and one of lesser quality? Leslie
Goldin suggests using your
eyes, your hands and your
shoulders. Look at and touch as
many fur coats as possible. One
may have a high luster, a sleek,
smooth appearance and dense
fur, while another may seem
dull, spikey and less plush.
Try on lots of furs. You will be
able to tell much about the
quality of the skins by the way it
feels.
The best skins are lightweight
with dense fur and thin leather.
This is also true with heavy furs
such as coyote or beaver; the
lighter the skins, the finer the
quality. Lighter skins provide
warmth yet don't strain your
shoulders.
Read the labels on all fur
coats. The Federal Fur Products
Labeling Act of 1952 has made
it mandatory for every coat to
be identified with the country of
origin of the skins and the proc-
essing that was done to it, such
as shearing, dyeing, color
enhancement, or tip dyeing.
The label must also indicate
whether the fur was made from
whole skins or pieces and
where it was manufactured.
The durability of a fur de-
pends on care and treatment.
With proper care, furriers say
your fur coat should look good
for 15 to 20 years. Some tips
for care include:
• Never cover your coat in
plastic.
• Store your coat in an un-
crowded closet on a wide fur
hanger.
• Never expose your fur to
long periods of heat or light.

Left, in the Maud Frizon
collection for Ben Kahn Furs, in
New York, a seven-eighth length
coat of Tibetan lamb is dyed
raspberry color, $3000.

Right, in this short, voluminous
sable coat, the furs are worked
both horizontally and vertically,
from Fendi.