Living in climatic zones where the temperature drops below zero for a long time is impossible without warm clothing. For thousands of years, fur clothing was considered the best protection against winter cold. Despite the constant development of light and warm innovative materials, the high cost of natural skins, and finally, the active protests of wildlife defenders, fur coats, jackets, sheepskin coats and other products made from natural fur occupy an honorable place in the wardrobe of our contemporaries. These useful and beautiful things are expensive, and even movie stars and millionaires update them relatively rarely.
Therefore, the question of which fur to choose for winter new clothes will be very important for any woman who has planned such a purchase.
Sheepskin coats or fur coats?
A woman's fur coat has traditionally been considered an indicator of the status and well-being of its owner. At the same time, sheepskin coats, which triumphantly burst into winter fashion, continue to enjoy enormous popularity for more than half a century and give rise to discussions about their advantages and disadvantages.
Of course, for most men, sheepskin coats are the most preferred type of fur clothing. As for female fans of sheepskin coats, they name the following positive properties of this clothing:
- relatively low cost;
- good ability of a sheepskin coat to retain heat;
- resistance to moisture (with appropriate impregnation);
- variety of cuts and finishes.
However, sheepskin coats are quite heavy, and unlike fur coats, they lose their attractive appearance much faster; moreover, the variety of their cut and finishing leads to a quick change of fashionable styles. However, high-quality classic-style sheepskin coats will not only reliably protect their owner from bad weather for a long time, but will also delight her with their appearance.
From marten fur | Average price from 250 thousand rubles
In sixth place in the ranking of the warmest fur coats are products made from marten . The fur of this predatory animal is highly valued because of its qualities: it is thick, long, beautiful and retains heat excellently. Marten fur, having a magnificent shine, is ideal for making coats, sheepskin coats and long fur coats. Marten products are expensive because the animal does not breed in captivity.
The average cost of a marten fur coat is from 250 thousand rubles.
What's warmest in the world? Is it more durable?
In order to determine which furs are the warmest, you should remember where certain animals live.
- The best heat-protective properties are required in the Far North, and accordingly, polar bears and reindeer have the warmest fur. However, their skins are not suitable for making clothes.
- But polar foxes (Arctic foxes), sables (especially Barguzin's) and martens will provide reliable protection from the most severe frosts and hurricane winds.
- The thermal insulation of the beaver, steppe and forest fox, and raccoon dog is slightly inferior.
- Mouton (treated sheepskin) is also very warm; the thermal protection of nutria, mink, chinchilla, ermine, and also traditional astrakhan fur is somewhat worse.
- The furs of squirrels, marmots, rabbits, and gophers are considered not too warm.
For zones with a temperate climate, the heat-protective properties of a fur coat are not very relevant, but the question of which fur is the most wearable becomes a priority. According to experts, the main types of fur for fur coats have the following durability rating (based on the number of seasons):
- otter and river beaver – at least 20;
- mink, mouton, sable – 10;
- arctic fox, marten, karakul - 7;
- fox and nutria fur – 5;
- squirrel – 4;
- rabbit, gopher - 2.
Of course, a lot depends on the quality of the raw material and its processing technology. It is very important how often a fur coat is worn, and what weather conditions prevail in a given region. Furs suffer most from water (for example, from melted snow indoors or from a snowstorm that turns into rain). The fur of waterfowl (beaver, nutria, sable, otter, mink) has the highest water resistance properties; the muton is also practically not damaged by rain .
Rating of furs by thermal properties
Mouton and mink.
A mink coat speaks eloquently about the status of its owner. It is expensive, but looks glamorous. But if we talk about the thermal characteristics of the fur from which the warmest fur coats are made, then mouton fur is much warmer than mink fur. Just ten years ago, fur coats made from mouton were not in demand. Today the situation has changed and thanks to the high-quality finishing and method of fur processing, mouton coats look no worse than mink ones. Mouton does not require special care, has the highest resistance to dampness and is warm.
Fox.
Due to the thickness and length of the fur, a fox fur coat is the warmest fur coat. In addition to its thermal characteristics, it has bright, original fur. Silver fox fur is used to sew elite outerwear.
The most popular furs and their features
The most practical option “for every day” is considered to be a mouton fur coat.
And although for our grandmothers a fur coat (or more often a short fur coat) made of sheepskin was considered warm, but not too beautiful, modern processing technologies make it possible to obtain a mouton of a wide variety of colors and textures. The main advantages of this fur are:
- heat resistance;
- durability;
- ease of care;
- resistance to dampness;
- affordable price.
The phrase “mink coat” has become a household word to denote elegance and luxury.
However, it should be noted that not all such fur coats are expensive and luxurious.
- The most valuable “black diamond” furs have a purple or black tint and a thick down.
- The “tourmaline” category is distinguished by a beige undercoat and a long brown coat, followed by blue, white, gray, and black skins.
- Brown, walnut red furs are considered the cheapest.
The price also depends on the method of selecting the skins - the most expensive will be a plate of large pieces created using computer technology. Products made from dissimilar colored fragments are relatively cheap, but they will not last long.
The popularity of mink and the close attention of designers to it have led to the emergence of special technologies for its processing. For example, plucked fur has a delicate velvety structure due to the fact that all guard hairs have been removed, and groove and laser burning make it possible to obtain a surface with an unusual three-dimensional pattern.
Among the latest design proposals are mink sheepskin coats with a suede-like interior and perforated fur plates.
Knitted fur coats, created by weaving fur strips on an elastic base, are also in fashion.
Furry Arctic foxes and foxes are considered very stylish and warm.
