There it is. Musty. Dark. Forgotten. It's like a time vault. Or an Indiana Jones obstacle course. Really it's just your grandmother's closet. Among the few true treasures that your grandmother may posses, the fur coat or stole is one of them.
Vintage fur is attainable through estate sales and your grandmother's closet (and eBay if you have a great eye, experience, and patience). This makes it a big rarity.
Your grandparents can never pass on their jeans or t-shirts they wore in their 20's. On the other hand, fur lasts. In fact, you can break into a Native American museum tomorrow, steal the fur off a manikin, restyle it for today's fashion, and wear it on the streets of New York this winter in full fashion. But to keep you from getting a criminal record, instead give your grandparent's closet another look. Do not be scared of the smelly, dirty, crumpled up stole as you can alwaysclean and fix it yourself with a home fur cleaning kit.
My neighbor sold her grandmother's fur coat at a garage sale for $10 while it could have been worth well over a $1,000 if restyled properly. She not only lost an investment but also a bit of her heritage.
Grandparents have gotten wiser about theirs furs as well. One had her mink stole made into earmuffs for all her children. Yet another grandparent, who does not go skiing as often anymore, had her fur headbands made into a purse. The possibilities are endless for people who eitherdo notwant to wear fur coats or whose coats are beyond repair: pillows, wallets, scarves, pet clothes, etc.
The message: Vintage. Remodel. Restyle. Keep it going.
Hopefully this post will last as long as fur does,
