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Understanding the 7 Different Types of Fur
Shopping for a beautiful fur coat? Look no further. Overland has been selling premium furs for decades, and offers the finest selection available, from silky sheared mink fur coats to sporty knitted rabbit fur jackets and everything in between. Since there are so many styles to choose from, here's a helpful breakdown of all the types of furs you'll find at Overland.
(Note: A couple of terms used when describing fur coats are “guard hair” and “underfur.” Guard hair is the visible top layer of fur, consisting of long, straight, sometimes coarse shafts of hair that stick out through the underfur and protect it from the elements. Underfur is the bottom layer, consisting of insulating hairs that tend to be shorter, curlier, and denser than the guard hairs.)
MINK
Key Features: The reigning “diva” of furs; plush, lightweight, and durable.
Mink is the most popular of all furs sold worldwide. Known for its luxuriously soft, lightweight texture, mink fur lends itself well to elegant evening looks and casual styles alike. Longhaired mink boasts lustrous guard hairs and soft, dense underfur, while sheared mink has a wonderfully plush, velvety texture that’s fabulous to the touch.
Mink fur coats can range vastly in price, from under $1,000 to over $10,000. Look for a coat with apparent quality in the design, feel, and workmanship: one that fits beautifully, features silky guard hairs and even-textured underfur, and has well-matched pelts of even size. Premium mink fur coats not only offer you inimitable elegance, but many years of wear – they’re as durable as they are luxurious!
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RABBIT
Key Features: Ultra-soft, versatile, and surprisingly affordable.
Rabbit fur is also extremely popular, thanks to its ultra-soft feel, versatility, and affordable price. Wonderfully lightweight and warm, rabbit features medium-length guard hairs, and can be worn in its natural longhaired form or sheared for a sportier look. Either way, rabbit is plush and silky, and lends itself well to a myriad of designs, as it can be easily dyed, sheared, knitted, or sculpted to create a unique look (or to resemble other, more expensive furs, such as chinchilla).
Rex rabbit fur, developed in France nearly 100 years ago, is distinct in that it has no prominent guard hair. This results in a silkier, denser fur that resembles chinchilla or sheared mink. Sumptuous and velvety, Rex rabbit can also be worn either long or sheared.
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FOX
Key Features: Fluffy, full-bodied, and warm; perfect for luxurious trims.
Another hugely popular fur is the luxuriously full-furred fox. With long, lustrous guard hairs and a soft, thick underfur, fox is wonderfully fluffy and ideal for high-fashion trims: collars, cuffs, wraps, headbands – you name it, fox makes it lusciously warm and beautiful to boot.
Fox fur boasts an unusually wide range of natural colorings, including silver, red, white, gray, and cross, and it can also be dyed in a variety of colors for stylistic effect.
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BEAVER
Key Features: Warm and durable, with a lustrous sheen; velvety soft when sheared.
Beaver fur offers unbeatable warmth and durability in either its natural or sheared form. Natural, longhaired beaver has long, semi-coarse guard hair with a unique sheen and exceptionally thick, soft underfur. Its lustrous, natural brown fur is often dyed white or darker brown. Sheared beaver, often dyed in playful, fashionable colors, is velvety soft to the touch, having been shorn down to the plush underfur.
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RACCOON
Key Features: Lofty and dense, with beautiful coloring; great for trims.
Soft, dense, and fluffy, raccoon fur makes gorgeous collars and tuxedo trims, thanks to its unique coloring and wonderful loft. With long, silvery, tipped guard hairs and thick, heavy underfur, raccoon offers wonderful warmth and is quite durable when cared for properly.
Sometimes the distinctive black tail fur with tan rings is used for trim, but generally, the black-tipped, silver-gray body fur is used. Sumptuous to behold, both visually and by touch.
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CHINCHILLA
Key Features: The softest fur available; super-dense but very lightweight.
Nothing is softer than chinchilla. A rare, more expensive fur, and one that requires a lot of care, chinchilla is highly sought after for its exceptional warmth and softness. Chinchilla features ultra-silky fur, with lustrous guard hairs that range from silvery grey to slate blue, and sumptuous, dark underfur. Chinchilla fur has the highest hair density of any animal, with more than 20,000 per square centimeter, yet it’s wonderfully lightweight.
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LAMB
Key Features: Long and curly, with high-fashion appeal at a very affordable price point.
Mongolian and Tibetan lamb are flashy, high-fashion furs with lots of personality. The only longhaired furs that are also curly, Mongolian and Tibetan lamb have recently become more prominent in fashion, due to their luxe, voluminous style and more affordable price.
Mongolian lamb fur has long, wavy guard hairs, and lends itself well to sporty styles. Tibetan lamb fur is very similar, except its silky hair is even longer, sometimes by three or four inches.
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So which fur coat is right for you? It depends! We're incredibly proud of the quality and workmanship in all of our coats, and every single one of them is backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. As you browse through the various styles, keep these differences in mind and decide which type of fur coat is best for you. |
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And if you have any questions, our friendly and knowledgeable product experts are available 7 days a week at 1-800-OVERLAND (683-7526) and will be happy to assist you. Happy shopping!
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