Patrick, would Posh be a marten or a Martian?

This isn't a class thing. I can tell you that there are secretaries at my firm who wear fur coats. There are also executive women, Mount Holyoke and Smith graduates, who would never wear any coat other than a Republican cloth coat.

Besides, what woman would want to look like Dame Edith Evans in a fur coat and matching hat???

Sorry.....that should be WOULDN'T.

As for the "...or anywhere else" part of the question, we saw tons of fur coats last Christmas/New Year's in Vienna and Munich.

I've been very happy in those cities as well as in Prague and London wearing a knee length wool coat with a scarf and carrying an umbrella.

Meow meow Patrick.

weeeellll...Posh is looking a bit "pinched".

Can one wear a coat where lots and lots of polyesters died? Really really GOOD polyesters?

How does one pack a wet fur coat for the trip home? This is not a retorical question because it is something you very well might have to do.

Do yourselves a favor and skip the furs.

Leaving aside the class and cruelty issues, consider the practical ones. You will be rained on, possibly for your entire trip. Wet fur is unpleasant. As for looking like a rich tourist, you could always pin a bunch of hundred pound notes to your back instead; it would have the same effect.

Thank you to everyone for all of your comments. I don't want to be carrying around a coat much less have it get rained on. I plan to choose a variety of answers and share the replies and go along with whatever makes her happy. My sweet mother gave me my fox and she is now deceased so it does have sentimental meaning to me and would not want to forget it somewhere or have something happen to it. I've only worn it a few times since it really isn't cold enough where we live to wear it. I really want the four of us to enjoy our stay in London. Thanks again...I knew I could count on the Fodor's gang for a great response.

luvlondon - Just out of curiosity why would anyone who lives in Texas even own a fur coat?

MKingdom - Just for the records I don't eat meat.

"luvlondon - Just out of curiosity why would anyone who lives in Texas even own a fur coat?"

why not? To keep out the cold maybe? Texas is not in the tropics and does have such things as ice storms and heavy freezes. Or were you referring to "political reasons"?

Oddly, one of the few times in my life I've seen the point of a fur coat was on a field trip round Texan convenience stores one December.

Hopelessly underdressed, in sub-zero (C, but felt like F) temps, a clear sky and biting winds, the 20 yards from car to shop, several dozen times a day, was about the coldest I've ever been.

Finally comment - MM - 'wealthy' does not equally 'classy'. Money and class can go together, but not always.

For example, Posh and Becks are rich as can be, but at the same time as common as muck.

It doesn't surprise me in the least that you see secretaries in fur coats (common) and executives in wool coats (classy). Apart from the very few 'old money' families around who may well still wear fur coats, it's generally a sign of someone from a lower class background whose now got some money and thinks this is a way to show it. So strangely, people in fur coats look like 'money' plus 'low class background' to most of us. The women in Eastenders would no doubt love a fur coat.

I agree, Nona. Nothing says "flashy" and "obnoxious" like fur does.

Besides these days owning a fur really isn't that expensive. There are some great deals for used furs on Ebay.

I swear Marginal and MKingdom are one in the same person.

By the way, my viewpoint only reflects the UK. Fur coats and their wearers may be viewed in a different way in other countries.

If we are one and the same then we were most certainly separated at birth.

I never understand animal rights activists: If you want to succeed at anything then usually one starts at the bottom and works their way up (obviously an exception or two applies). A very small percentage of the population will be buying fur coats, fur trimmed gloves, etc. so why start on them? Why not lobby the supermarkets to stop buying in huge quantities of meat from farmers? That wouldn't be achievable would it? So start on the minority who might buy a new fur coat every few years rather than the majority who will eat a cow a week.

You will see plenty of fur coats in London. In the lobbies of hotels worn by young eastern european women who negotiate their affections by the hour.

How did they get the mink coats? The same way the mink did.

Interesting! I lived in Wisconsin, women and some men wore and wear fur coats, fur stoles, long fur coats and fur collars. Mink is the lightest but beaver may be the most practical. Fox coats are always short as the hair is stiff and breaks when sat on. Rabbit, chinchilla, seal, skunk, muskrat, squirrel, fox, weasel or ermine plus others and some exotics are also worn. Fur coats last and last and can be restyled. The choice is similar to that of an automobile...a Ford or a Lexus.

To answer your question, m kingdom, the animal rights groups are hard at work getting companies to sign on to requiring more humane standards for its slaughterhouses. They have been, to a great extent, successful. You're right--no point in trying to achieve the impossible, a meat-free world.

The fur industry, on the other hand, is notoriously cruel in its practices and particularly stubborn about changing them. This can all be researched quite easily if you're truly interested.