ivee

we were Xmas shopping in Decembver in London:very cold weather, NO furcoats.
As some people already remarked UK is not spain. If you want to wear your furcoats go to Milano where you see not a few but MANY furcoats in the streets!

endlessummer

Personally, I would leave the coats at home, especially the fox fur - you don't want Prince Philip coming after you.

In all seriousness, I think you may draw unnecessary attention to yourself and it's a risk I wouldn't take. I work in Mayfair where there are a few fur shops and there are always protests. I don't see them often on the streets of London but when I do, I think rich tourist. That may not be the truth but it's the perception. I'm not saying you'll be attacked but all you need is a run-in with drunken yob or an anti-fur protester and you will bring back some unpleasant memories with you to Texas.

janisj

luvlondon: I sure hope you return to the thread and not just think Robert2533's irrelevant comment re Madrid relates to London. I'm not anti-fur but I would never EVER wear a fur coat in London. Even if it wasn't for the animal rights crazies, and even if a mink coat didn't scream rich tourist, a fur coat is simply totally impractical in London.

Please leave the coats home and take something that will keep you warm and dry.

crazy4Hawaii

I think everyone has given such great and KIND advice. I was afraid this post might light up the e-waves! If she does wear the coat, don't take one of the Beatles walks - just in case you run into Paul McCartney at Abbey Road Studios...LOL

I'm one of your "next door neighbors" here in Arkansas and I got such a hoot out of the mental image of the stereotypical Texan walking around London in a fur coat! And I of all people do know that stereotypes are extremely dangerous - still, funny!

marginal_margiela

Is there something wrong with being a rich tourist? Excuse me? Do we have to start dressing like a char woman to hide the fact that we are successful in life? What utter rubbish.

Tell your friend, luvlondon, that she may wear her fur coat with pride if she wishes. Damn the naysayers!

Plenty of women wear mink coats in London, including my Aunt Judith. It is absolutely ridiculous to say that no one wears fur in London!!!

There is nothing warmer than a mink coat. That is why furs are worn in Siberia. London is very cold and damp in December, so damp you can get the shivers all day long. (Why do you think we drink so much hot tea?)

London born

Kate

marginal, you say you're London born, have you been back since??

London is generally NOT very cold in December. As a tourist wandering in and out of warm buildngs and hopping on hot crowded tubes, she'll ROAST in a mink coat. Also, whether we like it or not, there'll always be a few scoundrels hanging around crowded areas looking for rich tourists to pickpocket, and that's all without getting into a row with an animal right activist.

No doubt if she wanted to bring her coat just so she could wear it once for dinner at a smart London restaurant, then it wouldn't be a problem. That's hardly the same as touring the Tower of London on a wet, mild afternoon.

janisj

Is it any surprise that m_k2 and m_m are the only ones advocating taking the furs??

marginal_margiela

Yes, I have been back to England plenty of times in the last 5 years. Since you live in London, you are probably used to the cold and damp. I am never use to it. I highly doubt someone from Texas would be used to it.

Unless you are a fur coat wearer, you probably will never understand how warm it is.

marginal_margiela

How about a compromise? Luvlondon's friend can bring a raincoat in her luggage. If the weather is warm she has an alternative. She can save wearing her mink to Gordon Ramsay for dinner.

janisj

I have a full length fox coat (though it's been in storage for <u>ages</u and lived in the UK for 5 years. I just would not bother w/ a fur in London. It's not practical, I can't pull off the Saudi princess look, and the animal rights nut cases would have me on edge all the time.

endlessummer

marginal_margiela: No, you don't have to dress like a char woman - don't twist my comment around with this silly British obsession with class. My comment about rich tourist (hey, I might even be one myself?) was because: a) these coats are extremely rare on the streets of London and you do stand out because not many are wearing them (and I lived in Montreal for many years so I've seen my fare share of furs; compared to a down jacket, they're pretty expensive) and b) do you want to make yourself a target? Hence my comment about perception. Luvlondon asked for our honest opinion and she is getting it, which I think is great. I didn't even mention the weather because it's highly changeable. On a day like today, a fur would probably work. Tomorrow, who knows?

beaupeep

The first time I went to London was in February 1997 and everyone told me how cold, damp and chilly it would be so to pack accordingly. And it was in the low 60's, cherry trees were blooming in Hyde Park (I even took a picture) and I roasted in my heavy (non-fur) coat. So I imagine that the fall would be even warmer.

m_kingdom2

The beauty of wearing a fur coat is that one can wear a dress underneath it and upon disrobing immediately be the picture of poise and elegance. No casual sweaters etc. need to be worn. If that is the look you are going for then wear it and stick two fingers up at these people who are too bothered by what others think!

If however you look ridiculous in fur and it adds to the Michelin man image then do please give it to the charity shop.

bennyb

Whether it's because of the animal rights activists, or changes in fashion, or whatever, the end result is that I only really see two kinds of women wearing fur coats nowdays - the elderly, and the nouveau bourgeoise.

Leave your coat at home.

marginal_margiela

I am sure that Posh and Becks will be wearing fur in Los Angeles.

Dukey

It is always nice to know that everyone here RESPECTS the opinion of everyone else, isn't it?

How DID this get to be a &quot;class&quot; thing or is that some residue thinking from an Empire long-gone?

Josser

I get the impression that it's citizens of the American Empire who have hi-jacked this thread.

The first few answers were sensible and good humoured.
The OP would be well advised to listen to them.

nona1

&quot;I am sure that Posh and Becks will be wearing fur in Los Angeles.&quot;

Is that supposed to act as a recommendation?

PatrickLondon

&gt;&gt;I am sure that Posh and Becks will be wearing fur in Los Angeles.&lt;&lt;

Well, that'll put the kybosh on it for anyone else then.

With her face, she'd look like a fur stole.

historytraveler

Fur coat...been there, done that and now find it a bit silly to say the least.

Leave the fur at home. Flanner is right on this one. It will be a nuisance as much as anything.