For the past three years, we have been reworking vintage fur in our Munich atelier, subtly reshaping heritage pieces with a contemporary edge and a renewed relevance for today.
Vintage fur is having a quiet renaissance — less about provocation, more about provenance. Worn with intent, it feels modern precisely because it resists the churn of the new. The key is contrast: soften its old-world glamour with pieces that speak fluently of now. Here are some styling ideas by IRMA.
1.Start by dismantling formality.
A vintage mink or fox coat over straight-leg denim and a white T-shirt recalibrates the silhouette instantly; the richness of the fur does the talking; the rest stays deliberately plain. Add loafers or slim boots, hair undone, makeup minimal. Effortless is the point.
2.Scale matters.
Oversized, slightly louche coats feel contemporary, especially when worn open and loose. Cropped jackets or stoles work best as accents — thrown over knitwear or layered atop tailoring — rather than styled as centrepiece eveningwear.
3. Colour, too, benefits from restraint.
Chocolate browns, deep aubergine, faded greys and natural creams read quieter than high-shine blacks, unless they have a certain glow. A gently worn patina — softened cuffs, a lived-in lining — adds character and removes stiffness. This is luxury with a memory.
4.For evening, resist the temptation to go full vintage.
Pair fur with fluid silk trousers, a sheer knit, or a sharp blazer worn bare underneath. Jewellery should be pared back; let texture, not sparkle, but create your personal style.
5.Ultimately, wearing vintage fur today is about context and conscience.
It’s an argument for longevity, for dressing with intelligence rather than novelty. Styled lightly, worn personally, vintage fur becomes less about what it once symbolised — and more about how it lives now.
