Snagging a Deal on a Fur Coat

Always fantasized about owning a fur coat, but worried about the expense or conflicted about animal cruelty?

You can’t beat the warmth, style and feel of a fur coat. But they can be very expensive new. We offer a range of affordable, gently-worn fur and faux fur coats at Legacies Upscale Resale (Think hundreds instead of thousands of dollars). They look new; they feel new; they just don’t COST new.

You owe it to yourself to at least check out the different types of fur coats at Legacies. Here are some tips on choosing a pre-owned fur coat.

Decide What You Want

If going for real fur, you can choose:

• Mink—soft and highly insulating
• Chinchilla—high hair density but lightweight; vintage black and gray look
• Lynx—white, beautiful, highly fashionable
• Sable—smooth to touch in any direction, glamorous
• Fox—the most natural-looking fur

Faux furs are made to imitate a wide variety of animal furs:

• Mink
• Chinchilla
• Rabbit
• Sable
• Lynx
• Beaver
• Ermine
• Marten
• Leopard
• Fox
• Shearling
• Sheepskin
• Alpaca
• Yak

If you Want Real Fur, Make Sure That’s What You’re Getting

Once you’ve decided which type of fur to buy, check to make sure it is real.

1. Is it silky-smooth?
2. Separate a few hairs: does the backing feel leathery (is it animal skin?) or like a textile (probably fake)
3. Examine the tips of the hairs: fur, ike hair, tapers to a point. Faux fur has a blunt tip and ends abruptly
4. Push a pin through the coat. If it goes through easily, the fur is fake.
5. Take a few hairs and burn them. If the smell is plasticky, the fur is fake

Try it On

See how it looks on you. Does it fit? Does it fall evenly? Are the sleeves the right length? The shoulder seams should hit at the top of your shoulders, not drop down your arms.

Most of all, is it comfortable? Can you fit layers under it?

Make Sure it is in Good Condition

If you go for a second-hand fur coat, it may not be in perfect condition (although this is less of a concern at Legacies; we only sell top-quality merchandise on consignment or through donation). Feel the coat from top to bottom to check for gaps in the fur. Gaps could mean the fur is shedding due to low quality or poor care.

Turn the coat inside out and look for lining tears. Small rips are OK and easily mended; it will still be cheaper than a new fur.

There can be insect infestations in real fur. Just to be safe, get the coat professionally cleaned before you wear it.

Should you Buy Fur or Faux?

Many people choose faux furs, which are cheaper and can LOOK as good as the real thing, especially from a distance. They are easier to care for. And you don’t have to wonder how they animals were treated.

But they don’t feel the same as real fur, even with new technologies making faux fur more and more smooth. Fake fur does not have the undercoat density of real animal furs. And real fur has water shedding properties to repel snow and keeps moisture near the surface of the coat.

While the ethical treatment of animals is a concern to many Legacies shoppers, fake furs are made of plastic, which is an environmental hazard.

So the choice is up to you. We sell both at Legacies! And when you shop at Legacies, you are helping people affected by cancer. Unique among Cincinnati consignment shops, our proceeds go to the Cancer Support Community.