Faux Real

Faux Real

Faux Real

With an emphasis on ethics, fashion houses are rethinking the classic fur coat as imitation becomes the highest form of flattery

With an emphasis on ethics, fashion houses are rethinking the classic fur coat as imitation becomes the highest form of flattery

Photography: Marc Hibbert

Styling: Gro Curtis

Text: Maddie Street

This story appears in the pages of V138: The Sound of V issue—now available for purchase!

What happens when fashion's most inherently controversial yet widely acclaimed staple piece, the fur coat, encounters a contemporary agenda? A conversation. Born during an era of unethical aesthetics and raging prominence, fashion's most voluptuous outerwear essential now enters an evolution into avant-garde progressiveness and revised morals. Staged in an energy of principled yet uncomprising reconceptualization, winter's polymath piece applies its metamorphic ability to welcome a modern vision, faux fur. Draped in the creative conclusion of some of fashion's most archetypal houses - Gucci, Saint Laurent, Balmain, Bottega Veneta, Versace, and Burberry - model muse Akon Changkou summons an evolution of perspective. Radical and captivating, the editorial features an extraordinary reconstruction of an otherwise notable fashion symbol, gesturing to an honest diffusion of immoral and improper tradition.

Coat DOLCE & GABBANA Earring CARTIER
Coat GIORGIO ARMANI, Lingerie CARINE GILSON, Shoes JIMMY CHOO On body PATRICK TA Major Glow Balm in She’s On Vacation
Coat MICHAEL KORS, Necklace CARTIER, On lips CHANEL BEAUTY, Rouge Coco Baume
Coat BURBERRY, Bra LA PERLA, Shoes GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI
Coat and purse VERSACE Bra AGENT PROVOCATEUR
Coat and shoes BOTTEGA VENETA
Coat PHILOSOPHY DI LORENZO SERAFINI, Earring and ring CARTIER, Lingerie LA PERLA, Shoes AMINA MUADDI
Coat, lingerie, shoes GUCCI
Coat, tights, shoes SAINT LAURENT
Coat BALMAIN, Lingerie DEBORAH MARQUIT Shoes JIMMY CHOO
Credits: Makeup David Koppelaar (Bryant Artists) Hair Tomohiro Ohash (Management + Artists) using Bumble and bumble. Model Akon Changkou (Elite) Manicure Eri Narita (WSM) using Byredo products Producer Kit Pak-Poy (Art World) Lighting technicians Isaac Berzosa, Lena Mestaf

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