Why I heart Cruella De Vil

On a recent road trip I stumbled across something amazing in an antique store in Bulls. Such was its fabulousness that I considered cancelling some upcoming overseas travel in order to pay the $2500 asking price. This item was a full Snow Leopard pelt, complete with tail, head and cute little glass eyes.

But the Leopard pelt was merely a stylish piece for room adornment and a fabulous nod to colonialism. Inside I knew that I wanted something more; I wanted not just a dead animal, but one I could wear. While my fiscally prudent friends were able to talk me out of the probably illegal purchase, the experience awakened fully in me a desire which had already been stirring recently - a deep yearning for fur.

I have long been a lover of things that carry the glamour of more fabulous bygone decades. Through high school I found a love of looking through old photos from before my grandparents emigrated from Ireland. The reason for this was not a desire to find my place in the world through understanding my genealogy. It was because my grandmother and her sisters/ friends were so fabulously dressed; amazing tailoring, 1930's style felt bucket hats (I recently purchased one of these to see me through winter), pearls, men who always wore suits and hats. And above all, the non-taboo gratuitousness with which fur is splashed around.

There's something so good about fur; the luxury, the softness, the glamour, and of course if it's real, the extra benefit of angering hippies.

Which is why I felt so conflicted recently, when the current trend for fur vests started appearing in stores, covering the full spectrum from Glassons through Max, to Country Road at the other end. I should have fallen instantly in love with them, they were the ultimate statement item. But somehow they grated on me.

I realized the reason for this was in styling. Everywhere they were appearing on mannequins with chunky knits, thick embossed leather belts, paisley prints and Aztec style jewellery. This was the problem. The boho-hippie-“chic” styling was detracting from all that is great about fur. These looks seldom escape looking “Glassons-ey” even when they’re in the window of Country Road. They also come back in with extraordinary frequency, but never for long. This means they almost always carry an air of being passé from the day they appear in stores.

So I determined that the vests themselves are in fact fabulous. But they need to be taken completely out of the context these stores would have you wear them in. They need to be treated as a touch of luxury in a glam ensemble; I would suggest wearing them over a cute cocktail dress or nice jeans and heels.

But to return to my personal plight, dealing with my new longing for fur. I considered purchasing one of these vests. But decided instead to go with a delicious fur cape I found at Ziggurat. It is from the 1940’s, and very cozy. It also has the benefit of being real fur. I do not necessarily think that fake fur is to be avoided, as long as it looks realistic. But I do think that much of the benefit of fur comes from the sense of opulence in knowing that animals had to die for your glamour.

Gasp, say the hippies. I’m sorry (not really). But I really, really just can’t care about animal rights. I don’t deny that it’s unpalatable if it’s done cruelly. But I simply don’t buy that there is any reason why we should view animals as anything more than, as Douglas puts it, “complex molecular machines”. And given that, I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t benefit from their existence and our ability to exploit the resources they offer, like delicious cozy pelts.

Animals have fewer rights than us. Obviously, this means a human life should win out over an animal’s. But I’m more than happy to say that a humans desire for a delicious coat should win out over an animal’s life too.

So to summarise:
1) Fur vests are great, but style them well
2) Real fur is great, animals should die.
3) Snow Leopards are great, let me know if you have one going for less than $2500.

For now, that is all I have to say on the matter.