Fall Trends: Shearling & Fur

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Fur and shearling. These have always screamed "luxury" across the decades. Of course, these days we're certainly more conscious of cruelty-free options, and faux fur tends to be more in demand than the real thing. This highly textured, sumptuous look lends itself to various expressions with fresh style and a modern edge.

Less Is More

Estee Stanley, stylist to Hollywood A-listers, is a big fan of shearling. "A great shearling coat always gives you a look of Bohemian chic, but you don't want to go overboard," Stanley advised. "It could be long, but not too long -- think just below the knee -- or even a waist-length wrap coat is gorgeous in this material."

She suggests treading carefully with the fur look, however, and being aware that it can be over-the-top if not styled the right way.

"A fur coat -- faux or not -- is a lot of look for most people", Stanley said. "I suggest going with a stole for a more sophisticated look, but be aware, this is a very formal look, so it's best reserved for black tie occasions. If you want a fun, younger look, I think a chubby is your best bet. It's a cropped fur jacket, like a fur bolero, and I love it in bright, fun colors. Throw your chubby on over a fitted tank and some tapered pants to create an edgy, downtown look."

Keylee Sanders, owner of the L.A.-based Style Studio and writer of the blog keyleestyle.com, suggests contrasting the larger, bulkier silhouette of shearling or fur with a skinnier, tighter shape on your lower half.

"Faux fur and shearling usually look best as outerwear, and both are on the bulky side, which is one thing I love about the trend," Sanders said. "Keep the rest of your look tighter to the body so that your look and figure is balanced out."

Sanders suggests trying a faux-fur vest for versatility. "I love a faux-fur vest with a cashmere turtleneck or henley top, with skinny jeans and boots. Or you can even layer a faux-fur vest over a cocktail gown for a fun, glamorous look."

Vintage Glamour -- or How to Buy Fur on a Budget

Good-quality faux fur can be quite an investment, as can both real and faux shearling. So how do you create these looks on a budget? Stanley suggests visiting thrift stores for some bargain finds. "Thrift stores are always great places to start when looking for any bank-breaking items on a lower budget," she said. "If you're patient you can find some real gems."

Stanley suggests watching out for various types of fur garments for creative ways to incorporate fur into your wardrobe at a price that's right. "Be on the lookout for coats, of course", she said, "but also keep your eyes open to other, more unexpected ways of rocking this trend. You might find a fur collar that you can add to a coat that you already own, for example -- it's on trend, but it'll cost you a lot less than buying a brand new coat."

Finding budget shearling may be trickier, since tracking down low-cost but good-quality synthetic versions is difficult, and if you want to wear the real thing, it's very much an investment, with prices exceeding even the best-quality wool coats.

Sanders says she thinks that faux fur is the most affordable version of this trend. She agrees with Stanley that going for smaller touches of faux fur is a wallet-friendly way to wear it. "Faux fur on boots and cuffs is a great way to wear the trend," she said. "I also love it in unexpected places, such as handbags or scarves."

Jewels, Bags and Shoes

The key thing to bear in mind when accessorizing this trend is not to overdo it, Stanley said. "Whatever you do, don't wear a matching bag or boots," she said. "Unless you want to look like a Sherpa." Sanders seconded that advice: "Only wear one type or color of faux fur or shearling at a time. The Yeti look is so out this season."

When it comes to jewelry, simple is also best. "Maybe wear one big cocktail ring or a basic pendant necklace," Stanley advised.

Playing down the rest of your look with neutral colors is also a good way to go. For bags and shoes, Stanley suggests selecting from a palette of brown shades: "Try camels, caramels and chocolates."

Stanley also warns that "a slouchy bag with this look can easily veer into hobo territory. Stick with structured-shaped bags."

Shearling and faux fur can be either '70s-style groovy or old-school glamour, depending on how you wear them; Sanders reminds us that dressing up the look in a more glamorous direction can be a lot of fun. "Don't be afraid of glamour," she said. "You can add in a little sparkle with a vintage rhinestone brooch or nice pin on the lapel of your coat."

After all, some days you just want to look more Marilyn Monroe than Janis Joplin.

The beauty of shearling and faux fur is in their luxurious feel and fun versatility. You can style these pieces to feel either glamorous or simply cute, cozy and on-trend, with a bit of a Boho vibe.