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Wardrobe Staples: Think Mink For Fall 2017-PART 1

For fall 2017 it’s time to think mink in a whole new way!

Rethinking the way we think about mink coats
Fall 2017 is making us rethink the way we think about mink coats

In the 1950’s that coveted mink coat or mink stole was a sign of affluence or arrival for the upwardly mobile.  Celebrities wrapped in mink on the silver screen and in photo shoots led generations of women to aspire to the glamorous look that mink promised.

A model wearing a silver mink fur coat, c.1950. G
A model wearing a silver mink fur coat, c.1950. G
1956 Vogue Magazine editorial featuring mink
1956 Vogue Magazine editorial featuring mink
Revillon Emba Cerulean Sapphire Mink Ad, 1954
Revillon Emba Cerulean Sapphire Mink Ad, 1954

In the 1980’s, the era of “power dressing” defined by strong shoulders and Dynasty-like opulence, mink became the yuppie fur.  As women climbed the corporate ladder the mink coat became a centerpiece of their corporate wardrobe, a reward of their hard work and a tell-tale sign of their achievement.

US Vogue October 1980
US Vogue October 1980
Elizabeth Taylor - Blackglama Mink "What Becomes A Legend Most?" Ad Campaign (1985)
Elizabeth Taylor – Blackglama Mink “What Becomes A Legend Most?” Ad Campaign (1985)

1980s Ad

US Vogue October 1984
US Vogue October 1984

Today mink holds a very different place in the fashion landscape.  Sure, the luxury cache of mink still holds strong.  But fashion lovers and designers alike share a new fascination with the wide-ranging creative possibilities of mink. It can be woven, sheared, knitted, stenciled and richly dyed to allow for exciting creative explorations.   Designers this season have shown a deft hand at intarsia design, the art of laying out pieces of fur in mosaic-like patterns and hand-sewing them together to create bold, beautiful graphics.  Mink is appearing in dramatic new silhouettes, delicious colors, and innovative treatments. Even in its natural state the broad range of shades from whiskey gold to mahogany and white to grey as well as extraordinarily beautiful mutations such as jaguar mink and cross mink offer designers a rich template.

Alice & Olivia Fall 2017 mink
Alice + Olivia Fall 2017
Alice & Olivia Fall 2017 mink
Alice+ Olivia Fall 2017
Angelo Marani Fall 2017 mink
Angelo Marani Fall 2017
Altuzarra Fall 2017 mink
Altuzarra Fall 2017
Blumarine Fall 2017 mink
Blumarine Fall 2017
Fendi Fall 2017 mink
Fendi Fall 2017
Gucci Fall 2017 mink
Gucci Fall 2017
Libertine Fall 2017 mink
Libertine Fall 2017
Prabal Gurung Fall 2017 mink
Prabal Gurung Fall 2017
Valentino Fall 2017 mink
Valentino Fall 2017
J. Mendel Fall 2017 mink
J. Mendel Fall 2017
Blumarine Fall 2017 mink
Blumarine Fall 2017
Dennis Basso Fall 2017 mink
Dennis Basso Fall 2017
Genny Fall 2017 mink
Genny Fall 2017
Gucci Fall 2017 mink
Gucci Fall 2017
Fendi Fall 2017 mink
Fendi Fall 2017
Oscar de la Renta Fall 2017 mink
Oscar de la Renta Fall 2017
Pamella Roland Fall 2017 mink
Pamella Roland Fall 2017

From luxe trims to arresting accessories and fresh, modern statement outerwear, the runways for fall 2017 were filled with mink.  And whether your taste leans toward sportswear chic, subtle elegance or streetwear savvy, it’s hard not to think mink this season!

Shiatzy Chen Fall 2017
Shiatzy Chen Fall 2017
Thom Browne Fall 2017 mink
Thom Browne Fall 2017
Sonia Rykiel Fall 2017 mink
Sonia Rykiel Fall 2017
Zang Toi Fall 2017 mink trim
Zang Toi Fall 2017