Fur Report From The Road ...

[JGalanos]

I've traveled the Midwest quite a bit this summer and have had a few unexpected fur related experiences:

 

Nominated for best supporting actress ... A beautiful mink coat!

 

I saw a play a few weeks ago that featured a gorgeous mink coat. The coat appeared midway through the first act (worn by an attractive woman) and stayed on the stage (folded over the back of a chair) for the rest of the play. The pelts were so lush and luminous it was all I could do to refrain from walking on stage during intermission and at the end of the play (I was in the second row) to inspect the coat.

 

Maybe there's hope for the US fur industry after all ...

 

Following directions provided by Mapquest, I inadvertently drove right by a rural furrier last week. Rural as in it was located on a county road over 20 miles from the nearest city (and had been for 40+ years). It occurred to me that if there was sufficient business to support a manufacturing furrier in the boonies then perhaps the worst of the US fur industry consolidation was over.

 

Fox was the crowd favorite ...

 

While visiting a site associated with the historic fur trade, I came across a "Name that fur" display. Visitors were asked to identify five pelts on display (badger, otter, fox, raccoon, and beaver). To check your answer you had to open a small door which gave the name of the fur as well as a sample that could be touched. I was amused to discover that of the five furs the (red) fox was the one most worn down -- No doubt a testament to both fox's popularity and fragility.

 

Anyone else have close encounters of the furs kind this summer?

[ReFur]

Great post!!

 

Sadly, none for me.

[JGalanos]

Great post!!

 

Sadly, none for me.

 

Thanks, Linda. And sorry to hear "none for me".

[brandy-uk]

JGalanos

 

Excellent post.. I could almost imagine you at a furry news desk giving the latest updates.. he he

 

it is interesting that 'fox' seems to pop up as such a popular choice.. wonder if it is due to cost?

 

brandy

[JGalanos]

it is interesting that 'fox' seems to pop up as such a popular choice.. wonder if it is due to cost?

 

Personally, I think fox is a popular choice for garments, trim, and accessories because of the usually moderate cost, the myriad colors available, and the luxurious, glamorous look the plush long-haired fur provides. In my opinion, it's hard to beat fox if you are interested in a reasonably priced, fabulous looking fur.

[FrBrGr]

Today, I went shopping with "The Duchess." She was intent on buying a new dress to wear to her upcoming class reunion. One of the stores we visited was one in a very large department store chain here in the 'States. Right next to the finer dress section was their fur salon, and while "The Duchess" was involved in trying on clothes, I visited the furs! The clerk observed that my wife was in the next section, and assumed that I was looking for a fur for her. I said no, that I was interested in one for myself. I'm not sure why, but she looked very surprised, and stammered that they didn't have any furs for men in that location, but she was sure that she could locate any fur that I would be interested in buying, and asked what kind of fur interested me. I responded by telling her that at the moment, I was contemplating a fisher-dyed raccoon. She gave me one of the blankest looks I have ever seen, then in a very condescending tone said, "Sir, do you want a fisher or a raccoon? You know they're two entirely different animals!" I tried to explain to her what fisher-dyed raccoon meant, but she said that she had been in the fur business for many years and never heard of it. She then began to convince me that mink would be my best choice, since mink looks very good on a man. At that moment, I spotted a crystal fox stroller, and said that I never liked mink, and since she didn't know what fisher-dyed raccoon was, I would just like to try on the crystal fox to see how I looked in crystal fox. "But sir - That's a woman's coat!" was her reply. I said that I knew that; I just wanted to get an idea what I looked like in the fur. I could tell that she really didn't want me to try the coat on; she immediately said that she didn't think it would fit me, but I pressed her and she reluctantly handed it to me. I smiled and asked her if she'd help me put it on. She did. It fit, and felt very nice. I walked over to a mirror and modeled it for myself for a moment or two, and simply asked her if she thought the color looked good on me. She said that she thought the color was fine, but offered that fox was really not a fur that a man would want to wear. About that time, I saw "The Duchess" come out of the fitting rooms next door, and so I took the coat off, handed it to the clerk, smiled, and told her that I really didn't think she could help me, thanked her for her time, and rejoined my wife.

 

I will find my fisher-dyed raccoon . . . !

[auzmink]

Way to go FrBrGr.....its about time the 'snooty' attitude was gone from these places.

 

I would write a letter to the Manager including the info re Fischer dyed racoon coats and ask them to re-consider their attitude to potential male customers! Its no wonder we blokes have to work up courage to go into Furriers..... It takes a tough stance to do what you did and I think it a great attitude, well done.

 

For my 10c, I would just buy a Fischer coat.....they are wonderfullll

 

Auzmink.

[JGalanos]

I'm not sure why, but she looked very surprised, and stammered that they didn't have any furs for men in that location, but she was sure that she could locate any fur that I would be interested in buying, and asked what kind of fur interested me. I responded by telling her that at the moment, I was contemplating a fisher-dyed raccoon. She gave me one of the blankest looks I have ever seen, then in a very condescending tone said, "Sir, do you want a fisher or a raccoon? You know they're two entirely different animals!" I tried to explain to her what fisher-dyed raccoon meant, but she said that she had been in the fur business for many years and never heard of it. She then began to convince me that mink would be my best choice, since mink looks very good on a man. At that moment, I spotted a crystal fox stroller, and said that I never liked mink, and since she didn't know what fisher-dyed raccoon was, I would just like to try on the crystal fox to see how I looked in crystal fox. "But sir - That's a woman's coat!" was her reply.

 

I'm guessing you were in a Macy's in the greater Pittsburgh area. I think if you check the book of Revelation you'll find that the spread of Macy's coast to coast is one of the seven signs of the apocalypse.

 

This salesperson obviously needed additional training in both the furrier and customer service realms!