A little shopping splurge

Goshdarnit! I had been so good, two weeks of buying nothing but a knitting pattern and some yarn and then, kaboom, I get the urge to splurge. Well, I didn’t go too mad, but still.
Yesterday I went for a wander round the local vintage shops in my area, starting off at the car boot sale (nothing) and then the usually painful experience of Beyond Retro, Dalston. Sigh. “Beyond Retro” - by that they mean “almost entirely 1980s apart from one ripped and stained 50s ballgown with a 22inch waist”. Sigh.
Still, I had the shopping bug and was determined to find something, and here it is.

 

The most perfect little shrug. I’m not sure what fur it is (I think it might be mink as it is dark and fairly soft yet dense) or have any idea of the date but I assume 50’s. It is very well made, fully lined with a rich chocolate brown floral sprigged silk satin and featuring arm loops to hold the garment on and give it structure. There are also two shallow lined pockets, one still full of confetti from a wedding its owner must have attended.

Aside from being a little squashed from its journey (all Beyond Retro clothing seems to have been highly compressed in damp conditions before arriving on the shop floor – I assume their bales of clothes travel over by sea) it is in mint condition, no rips, bald patches or devils dust, and it fits me perfectly on the shoulders. Just the thing for the upcoming party season.

I’ve done a little digging into the company in an attempt to date the item and it seems that Douglas Moore furs is still going in Renfrew, Ontario. This article from 1972 talks about the family who took over the company in 1960 but doesn’t give any earlier info. I’m thinking of dropping them a line though, out of interest.

I also picked up a couple of little berets for winter. A plain black one of no vintage whatsoever (HOW did I not have one of these already) and the most ridiculous carpet bag effect piece. How I’ll wear I do not know. I just couldn’t leave it in the shop. It has the Union Made logo too, and looking at Millinery Union labels I peg it at mid-late 50s. Still, its a pretty universal look (I mean, really, it looks Tudor, right? :-P)

does anyone here have any more knowledge of dating furs that they can share?