Hand me down coat has short sleeves--are they supposed to be like that?

[Anonymous]

I am at least the 4th owner of an above the knee mink coat. My mom got it 10+ years ago from an elderly family friend who was moving into assisted living, and that lady's name is not the one embroidered in the lining, so she had gotten it from a friend or secondhand. It's a swing style (not sure that's the right term) and the sleeves end a few inches above my wrists. Are they supposed to be this way, or did the original owner have really short arms? I'm wondering if maybe it dates back to the 60s and was meant to be worn with nice gloves.
Thoughts? I've never worn it, but we're in Colorado now and it's COLD!

(and if you have opinions about mink, I'm sure you'll post them, but, really, they're not wanted).

[Anonymous]

Original owner was smaller/shorter and wore it at a longer length??

[Anonymous]

21:11 again. Found a picture of a swing coat from the 50s:




"Another popular style to wear with full skirts was a coat with huge volume that flares out from the shoulders. Today, we call this a swing coat. This coat dates to 1951. Note that the sleeves are now at 3/4 length with deep cuffs."

http://coutureallure.blogspot.com/2009_09_01_archive.html

[Anonymous]

Not being snarky or anything like that, just really curiously wondering if you will be proud to wear the mink? I (and most women I know) would be so embarassed to wear it in public.

[Anonymous]

OP, I inherited something similar and love it. Swing coats go back to the 1920's and have also recently been seen again (Marc Jacobs). I have a vintage YSL from the early 70's.

Not sure about the sleeve length but shorter sleeves are more fashionable than long today. There are lots of "opera" gloves out there - make sure skin is not showing between the length of the glove and the sleeve.

You'll find that mink is warmer than anything else you will wear for a coat. Depending upon what you do and where you go, wear it during the day with anything (even jeans) or evening. Especially great if you are going to be outside.

Don't forget to have it glazed and stored when the weather turns warm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not being snarky or anything like that, just really curiously wondering if you will be proud to wear the mink? I (and most women I know) would be so embarassed to wear it in public.

Not OP, but the coat is as old as Methuselah -- no new mink have been killed in the making of this garment. Think of it as recycling. Otherwise, it's ending up in a landfill somewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not being snarky or anything like that, just really curiously wondering if you will be proud to wear the mink? I (and most women I know) would be so embarassed to wear it in public.

Not OP, but the coat is as old as Methuselah -- no new mink have been killed in the making of this garment. Think of it as recycling. Otherwise, it's ending up in a landfill somewhere.

New poster here. I'm not sure I follow your argument. Does the same logic apply to say, buying sweatshop clothing? Antique racist images? You seem to be saying that just because something is vintage it can't be offensive. Wearing mink is offensive regardless of the age of the garment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not being snarky or anything like that, just really curiously wondering if you will be proud to wear the mink? I (and most women I know) would be so embarassed to wear it in public.

OP here. Thanks to the PPs who posted the picture (mine isn't that stylish, no cuffs and just basic hidden frog fasteners) and the advice on how to wear it.

Here we go. This question seems weird to me--why would wearing any garment make me "proud"? You're using a loaded word there and acting like I'm bragging about the darn thing. It's a good, warm coat that otherwise is just taking up space in my closet. It's 10 below here right now. As PP said, it's not new. I would never spend the money on a new one (remember when Bush II got elected and all those Texans showed up in DC wearing fur because they thought it was cold in DC?), but I have it so why not use it? Should I stick with North Face?

Frankly, I'd be more embarassed if I spent what some people on this board spend on shoes and handbags.

[Anonymous]

OP again, was posting same time as 8:17.

Why is it offensive? Do you accost everyone you see wearing leather shoes or jackets? People who eat meat? Unless you do, you're being a hypocrite. You've just bought into the propoganda.

Please post any simliar comments on your own thread in the political forum, because I really am only looking for FASHION advice here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again, was posting same time as 8:17.

Why is it offensive? Do you accost everyone you see wearing leather shoes or jackets? People who eat meat? Unless you do, you're being a hypocrite. You've just bought into the propoganda.

Please post any simliar comments on your own thread in the political forum, because I really am only looking for FASHION advice here.

Mink are raised on fur farms under cruel conditions purely for their fur.

I don't accost anyone.

[Anonymous]

One can argue that the same happens with cows and chickens. If you eat meat, wear leather but blast mink farms, that really isn't logical.

Leave OP alone. This is about a gift and not about animal cruelty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One can argue that the same happens with cows and chickens. If you eat meat, wear leather but blast mink farms, that really isn't logical.

Leave OP alone. This is about a gift and not about animal cruelty.

I disagree. People choose their level of commitment to certain causes, animal cruelty being one of them. It's not an either/or. I don't have to be a polyester-wearing vegan just because I support the anti-fur movement.

[Anonymous]

OP is asking for fashion advice as clearly stated above. If you want to discuss the anti-fur movement, please start another thread. Threads that take on an ugly tone only serve to denigrate the purpose of this forum and drive away many of those who have thoughtful information to share.