Fur coats come in many varieties. The richness of variety in fur coats is rooted in the different types of fur available and in the various cut choices. The fur itself can vary significantly in its qualities depending upon the country of origin and other factors. Meanwhile, the fur coats themselves vary in quality depending upon how they are made.

The desire for a fur coat seems to be rooted in two but seemingly very different things: having a refined sense of modern elegance and style, and wanting a primal connection to our great human forebears who wore fur coats to keep warm for thousands of years.

Fur is animal skin or leather which is processed with the natural fur attached. It can be cut mid-length or relatively long for use in jackets, coats and other articles of clothing.

There are various types of fur clothing. Each type generally varies by cut, fur type and country of origin, as follows:

Cuts: Fur clothing comes in a large variety of shapes and sizes, including coats, jackets, hats, muffs, capes, vests, trims, sheared, wraps, and shawls. Most of these products some in both men's and women's styles.

Fur types: Fur types vary of course by the animal from which they originate. Some of the most popular animals whose skins are processed as fur are: fox, beaver, sable, mink, and shearling (sheepskin).

Fox furs are among the warmest furs available. There are many types of fox fur, such as long-haired, fine and silky. These are found in Russia, Australia and many other parts of the world.

Beaver furs are not only warm, they have water repelling characteristics. Most beaver fur articles of clothing are brown, and most come from North America.

Sable fur are known for being very silky. Russian sable fur, in particular, is known for its silky qualities.

Mink fur coats retain the reputation of being among the finest and rarest of fur coats. They enjoy a timeless image. Most mink is found in North America, although some are sourced from parts of Europe.

Shearling coats are made from sheep who have been recently sheared. The fleece (fur) is retained to the leather and then sheared. Shearling coats are excellent all-weather wear. They are soft to the touch and very warm.

Choose the right fur coat depending upon your needs and preferences.