Professional advice on how to choose a mink coat
You need to approach the choice of a mink coat thoroughly:
- Carefully examine the product in good lighting. It should shine, the color must be even.
- Run your hand over the surface. It should flow, the fibers should be elastic and not shaggy. When stroked against the grain, it quickly returns to its previous shape. There should be no lint left on the palm.
- If you choose a painted variation, you need to wipe it with a wet cloth, on which no traces of paint should remain.
- Inspect the shoulder seams and sleeve seams especially carefully. It is in these places that “baldness” is noticeable.
- Check the fur coat by ear. It shouldn't rustle like paper. This is a sign of poor skin processing.
- Estimate a fur coat by weight. It should not be too light; during dressing, the skin could be stretched.
- The lining of the product is made of high quality fabric.
Choice of collars
Criteria for choosing a mink coat
The fur of this animal has been valued for hundreds of years. And this is not surprising:
- Mink is universal. It will decorate even a non-standard figure, looks great on a woman of any age, and is suitable for both going out and everyday life.
- This is warm fur. Let us remember that mink is a northern animal. Its fur retains heat very well. Fur coats made from this fur are incredibly popular in Siberia and the Urals (30-degree frosts often occur there), and this suggests that they really warm. But provided that the style and length are chosen correctly.
- It's comfortable in the mink. Products made from it are light and thin. Such a fur coat is not difficult to wear, its weight does not tire your shoulders.
- The fur looks luxurious. It emphasizes the nobility and sophistication of a woman, slims and hides figure flaws.
To choose the right fur coat, you need to take into account its weight, color, quality of the skins, fur, undercoat and seams . In addition, it is necessary to find out the gender of the animals, determine the appropriate style, size and length.
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Fur coat weight
An interesting parameter, the importance of which only a few customers think about. However, it must be taken into account. If the product is heavy, your back quickly gets tired during fitting ; most likely, the quality of the leather leaves much to be desired.
A fur coat that is too light, which is practically not felt on the shoulders, and whose weight resembles a demi-season raincoat, is also not a very good sign . This happens if the skins are overstretched during the dressing process. The product will not keep you warm and will wear out quickly.
The best option is that the fur coat is not heavy, but its volume is felt. Don't forget that this is outerwear, so it should be pleasant to wear.
Fur shade
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It is believed that the natural color for such a product is walnut. It is priced much cheaper than many fashionable shades (for example, black, blue, graphite are popular). However, the cost does not indicate the poor quality of such natural-colored pile. It's just less popular.
By the way! Unpainted and light-colored models need to be inspected especially carefully. If the animal was kept in a metal cage, then the fur could turn red or rusty (in some areas). It is impossible to eliminate this defect. In order to save money, some unscrupulous manufacturers use such “dirty” skins, trying to hide them in inconspicuous places on the fur coat.
Leather dressing
The mezdra is the wrong side of the tanned skin. It is an important indicator of product quality. The inside of the skin should be smooth, without creases or scratches . It is soft to the touch, there is no greasy sheen on it, and there is no squeaking noise when squeezed. Color is also important; good skin is light. If yellowness is noted, it means it is old. If the inside of a black skin is dark, it means that the dyeing of the fur was of poor quality or the product was stored incorrectly.
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Important! If during fitting it is discovered that the lining is sewn to the skin, this is a bad sign. Serious manufacturers who have nothing to hide always leave free space between these two elements of a fur coat so that buyers can appreciate the high quality of the workmanship.
Does the fur shed
It is easy to check this fact. It is enough to run a white damp scarf over the fur and evaluate the result . If it has darkened, then the quality of coloring is low, the fur will shed. You won’t be able to wear such a fur coat for a long time: the color can fade in 2-3 seasons.
It is also important how many hairs are lost during wear. To check this, you can take the fur coat by the pile. If after such a procedure there are no more than 5-7 hairs left on the palm, the product is of high quality . A larger amount of lint is a serious reason to refuse to purchase this model.
