The nubbly greyness of this jacket reminds me of London in the rain, or perhaps a particularly aristocratic riverbed. Macro urban wilderness, or the quiet floor of a waterscape.
I think the heavy English association is because a rough-textured marbling of charcoal and white is called "heather grey", in homage to that plant which frequently sprawls through British novels. For example: Georgette Heyer's Regency romances, or Agatha Christie's canon of sinister mysteries. Contrary to the term's popular use, heather blooms a soft purple. But English moors are famous for grey melancholia--think of all the sad bits in The Secret Garden, or iconic scenes from Wuthering Heights (which I haven't read or watched, but still).
Bright orange lipstick ("Siren") and my floral mint dress lighten the outfit's overall color palette, emphasizing the season. Hooray for spring!
For the record, I can't tell whether the fur collar is faux, but since the jacket was both vintage and a gift, I'm not worried about it. Also for the record, I'm tentatively against harvesting real fur for clothing, with the exception of subsistence hunters, but as a non-vegan I feel hypocritical taking that position. Thoughts?
I'm also against using fur in clothing, but more because I think a lot of animals used for fur aren't typically eaten and the global industry is pretty unregulated, so you never really know how the animal or the fur were procured. I'm not a vegetarian, though I don't eat a lot of meat, but I think that if you're going to kill an animal, you should use as much of that animal as possible. Maybe there's also this element of fur as a luxury product or a status symbol. We have so much vintage fur going around, it seems indulgent to participate in a contemporary fur industry.
ReplyDeleteYour reasoning makes a lot of sense, and I think I feel clearer about the issue now. Thank you!
DeleteSiren is my favourite lipstick in the history of ever. I wore it in the outfit I posted yesterday!
ReplyDeleteTwinsies! =)
DeleteThat's an adorable outfit. I had to comment- Georgette Heyer is one of my favorite authors. I'm torn on the subject of animal hides in fashion- for instance, I dislike fur but I swear by leather products. I have a hard time wearing PVC/Vegan leather so I feel hypocritical being against fur? I hate animal cruelty but I have a father who hunts and uses the meat to feed the family and sometimes even donates it to feed the homeless and I'm proud of him? It's hard.
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely hard. Ethical issues tend to be complicated, and it takes time and effort to sort out initial emotional impulses with rational thought. At least that's my experience!
DeleteThat jacket immediately gave me an English feeling as well, it's lovely! I am also uncomfortable wearing animal hides. I don't own anything with fur, but I do own a few leather pieces, it's just hard to avoid sometimes! I am a vegetarian but not a vegan and at first I felt hypocritical, like what's the point of not eating meat if I still eat animal products? But then I realized it doesn't have to be all or nothing. Maybe one day I won't own anything leather or eat any animal products, but I'd have to work my way up to it ;)
ReplyDeleteThat reminds me of the phrase "done is better than perfect"--similarly, progress is better than nothing!
DeleteFirst: orange lipstick = fabulous.
ReplyDeleteSecond: I was going to comment on the fur/hypocrisy thing, bit I seem to be a bit late to the party, and I feel anything I say would be a re-hash of many previous comments :-P
Thank you! I think I know how you feel, because responding to those comments, I was basically like, "Yeah!"
DeleteOooh, textile knowledge makes me happy!
ReplyDeleteI lived in Alaska for many years - I have no problem with fur in the context of need. (and you can't convince me that synthetic will provide the same) I am uncomfortable about fur for conspicious consumption. I had a lovely onyx mink opera coat that I bought for $45 from a thrift store in Anchorage (furs in thrift stores are cheap and common there). I enjoyed every minute out of it until I moved to Louisiana. I had no need for it there and it looked/felt out of place.
I probably should also note that wearing a fur coat in Alaska doesn't make you fancy. Unless you're a tourist.
That coat sounds fabulous! My mom has a mink coat that she inherited from her mom, but she's afraid to wear it out and about because the Bay Area is so not a fur-friendly place.
DeleteI was wondering how putting on that coat made you feel. Do you feel invincible with it on? It looks like it can repel any weather.
ReplyDeleteHa, well, I'm not sure it would stand up to a heavy rain... but point taken!
DeleteI feel like if the fur is vintage, then the deed is done and you may as well give it a new home... I recently bought a vintage jean jacket with a fur lining around the collar and didn't even think that it'd be real fur until my mom pointed it out. XD And I live in Alabama so unless it's super cold, I don't think I'll be wearing it without some strange looks.
ReplyDeleteYour coat is very cute though, Miss Sonya, and I looooove your lipstick! Have a fantastic hump day! :D
Why thank you Ali! That jacket sounds fabulous, you should wear it all the time :D
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