing is often produced overseas as a cheap, but not ethically sound, practice. Clearly, animal welfare is not a top priority in places where minimum wage is a fraction of that in North America, and where workers’ rights are seemingly non-existent.

“The images that we have seen in China are truly chilling — animals literally skinned alive for a product where we have an alternative this day in age,” said Wayne Pacelle, CEO of the Humane Society. “I think what we have found is that the industry at the design level and retail level just isn’t paying attention, they are asleep at the wheel,” Pacelle said.

It’s interesting to note that in a world filled with more vegans than ever and celebrities endorsing a kinder, animal-free lifestyle, that fur is still a big thing, even if it is the faux kind. Supposedly “sustainable” and “cruelty-free fur” (which, in my opinion, doesn’t really exist) options are apparently out there, with farms that claim to use ethical standards. But why do these still need to exist when there are so many good faux options available? I always try to choose wisely –and kindly– when considering wearing faux fur for the upcoming season.