5 Rules to Consider When Shopping For Your First Fur Coat

We are reposting this blog as we still get so many questions about what is important to know when you purchase your first fur coat. This advice holds for online fur purchases as well as in person fur purchases.

In most of the US the cold winter days outnumber warm summer days so make sure you choose a cold weather outerwear option that works for you. Be prepared for the cold and perhaps wet and snowy weather. You do not need to sacrifice style for comfort and warmth. Invest in a stylish and functional real fur coat, fur jacket, fur parka, fur lined garment or fur vest and upgrade your winter wardrobe. There is nothing like a real fur garment to keep you warm and looking chic in the long winter months! Fur is the most sustainable and warmest of natural fabrics. 

A good quality real fur garment will last for years to come. If you purchase a good quality fur coat you will look forward to Winter! Here are 5 important things to consider when shopping for your first fur coat

The purchase of your first fur coat can be daunting but here are some simple rules and advise from the experts Pologeorgis Furs. Real fur is very versatile and the style possibilities are endless. 

1. It is Important to Visit a Reputable Furrier

Be sure to do your research. Start by visiting the furriers website to make sure that the furrier is reputable. Pologeorgis Furs has an extensive website showing styles in all types of furs. The website will you the price range for each type of fur and you can decide on a budget. Fur Styles such full length mink coats, mink vests, mink jackets and mink shrugs are good options.

How do you judge a reputable furrier?  Pologeorgis has been in business for over 60 years and has worked with the best designers in the world. The site will show all types of furs, mink, fox, beaver, Russian sable, swakara lamb as well as shearling. There are also many fur manufacturing techniques to choose from. From sheared furs to reversible furs to fur lined garments.

An experienced furrier can answer any questions you have and help you decide which type of fur best suits your budget and lifestyle.  A reputable furrier like Pologeorgis Furs will also carry a wide array of furs, fur colors, fur shapes, and fur styles. Pologeorgis stands behind the authenticity and quality of the fur garments they make and sell.

Established in 1960 by Stanley Pologeorgis who was a pioneer in the fur industry, Pologeorgis Furs is world renowned for unparalleled quality furs and fur craftsmanship. Pologeorgis Furs is now under the stewardship of his son Nick and daughter Joan and the tradition of excellence continues. Pologeorgis is a family owned and operated company, each fur garment sold by the brand carries the Pologeorgis label.

The Pologeorgis family is personally invested in making sure that the fur used is of the highest quality.  Pologeorgis is open by appointment in New York City Pologeorgis 143 West 29th Street NYC NY 10001 212 563 2250

Pologeorgis designs and manufactures fur coats in New York City. Pologeorgis offers mink coats, mink jackets, mink vests as well as a full line of ready to wear coats, fox jackets and fox vests. Pologeorgis offers a  huge selection of fur hats, mink hats, mink scarves as well as fur slippers. Pologeorgis is the best furrier for custom one of a kind fur coats and fur jackets. Pologeorgis always has an experienced furrier and knowledgeable fur designer on hand to  guide you through the process.  Pologeorgis offers fur cleanings, shearling coat cleanings, fur coat remodel, fur repair and cold fur storage services right on premises.  

2. How to Make Sure the Fur is Good Quality?

It is easy to tell the difference between a faux fur and a real fur coat if you know what to look for. Do not be afraid to look at and touch the fur. Real fur will feel soft and silky while faux fur which is made from petrochemicals will be rough and feel synthetic.  Real fur has a dense soft underfur beneath the long glossy guard hair.

In a real fur garment each individual strand of long guard hair will taper to a fine point (unless the fur is sheared and the guard hair has been removed) while the tips of individual strands in a faux fur are blunt since it is manufactured. Be sure to part the hair at the base of the fur near the pelt. If you see a synthetic weave fabric it is a faux fur.

The skin of a real fur should feel like suede and should give a bit when you apply light pressure.  Be sure to look for a designer who sells genuine fur coats. Pologeorgis Furs sells custom fur coats, fur vests, fur jackets and fur accessories. Pologeorgis sells fur home décor, fur blankets (mink blankets, fox blankets and coyote fur blankets) which are handmade using only the finest genuine fur pelts.

The easiest way to tell if a fur coat is made of real fur or faux fur is to inspect underneath the lining. Look in between the lining and the underside of the fur.  There you can see if the coat was manufactured out of synthetic material or is made of fur pelts sewn together. Faux fur is non biodegradabale and many fake furs end up in landfills. Real Fur is biodegradable.

Check the label of the fur coat for the country of origin. Each fur coat should have a label which lists what it is made of and the fur’s country of origin. The quality of a fur coat depends heavily on the origin of the pelts used.

The best quality natural mink comes from the United States. The best sable fur comes from Russia. If you choose a fur coat made from pelts sourced from one of the certified fur auction houses, such as the NAFA, SAGA, KOPENHAGEN, and ALC (Blackglama mink) you can be sure you are buying a high-quality fur  garment. The fur label is a reliable way to learn where the pelts came from and any other materials used in the coat’s manufacture. Pologeorgis Furs makes fur coats in the USA. 

