Fur is not new in fashion history. For centuries, its refined appearance and comfort have been monuments of fortune, class, and ostentation. But back when Fur was in fashion, was it in the NYT? It’s a question that draws on the history of dressing, human creativity, and dress as an index of social status.
The Fur has been with us from ancient civilizations to couture. Fur coats, collars, and accessories are beloved – and sometimes despised – by many. We will talk about how Fur became a fashion trend, what it meant to people, and how it became the sexy and sometimes controversial fashion statement that it is today.
Humans have been wearing Fur for millennia. Almost 10,000 years before, it embodied luxuries; it was simply a material for warmth in cold places. Humans and their forebears had lived off of animal skins. These were furs not for dress but for survival against the elements.
According to archaeological evidence, our species has used Fur since at least the Paleolithic period. They killed bears, wolves, and deer for their Fur, which they sewed into clothes and covers. Only with the emergence of early societies did Fur get into fashion.
Fur also took on new status in ancient Egypt, with royal families and senior officials dressed in Fur. But Fur only came into its own in the Roman Empire as a luxury. Emperors and aristocrats in Rome would have worn fur-lined cloaks and tunics. Roman aristocrats would flaunt Fur in evidence of their affluence and authority.
Fur was also practical, especially in colder parts of the empire. Those in northern Europe, such as the Celts and Vikings, wore furs. For elites, however, Fur was both practical and sartorial. Even “luxury” comes from Fur, one of the priciest materials at the time.
Even though European civilization and into the Middle Ages, Fur became a status symbol. Kings, queens, and aristocrats dressed in furry garments to reflect their superior status. For many, the kind of Fur a man had was a sign of status. Ermine, for example, white Fur from a small rodent, was relegated to kings and used in princely capes and gowns. The snow-white coat stood for innocence, lordship, and strength.
Fur, too, was firm in European aristocrats’ closets during the Renaissance. Fashion and luxury came to bind in the same breath at this period. The European aristocrats would ship exotic furs from the ends of the Earth. They wanted beaver, mink, and fox, and the fur trade exploded.
During this period, Fur was part of fashion, and men and women wore fur jackets, hats, and jewelry. Fur had to be rich and cozy, but Fur represented wealth and elitism as Europe entered the 17th and 18th centuries.
If we rewind the years of the first Fur in fashion NYT, it was the 19th century. Fur remained the stuff of snobbery and dominated the wardrobes of European and American elites. New fibers such as silk and velvet came into being with the onset of industrialization, but Fur was still the must-have garment of the rich to show refinement and class.
The Industrial Revolution changed everything – how we lived, worked, and dressed. Cities became increasingly urban and wealthy, creating a new middle class, and everyone wanted to prove that they were the ones having the cake. Fur was one of the materials this newly privileged class bought. But still, it was a status signal.
But Fur was now put on a more fashionable basis in the mid-20th century. Fashion designers in Paris, such as Charles Frederick Worth, began to wear Fur in their collections, not just as a badge of status but as part of the modern wardrobe. Worth’s styles frequently had fur trimmings, collars, and cuffs – an early favorite of fashionable uppers.
Fur was still a big deal in the Gilded Age as America entered the Gilded Age. Rich American women wore whole-fur coats from beavers, minks, and fox skins. Fashion magazines of the period had already started including Fur in their covers and elaborate adverts for furriers and fashion houses. One of the furriers of the period was the famous American furrier, “Furrier to the Empress,” who was the avatar of elegance and style.
Fur was also a woman’s object during this period, and fur stoles and shawls were hung around women’s necks on high-society occasions. Millennials took to Fur to add style and luxury to their look.
Fur had been solidified by the turn of the 20th century as a marker of luxury, wealth, and fashion. The rise of cinema meant that movie actresses like Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich would be seen sporting gorgeous fur coats, and the public became even more attracted to Fur. Fur was associated with glamour, and Jean Patou, Chanel, and Christian Dior included Fur in their collections.
The Roaring Twenties and Fur
Flapper chic reigned in the Roaring Twenties, with short skirts, bobbed hair, and wild accessories. Fur remained part of the high-society wardrobe: women donned fur stoles and capes over evening gowns. It was the 1920s, and Fur was a global marker of wealth and elegance, no longer limited to aristocrats and princes.
This changed in the mid-20th century when Fur and style were entangled in more than just the fur-on-fur continuum. The fashion industry developed after World War II, and new synthetics entered the marketplace. However, Fur was an icon of luxury, and top designers still featured collections. However, the 1960s brought anti-fur campaigns driven by a need to protect animals. The environmental and ethical issues surrounding fur use rose, and by the 1970s, Fur was a fashion hot potato.
Fast-forward to today, and Fur is still hot in fashion. Luxury brands such as Gucci, Prada, and Chanel might have turned to alternative products free of animal ingredients, but the demand for genuine Fur hasn’t vanished entirely. Fur’s place in modern style is still up for debate, and most designers are finding faux fur alternatives that are just as luxurious without the moral implications.
Faux furs have appeared since the late 20th century and are a more responsible replacement for Fur, though the issue persists. The same can be said for faux Fur without the moral quandary of slaughtering animals for pelts. Faux Fur is the new trend for sustainable and ethical fashion designers and enthusiasts.
Fur has experienced an enormous change from being a necessity of warmth to becoming a commodity of luxury and distinction over time. The moment Fur entered the fashionable world NYT, it was an event in fashion history when clothes were not just used to wear – they were also used to show wealth, power, and identity.
The fur trade is at a crossroads right now, with tradition in play and the modernity of morality in play, but there’s no question that Fur has changed fashion. Whether real or fake, Fur is still a classic luxury textile, a sign of fashion and timelessness, and a mark of how that style constantly changes.
FAQs About Fur in Fashion
Q: When was Fur first worn as a status symbol in style?
A: Fur was the mark of wealth and aristocracy from ancient Rome and remained a luxury material through the Middle Ages and Renaissance. It was resurrected in the 19th and 20th centuries, particularly in Europe and America.
Q: Is there still fashion for Fur?
A: Many designers now use faux Fur because of the environmental implications, but high-end clothes are still made with real Fur. Some luxury brands still have Fur in their collections, but it is controversial.
Q: What about the moral issues of fashion using Fur?
A: The morality of Fur is very much about animal rights and killing animals for Fur. So, most designers and consumers are now switching to non-toxic options such as faux Fur.
Q: What is faux Fur, and is it the same as real Fur?
A: Faux Fur is a synthetic fiber that looks and feels like Fur. It is a safer and more sustainable alternative to real Fur because animals are not killed.
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