Real Fur Hats Have Been Around as Long as Mankind and Never Go Out of Style

If the fig leaf was the first human clothing,
then certainly animal fur was the second. Ever
since the earliest days of man, we have been
adorning and warming ourselves with real fur
garments. Although fashion trends come and go,
real fur hats in particular, have managed to
stay on top, so to speak.

The modern day peak of fur fashionistas was from
the early 1900s through the 50s. The image of
pure glamour personified by movie stars and
"ladies who lunch" was garnished with the pelts
of monkey, muskrat, badger, fox, Persian lamb,
raccoon and the ultimate, mink.

Two style influences on fur hats going not quite
back to the Neolithic age are the Russian ushanka
and the Eskimo chapka. Both emerged in the colder
regions of planet Earth and featured ear flaps
that could be worn up or down, depending on the
wearer's need for warmth in an extreme climate.
Warriors wore versions with chain mail neck
flaps.

Bear skin hats have been worn by the military
throughout history, particularly for ceremonial
occasions. Today, use of the bear skin cap, as
it is referred to by its adherents, is mostly
limited to guardsmen and military bands. The
British Army buys them from a British hat maker,
who gets his supply from international auctions.
The current source of the fur is strictly
limited to animals culled due to over
populations, or bears that present some danger
to human populations. Currently, approximately
100 bear skins are purchased annually to supply
the entire British army.

The anti-fur sentiment of the 80s and 90s has
abated somewhat, most likely due to a trend
amongst reputable furriers to use only farmed or
managed wildlife animals. In fact, real fur
clothing and clothing embellished with fur, is
once again being seen on the fashion runways.
The hat styles in vogue right now evoke the
Russian ushanka and the Eskimo chapka, complete
with dangling parts that originally served to
add warmth, and now add flair to many a stylish
head. Flatter versions of the 50s pillbox style
hat are also being seen again as well.

Fur headbands are adding style to runway
fashions, and of course, fur earmuffs and
mittens are still in demand for warmth.

In this day of international trade and the
Internet, it is sometimes hard to distinguish
"the real thing" from a fake. A tip off is
anything that seems to bear the name of a
mythical animal. Korean mink or Asiatic raccoon,
especially if it's from China is more likely to
made of a domestic dog or cat pelt.

Because the average fur purchaser can't know for
sure if that bargain on Internet auction sites is
for real, it is a good idea to work with a
reputable furrier, who deals only in furs from
managed animal populations. While you may pay
slightly more for your real fur hat, at least
you will know what you are wearing.

So, if you're craving a fur coat, vest or hat to
help you make it through the winter, to adorn
yourself in luxury, or just to look stylish, do
your homework; find a reputable furrier and
enjoy!

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Author Stephen Daniels highly recommends
http://www.trailsidetraditions.com/ to anyone
seeking high quality real fur accessories such
as hats, headbands, mittens, and more. The owner
of Trailside Traditions has been in this business
for more than 20 years, and takes pride in the
quality of the fur pelts he uses and gets from
his eco-responsible suppliers to create
beautiful genuine fur products for his
customers.

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