Should I buy a Teddy Coat? A (not so) Fluffy Dilemma.
“There’s always a way to wear fur”
I love fur. I love real fur, faux fur, fur-like fluffy fleece, and really anything that hints at being fur. I am a texture person and I just love how it feels. I also love how it keeps you warm while making you feel like a old-fashioned movie star. When you look at old photos of me, I am frequently wearing fur, which was clearly not a trend at the time.
Here I am, 6 or 7 years old, on a class trip wearing a faux fur coat (in the spring?) feeling awesome.
As soon as the temps dropped this season, I started lusting after a fluffy coat . I didn’t care what it was. I just wanted the “soft and cozy” as soon as possible. I must not be the only person who has felt this way because I see lots of people wearing these fluffy coats aka Teddy Coats similar to this one.
You can go into every women’s clothing store and find a version of this coat. They are EVERYWHERE. Some look more like fur and some are more like traditional fleece, but they are all basically the same thing, polyester coats.
So why haven’t I just bought one and enjoyed its fluffy goodness? Here is my dilemma:
Fleece and fluffy coats release microfibers into our water systems. If you haven’t heard or seen anything about microfibers polluting our water systems, here is an excerpt from an NPR article to get you started:
“…peer-reviewed studies have shown that these synthetic microfibers — a type of plastic smaller than a millimeter in length and made up of various synthetic polymers — have popped up in table salt in China, in arctic waters and in fish caught off the coast of California. These tiny fibers make up 85 percent of human debris on shorelines across the globe, according to a 2011 study. They're basically inescapable. So it's not unlikely they're finding their way into the human diet, especially in seafood. “ - Are We Eating Our Fleece Jackets, NPR.ORG
I strive to be as sustainable as possible when I buy clothing and this fluffy trend I love so much, is almost impossible to do responsibly. I searched for sustainable cotton or wool options and came up empty.
What to do?
Choose the right coat. When searching for a fleece or fluffy coat, look for one that is good quality. Choose one that does not shed easily. Pick one that can be worn many times without washing it. Does it have a lining? Can I wear sweater under it? Is it a classic style? Will you want to wear in the next two or three years? Try to buy the item in a real store so you can touch it. If this is not an option, read the online reviews carefully.
Consider thrifting fur or faux fur. Avoid the environmental impact of creating new garments by buying second hand. I know some of you would never wear a real fur coat or shearling coat and I get that, but I feel okay about wearing second hand fur. There are also many second hand faux fur options out there. Give them a shot if this is something that interests you. One thing to note, do NOT buy old fleece. The older the fleece is, the more it sheds microfibers. The safest place for old fleece is probably in the trash.
Care for it correctly. Wash your coat as infrequently as possible. Keep it clean by wearing base layers under it. Spot clean any stains. Most are handwash, but if yours is machine wash, look into options like the Cora Ball. Bonus, this laundry ball that catches microfibers is from a Vermont company!
So where am I in my fluffy coat journey? I am not sure. The other day, I rediscovered a fur vest I thrifted and once wore for a Halloween costume. I was never confident wearing it in real life. So, I decided to conjure up the strength of my inner 7 year old and wear it.
I was worried I was going to feel silly. But, I gotta say, I loved it.
I wore it with a black cashmere sweater from Everlane with a silk base layer from Land’s End. Both of which are hard hitters in my winter wardrobe. (My Fendi logo bucket bag was thrifted. Jeans are a few years old from Hudson.)
I shopped with my daughters for an afternoon in just above freezing temps and I was actually warm.
I haven’t ruled out buying a Teddy Coat, but at least I feel like I have an option now when I am craving that fluffy, cozy feeling. Little Lisa would be proud.
Have a fluffy day!
Love, Lisa
Some additional reading about fur and microfibers:
https://fashionista.com/2018/04/real-faux-fur-sutainability-ethics-debate