Recently in Fur Category

As you know, there are so many really awful bags out there - we don't set out to find them, they just appear in front of us and make it impossible for us to ignore. Like this road kill clutch by Henry Begeulin - it got in our way and we had no choice but to run over it. It looks like a rat or a possum but either way it is a rodent and a pest. Can you imagine coming home from a night out, slightly drunk and bleary eyed - you go in your closet and this is sitting on your shelf! I would run to the nearest hotel and call an exterminator. The fact that they perfectly cut the skin so that the back of the animal is the exact center of the clutch just makes it all the more creepy. And as if it isn't clear enough that this resembles an undesirable creature, they put tassels on it to look like whiskers! All that's missing now are grommets for eyes. I really do like Henry Beguelin so it is unfortunate that this one got under my screeching tires. $760 at Henry Beguelin boutiques, I would give more info but even if you wanted to buy this, I wouldn't give it to you.

There were a lot of questions regarding ponyhair, haircalf or in industry terms, hair-on leather. What the heck is it? Is it pony? Is it cow? Well, it is most commonly cow, although it can be done with buffalo or any other animal for that matter (shearling is the sheep version of this) but it is usually not actual pony. Basically, it is the hair side of the animal. It is considered a "pelt", same as fur. The leather that we are most familiar with is actually the underside, the non-hair side of the skin. Haircalf (the most common term but in fashion pony hair is used to make it sound sexier) is more expensive than the average leather but the cost is in the finish of the hair, since it needs to be treated (chrome tanned is a process that gives the hair the super shiny sheen), most of the time it is cut down short (this is necessary for any use other than a rug, as in, in a cowboy's house), and it is dyed. If you've ever been to a farm, I don't need to tell you what the natural colors are - solid black, black and white, brown and white or tricolors of black, brown and white. It is dyed white first and any color or pattern can then be put on it, even metallic. As with leather, prices vary widely depending on how many of these treatments it has had. In general, the haircalf version is also more expensive than the leather counterpart because it is harder to work with during manufacturing. The care for haircalf is pretty simple. Don't get gum or oil on it and you can pretty much clean it nicely with a dry cloth. If you get something on it, use a slightly damp cloth but then dry it with a dry cloth immediately after. Always go with the grain of the hair! It can also be sprayed with the same silicone spray for suede but whatever you do, stay away from Scotch Guard, even their warning says not to use it on anything other than fabric. I guess the question you all want answered is now obvious. No, it is not considered exotic since it is just plain ole' cow. But if you are looking for an alternative to humdrum leather, haircalf is definitely more unique and bold.

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When I started Bag Snob, it wasn't about trying to be a snob about anything, I just wanted to have fun indulging in extravagance to fill my free time and who wouldn't right? It's like when you have guests over for dinner, you don't serve diet cake, you bring out the most decadent chocolate fudge cake! If you ever meet me you will see that I am by far the un-snobbiest person out there. My point is, you obviously do not need to be a label whore to be stylish and chic, it is almost the opposite. I mean, do I own a Birkin, Chanel, Bottega, etc? Yes, but I never do head to toe in it. And I feel like I am cheating when I use my bags as the center piece, it is why I love bags because it is true, all you need is a good bag, but to really be hip, it takes a bit more than that. You certainly do not need to spend thousands to achieve true style. If you can walk in to TJ Maxx and come out with a fabulous outfit, you have way more clue than anyone living on Park Ave. Not that this Michael by Michael Kors clutch is the answer to economic bohemian chic but I love that it has personality and that's the key to everything. The cutout handle is all rage (yes, still) and haircalf is considered an exotic, at least it is not traditional leather and that's really the crux of the "exotic" trend. I am not an animal print girl but this is a small bag (12 3/4" x 8 1/2") so it just adds a splash of it for some fun. For $348 you get a bag that is on-trend, functional and can be made all your own. At Vivre.com.

Yeah, we all know Chanel can do classic but there is more than one customer out there and they know it. In an attempt to do cute and funky they ended up with child-like and furry. Let's start with the child-like bag which is actually named "Candy-like". Through astute observation, they see that their core shoppers act like kids in a candy store at their boutiques, but they are taking this a little too literally. Observations need to be analyzed and processed not just regurgitated. We act like kids in a candy store but we don't actually want "candy". Even for the sake of the argument, let's say we do - this arm "candy" does not at all function well or is remotely cute. The chain is attached to one corner so it dangles oddly at your side, hanging like a giant Christmas ornament from your wrist, all the while spinning uncontrollably as you walk. When you put it on your shoulder, the pyramid / triangular shape does not conform to a human figure whatsoever and just sits away from you with nowhere for your arm to go. It comes in 2 sizes, the larger is $1295 and is about 12" at the base of the triangle, the smaller is $1150 and is around 8".

