PHOTO: COURTESY Number 9 Films/The Weinstein Company
There’s nothing more comforting, cozy and incredibly confidence-boosting than throwing on a stunning faux fur coat in the heart of winter. No need to worry about your furry friends, because faux fur is safe for animal lovers and a little safer for your wallet, too.
Not only does faux fur cost a fraction of the real thing, which often boasts price tags 4 digits and upwards, but they come in an array of bright colors and fun patterns. Break away from the basics and take a cue from some of Hollywood’s leading ladies on how to style this classic yet bold outerwear.
Zadig & Voltaire Fury Faux Fur Coat
$360 at time of publication
There is arguably no New Yorker more iconic, for both her taste in fashion and taste in men, than Carrie Bradshaw of Sex and the City fame. As a writer who is just getting by, maxing out her credit cards on Manolo Blahniks and Gucci dresses, she clearly has an innate taste for the finer things.
In the Sex and the City movie, as well as throughout the television series, Carrie wears her signature calf-length raccoon coat as a topper for barely-there dresses. Mimic Bradshaw’s style with a longer coat, preferable knee length, in a light brown shade with a natural pattern, like this one from Zadig & Voltaire.
Try pairing it with a slinky slip dress to create an irresistible mix of textures like she does throughout the series. Finish off the look with a pair of statement heels for an outfit that radiates with New York City glamour.
This faux fur coat is available at Bloomingdales.com
Apparis Laures Faux-Fur Coat
$275 at time of publication
Attend any apartment party or packed Brooklyn bar on Halloween weekend, and you’ll be be certain to find at least one iteration of Margot Tenenbaum’s famous costume from Wes Anderson’s film The Royal Tenenbaums. Along with the weight of her family’s expectations, her brooding literary mind and complicated relationships, Margot carries with her throughout the film a vintage-inspired brown mink coat.
The film’s costume designer, Karen Patch, revealed to Elle magazine that this coat was designed exclusively for the character by the Italian fashion house Fendi, famous for their luxury furs. Gwyneth Paltrow’s character wears one that is light brown with a tie waist, a versatile style that can easily be worn both day and night.
Like Margot, try pairing fur with a casual dress and flat shoes; she wears hers with a polo dress and classic Bass loafers for a twist on a WASP wardrobe. For a more modern take that’s still prep inspired, throw a mid-length brown coat over a striped shirt dress, buttoned all the way up to the collar, and finish the look off with a pair of metallic wingtip oxfords.
This faux fur coat is available at Bloomingdales.com
Topshop Luxe Faux Fur Coat
$95 at time of publication
Pam Grier stars as a take-no-prisoners private investigator in the 1975 crime film Sheba, Baby. As a woman in the male-dominated world of mobster loan sharks, the film portrays Sheba Shayne as using her femininity to take advantage of her male adversaries.
Through trash talking and roundhouse kicks, Shayne’s dons a series of iconic seventies trends, from jumpsuits to disco dresses. On the film’s promotional poster, Grier is decked out in a glamorous gown with a short grey fur bomber jacket draped over her shoulders. Cooler and more stylish than a standard evening-wear capelet, her short fur jacket adds an air of youth to an outfit that risks taking a turn towards stuffy.
Try draping a shorter coat from Topshop over your shoulders to add an effortless element to both and day and night looks. A faux fur that’s shorter, like Grier’s, is also more versatile as part of a casual or daytime outfit. Try pairing it with a turtleneck and wide-leg jeans for a look that draws inspiration from the same stylish era.
This faux fur coat is available at Topshop.com
Mango Oversized Faux Fur Coat
$200 at time of publication
In the 2015 drama Carol, actress Cate Blanchett portrays an elegant soon-to-be divorcée who embarks on a complicated relationship with a younger woman. Rooney Mara’s character is drawn the Carol’s sophisticated air, a characteristic that is only heightened by Carol’s choice of elevated outerwear.
Channel the 1950s glamour of Carol’s look with a faux fur coat that has similar substantial details, such as exaggerated cuffs or a shawl collar. Carol’s is undoubtedly pure mink, but this one from Mango will look just as classy layered over a mid-length dress. Embrace the retro vibe and add a headscarf or a top handle bag to round out the look.
This faux fur coat is available at Mango.com
ASOS Design Patched Faux Fur Coat
$68 at time of publication
In the fifth season of the “American Horror Story” anthology, Angela Bassett portrays a failed actress, whose peak included a run of both television commercials and movies in the 1970s. In her role as Ramona Royale, one of Bassett’s most memorable looks is a disco-ready patchwork fur coat worn with a bright blue jumpsuit and statement necklace.
Embrace the versatility that faux fur offers with this lively seventies-inspired cropped coat. A patchwork coat like this, that mixes neutral tones with saturated hues, is also super easy to style. Try layering it over a piece within the same color family as the shades featured in the coat, like Bassett does with her blue jumpsuit.
This faux fur coat is available at Asos.com
ASOS Petite Plush Faux Fur Coat with Belt
$104 at time of publication
Furs have a long-standing history of being worn as a status symbol by the rich and famous. In the 1983 film Scarface, Michelle Pfeiffer's character Elvira Hancock is the trophy wife of a high-rolling drug lord and certainly dresses the part. During the day she sports crisp white suits, and when the sun goes down she’s spotted on the dance floor of exclusive Miami clubs in satin sheaths. One of her iconic looks includes a pristine white floor-length fur coat.
A white coat should be treated with the ultimate care, and such a statement piece is the perfect thing to break out for formal events. This option from ASOS would be particularly charming for a winter wedding photoshoot, and is the perfect complement to an elegant wedding dress. Channel Elvira’s sartorial choices and wear it over a full length dress to any formal occasion you may have on your calendar.
This faux fur coat is available at Asos.com
Jayley Luxurious Stripe Faux Fur Jacket
$245 at time of publication
Martin Scorsese's depiction of Ginger, a Vegas mob wife In the director’s 1995 film Casino, earned Sharon Stone as many accolades for her wardrobe as it did for her acting. Stone’s character is noted as wearing upwards of 40 looks throughout the three-hour-long film, all of which beautifully portray the ostentatious tastes of both her character’s lifestyle and the decade, the 1970s. Robert De Niro's character showers her with luxurious gifts, one of which includes a glamorous chinchilla coat, attributed to none other than Liberace’s furrier.
Emulate Ginger’s glamour with a higher end faux fur coat. While you can still rock faux fur on a budget, investing in a higher quality piece will ensure that it looks and feels much more like the real thing. This one from ASOS has a pieced effect that mimics the way real mink coats were constructed. Because of its elevated construction, it works just as well with dresses as does with jeans.
This faux fur coat is available at Asos.com
About Us Alie Faux Fur Coat
$59 at time of publication
Taraji P. Henson won two Emmy awards for her portrayal of Cookie in the television show Empire, as the wife of a hip-hop mogul and former drug dealer. Cookie’s character isn’t afraid to show off her wealth with her choice of fashion, and in doing so she wear some of the most adventurous looks out of every character on this list.
Cookie plays with fur in exaggerated shapes, bright colors and fun patterns, all of which have been trending in outerwear this past winter. Play with color by pairing a colorful coat for a statement-making outfit Cookie would approve of.
This purple coat will pop against the warmer, rusty tones in leopard print, for example. Not only is this shade of lavender having a moment in the fashion world, but this lovely pastel also makes for a great transitional coat to wear in the early days of spring.
This faux fur coat is available at Revolve.com
