Great Depression = Great style

Vintage Fur Coat (my basement--Great Grandmother's), Black Leather Belt (Hudsons Bay Company), Over the Knee Suede Boots (Cha Cha Palace in Winnipeg)

This is the mink coat I wrote about in one of my first posts . It was my great grandmother's making it more than 75 years old. I always thought it was luxurious and fun but today was the first day in my 18 years of marveling at it that I put it on and wore it in public. The belt definitely added to the modernity of the outfit as I had to be careful not to resemble a 1930s aristocrat. I must have pulled it off because I received many compliments and more importantly it kept me warm in the bitterly cold weather (-22 celsius).

Many people may not have the opportunity to snatch up an antique fur coat from an ancient ancestor but thrift stores are bursting with them. For in between $50-100, you can purchase a good quality fur coat and feel better about the reuse of animal fur.  I would recommend tailoring it to suit your needs as many old fur coats tend to go for the "blanket" look. Add a trendy belt and voila you look set to hit the runway but warm enough to hit the town.