I just saw someone today with a ponyhair bag that was so furry I thought it was going to bite me. Pony needs to be shaved down really tight to be a part of fashion, otherwise you are just a caveman. So, having said that, this Philip Lim furry moss is great and I love it! The color of course is amazing for Fall and the zipped tote style is versatile, casual and hip. The circular handles are really cool looking but I do fear the practicality of it being that it is such a big bag at 21.5" x 13.5". When I get a big bag, I want to fill it up, if I didn't, I would just use a clutch, right? That is the one downside to this that I can foresee. Another warning, moms, don't even think about getting pony as a baby bag, caked in mess and stuck together fur is really nasty. Everything else seems so perfect, the zipped top makes this a perfect day time partner for city dwellers and can be used as an overnighter for those who have that need (wink wink). I even love the strange and oddly random bracket hardware, it adds an element of surprise and youthfulness. The price point is on the high side for Philip Lim but it is pony, $2375 at Browns Fashion.

$4750 for small size (10x11") $5650 for medium size (11x12")

Happy fug Monday my darlings! Now don't be scared of the Karenina frame bag from Dior, they won't bite though they are a serious fright. Inspired by high society Russia in Tolstoy's Anna Karenina-- trimmed in gray fox with black leather or blonde fox in camel leather-- the bags are great alternatives for those who have always wanted to tote a dog around à la Paris Hilton but don't want to deal with waste management. The Karenina won't shed on your sofa, is dander free, and won't chew up your Loubies but will still cuddle up to you and keep you warm. Now that, my friend, is the perfect pet. At Dior boutiques worldwide. Dior Handbags also at eLuxury.com

Hello, Mr. No-I-am-not-on-crack, how do you explain this? A furry clutch made to resemble a steam ship trunk with odd fake straps that aren't functional and then a functional turn lock closure hardware on top of that, not to be redundant, but for looks? Uh, did I mention that this thing is ridiculously hideous and ridiculous? Oh not yet? Well, this thing is ridiculously hideous and ridiculous. This is strips of mink, aka scraps, and python pieced together. Where is the python? Keep in mind, I said this bag is ridiculous. The python is in between the strips of mink. Mink is furry thus poofs over and covers up all signs of the python, but that aside, the strips, aka scraps, of python are so minuscule that it is totally useless. How about using the python trim on the good-for-nothing straps, at least it would give a purpose to them, even if the purpose is simply to allow us to see some python so that it adds some sort of design feature. Oh, sorry California residents, the undetectable remnants of python makes it unavailable to you. Boo hoo! Interested in taking a gander for kicks? It's at Saks for $2950.

It is Fall and it's that time of year where every bag comes in some sort of fur. I am not into the Indy but this one with grey mink and ostrich detail somehow makes it better. If you are a rap star (or Jennifer Lopez), this is the way to style it for the winter. The shaded grey mink is so divine! I like that instead of metal plates on the corners, this version has ostrich patches, it just makes a little more sense design wise. I know this is totally un-PC and we get a lot of flack for featuring these type of bags but remember, we only talk about the bags, we don't make them. And do we encourage people to buy them? No, not this bag, at $7990 you can get yourself a nice Birkin!! Of course it will be leather and not an exotic. We still recommend though that if you want exotic, go with a skin and stay away from fur. You'll get a lot of heads turning if that's what you want but fur is just not that practical as a bag. Available at Gucci online.

Here is a perfect example of a total waste of animal used. I look at this and feel sorry that the rabbit (or rabbits) died to be this hideous bag. Before I contradict myself and say that fur is totally useless on a bag, let me just say that in this case, it doesn't even lend to its aesthetics and in fact gives this atrocious bag an added level of heinousness. The bag has sections of fur, leather, trim and on top of all that, the fur is then quilted so there are all these spews and tufts of hair sticking out everywhere. In person, this is so over the top ostentatious but not even in a "look at how amazing I am" kind of way, it is rabbit fur for chrissake, otherwise known as the poor man's fur. It's for those who think they are causing a scene because they think they look so great when in fact people are gawking in fear and hilarity of them. While shopping, I actually saw a lady buy the ponyhair taupe/brown zebra print version of this bag. Let's just say she is one of those older ladies who decided not to age gracefully and had her face embalmed to a state of non expression. I guess if she thinks her face looks good, it is totally unreliable what she thinks a good bag would look like. And for that reason I suppose is why this bag is named, "Snap Out of It". How ironic. $2288 at Saks Fifth Avenue Bevery Hills (310.275.4211).

Can you think of anything more frivolous than a mink tote? This little tote from Bamford is totally adorable with the leather drawstring bow. OK, fine, those of you who read Bag Snob regularly will know that we have always bashed fur bags because honestly, how much sense does that make really? It's a total waste of the use of fur and for our PETA friends out there, we can't even use the "survival against harsh elements" defense when it comes to bags instead of coats. But usually fur bags are plushy and poofy and well, furry, and although cute as a stuffed animal, it does not make for a stylish bag. This mink tote is sheared mink (which is preferable for coats as well) so it is more like pony hair and less like Chewbacca. In fact, this bag comes in a smaller version in pony hair that is super cute, too! In fact, the entire Bamford Collection is really amazing. Mink tote at Neiman Marcus for $5150 (pre-order).

Left: Gloucester for $1695, Right: Kingham in Pony Hair for $2725