Fashion on Fifth: Fur…friend or faux?

This week on Fashion on Fifth, I want to know the dirty details about your fur. Is it real or is it fake? Is it new or did you dig it out of your grandma’s attic over Christmas break? Fur has been a hot topic in my newsfeed in recent weeks. Not because of the hot debate of whether or not faux fur is better and more environmentally friendly than the real deal but because of TikTok’s recent obsession with the so-called “mob wife aesthetic.” Pinterest has been flooded with images of Edie Falco’s Carmela Soprano from “The Sopranos” and Michelle Pfeiffer’s Elvira from “Scarface” boasting their opulent furs, sparkling jewelry, oversized sunglasses, and flawless blonde bouffants. This resurgence has not gone unnoticed by major media outlets. The Washington Post, Elle Magazine, and Business of Fashion have all posed their own queries as to why everyone is obsessed with fur again. My theory? It’s iconic — always has been and always will be. And with the freezing temperatures in NYC right now, this trend allows you to stay cozy while still looking fab. So let’s talk to some New Schoolers about why they’re sporting furs and ask *whisper,* “is it real?”

Vanna Zhang she/her

First-year Parsons School of Design strategic design and management student

Vanna clearly has her priorities in order because when I asked what material her coat is made of, she leaned in close to tell me: “I’m at school, so I wear faux fur, but when I go to the club I wear real fur.” The faux fur in question is a white trench-length jacket with diagonal stripe details by Chinese brand Lyuocheng. It caught my eye from across the street and took everything in me not to run through traffic to ask for a picture of it. Vanna is not one to sacrifice style to stay warm, seen here as she layers a white quilted bathrobe, gray sweatpants, and sneakers under her coat. Paired with her bleached hair, this look feels very “ice princess who couldn’t be bothered to change out of her pajamas,” and I think it’s perfect. In fact, you might see me wearing a bathrobe to class next week (if you do, just please don’t make fun of me to my face).

Amir Tazi he/him

Third-year Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts student

Amir is all about the fur resurgence — saying that there’s plenty of good faux, you’ve just got to find it. And if you’ve got to have the real thing, he thinks secondhand is the way to go. This particular hat he got for only $50 on Amazon, which surprised me because it turned out to be incredibly soft — do you know how weird it is to ask a stranger if you can stroke their hat? I’m no expert, but some faux fur seems just as good as the real thing. However, Amir’s hat was not the first thing that caught my eye about his outfit; it was his Holy Bible backpack. It’s a comical accessory that pairs well with his green bomber jacket and black Moon Boots. Karl Lagerfeld once said that wearing sweatpants is a sign of defeat, but I’ll give Amir a pass since it’s winter in New York, and the rest of his outfit is incredibly charming. One of my editors who saw this picture said that he recognizes this exact red backpack, so whether he means to or not, Amir is becoming a character around campus.

Elisabet Gudmundsdottir she/her — @elisabetthoraa

Third-year Parsons strategic design and management student

As the semester begins, everyone is quick to prove their intelligence and assert their dominance in class by using their biggest and baddest buzzwords. I will now attempt to prove myself to you, dear reader. Elisabet’s baggy jeans and black skull T-shirt are a stark contrast to her girly ballet flats, fluffy fur coat, and red hair ribbons. This juxtaposition of masculine and feminine creates an almost androgynous sartorial statement that surely resonates with the gender fluidity of younger generations. (How’d I do?) Her fur is faux and from the Rose Bowl Flea Market in Los Angeles. But Elisabet is conflicted about her fur feelings. A year ago she did a school project opposing the use of real fur, but now she struggles with taking a definitive stance because faux fur is made from plastic and doesn’t naturally decompose in landfills like the real stuff does. Plus Elisabet loves animals too, so her solution is to buy secondhand and vintage furs and fauxs only.

Camille Bowen she/her — @camille.symone

Third-year Parsons strategic design & management student 

Camille wears faux fur, and she only buys it secondhand. But with silly little TikTok hashtags on the rise (#notsoquietluxury) finding affordable fur — whether faux or not — has become increasingly difficult. Luckily, this coat of Camille’s is not only gorgeous but also timeless, so as you TikTok girls obliterate the secondhand market, she’ll be fine with what she already has. This outfit is as chic as can be. The coat, with its caramel color, pairs perfectly with her dark sweater, skirt, boots, and bag. White headphones and a vape in hand are the perfect accessories to this outfit — because nothing says “I care about the environment” like buying secondhand fur and disposable vapes. At least it matches the outfit?

Lizi Chodrishvili she/her — @lizichodrishvili 

First-year Parsons strategic design and management student

Lizi’s faux fur is from Zadig & Voltaire, and she got it on The Real Real for $95. Her outfit accomplishes the kind of perfect effortlessness that every Greenwich Village girl aspires to. She’s got it all — the pre-scuffed Golden Goose sneakers, all black layers, sunglasses that she put on just for the photo, and a manicure that matches her bag. Lizi has the outfit and the cadence of a seasoned New Yorker but one with a heart of gold who actually stopped to talk to the weirdo (me) who asked to take a picture of her outfit. Fur has not always been a staple for Lizi. “It’s kind of grandma,” she tells me, then pauses. “I actually do have a fur coat from my grandma.”

Aura Delvore she/her — @auradelvore

First-year Lang media and culture studies student

Aura isn’t sure if she has a faux or real fur since it was a gift from a friend. But she does know it was thrifted and it’s vintage. (What else do you even need to know?) It’s a great way to elevate the black tank top, baggy jeans, and cowboy boots she’s wearing. Her leather bag is a cool metallic tote, and altogether she looks like #mobwifeaesthetic — kidding! Aura has her own style that balances baggy with girly, and she executes it perfectly. She loves her fur and has no issue with buying real or faux as long as it’s not new. “I don’t see anything wrong with wearing vintage fur because you’re giving it a new life which is better than letting it sit in the back of someone’s barn or something.” She adds that she thinks it’s more sustainable than leather, to which I’d say, that’s a discussion for another issue of Fashion on Fifth.

Let’s be honest — fur is controversial. The demand for pelts in the fashion industry has led to the overhunting of species of chinchilla, mink, fox, and other cuddly creatures, leaving them endangered. But Gen Z especially has repopularized thrifting and secondhand markets, so we can continue to wear our fur or someone else’s until the trend ends or until global warming makes the planet so hot we no longer need coats. Until then, I’ll enjoy wearing my faux I got from the Goodwill bins. (Gross…or great?) 

Go forth and conquer this semester, my furry New School friends, and get ready for a new season of Fashion on Fifth.