Thursday, January 22, 2009

That Touch of Mink




While Doris Day's "professional virgin" characters never really appealed to me, and this movie is a particularly execrable entry in the "sex-and-the-single-girl-will-she-or-won't-she-or-will-someone-think-she-did" titillation film genre (even Cary Grant can't redeem it for me), I couldn't resist employing it to introduce my latest indulgence. Because baby, I sure did.

I hope you all have been checking in over at Couture Allure Vintage this month. They've been offering one item each day at 50% off the ticketed price. Which is how I came to own this gorgeous 60's vintage mink jacket for $112.50.

When I was in high school, I had a rabbit fur jacket with a hood. I did feel bad for those bunnies, but every time I wore that jacket in freezing weather and was so warm and toasty, well... I currently would never consider buying a new fur, but before you threaten to turn me in to PETA, remember that these particular minks have been dead for some 40 years now. And see how fabulous it looks on!

I'm planning to pack this one for Colorado to wear in the evenings. I'm pretty certain it's safe to wear there without someone throwing blood on me. As far as anyone in LA is concerned, it's faux. ;-)

~

35 comments:

  1. It looks great on you! I'm so glad you're happy with your jacket, and I know you'll be warm as toast in the Colorado cold. Thanks for the link, and have a wonderful vacation!

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  2. i think you made a wise purchase...wish i had a fur right now...it has been cold here for over a month...i have been tempted to buy a vintage one as well.
    have a great trip...
    i am off the europe in three weeks for 14 days though at the moment it is the furthest thing from my mind....

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  3. They spelt laugh 'laff'. I guess us 20-somethings aren't as hip as we think we are...

    But I'm not too sure about that fur on you, Deja Pseu. Or perhaps I need to see a full-length picture.

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  4. Oh Pseu! You have outdone yourself. I love it, even if you're only wearing it a few weeks. Or come visit me, you can wear it here in April!

    I like Oscar Levant's comment about Doris Day, "I knew her before she was a virgin."

    Have a great time!

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  5. I think it is a stunning fur on you! I understand the crazy PETA people tend to do crazy things, but an old fur that looks that good and keeps you warm? It's divine....old style luxury that should be relished.

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  6. I loved this so much that I wrote about fur a bit on my own blog. I mentioned your post, which I hope is OK. There's some fur in my family history; thanks for the inspiration.

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  7. OMG, you bought this gorgeous jacket! You look smashing!

    I love Couture Allure Vintage.
    It is a great website with really well priced pieces.

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  8. ::wild, shrieking, eye-rolling, hysterical applause::

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  9. Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous! And here I get excited with my J Crew loot while you are really cleaning up!

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  10. Hey, there's nothing wrong with "recycled " fur! Great find!
    (and you look divine in it!)

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  11. So glam! My mom has a beautiful knee-length fur that she would be happy to pass along, and it looks and feels wonderful on, yet I hesitate for fear of the paint/blood throwers -- who would be far too late to save those vintage-critters' hides . . .

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  12. That is a beautiful coat! Love those old movies!
    GREAT photo of you in the Monet gardens! Looks like could be standing in my Giverny post!
    Terribly jealous you are off to lunch and and FUN with Belette!
    ENJOY!
    Fifi

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  13. Thank you SO much for pointing out that site, I just went there and the little dress that is the deal of the day was so tiny and pretty and perfect for a friend of mine, I sent her over there right away!

    (Love the jacket, it is the perfect butterscotch color for you.)

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  14. Do you find that people want to hug you when you wear it?

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  15. Congratulations! It's a absolute beauty and may I wish you very many happy years together.

    I also bought my kneelength undyed mink secondhand for about £150. It's also about 40 years old, had one careful owner before me and apparently cost £4000 when it was made in the 1960s! That's what I call a bargain.

    I'm surprised to hear that the animal rights campaign exists over your side of the Atlantic. I thought it was only the British who cared more for their animals than their homeless citizens!

    Mink is yet another good reason to embrace middle age as it looks so good on older women, eg. Catherine Deneuve.

    For years I resisted buying one, clinging to my feather puffer coat on cold winter days. But now I have a fur I'll never look back. Nothing man-made or natural is as warm, comfortable or as flattering to the complexion - and when the time comes it's also biodegradeable!

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  16. I have to say there is nothing as warm as fur/shearling. Nothing. I've tried all the ski jackets with thinsulate and down and am unimpressed.

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  17. OMG - came over by way of Frugal Scholar and I love your blog. That fur is so beautiful I want to cry. Great buy!

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  18. Woohoo! Gorgeous and a bargain.

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  19. Couture Allure - you're very welcome, and thanks for the quick delivery of this gorgeous jacket!

    Good Life - how wonderful, you must be so excited. Enjoy your trip to Europe!

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  20. Rooi_Skoene - I'll try to post a full length picture soon.

    Duchesse - I'll definitely bring it if I come visit in April! LOL at Oscar Levant. He was quite the king of quips.

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  21. Kalee - thanks, and I agree. And it certainly feels luxurious to wear.

    Frugal Scholar - thanks for the mention, and for sharing your family's story.

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  22. Belle - Now that the weather has cooled back down we need to go somewhere swanky for drinks or dinner so I can wear it! ;-)

    Style Spy - I think that's good, so I'll say thanks! :-D

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  23. KT - Thanks, and there's plenty of stuff at JCrew that's worthy of excitement, especially on sale.

    Susand - thank you!

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  24. materfamilias - someone once pointed out that you never see animal rights activists throwing blood on Hells Angels leather jackets. Women in furs seem to be an easier target.

    Fifi - thank you! I love the beautiful picture you sent La Belette. We had a lovely lunch and sampled many perfumes.

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  25. Fountaingirl - Glad I could help.
    :-) I hope your friend likes the dress. There are so many neat things at Couture Allure.

    Terri - well I haven't worn it out yet, as until today temperatures have been in the 70's-80's. But back when I had my rabbit jacket, people were always wanting to pet it and warm their hands up under the hood.

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  26. greying pixie - yes, we have animal rights activists. Some more rational and effective and some (like PETA) who are offensive and often so over the top ridiculous that they sour an otherwise good cause. And yes, I feel that I've grown into a mink jacket. Un certain age has its priviledges!

    WendyB - I think you're right. I probably wouldn't want to ski in this one though.

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  27. Chance - thank you! I hope I haven't made you cry, though.

    Arabella - thank you!

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  28. Go swan around Gorsuch in that, on your way to dinner!

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  29. I was never a fan of Doris but I am a fan of you in the vintage jacket.

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  30. Ahh, can I stroke it? Or as my 3 year old daughter would say - can I soft it?

    Lucky gal!

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  31. I LOVED that coat when I saw it that day it was on sale! So glad it went to a good home...I wanted it but already have something too similar to justify another. You look great in it!

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  32. I love that coat! I just bought two vintage coats ('50s/'60s) this season and I wear the Persian Lamb outdoors all the time when it dips below -15 degrees (Toronto). I haven't gotten up the nerves to wear the cropped mink one. Soon.

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  33. Journo: Greetings from another woman in Toronto with a sheared mink coat. I've been wearing it for 8 years without a single incident.

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  34. Hi Duchesse,

    That's great to know! I've been wanting to wear the coat over a dress and boots combo.

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  35. SCORE!!!!!!!!!! It's gorgeous! Wear it with jeans to the park across the street and sit with a demitasse and a glam book!!!!

    Jalouse!

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