Faux And Fabulous

As the fashion industry takes a turn away from fur, faux fur is having a moment. Beloved by fashion industry titans like Gucci, Versace, Stella McCartney and many others, these days being in the know means going faux. But where to start? Boston-based vegan image consultant Ginger Burr of Total Image Consultants gives us the inside scoop on how to buy and care for faux fur in ways that are at once timeless, bold and beautiful.

That Fabulous Feeling

When searching for a faux fur coat, the most important thing to look for first is texture. “You don’t want to be wearing something scratchy, you want something that’s soft,” Burr says. You also want the coat to hold its shape and you don’t want it to shed. Most importantly though, you want to make sure the coat comes from a reputable company. Unfortunately, sometimes lower-quality brands will even sneak animal fur in. A good faux fur coat will be in the $200-$300 range and a $50 coat probably isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Also, faux fur coats will have a woven lining; open the coat and make sure it’s as pretty inside — lined and finished — as it is outside.

That Timeless Style

“Choose [a faux fur coat] that you totally love that isn’t so trendy that you can’t wear it for years to come,” Burr says. Some of these timeless styles are a bomber jacket, a mid-thigh coat and a teddy coat, which features a texture similar to a teddy bear. Neutrals are always classic, too, but if you don’t want your faux fur coat to look like actual fur, choose from an array of colors — Burr says Barbie pink, emerald and yellow are especially hot right now. If you love it, you’ll wear it all the time.

That Care And Keeping

What’s great about faux fur coats is that they’re much easier to maintain than real fur coats. “You can spot clean it, but you can also put it in the washing machine, generally in a bag for delicates or on a delicate cycle so it’s not spinning crazily,” Burr says. Always wash it in cold water, and only let it air dry. Faux fur does not like heat, so never, ever put it in the dryer because it will melt — many types of faux fur are synthetic, and can be destroyed at high temperatures.