The recent fashion shows in New York unveiled a surprising show of versatility and imagination. Have you ever heard of a Lippi cat? Well, that's only one of the creative introductions in fur for next season. It won't be just be about fur coats but fur clothing!  This Chinese Lippi cat - the fur looks like a miniature leopard print - showed up in paper-thin layered coats at Anna Sui and Calvin Klein. The Lippi cat is also lightweight enough to be made into dresses as Tuleh and Mark Jacobs collections proved.

Fall/Winter 2006 introduces fur as a surprisingly versatile neutral. So, fur is spreading itself thin - literally - showing up on dresses, inside and outside coats. There are skirts made entirely of fur and you'll find fur trim on everything from collars to sleeves to skirt hems. We can only hope that fur trimmed underwear is not the next 'thing'.

Andre Gn's focus this season seemed to be all about Trim for his rarefied customers willing to pay for it. He trimmed sweaters with chandelier size baubles; he trimmed skirt suits with antique laces. Then he started on the coats and there was no holding back. One baby-pink cashmere coat had swirls of black silk cord trim at the hem and a chin-grazing collar of white fox. Another pink bolero styled coat had a huge white heart-shaped neckline of fur. Another gray cashmere military coat was overwhelmed by a full gray fox collar. Each piece was embellished in a way that made Gn's a collection of distinctive pieces.

There were a few one-offs at Anna Sui and Calvin Klein. Sui's heroic effort was an orange fur coat with matching orange polka-dotted luggage. Calvin Klein merged a boho feel with classic tailoring. His Lippi cat would appeal equally to rock n roll hippies and conservatives. The full length, paper thin, gray patterned Lippi coat showed a deft straddling of luxe with classic - herringbone suits were trimmed with fur. Nothing boho about that!

Back on the Upper East Side, only Carolina Herrera's sheared-mink turtlenecks and full-length coat with a magnificent fur trim that started at the shoulders and followed, as trim would do.  Think taupe and gray fox trim, and fat furry sleeves - it was all very sophisticated and polished and cozy at the same time.  My personal favorite was a black-and-chocolate sheath with sheered-mink sleeves, no need for a sweater!

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