Fur, Fur, Fur.
December 3, 2024For the past two winters, I’ve felt a quiet rumbling of fur returning to the center of winter fashion. Living in Paris during the frigid months of January, February, and March of 2023, I first noticed these whispers of a resurgence. While most Parisians stayed loyal to their chic, simple black trench coats, a select few icons roamed the streets in boisterous fur jackets—coats that took up space and demanded attention.
During my winter break of 2023–2024, I spent many days in Manhattan, where I noticed similar signs. I’ve kept my eyes and ears tuned to this budding trend ever since, so much so that during the Spring 2024 semester I completed a semester-long project designing a faux fur handbag collection for Nordstrom, intended to launch in Fall/Winter 2025. I called the line Petite Bête—“small beast”—a nod to both the material and my French-loving style.
This year, with my predictions proving true, I’ve seen fur not only in my East Coast homes of New York and Connecticut, but also in Madison, Wisconsin. Here, fellow students are participating in a renewed love for the bold, classic silhouettes of fur coats. It’s exciting—and deeply fulfilling—to see a trend prediction come to fruition so vividly. While my love for the texture and material is evident in the collection of vintage faux fur coats I’ve been building since 2022, I’m now interested in exploring how fur can be worn beyond outerwear.
My first thought: handbags. This has become my latest obsession and fantasy. Perhaps my semester-long design project seeped into my subconscious, but I can’t scroll through Pinterest without screenshotting every fur bag that crosses my feed. Fendi, if you’re listening, must bring back a line of fur baguettes—
My first thought: handbags. This has become my latest obsession and fantasy. Perhaps my semester-long design project seeped into my subconscious, but I can’t scroll through Pinterest without screenshotting every fur bag that crosses my feed. Fendi, if you’re listening, must bring back a line of fur baguettes—
because there is simply nothing more enticing than a richly textured accessory. I’d love to pair one with an all-black outfit, letting it stand alone as a point of intrigue.
Another idea I’d love to see more of this winter is the pony hair pointed heel. While admittedly impractical in terms of maintenance, I can’t stop thinking about how the texture and warm tones would add an incredible pop to a monochromatic look. A small detail, but one that transforms an outfit entirely.
Below are a few pairs of vintage pony hair Manolos I’ve been eyeing as I continue to lust after my own pair of furry neutral heels.
My final—and most daring—thought for where fur could go next is jewelry. Hear me out. I envision a hoop earring, either sterling silver or gold, lined with pony hair. I’ve scoured the internet for something like this and found only one image that comes close to what I’m imagining. I think the natural browns and golden hues of pony hair could layer beautifully against metal, creating something both rugged and refined. Perhaps if this product magically appeared and I tried it on, I’d reconsider—but in my mind, it feels exciting, modern, and unexpected.
In many ways, this obsession with fur aligns perfectly with my last post about embracing a country-inspired style. After all, fur isn’t so far off from cowhide. And with my love of leather and suede, I may as well buy the whole cow.