Friends Chat Thread: Wardrobe, Fun, and Whatever

[Brooklynite]

Long time lurker here. Something just came to my mind...
Reading Ira Neimark's books about Bergdorf Goodman....historically
Society women shopped for "new" clothes only and only the less wealthy went after on sale items. I feel that in recent years, not only is fashion more ********ic but also more durable, meaning that we shop not only for the "it" dresses for the season but also purchase and wear classics and wear them for a long time.
Sites like therealreal makes it even more possible. As a result, fashion becomes even more approachable and now more environmental friendly.

Am I wrong here? I am certainly not a high society woman (not that I give a xxxx) so perhaps I am just peeking into the real world through my tiny lenses!

 

[Cordeliere]

The resale market has certainly been a game changer as is online shopping. Online and resale have made fashion more ********ic, and have made quality classics more accessible to those those who are not wealthy, IMHO.

 

[ZZZZZZZ]

I just found this thread.. This is amazing haha

 

[Genie27]

I’m hoping I can pick the smart and lovely brains here.

I saw a knee length sapphire mink at my local store the other day and had a couple of questions about quality and construction. It’s marked down 70% but I don’t know if it’s worth it even at that price.

I liked the general shape and size but....the fur didn’t have the sparkle of my other mink pieces.

The SA said it was a US designer, (Bibhu mohapatra) and fur origin is Finland. But it’s made in Korea and has brightener added.

It also had a polyester lining and the pelts underside actually looked like 5mm wide long skinny strips sewn together. So it felt a bit stiff and crackly instead of supple.

The shape/style/colour are close to what I want, but I was not wowed enough by what I feel are the negative aspects.

I’ve always felt/thought that silk linings were better, and continuous pieces of pelt were better than strips. Am I wrong?

Here’s what it looks like. They would need to shorten the sleeves and maybe the length a couple of inches.

 

[EmileH]

You know far more about furs than I di but I think you answered your own questions.

 

[Cordeliere]

I like the size and shape. Lack of sparkle sounds makes the coat sound joyless.

Are you needing another mink piece? Would this fill a hole in your wardrobe?

Are there any of the issues you mention that are deal killers? Which of the issues could you comfortably live with?

 

[Sheikha Latifa]

They make strips to extend the length. It is a cheaper way, this way 1 pelt may extend by 1.5-2 times. It increases the weight of course.
You don’t sound like you are in love Genie.

 

[Genie27]

I like the size and shape. Lack of sparkle sounds makes the coat sound joyless.

Are you needing another mink piece? Would this fill a hole in your wardrobe?

Are there any of the issues you mention that are deal killers? Which of the issues could you comfortably live with?

They make strips to extend the length. It is a cheaper way, this way 1 pelt may extend by 1.5-2 times. It increases the weight of course.
You don’t sound like you are in love Genie.

It’s a small hole in my wardrobe for the coldest days. My current mink is lovely but it’s jacket length and my tush gets cold, so I’ve been generally looking for a above-knee length one that doesn’t look too bulky.

But not just to have one, if that makes sense. It has to hit all the buttons - including quality/look/colour/cut/comfort.

I had already decided not to get it, but wanted to delve into the SAs claims/pitch - in bold below, as a learning experience.

Deal killer at any price:
The poly lining felt coarse and hot compared to the silk lining in another coat I examined. The SA said poly is more common now, in expensive coats, as it’s more durable etc, but after repeatedly testing silk vs poly, I am sceptical of that claim. I always find the poly feels hot while good silk feels breathable. (I will admit that C spoiled me in this regard). Acetate is also usually ok because that feels cool to the touch.

She also said the pelts are split and spread so that the coat is less bulky. Which is good, but then it felt like wearing a rattan mat from inside. (I exaggerate but that texture of the underside was disconcerting). @Sheikha Latifa that is what I thought - cheaper as they use less raw material. I didn’t realize it makes it heavier as well.

I’m not in love, because I’ve tried others that were wow coats including my own unlined jacket.

 

[Sheikha Latifa]

It’s a small hole in my wardrobe for the coldest days. My current mink is lovely but it’s jacket length and my tush gets cold, so I’ve been generally looking for a above-knee length one that doesn’t look too bulky.

But not just to have one, if that makes sense. It has to hit all the buttons - including quality/look/colour/cut/comfort.

I had already decided not to get it, but wanted to delve into the SAs claims/pitch - in bold below, as a learning experience.

