Sepia Saturday challenges bloggers to share family
history through old photographs.
This week’s Sepia Saturday prompt is an illustration from Robinson Crusoe showing a gun-toting, fur-bedecked man with his dog. While there are many directions suggested in the drawing, I cannot take my eyes off that hairy outfit.
In the world of fashion, fur never goes out of style. Of
course, attitudes about wearing animal skin swing from year to year and from person
to person. Historically, fur was a practical reality, both convenient and warm.
More recently the wearing of fur has been viewed as barbaric and cruel. “Fur”
sure, it is not a neutral topic.
But those who appreciate fur wear it proudly for its
warmth, its beauty, and its prestige. Nothing says “luxury” like a fur, whether
it’s a full coat
 |
| Herbert and Helen Killeen Parker at the Grand Canyon They married in 1927 - was this a honeymoon trip? (click photo to enlarge) |
a jacket or stole
 |
| Helen Killeen Parker in mink (click photo to enlarge) |
a collar or cuff
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| Helen Killeen Parker far left probably some of her coworkers 1930s-1940s era (click photo to enlarge) |
a hat
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| My grandmother Lucille Davis left Her sister-in-law Janice Rucker right (click photo to enlarge) |
or a mink, fox or ermine complete with head and feet dangling around one’s
neck.
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| My great-grandmother Mary Theresa Sheehan Killeen Walsh (click photo to enlarge) |
“Fur” your viewing pleasure, visit my friends at Sepia Saturday.
© 2015, Wendy Mathias.
All rights reserved.
Wendy, your post reminds me - my grandaunt wore a brown fur stole (probably a stoat). The four little feet always unnerved me - I couldn't imagine why she'd wear a dead animal around her neck - thankfully, it had no head! I must ask if my grandmother also wore one.
ReplyDelete"Fur" goodness sake, Helen clearly enjoyed wearing fur!
ReplyDeleteMy mother in law had two fur stoles among her things we found after she passed. Hubby couldn't remember seeing her wear them so I wonder if they were a thing from her "early youth." They were still in good condition. I gave them to my sister in law who does vintage things among others on EBAY.
ReplyDeleteThat picture of the couple at the Grand Canyon intrigued me. You can see they are definitely out on one of the rocks there. These days I don't think they would have been allowed to be so close to the edge. Daring they were; I'm not sure I would have positioned myself like that :)
betty
Too bad we didn't get a picture of that PONY cape hanging in the closet!
ReplyDeleteToo close to the edge for me. I do remember one of my aunts having a fox fur like that, head and all.
ReplyDeleteI have a pigskin hat but that probably doesn't count. I always remember my Auntie Annie had a mink coat - she was so proud of that coat. If she had been alive today she probably wouldn't have dared to go out in it.
ReplyDeleteI have a picture of my grandmother in one of those head and feet stoles. They all look quite a bit more posh than old Robinson's skin coat.
ReplyDeleteDarn! Why didn't I think of using fur? Well done!
ReplyDeleteMy mother had four foxes that she wore as a stole -- she named them Matthew, Mark, Luke and John (much to our amusement) and wore them to church every Sunday!
ReplyDeleteA fine collection of fuzzy family members. The last one, your great grandmother's stole with ermine/fox heads, is baffling that it ever became fashionable, especially for a woman of mature years. Fur does have practical value as last Christmas I received a gift I had always wanted - a Russian fur military cap, not unlike ol' Robinson's - perfect for walks in sub-freezing temperatures!
ReplyDeleteFur. It used to be the real thing and so pretty and soft.
ReplyDeleteI would like to come and visit you and look through your albums! You always seem to find something interesting :)
ReplyDeleteYou’ve reminded me that an aunt in America sent me a little animal in stole form when I was young. There’s no picture of me wearing it though and I’ve no idea where it is now. Your ladies do look very classy though.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading about fur fashions, and it reminded me so much of my mother. She was very proud of her fox fur. I suppose having furs was a sign of success, and I remember my father giving her a fur stole. They did not go out much to big social occasions, so I cannot think she wore it often. The next gift was a fur coat which was regularly worn on Sunday for church in winter. Sadly I have no photographs of her wearing what were then popular fashion statements. How times have changed!
ReplyDeleteSomewhere in this house there is a fox stole. As a child I was fascinated by it, though having mixed reactions to it be so sadly dead. I keep telling myself to take it and my mother's fur coat to the animal shelter so they can be cut up and used for young animals.
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother had a mink stole. I wonder if my mom still has it. Have to ask during my weekly phone call next time. There are still areas of the Grand Canyon without rails. Have photos of us from 3 years ago right at the edge.
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I camped at the Grand Canyon on our Honeymoon...although I did not wear a fur :) We returned there for our 20th anniversary and stayed in cabins...but I still didn't wear a fur...I wore my very dated wedding dress!
ReplyDeleteI loved your photos and this post. My mom had a stole which she and my aunts called a "chubby." She also had one with an animal head on it but I have no idea what happened to that one!
Great post!
My grandmother had a mink jacket and somehow it ended up at my house. I am not too sure what to do with it, but haven't been able to bring myself to get rid of it either.
ReplyDeleteYou certainly do have the most amazing collection of photos and memorabilia!
A fine photo collection centering on fur wear. Love those fur hats.
ReplyDelete