Everything is more interesting when you embellish a story, a handbag and in the case of Fall/Winter 2005 season - fur coats. The use of fur to embellish a coat or an ensemble was one of the highlights of the Milan shows. Fur collars of fox, mink, rabbit adorned outer-coats and suit jackets in some instances working from the neck, all the way down the lapel and then as trimming on the edge of a coat or skirt.

Alberta Ferretti kicked off the Russian theme when she added curly black or gray fleeced astrakhan collars on felted princess coats. She grounded the look in knee-high flat suede boots and added caramel-colored neck wraps in every length – on every girl. One leather fur collared coat looked particularly cozy. Similarly, Bottega Veneta showed leather and fur collared coats and fur neck wraps is the theme looking to become a trend? Yes definitely.

At Emilio Pucci, Christian Lacroix showed what else - fur around the neck. He embellished a python vest with a mink collar and created a remarkable Pucci print coat with exaggerated fox lapels that managed to be both elegant and boho at the same time. Lacroix also introduced took the immense colors to further heights with imaginative bright pink, scarlet, purple, and orange fur.
But you can count on Karl Lagerfeld to make headlines at Fendi. Last season he hid fur discreetly on the inside of casual coats and now he’s gone and done the exact opposite: smoothing pelts onto the outside of extravagant oversize down puffers.

Lagerfeld somehow magically made fur, suede, fabric, and knit blur together in such a deceptive way that you had to feel it to believe what in fact the materials were. Some coats looked to be made of dense boucle wool but upon closer examination, the wool turned out to be extraordinarily clipped, tightly curled fur. One incredible white wool boucle jacket had a striped fur collar. He also showed a fur capelet and a body hugging fur trimmed suede jacket with a bow. His finale was a masterpiece of raspberry, red and orange thigh length fur jacket. Each piece of fur was more extraordinary than the last.

Less dramatic was Marni who also did capelets but had a lighter more playful style. The main take away at Marnie was the fur helmet Russia inspired. Everyone is going to want this hat!.

At Donatella Versace's, the models look like modern goddesses/chick rock chicks. She of all the Italian designers knows how to keep the sex factor in a fur coat. Hers came with a nipped waist and a voluptuous fat, shawl collars. Some highlights were the white fur lined, lapelled coat and the yummy fur beigy/caramel-y colored jacket with white fur skunk-striped trims. Just fantastic.
Roberto Cavalli continued the glamour theme with feathers, white satin and powder puff pink maribou in the style of Joan Crawford or Mae West. He also embellished suede with fur and edged quilted jackets in fur. His fur lapels, Fur trimmed coats and or spectacular show-stopping cap and coat in white with fur was pure entertainment.

Dolce & Gabbana closed the Milan shows with some 60's style fur outfits. Think ladylike 60’s though, with boxy jackets, Beatles caps and tall furry hats reminiscent of Buckingham Palace Guards. Sort of Austin Powers meets La Dolce Vita. Again, Dolce & Gabbana showed many exaggerated fur collars and coats in Mongaolian lamb as well as one floor-sweeping white mink. They also lavished broadtail almost everywhere.

Broadtail is the very expensive and glossy fur made from the pelt of a bay karakul lamb found in Central Asia. A black broadtail mini-dress and matching coat were only the starters: After that, there were two-tone boxy suits and narrow skirts made of broadtail and trimmed in fur. Fur, fur and more fur. All in all, a new take on fur came out of Italy that should manage to keep your chin up as you look forward to next winter.