Deal killer at any price:
The poly lining felt coarse and hot compared to the silk lining in another coat I examined. The SA said poly is more common now, in expensive coats, as it’s more durable etc, but after repeatedly testing silk vs poly, I am sceptical of that claim. I always find the poly feels hot while good silk feels breathable. (I will admit that C spoiled me in this regard). Acetate is also usually ok because that feels cool to the touch.

She also said the pelts are split and spread so that the coat is less bulky. Which is good, but then it felt like wearing a rattan mat from inside. (I exaggerate but that texture of the underside was disconcerting). @Sheikha Latifa that is what I thought - cheaper as they use less raw material. I didn’t realize it makes it heavier as well.

I’m not in love, because I’ve tried others that were wow coats including my own unlined jacket.

Yeah, the texture feels like keloids on a skin. Just imagine the number of seams, the amount of threads, the fabric to which they are sawn to. It is much better nowadays that the threads and fabrics are becoming lighter. It may be done really well but whole pelts are always lighter and more valuable
I had a polar fox coat made this way. Could hardly move in it.

As for the bulkiness, you can make it less bulky just by adding leather inserts between whole pelts without cutting whole pelts and adding extra weight

 

[papertiger]

I’m hoping I can pick the smart and lovely brains here.

I saw a knee length sapphire mink at my local store the other day and had a couple of questions about quality and construction. It’s marked down 70% but I don’t know if it’s worth it even at that price.

I liked the general shape and size but....the fur didn’t have the sparkle of my other mink pieces.

The SA said it was a US designer, (Bibhu mohapatra) and fur origin is Finland. But it’s made in Korea and has brightener added.

It also had a polyester lining and the pelts underside actually looked like 5mm wide long skinny strips sewn together. So it felt a bit stiff and crackly instead of supple.

The shape/style/colour are close to what I want, but I was not wowed enough by what I feel are the negative aspects.

I’ve always felt/thought that silk linings were better, and continuous pieces of pelt were better than strips. Am I wrong?

Here’s what it looks like. They would need to shorten the sleeves and maybe the length a couple of inches.

You have fab legs but I wouldn't shorten, once those sleeves are shorter it would look better anyway.

You could change the lining or just remove it but man-made fibres and mink are not usually a great mix, I don't care what SAs say.

I have to say even 70% you don't sound that enthusiastic so you may want to pass.

 

[Genie27]

man-made fibres and mink are not usually a great mix, I don't care what SAs say.\

Exactly! It became a hard pass for me. I was able to wear my own mink for one final time this weekend, that you all helped me buy a couple of years ago - and it was so supple and wonderful texture etc, that I didn't like what I recalled of this one. The poly lining felt very cheap and when I asked about it, the SA kept telling me all the best coats are now poly-lined and it's more durable than silk.

It's more a matter of the SA telling me all these 'features' that are not really positives and it made me a bit angry. Thankfully there's the Internet and we can all be informed consumers, as unfortunately some SAs will say anything to make a sale.

 

[EmileH]

Exactly! It became a hard pass for me. I was able to wear my own mink for one final time this weekend, that you all helped me buy a couple of years ago - and it was so supple and wonderful texture etc, that I didn't like what I recalled of this one. The poly lining felt very cheap and when I asked about it, the SA kept telling me all the best coats are now poly-lined and it's more durable than silk.

It's more a matter of the SA telling me all these 'features' that are not really positives and it made me a bit angry. Thankfully there's the Internet and we can all be informed consumers, as unfortunately some SAs will say anything to make a sale.

I really would never go back to that store or at least to that salesperson. I hate that nonsense.

 

[momasaurus]

How is everyone doing in their transition to spring wardrobes? My feet always freak out this time of year when I stop wearing exclusively boots and sneakers and start back on the "real" shoes.

I dithered all winter about refashioning my mother's 1980s style mink, and now I'll have to store it for the summer and try to forget about it.

 

[gracekelly]

How is everyone doing in their transition to spring wardrobes? My feet always freak out this time of year when I stop wearing exclusively boots and sneakers and start back on the "real" shoes.

I dithered all winter about refashioning my mother's 1980s style mink, and now I'll have to store it for the summer and try to forget about it.

Remodeling is usually discounted by Dept stores in the off season so keep your eyes open for a deal.

I took mine in for storage a couple of weeks ago and now it is freezing here! Murphy’s Law.

 

[Cordeliere]

Remodeling is usually discounted by Dept stores in the off season so keep your eyes open for a deal.

I took mine in for storage a couple of weeks ago and now it is freezing here! Murphy’s Law.

It is freezing in So Cal? I do remember people breaking out their down parkas when the temperature approached 50 degrees. Just how cold is it?