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Hard or soft
A good pile will be pleasant to the touch, and the hairs will be elastic . If the fur is itchy, perhaps unscrupulous sellers are trying to “slip” a marmot instead of a mink. If the fibers are too pliable, crumple in the palm of your hand, and the product seems too soft, there is a high probability that this is a painted rabbit.
Seams and fuzz on the skin
A mink coat is assembled like a construction set. It is sewn from a large number of skins. The connections must be perfect.
You should not make a purchase if the skins are glued together . Such a product will quickly lose its presentable appearance, and there is a great risk that something will break if the movement is unsuccessful.
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Important! Experts note that the standard length of the skin in a quality product is at least 15 centimeters. If this figure is less, then you should refuse the purchase. The exception is elite Italian mink coats. They are made from half-plates, the shape of which is selected using a special program. But such models are considered more of a luxury item than everyday wear, and therefore are expensive.
Down, or undercoat, is an important component of any fur product. In a high-quality fur coat it is dense and thick . However, there are models in which there is practically no gun. This does not mean that the product is poorly sewn and does not last long. Most likely, so-called summer skins were used for it (the animal was actively molting at that time). The fur coat will simply not be warm enough. This fact should be especially taken into account if you have to wear it in severe frosts.
Boy or girl – which fur is better?
A fur coat made from the skins of females is more expensive . Many people mistakenly believe that the price in this case indicates higher quality. In reality this is not the case. Males are larger, therefore, less skins are required to sew one product. Females are small. To sew one product you need more of them. Hence the increase in the cost of the finished fur coat.
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However, the quality of the fur still depends on the sex of the animal . In males it is tougher, warmer, and resistant to extreme weather conditions. Therefore, hats, short vests, and short fur coats are sewn from the skins of male animals. The fur of females is softer, more pliable and light. It is ideal for sewing stylish flared and long models.
Which color is better
The most practical fur products are dark shades . In the harsh realities of Russian cities, such models wear better. The fur doesn’t get dirty, and you don’t have to take your fur coat to the dry cleaner every season.
By the way! Black color in outerwear suits women with any skin and hair tone. If you want to dilute it, you can choose light or bright accessories. If you want to make the image strict, then the headdress and scarf should be dark.
The second most popular shade is brown . It is universal, suitable for any color type (but will play best on brown-haired women and those with light brown hair), and is appropriate in a variety of situations. Such fur will remain beautiful for a long time: it is not afraid of yellowness, it is non-staining and does not fade in the sun.
Today graphite shades . This color looks great on both a fair-haired beauty and a sultry brunette. If the coloring is of high quality, such a product will be used well: the pile will not fade or become faded over time.
Nude colors (cream, milky, peach and others) are suitable for owners of blond hair and blue eyes. However, with the right accessories, brunettes will also look luxurious.
A fur coat in a nude shade will last a long time if 2 nuances are observed:
- it is high quality painted;
- it is used correctly (for example, you should not wear such a fur coat in the rain or when you have to travel on public transport).
A white fur coat will not only quickly become dirty (especially if you wear it every day for 4-5 months), it may turn yellow . The fur, as they say, will “burn out.” Therefore, it is better to buy such a model for special occasions. Let's remember how luxurious such fur looks in combination with a wedding dress. For such purposes, the white model is ideal.
Mink fur: types
One of the varieties is Scandinavian. It was brought to Europe from North America at the beginning of the 20th century. The climate of the Scandinavian countries and the efforts of Danish and Finnish specialists have made it possible to develop many varieties with amazing names and smooth, shiny fur color:
- mahogany - rich brown color;
- pastel - brown color with a grayish tint;
- black - with a slight brownish-coffee tint.
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Big variety
Scandinavian mink
The Scandinavian variety is waterproof and wear-resistant. The coat is smooth and of medium length. Danish fur is delicate, with a short awn and thick down. Finnish is more rigid, the spine is longer, and there are fewer undercuts. Scandinavian mink coats not only look expensive, but are also very warm.
