Drivin' home fur Christmas

My favourite type of weather has arrived—cold and dry, and so this week I have been really embracing my autumn winter wardrobe and I am getting very excited about dressing again.

You know that feeling when you can finally pull out your winter coats and knitwear and it’s like shopping your own wardrobe because you’ve forgotten all the pieces you already have. I am always an advocate for a wardrobe clear out but there have been times this week where I’ve been very glad that I’ve held onto certain items that were almost in the charity bag last year. With items from my own wardrobe, I’ve been able to create some looks that are trending at the moment but with pieces that I’ve had for years which is so much easier on the pocket.

One item I am so happy that I haven’t discarded from my wardrobe, and which has come into its own this season, is the faux fur collar. I have two of them and I have been wearing them on repeat recently. If you’ve even walked past a clothes shop recently you will see that faux fur trims are having a moment this season, from knitwear, to jackets and coats, everything has a faux fur collar or cuff.

I absolutely love this look and I don’t even need to purchase anything. I have just been popping my faux fur collars over my knitwear and my coats to give them a new lease of life. I have a more luxurious grey vintage Mongolian piece that adds drama to my coats while a sleeker brown collar works well over my knits and cardies. I would strongly recommend investing in a collar that you can mix and match over your own pieces if you’d like to dip your toe into the trend without committing to say, a jacket with fur attached.

Adding faux fur to a piece can also give it more longevity. I’ve added my brown collar to an indigo denim jacket to make it more autumnal, ensuring I get even more wear out of my clothing. You can also add a more dramatic collar over a dress in place of a shawl or full on faux fur coat. I have also seen people attaching faux fur cuffs to jackets and cardigans and these are available from a number of places like M&S or Etsy is another great place to find accessories like these.

You may also have noticed there are lots of silky jackets with fur collars around at the moment. It’s a huge trend for this season and while I do love this look, I have noticed that some of these jackets are extremely expensive. Fear not though. You can get this look so easily and for less than designer and high street prices. All it takes is a bit of a search and for me vintage is the way to go here.

I had an emerald, green vintage silk jacket in my wardrobe that again I almost got rid of last year. I’m so glad I didn’t because I’ve been able to add my faux fur collar and recreate this look. Try Etsy, Vinted and your local vintage shops like Miss Daisy Blue and Peach Vintage for beautiful jackets and coats that are so beautiful and also unique and by adding your own fur collar you can create a piece that’s bespoke to you.So, if I’ve learned anything from going through my autumn winter wardrobe, it’s – be very careful with what you throw out—you never know when you might wear an item again!