Faux fur is definitely NOT a faux pas!

Hello fashionistas!

While the air is getting chillier by the minute, and snow is falling around us, and going outside is getting less and less bearable, I'd just like to remind all you fellow fashionistas out there that this winter, faux fur is definitely NOT a faux pas!

Now, I know not everyone will agree with me when I say I absolutely HATE the look and feel of fur - faux or pas - and many people consider it a staple "ingredient" when looking for that cozy, warm winter jacket, but people, let's remind ourselves where this fur comes from, shall we? Animals. Yes, think of your cute little puppy or kitty, and then think of them skinned and without any fur. Not a nice thought, is it?

Okay, okay, I get it that we're not skinning cats and dogs here, but please keep in mind when shopping for your winter jackets this season that, unfortunately, a lot of companies do not adhere to proper standards of animal treatment, especially ones that incorporate fur. For those of you who'd like to argue that real fur keeps your warmer, to this I'd like to respond: think again, amigos. Nowadays, it's not as important to have vrai fur when the technologies our society has can create a faux version which not only looks the same, but offers the same amount of warmth. Also, they're usually not even as expensive as the real thing! Companies will, nevertheless, continue to market that fur keeps you warm, but ummm, yeah, so does the fake version. And let's face it, unless you're living in the north pole or antarctica, or travel by dogsled and live in an igloo, there will never be a place you will go where you will need that extra warmth - you'll hop in your car, and drive to wherever you have to go.

My huge issue lies with the Canadian company Canada Goose which is known for their ultra-warm down-filled jackets with coyote fur-lined hoods. .REAL coyote fur. And, JUST the hoods are lined with coyote fur! Tell me how this is helpful. While I like that Canada Goose does not use down from live-plucking, I don't like how they actually KILL the coyote for their fur. They go out and hunt them, or have coyote farms. And with a huge company like this, it's not just one or two coyotes - NOPE! It's thousands every year. While they say they maintain "ethical" standards for de-furring these poor little wild dogs, let's think again about how ethical it reall is to take a life from an otherwise free-roaming animal and KILLING it so some little rich kid can get his or her jacket. To match with their Ugg boots. When they're going to be driving around in the winter anyway. Before buying your jacket this winter, I recommend you take a look at Canada Goose's policies, and read for yourself what is going into their products using this handy-dandy website: http://www.canada-goose.com/faq/

So, Hollista, what are some other options, you ask? Well, I recently saw this little number from TNA (Aritzia): http://aritzia.com/fashion/outerwear/classic-knee-length-hooded-parka
 I like the fact that it's still down-filled (so, super warm) but it advertises the fact that the fur is FAUX! What I also think is great about this jacket is that it's brand-named, much like Canada Goose, but the wearer can be guilt-free! Woohoo!

There are also number of different stores which carry warm winter gear without the guilt of killing animals in order to do so. Just ask around, or do a quick Google search before going out to make your purchase this winter. Please remember that many large companies could not care less about the ethical treatment of animals, whether they claim to or not - or as Canada Goose does, say they're a Canadian company so OF COURSE they must care about the treatment of animals.

So what's the message we're taking away from this post, animal-loving, caring, fashionistas? FAUX FUR IS NOT A FAUX PAS! I can assure you Santa does not have a polar bear-trimmed getup.