Fur Fight

Over the weekend, activists in West Hollywood, already known as a "Cruelty Free Zone for Animals," pressed their noses against the proverbial glass windows of high-end boutiques whose luxury wares may be accompanied by fox fur trim.

The push for a "Fur Free WeHo," bolstered by city council candidate John D'Amico, is a rather clever publicity stunt (CNN and LAT were among the outlets in need of a wacky weekender story). "This is the opportunity everyone in West Hollywood has been waiting for," animal rights attorney Shannon Keith told the LA Times. "[These animals] live their whole lives cooped up in these tiny cages only to then be pulled out, electrocuted and skinned alive."

The merits of shaming fur out of West Hollywood city limits is a laudable one in the opinion of many who write for this site, though the critical mass of those who actually sell mink or rabbit in the city is perhaps not what you'd expect.

The LA Weekly pointed out Armani Exchange as a possible offender, among other luxury labels that have brick & mortar stores in West Hollywood. Not likely: Any brand that shows up on Jersey Shore guidos at least a few times a season is probably hawking faux fur (Giorgio Armani has used fur for his primary collection as recent as fall 2008, though that boutique is located on Rodeo in Beverly Hills, not WeHo).

During a recent outing, it was in fact hard to find fur-laden fashion. Maxfield, of course, is an exception. Tommy Perse's altar to the maniacally conspicuous—where fair-condition, vintage Hermes bags routinely sell for more than $10,000—has a rack of fur by Jardins du Palais Royal (if memory serves, Rick Owens designs the collection), so flawless and beautiful as to make one nearly forget the evils of the fur trade that make such pieces possible. And would a $21,500 Gucci suitcase made of zebraskin fall victim to a ban? Or is this put in the category of leather?

Another brand cited by the Weekly, 3.1 Phillip Lim, had no fur on its Robertson Blvd. racks that we could find, though the designer has a trench with rabbit fur lining for sale at Neiman Marcus. No fuzziness at John Varvatos a few steps south, either. Are boutiques already hiding their fur and seling it out the back? Have we entered a new Prohibition era?

Marc Jacobs (below) had a little fox fur in its collection on Melrose for a dynamite coat. But you don't go to his boutique for fur. You go for sunglasses and handbags.

Perhaps Beverly Hills is a better place to launch a crusade against fur. Granted that's a tougher sell.

Where are you seeing fur in West Hollywood? Let us know. If D'Amico wins his March 8 race, he's vowed to introduce legislation banning the WeHo fur trade.