Faux Fur Fashion for Winter 2008

Fur Gives Shape to the Season
International Catwalks Set the Stage for Spectacular Innovations

For Autumn/Winter 2007-2008, the emergence of a new sense of shape and structure in designer collections has made fur not only a key element this season, it has provided a vital direction for the image of fur itself.

Rounded shapes, A-line silhouettes, cropped jackets, and architectural looks are the season’s key signatures, and everywhere, designer fur has been masterfully cut or combined with fabrics and leather, using detailing that emphasizes collars and cuffs, sleeves and pockets, borders and edges.

Colour and shape replace ornamentation and decoration as the focal points. A quiet sensuality turns up in pared-down power-dressing, sometimes with metallic touches for a bit more glamour. Black continues to best show the new silhouettes, joined this season by winter white and grey, along with a palette of dark colours.


Over the Edge.
Designers were creative and plentiful in their use of designer fur touches at a garment’s many edges, borders, collars and cuffs to give it a new shape and visual interest.

Jean Paul Gaultier mixed a brown shearling coat and gave it a deep, border of vertically worked golden isle fox.

Cuffs were a focal point for several designers’ use of fur accent. Carolina Herrera used fox cuffs and collar to accent her mauve silk faille wrap gown.

Bill Blass added sable cuffs to a cognac embellished coat tied well above the waist.

When trimming the border or the cuff with fur wasn’t enough, designers used both, such as Chado Ralph Rucci’s pale yellow wool A-line coat with a rounded hemline, accented with sable cuffs and borders.