Cozy should rule the day as we meander back to our work schedules. I think I will call this #furrymonday.
This was taken on the East End, in our driveway, on the way to town last weekend.
I am wearing a fox fur vest purchased 3 years ago at STA on Madison Avenue. I love this vest. It is supremely warm, featherlight, and I will have it long enough to pass down. Wearing real fur is something that I do and my reasoning goes like this: Real fur will not end up in landfill creating dangerous conditions that threaten many species, including OURS. The use of real fur versus man-made is complicated. No can disagree that it causes suffering for small animals and that is very sad, so I do not own much. But one should be aware that many, many faux-fur items, that generally do not look well after a few washing sessions are often tossed in the trash. What then?
You wear it and then donate it maybe? Or maybe you throw it away? Many items that are donated actually end up in a landfill. Real fur is generally used and re-used and then re-purposed. It seldom goes to landfill and when it does it degrades naturally.
Synthetic fur is often made of toxic chemicals, causing a not insignificant number of respiratory illness and cancers for the people who work in the factories, or near them. These garments often end up in landfills where they do not decompose, but leach toxins into the soil that causes more cancers and pollutes water supplies. People suffer. These manufacturing sites are not all safe and the conditions are often not well-monitored.
Pollution is rampant and pungent, toxic and dangerous. People die.
You think you are doing the world a favor wearing “eco-friendly” faux fur, but let’s look at that. Likely this is a much more complicated issue than you realize. It is well past time for grown-ups to discuss this is a balanced way. I won’t throw paint on your vest as long as you kindly return the favor. Nor will I judge, as many wearers of faux-fur eat meat and wear leather shoes.
Be mindful of how your actions as a consumer affect the environment and politics, too. I will buy things–not too often–made in China, but I will not buy directly from China. We have better oversight here. And the trade issues, well that is another matter, but not for this post or this blog.
I love to buy things second hand. This fur vest is second hand. I hand wash all clothing when necessary and take good care, so that my clothing is useful for years, decades, and even, sometimes, generations. I buy things that are made to last, and sometimes it can include fast fashion items in natural fabrics if you know what to look for.
Okay, sorry for the rant, it just came to me. Like most things we do, it is about moderation and judgment, and information too. In this shot, I am wearing a plaid sweater under my vest, and under that, a shirt the color of the sky when it is sunny. My denim flares feel like a throwback from my teenage years, 40 years ago. Gosh, that was tough to type!
My white barrel bag is vintage YSL, purchased second hand by my sister. I love having differently shaped handbags. The shape of them can really change the proportions of an outfit. This day started out grey and then we were treated to some peach tones in the sky as it was setting. It was lovely.
I am always so happy to be outdoors when it is nice, I even like the cold when I am really dressed for it, but spring and summer are my favorite seasons. I always love a wooded setting, or better yet, an open landscape.
When we got to town it was so quiet and nary a soul was about. I love the off-season in the Hamptons!
The next day, on our way back to the city, the weather was superb! The sky was as blue as my shirt. Don’t you agree? I bet you will also agree that it does NOT look like late December on the East coast!
