All Mixed Up: Animal Floral Fusion

What I sincerely love about fashion is your vast array of options. The only limit is the 2 C's - your personal CREATIVITY and CONFIDENCE. some women fall in love with looks but claim not to have the confidence to "pull it off". I personally beg to differ; if you can DREAM IT you can DO IT, or in this case wear it.

I love to mix and match colours, prints, and textiles. One of my latest obsessions is an Animal/Floral fusion.

The mixture of A floral print with an animal print or element. Mixing Pansies and python or Lillie's and leopard the colors and combo's are truly endless. Make sure all the animal elements are FAUX! Wearing your own skin is important. Opt for Fake Skin or Mock Crock. All the faux fur textiles are so realistic there are no excuses not to be compassionate and CHIC!

Have you used these two elements to mix it up before?

Here are a few inspirations I love:

Dolce & Gabbana

See Maegan's entire LOOK HERE

Eva Mendes

Giselle for Roberto Cavalli

Evolution Vintage Version:

Get The Look ((For $65))

Vintage 70's Floral Pleated Day Dress ($45)

Vintage Fake-Skin belt (Germany) $20

It even exists in nature. Did you know there is a Leopard Flower?

Known as: Iris domestica which is a flowering perennial of Chinese origin and is locally used in Chinese villages for its medicinal values. The dried rhizome has long been used in East Asia to treat throat troubles, asthma, swollen liver and spleen, gonorrhea, malaria, and arrow poisoning.

Now there is no excuse not to at least try Animal Floral Fusion .. it's only natural!

Compassionate Recycling

Cindy Crawford for PETA

I was having an on-line discussion this morning with a group of ladies who sell Vintage clothing and accessories about FUR and it reminded me of my previous BLOG: Wear Your Own Skin

The consensus in the group seemed to be that if the fur is Vintage one should use it rather than waste it. Some sell it and some do not. I do not sell fur at EVOLUTION VINTAGE but I totally agree about the non-waste element. I would never wear it so what can you do with your fur? There are several places and organizations that will compassionately recycle your vintage (and non-vintage) fur coats, stoles and accessories.

PETA SAYS: “Whether the animals were killed yesterday or 50 years ago, vintage fur sends the same unacceptable message as new fur—that it is OK to allow animals to languish in steel-jaw traps, have their necks snapped, or be skinned alive simply for the sake of vanity.”

Donate & Re-Cycle your old or new fur for education, helping the homeless AND helping other animals. Not only is it a compassionate choice but you will receive a tax credit. I think PETA's point with the homeless is that one would need to be destitute with no options and use the fur to keep warm and essentially stay alive. I don't think they are making an exception to those that are without homes. Some of PETA's methods are unorthodox but no matter what your opinion, they DO help animals and provide a voice for them they would not otherwise have!

PETA uses furs for education displays, to warm the homeless AND for Women/Children in Afghanistan & Iraq - Click HERE for more information on their program(s).

How To Donate?

Mail your unwanted furs to:

Attn.: Fur Campaign
PETA
501 Front St.
Norfolk, VA 23510


The Humane Society of the United States has a "Coats for Cubs" program. All of the furs received by The HSUS are sent to wildlife rehabilitators, who use the furs to warm and comfort orphaned and injured wildlife.

HOW DOES IT HELP THE ANIMALS?

"According to the HSUS "More than 200 rehabilitators from across the United States and Canada now participate in the program. The furs are cut into an appropriate size for the animal, whether it be a bobcat, fox, raccoon, squirrel, or rabbit, and placed inside the animal's enclosure. The furry blanket becomes a surrogate mother to orphaned animals, reducing stress and giving comfort."

How To Donate:

Place your fur in a sturdy box (a large padded envelope is fine for small items) and mail it to The HSUS at the following address:

The Humane Society of the United States
2100 L St., NW
Washington, D.C. 20037
Attn: Coats for Cubs

Jessica Stam for FENDI - F/W 2010

In my opinion wearing real fur is WEAK and NOT CHIC! and it is my sincere hope that fashion houses realize it, like FENDI who's brand has literally been built using the backs of animals. With all the faux fur alternatives and textiles there is now NO excuse for wearing real fur or for designers to use real fur in their designs.

Imagine a world like this??? I bet the animals can.

Style Yourself Compasionately Chic this Fall/Winter in a FAUX-FUR Vintage Bomber Jacket, Caplet Coat/Cape or 3/4 length Coat from EVOLUTION VINTAGE

Wear your own skin

Faux Fur is a topic that I feel is very important in fashion. Many designers and brands have opted to utilize this synthetic fabric as opposed to causing unnecessary harm to defenceless animals - BRAVO! I think killing and removing another living creatures skin to wear it is the LEAST luxurious thing you can do. It does not exude status or style it shows me a lack of character and compassion. It is not CHIC it is WEAK.

Let's talk about the wonder that is faux fur shall we.

FAUX FUR FACS: Fake fur is a type of textile fabric fashioned to look like genuine animal fur. It is known as a pile fabric and is typically made from polymeric fibers that are processed, dyed, and cut to match a specific fur texture and color. First introduced in 1929, advances in polymer technology have greatly improved faux fur quality. Today's fake furs can be nearly indistinguishable from the natural furs they imitate.

In the 1940s, the quality of fake furs was vastly improved by advances in textile manufacture technology. However, the true modern fake furs were not developed until the mid 1950s, with the introduction of acrylic polymers as replacements for alpaca hair. These polymers were particularly important because they could provide the bulk required to imitate real fur without the weight associated with other fake fur fabrics. They were also easier to color and texture than alpaca fibers.


What does Tim Gunn & PETA Say? do YOU know where fur comes from? really?







I was pleasantly surprised to learn that even Karl Lagerfeld, for CHANEL has changed his perspective on fur for F/W 2010 collection: “Technical advances are so perfect you can hardly tell fake fur from the real thing. Fake is not chic — we have got a new Chanel tweed to stop copies — but fake fur is.”


FAUX

FAUX


FAUX

He still needs to change his "Fendi" attitude as he will continue to show real fur in his collections for the house.

Other FUR-FREE designers/Retailers include (but are not limited to the following): Betsey Johnson, Stella McCartney, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Top shop, Polo Ralph Lauren, Old Navy/Gap/Piperlime/Bananna Republic, Liz Claiborne, Inc.(incl. 15 brands), H&M, Guess? Inc., BCBG Max Azria ...and MANY others. My Faux Fur hat off to all of you! for being Compassionate & Creative!

List of Friendly & Fabulous Designers

Designers duty to fashion and clients is to be CREATIVE. With the thousands of other textile choices why choose cruelty or murder? real fur is FAUX-Fabulous ~ Wear your own skin!


SHOP FAUX FUR @ EVOLUTION VINTAGE



Beige VINTAGE FAUX Fur Capelet Jacket/Cape. Floral pattern on silk liner. "Glenoit" label (A Luxuriant Pile Fabric) - No Size. Open Concept. Front Arm slits. Excellent condition with the exception of an "H" written on the liner in black marker (inside @ neckine) - I wonder who Mrs/Miss "H" was?

Vintage Saks Fifth Ave Faux Fur Bomber Jacket