Russian mink
The main difference is the length of the coat. The spine is higher than the down and stands out noticeably against its background. In this case, the density of the wool is weakly stuffed, similar to a marmot and very dense. The high down and long pile of a Russian mink fur coat will provide excellent warmth in the harshest winters. The Russian one looks a little shaggy, but it has a silky texture and a shiny appearance.
For your information! The natural colors of Russian mink do not require painting.
Russian fur coat
Chinese mink
China is actively increasing its fur production. But it is called Chinese quite arbitrarily, because minks of all main types are raised there: North American, Scandinavian, Russian. The quality of the Chinese product is low: long, hard spine, sparse down. The reason is that farms are located in different climatic zones and there are not enough qualified specialists. The skins are dyed, sheared and plucked. The advantages of the Chinese version are its relatively cheap price.
European mink
The hair of European mink is short and thick, most often black, with a brownish tint.
European mittens
Spectacular images
Mink products are always relevant. With a collar or hood, a long fur coat or a short sheepskin coat is luxurious and status-worthy. The wardrobes of fashionistas are replenished with jackets and vests with a stand-up collar, a shawl or no collar at all. Magnificence inspires the creativity of couturiers to create absolutely incredible images.
Interesting! Products made from knitted mink never go out of fashion. The skins are cut into ribbons and tied to a knitted base. Knitting makes fur lighter, the price is cheaper, but it is no less effective.
Against the backdrop of mink splendor, it is easy to distinguish the carefully selected skins of the North American Black Llama mink. Black fur turns into dark chestnut and gray, matte like velvet. The awn is short, reaching the level of the thick down. Luxurious products made from it can only be worn by a select few.
What are the reviews for the mink coat?
Natural mink fur is a favorite material for the production and sewing of stylish fur products. Fashion designers use delicate and thin mink fur purchased from various auctions to create their collections.
The buyer can choose from a wide range of products, taking into account his individual needs. However, those who have already made such a new thing as a mink coat leave reviews about its unpretentiousness, incredible tenderness and gloss.
How to distinguish sheared mink from other furs
Note! You can often find fur that looks like mink. What is it called - rabbit. Outwardly, it is very similar to a sheared mink, the difference is small. But the rabbit is much softer to the touch, its fur is sparse and does not shine.
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The fur of a marmot and a mink have differences - its spine is characterized by different lengths, is less plastic, and when stroked “against the grain” it bristles and prickles.
The difference between a marmot and a mink
The Honorik has a darker coat color than the undercoat, unlike the mink, which has the same color.
Sheared lamb fur is becoming increasingly popular. It is light and warm, but not shiny.
Fake mink (faux fur)
In the production of faux fur, synthetic fibers with the addition of viscose are used. Modern industry, with the help of innovative technologies, produces high-quality products that are not much different from natural fur: smooth fur, thick down, magnificent color, shine, elasticity.
Artificial fur
Having a decent appearance, faux fur has a number of advantages:
- costs less;
- lasts longer;
- easy to care for;
- not afraid of pests.
Note! One of the disadvantages is that a faux fur mink coat is less warm than a natural one, but this is compensated for by tailoring.
Mink coats
When choosing faux fur products, it is important to consider that its quality varies. You have to look at it and touch it. High-quality fur has uniform, dense fur that is firmly attached to the base, does not become shaggy, does not smell of paint, and when wet, the paint does not get dirty.
Casual clothing or a decorative item made of fur is always stylish and dignified. Clothes made from natural fur or faux fur should be purchased only in specialized stores, then the item will delight you for many seasons.
Preferred place and time of purchase
- To buy a mink coat, which is a very expensive item, you need to go to a specialized store or shopping center. You will receive a receipt, a certificate and a guarantee for the product, which will allow you to contact the seller in case of unforeseen problems, return or exchange the product. Needless to say, markets are not the best place to choose and purchase a coveted wardrobe item.
- Discounts on mink coats begin to operate in the spring. So, if you want to save a lot, start looking for winter outerwear as the weather warms up. True, the offered assortment at this time may already be quite meager.