3. Which Type of Fur is Best for You? 

Now that you have decided to invest in a real fur garment be sure to select the fur which works for your lifestyle and budget. Here’s a quick rundown of the real furs that Pologeorgis Furs uses:

Mink: Mink is the most popular of all the furs, Pologeorgis uses only the best quality mink pelts. The best mink fur has the following characteristics, real mink is lightweight with a dense soft underfur.

Mink can be worked horizontally or vertically and it is available in natural and dyed colors. Mink is a very warm fur and durable. Natural mink are Ranch Mink, Mahogany mink, Pastel mink, Lunaraine mink, Blue Iris mink, Sapphire mink.

Popular mink styles include mink bomber jackets, mink vests, mink coats with hoods, mink hoodies, and mink shrugs. Natural mink is a versatile and can be remade into new styles

Raccoon: A highly durable option of fur, raccoon consists of a wooly underfur with long guard hairs. It can be dyed but the natural colors are black and grey. Raccoon is a very warm fur. Raccoon is often used for fur accessories.

Rabbit: Rabbit is often dyed in a variety of fun and beautiful colors. Rabbit is a warm fur and particularly soft. Rabbit pieces can be worked in different ways with knitting and shearing. Rex Rabbit coats are denser and warmer. Sheared rabbit is used for vests and jackets. Rabbit is generally priced well. 

Lamb: Several different species of lamb are utilized in quality fur products.  Swakara Lamb fur has soft wavy curls and is one of the oldest breeds of domestic sheep globally. Shearling is a Merino lamb which can be worn on the interior or the exterior of the garment. Merino lamb is either sheared and ironed or short and tightly curled hair.

This fur has been at the top of the trends list for the past few seasons. Shearling garments are very popular. Shearling is considered fur. Shearling can come in many different garments Pologeorgis offers merino shearling coats (smooth and shiny shearling) Toscana shearlings - these are a curly and have longer fur.

Sable: Russian sable is highly coveted for its warmth, lightness and silky feel. Sable is the most expensive fur. Natural Sable is the most luxurious of furs,  Natural Sable is available in deep brown tones lighter brown shades and golden brown. Pologeorgis has a largest selection of sable coats, sable jackets as well as sable vests. Pologeorgis can custom make Russian Sable coats 

Beaver: Beaver is known for extremely dense underfur and glossy long guard hair. It is one of the warmest furs and is often dyed and sheared. Sheared beaver is perfect for fur lined garments and fur lined outwear. Sheared Beaver is a popular choose for mens lined garments 

Chinchilla: The softest and most delicate fur. Pologeorgis offers chinchilla shrugs and chinchilla jackets. The natural chinchilla fur shades are black, grey, and white. Chinchilla can be dyed an assortment of vivid colors. 

Goat: This fur is unique in that it is most frequently stenciled or printed with a pattern. Goat is available in either short and thick or long and straight fur. It is soft to the touch and has a natural shine.

Fox: Depending on the species, fox fur can be thick and soft or dense and spikey. It works well in natural or dyed shades. Types of fox include silver fox, blue fox, arctic fox, and shadow fox. Silver fox blankets are popular as well as silver fox pillows.

Coyote: This fur works well in its natural shades of tan, grey, and cream. Coyote is a top choice for durable trims and linings due to its thick underfur and coarse guard hair. Coyote fur blankets are very popular for Aspen and ski homes

4. How should Your Fur Coat Look and Fit?

Let the mirror be your guide. Be sure to look at the coat from all angles. If you typically wear a sweater or blazer be sure to bring one to try on with your coat to  make sure you are comfortable wearing them together.

Your coat should fit well and feel light on your shoulders. The shoulders, sleeve edges and hem of the coat should fall evenly all around. A fur coat does not fit the same way as a cloth coat and they should have a fur expert on hand to fit you. A fur coat should never be too tight or too big.

The fur should look lustrous and shiny and the natural markings in the fur should be uniform. The fur should feel soft and silky to the touch. Invest in a quality fur it should last for decades to come 

5. How to Select the Right Style of Fur Garment?

Make sure that you have a trusted and experienced fur salesperson who can help you select the perfect fur garment. There are so many style options for fur and luxury outerwear. Are you looking for a dressy coat? Perhaps mink or sable are something for you to consider. Do you want an everyday fur?

Consider a fur lined parka or fur lined jacket for errands around town. Shearlings are a good option for many situations and can be worn with dresses or jeans. Pologeorgis is well known as the go-to salon for shearlings and Pologeorgis has a huge selection of well priced shearling jackets, shearling coats and shearling vests online as well as the location in Greenwich, CT. Pologeorgis 25 Lewis Street. Hooded mink coats and hooded mink jackets are great sporty styles for cold winters in the suburbs and city.

We hope this guide helps you choose the perfect fur coat to make you look and feel beautiful for many winters to come. You can visit us at www.pologeorgis.com to view our latest collection.