New at Couture Allure - Vintage Furs and Designer Dresses

New this week at Couture Allure are several fabulous vintage furs as well as vintage designer dresses and evening gowns.  Be sure to check our What's New page to see all the latest listings!

1950s genuine mink fur jacket

1970s genuine Mongolian lamb fur jacket

1950s Peggy Hunt nude illusion cocktail dress

1960s Mignon beaded and embroidered evening dress

1960s metallic evening gown with matching bolero

How to Wear a Vintage Fur Stole

I recently received a question from Erin over at Fashion is Danger asking for advice on how to wear her vintage mink stoles.  Erin wrote, "I have two (yes, two!) vintage mink stoles of the kind with the heads, feet and tails on them....I can't figure out HOW to wear them. Both have little bakelite chains of 3-4 links, ending in a cord-wrapped bead with a snap in it-- it seems like these are used to fasten the collars. They also "bite" each other on the tail, via a clip built into their mouths. Finally, on some of the feet (!) there are cord-wrapped beads with snaps.  In short, there are a whole lotta ways to fasten the little critters, but no matter what I do, it ends up looking weird; I end up with a head or a foot or a tail in a bizarre position."

Erin the best way I can answer this is to just give you pictures to look at.  All those clips and snaps are meant to give you versatility in how you wear your stole.  Don't forget, you can wrap it more than once, you can just drape it over your arm or your shoulder, or you can clip it to your lapel, your belt, a pocket, your handbag or your collar.  Keep experimenting!

Check out the little face on her hat!

Two feet clipped together

This is probably 5 pelts, but they are just draped nicely around the neck.

Clip under the face attached to fur on the other end.

Clipped to her belt then wrapped around the shoulders.

Probably clipped to her collar on the side, then wrapped completely around and allowed to fall.

No need to watch all 14 minutes of this video.  In the first few, you'll see Barbara Stanwyck in "Ladies They Talk About" from 1933.  Take a look at how she has the heads of her stole are clipped to the sleeves of her coat.  Genius!

Friday Fur - Emeric Partos, 1966

It's our old friend Emeric Partos again!  From 1966, Partos uses Emperor Chinchilla to fashion a cape, matching skirt, coiled tall hat and mittens.  Just what every girl needs when wandering through a field of snow.

Friday Fur - Chanel, 1934

Leave it to Coco.  Here she takes a simple brown wool coat and turns it into a face framing beauty with a huge sable fur collar and matching trim at the sleeve cuffs.  Even the little hat is sable.  Photo from 1934.  By the way, if you've been looking for a sable hat, we've got one for sale at Couture Allure.  Check it out!

Friday Fur - Maggy Rouff, 1953

I've been puzzling over the construction of this white mink jacket? stole? for the last couple of hours.  Designed by Maggy Rouff in 1953, I think this is is a jacket with splits in the sleeves at the elbows so it looks like you're holding a separate muff.  But it could certainly be a separate muff.  What's your theory?

Friday Fur - Chombert, 1969

In 1969, world famous French furrier Henri Chombert created this red, white and blue patchwork cape in sheared rabbit fur. 

Outrageous Furs, 1964

I am a firm believer that if you chose to wear fur, you should always chose vintage. That keeps coats and stoles already in existence out of our landfills and at the same time doesn't support the unneeded slaughter of today's animals for fashion. In showing images of vintage furs on this blog, I hope to inspire you and show you how beautiful they can be for the modern woman. These outrageous and unusual furs are all from 1964.

Ankle length Saga mink fur coat worn with a matching fur hood by Adolfo. Booties by Herbert Levine.

Saga Norwegian blue fox tunic worn over gray satin stretch pants. Silver sequined boots by Herbert Levine.

Revillon mink lounge dress for at-home wear.

Eric Lund gray squirrel fur tunic dress.

A long, long stole made from varying colors of Emba mink fur pelts worn over a silk chiffon gown by Hannah Troy.

That Touch of Mink

I love these ideas from 1949 for wearing just a touch of mink. At a time when most women wore stoles of the entire mink pelt, including the heads, feet, and tails, these fur scarves are a refreshing change of pace.

If you have a damaged fur coat or stole and don't know what to do with it, making a scarf like this can preserve at least some of the pelts. If you prefer not to wear real fur, there are lots of high quality faux fur fabrics on the market.

Even the narrowest length of fur can be tied in a jaunty bow at the neck. Fun!

Vintage Fur Coats - 1957

If you're not averse to vintage fur, here are a few ideas for your holiday gift wish list. One of each, please, Santa!

Revillon stole in Empress Chinchilla fur.

Elsa Schiaparelli licensed black dyed Southwest African Persian lamb
with removable white mink scarf.

Saga Norwegian blue fox capelet from Russeks Fifth Avenue.

Natural Royal Crown Russian sable by Maximillian. I love the way the soft focus of the photograph emulates the supreme softness of the sable fur.

Oh heck, why not just go for broke and wear an entire suit of
Umpa dark ranch mink fur designed by Fredrica.

1966 Op Art Furs

It's 1966. Op Art and graphic designs have swept the fashion industry. Fur salons follow suit with seamed and stenciled designs.

A ski coat in stripes of black and white French rabbit fur by Mr. Fred for Fur and Sport. Sold for $275 in 1966 (about $1810 in today's dollar).

Black and white stripes are stenciled onto calf hair in this suit by Albert Alfus. The straight jacket has epaulettes on the shoulders and is matched to a hip hugger skirt. Sold for $350 in 1966 (about $2303 in today's dollar). Matching hat by Halston of Bergdorf Goodman.

The same suit in giraffe spotted stenciled calf hair. Sold for $350 in 1966 (about $2303 in today's dollar). Matching hat by Halston of Bergdorf Goodman. Fur leggings can be worn over boots.


A checkerboard seamed suit in black and white long hair rabbit by Barlan consists of a cardigan jacket and hip hugger skirt. Sold for $275 in 1966 (about $1810 in today's dollar). Matching fez style hat was also available.