What can I do with my mother's mink stole from the 1960s-early 60s??

[CTyankee]

It's in an off-season clothes closet and I ran across it yesterday, having forgotten I still had it.

It is silk lined and embossed with her initials. I feel as if I have been entrusted with it in memory of her. I do have a Goodwill store near me and I'm thinking of putting in there but would anybody even want it?

If it has any value I could give it to my housekeeper who might find a buyer or cut it up and fashion it in some way.

You input would be greatly appreciated.

[Marcuse]

1. Give it a proper burial?

[JoseBalow]

12. This is the best suggestion

[FadedMullet]

26. That was the first thing that I thought of too. Bury it really deep to delay methane emissions for a while.

[quaint]

2. kitty bed

[mgardener]

3. My sister took my mother's

I would donate it.

[CTyankee]

5. Thanks. I'll check with my housekeeper next week and if she doesn't want it I'll take it Goodwill.

[Vinca]

4. Some people buy them because they like vintage clothing, so Goodwill might be a good place to donate.

If it happens to be by a top designer, it might be worth selling at auction or to a dealer. When I was selling antiques and collectibles, I did buy a designer mink jacket once at a thrift shop and resold it for several hundred dollars.

[CTyankee]

7. I doubt that it was by a top designer, but your point is well taken.

I'll take it to Goodwill.

[Tanuki]

6. Some ideas...

https://restyleyourfur.com/blogs/news/the-timeless-appeal-of-1950s-mink-stoles-transforming-vintage-elegance-into-modern-chic


..."If wearing fur isn’t your style, mink stoles can be transformed into a variety of accessories. Imagine the luxury of a mink headband, handbag, scarf or earmuffs—each piece adding a touch of vintage glamour to your everyday look.
Mink stoles can also be repurposed into home accessories like pillows, bringing warmth and texture into your living space.

One of the most popular non-wearable items we create from mink stoles are cuddly teddy bears. These bears are not just adorable but also serve as a cherished keepsake, perfect for passing down through generations."...(more)

[Hekate]

34. I like the teddy bears as a "cherished memory" !

[elleng]

8. Keep it, as 'memory.'

[CTyankee]

13. I'm going to give my grandkids a crack at it.

I have a transitioning grandchild in L.A. and she might want it but she is big and this thing is small. My 3 other granddaughters are smaller but I wonder if they would want to wear fur.

[yorkster]

9. When my great-aunt died somehow I ended up

with her mink stole. This was mid 70s iirc.
Never knew what to do with it, until one bitterly cold night a few years later when I was going to a upscale dinner with friends. This was a rare occurrence. I had a long winter coat and I wore the stole over the coat. I was warm as toast .
Never wore it again and I think I finally gave it to Goodwill.

[LisaM]

10. First, check that it's in usable shape.

A lot of times, they aren't. But if it is, I would give it to a theatre department or someone who does drag so it can have a second life without someone needing to buy real fur.

[CTyankee]

11. Yes, it is in fine shape.

Since I lost my hairdresser, I don't have my contact with the gay community in New Haven.

[FloridaBlues]

14. Donate it to a local community theater. They will add it to costume department.

I have one from my mother as well and that’s what I am doing. I also have worn it in several theater productions I act with.

[3catwoman3]

15. As already suggested in posts 10 and 14, give it to an amateur theater group...

...or theater department of a college.

[CTyankee]

16. I doubt Yale Drama School would want/need it but I have a another New Haven college I could give it to....

I got my Master's in Liberal Studies at Albertus Magnus College, a small liberal arts Catholic school here in New Haven. I am still in contact with my English Lit professor there (I went back to school in my late 60s for the advanced degree since they had a Liberal Studies program I liked very much).

[applegrove]

17. Give it to your housekeeper. She could sell it online.

[SWBTATTReg]

18. I donated all of my old clothes (from Grandma and others in the past) to a local clothing shop that outfitted

people (they purchased) outfits for events, Halloween, etc. That way, you keep recycling these things, and keeping their energies/memories in the world alive still. People do actually still buy these things too. There's a small segment of the population that does value these things.

[CTyankee]

20. Not sure you can see these things as anything but a relic from past practices of wearing an animal's skin and fur that

was valued and killed for its fur. They carry a bad message in today's woke population.

[SWBTATTReg]

23. And you think that the things I had donated somehow were actually fur? What gave you that idea? My grandma was

poor and couldn't afford such things.

[CTyankee]

30. Sorry, I mistakenly thought your post somehow had that connection to fur and that was what I had on my mind when I

made the post. You donated items that held a precious memory of you beloved grandmother. I need to apologize for my mistake.

[Bayard]

19. Release it back into the wild

[CTyankee]

21. I actually could do that but I wouldn't since it was my mother's.

[Bayard]

22. ....

[Phoenix61]

24. I have a friend who collects and wears them.

She’d never buy a new one but no reason to send wearable clothing to the landfill.

[flvegan]

25. Donate it to an animal shelter.

It would go a long way making some newborn kittens very happy, I'll bet.

Or, if it brings you fond memories of your mom, just keep it.

[CTyankee]

31. AWW, newborn kittens in mink fur! Sweet image! I love it!

[mahatmakanejeeves]

27. Offer it to a high school drama club. NT

[soldierant]

32. Agreedf.

I worked doe a few year as the person in charge of costumes on a small state college Theater Departmen. I am sure either a college or high school club or departmen would be thrilled.

[kacekwl]

28. Sell it to a vintage

clothes resale shop.

[underpants]

29. We have an actual store not far from here.

The do still exist. Amazing but they do.

[pansypoo53219]

33. my cousin gave me a really nice stole. too pretty. i ebayed it. i got pelts from an estate sale(bag of faces-cat toys)

i grow the best cat nip + made fresh cat nip toys. it even gets me woozy.

[Hekate]

35. I like Tanuki's teddy bear idea best of all 💕