They are often used as decoration, and a fur coat or sheepskin coat made from such animals is not inferior in prestige to products made from mink and is a must in any winter collection of leading fashion houses. The most spectacular are the silver foxes, but they are also the most often counterfeited. A feature of natural silver-brown fur is a three-stage color change along the length of the hair - black tip, white middle and gray base. The bright skins of the moth, gray fox, and Finnish golden fox are also very beautiful. As for the Arctic fox, its natural color in winter is white. Platinum Arctic foxes, distinguished by their special brilliance, are considered elite.
Despite all the changes in fashion trends, sable has remained the king of fur fashion for many centuries.
In addition to its unique heat-protective qualities and durability, sable is also very soft and beautiful, it has a silky thick pile, a special sparkling sheen, and is also very light.
The most expensive warm ones are the Barguzin sables, distinguished by their deep dark color with gray hair; the light Yenisei sables are slightly cheaper.
Sables from North America and Canada are valued much lower, moreover, they are often counterfeited, and the cheapest skins are those obtained from fur farms.
From ermine fur | The average price depends on the specific order
Open the Top 10 warmest fur coats made from ermine . Ermine fur is highly valued for its velvety, softness, shine and thickness. Ermine fur coats look incredibly beautiful and elegant, but they will not save you from severe frosts. The length of the ermine fur pile is only two centimeters, and the thermal insulation properties of any fur product directly depend on the length of the hairs. Ermine coats are a sign of status. This expensive product is not affordable for everyone. The owner of such a fur coat will not stand at a bus stop in winter waiting for public transport. In a product made from ermine, you can only walk from a car into a room, showing others your high status.
It is difficult to say the average cost of an ermine fur coat, since they are usually sewn to order.
How to choose so as not to make a mistake?
As you can see, the question of which fur coat or sheepskin coat is best for you requires simultaneous consideration of many factors.
- First of all, you should proceed from your own needs and the conditions in which you will wear the desired new thing.
- If you do not have the opportunity to update your wardrobe often, the most sensible decision would be to choose a classic cut product from a reliable manufacturer.
- When deciding which fur (mink, nutria, mouton, etc.) is better to choose, you should proceed from your financial capabilities, taste and needs, and, to a large extent, age.
- If you want to purchase an avant-garde model, then you should keep in mind that already next season it may become irrelevant and will require replacement.
What to look for when choosing?
It is better to buy an expensive winter item in a good store, and you should ask for a manufacturer’s certificate. As a rule, fur products from reputable brands do not have a lining at the bottom, which allows you to evaluate the quality of the processing of the fur, the number of stitched flaps and other important factors. If the lining is sewn “tightly” and the seller does not want to trim it, you are dealing with a counterfeit. Pay attention to the texture and uniformity of the front side, the quality of the seams, the softness and elasticity of the pile, its shine, as well as how quickly the hairs fall into place when crumpled and smoothed in the opposite direction. When squeezed, the flesh should not make rustling or crunching sounds, and if the seller protests against such tests, this is grounds for refusing the purchase. A high-quality natural fur coat should be quite heavy and dense; a creative product can be lightweight, but you should not expect warmth and durability from it.
From arctic fox fur | Average price 100 thousand rubles
Some of the warmest fur coats include products made from arctic fox . Arctic fox fur has a long pile and a thick undercoat, which makes it very warm. In nature, you can find animals of two colors: white and blue. Blue Arctic fox fur is prized for its beauty. It is used mainly to create luxury products, the price of which reaches several thousand dollars. In addition to excellent thermal insulation, arctic fox fur is highly wear-resistant. A blue fur coat will last up to 12 seasons. Products made from white fox have a slightly shorter service life - 8 seasons, since over time the coat becomes yellow.
The average price of an arctic fox fur coat is 100 thousand rubles.
From beaver fur | Average price 50-60 thousand rubles
The warmest fur coats are made from beaver . This material has a number of advantages. Beaver fur is fluffy and thick, soft and pleasant to the touch. It perfectly fits the figure and perfectly protects from the most severe frosts. Beaver fur has extremely high wear resistance: over time it does not wear out or fade. With proper care, a beaver fur coat will last faithfully for up to 20 seasons.
The average price for a beaver fur product reaches 50-60 thousand rubles.
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Fur coat color.
So, you have determined your budget, style, fur, and have even looked at a couple of options, it’s time to decide on the color. Remember, no sane seller will paint an expensive fur coat in a bright color without being sure that it will be bought. In this case, designer fur coats in bright colors are not taken into account - fashion is fashion. Fully dyed fur, no matter how wonderful the conditions in which it is dyed, will wear worse and last less than undyed fur. That is, if we are talking about a fur coat made of sable or lynx, such a question is not even worth it - it is blasphemy to dye such fur coats, if we are talking about a rabbit from which they tried to make a chinchilla, then it, like the chinchilla, will still crawl out in two years and in some places wipe, but if we are talking about mink, you should be vigilant here; the most favorite option of sellers is to paint an ordinary walnut-colored mink (the least valued) black and make expensive blackglama or blackknuff out of inexpensive walnut. It would seem, why all these tricks? Believe me, these words are not only the names of the color, they are also the special texture of the underfur and guard hair, and the dyed skins will begin to come out quite quickly. In addition, many may even develop an allergy to paint.
So, let's summarize.
From raccoon fur | Average price from 50 thousand rubles
In 3rd place in the ranking of the warmest fur coats are products made from raccoon . Raccoon coats are not as popular as mink and mouton coats, but they are also highly valued. Raccoon fur is voluminous, fluffy, flexible and light. Its main advantages: good thermal insulation, moisture resistance and wear resistance. Fur coats made from raccoon are not as beautiful and glamorous as products made from arctic fox or sable, but they will keep you warm in severe frosts.
The estimated price of a raccoon fur coat is from 50 thousand rubles.
