Furs were once again a major fashion trend for fall/winter 2000/2001, ushered front and center by healthy economic conditions and designers' obsessions with
trends such as Ladylike Chic and Society Girl Goes to Work. Conspicuous displays of wealth were all the rage, as were ostentatious, glamorous furs. Tucking fur
on the inside of coats in demure, 1990s style gave way to splashy foxes, exotic wild furs and brilliant showers of color. Music industry stars led the way in
searching out unusual furs that expressed their unique style and successfully shone a spotlight on the wearer. Actresses and models followed suit with looks that
were luxurious, but many said, less loud. From a tiny slip of a Prada tie-on collar to a nonchalant Fendi chinchilla sweater and Madonna's famous white mink
coat, fur became something for everyone.
It might sound ridiculous coming from a fashion site, but your fur's style in 2000 wasn't nearly as important as the fact that you were wearing fur. Fur seemed
to become an icon for everything comforting and authentic and warm and secure at the turn of the millennium. International designers took cues from past
decades, seemingly unwilling to let go of familiar images and reassuring fabrics in the face of an unknown techno-future.
Still, fur consumers became significantly different from their fur-wearing predecessors. They weren't aimless, lunching socialites but instead became leaders in
business and juggled family and other responsibilities. In order to freshen traditional fur styles and avoid the stigma of grandma's fur coat, many designers
embraced new fur-working techniques and made fur lighter, reversible and even knitted. They also made fur more casual and with a sense of humor.
Looking deeper into the major trends of Rich Bitch, Rock Star and Relaxed Chic, the following were important ways to wear fur in 2000/2001:
-Fur accessories or trims at the neck, in the form of flings, scarves or collars were a must. Prada might have initiated the detached, tie-on fur collar for topping
any outfit, but nearly every designer in the world showed models wearing some form of fur flattering the face.
-Color was aggressive and opulent, especially dyed in bright red or orange tones or kept natural in golden sable, golden island or wild red fox.
-Unusual furs like mole, goat or Russian squirrel, plus furs made of small fur pieces or plates offered casual, distinctive textures with edge and at more accessible
prices.
-Graphic furs brought back a 1980s luxe feel, whether in more classic black-and-white chevron patterns or multicolor op art.
-Treating the hides of furs with a patent leather finish or shearlings with a suede finish gave them a practical appeal as well as a rock star feel.
-The ultimate in nonchalant luxury was chinchilla fur vests over sweaters.
-Nonessential furs like fur handbags and fur-trimmed stilettos were fun and frivolous fashion statements, since they weren't exactly worn to keep warm.
Nearly every important fashion designer in the world used some form of fur for their winter 2000/2001 ready-to-wear collections. The fur trade used to count
how many designers were working in fur, but today it's easier to count the ones who are not; they are so very few. The most influential fashion houses -- Fendi,
Prada, Gucci, Versace, Chanel, Christian Dior, Dolce & Gabbana -- again used fur to take the lead in presenting luxurious fashions.
This year's furs.com Folio Top 30 celebrates the work of many of these designers, along with some who aren't as famous. These are, in our opinion, the best
furs of 2000. What makes them so? While beauty is certainly in the eye of the beholder, we think a lot of you will agree that our picks have aesthetic appeal. But
more than that, they typified the trends, whether daring or haughty or what passed for casual this year. Some of these will remain timeless, thanks in part to this
year's classic influences. Others are sure to evoke the zeitgeist of their day. Our hope is that, when you look back on these in two or three years from now, they
will distinctly remind you of the year 2000, and how we all celebrated our good fortune flaunting gorgeous, glamorous furs.
To view photos, click on captions.
