While watching the inauguration with my own agenda, that of the millions of animals inhumanely killed for their fur, I was shocked, but very pleased, to see that Aretha Franklin wasn't wearing ANY fur. Not a single tuft anywhere on her coat or hat, which was just amazing. I once poked my head into her limo parked in Columbus Circle and explained to her why her wearing fur was cruel to animals...and offensive to me. The coat she was wearing may very well have been wool, but one step at a time I guess.
Michelle Obama and Jill Biden didn't have a stitch of fur on, either. Nor was Laura Bush wearing any fur and she looked quite sophisticated in her gray ensemble (which may have also been wool). Her daughters, the Bush twins, had no fur on and were actually wearing quite sensible coats. Sensible and the Bush twins in the same sentence? Never thought we'd see the day.
Oprah wasn't wearing fur. Nor was Beyonce, though her husband Jay-Z had a silly fur hat on. Hmmm, I didn't think she was the smarter half of the couple but am now reconsidering.
Other bold-faced names skipping the fashion faux pas were Sarah Silverman, Jessica Alba, Demi Moore, Martha Stewart, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Magic Johnson.
But wait, was that baby lamb skin around P. Diddy's collar? And how many animals died for that fur collar on Rosie Perez's coat?
Kate Capshaw, Steven Spielberg's wife, was swaddled in a coat that should have been vetoed by her stylist before being resurrected into the light of day.
Lynne Cheney had a big fur collar on her coat. Figures, with a husband who shoots at living creatures as a hobby (and I don't just mean ducks...).
But the worst violation of decency goes to Spike Lee's wife, Tonya Lewis, who was wearing an incomprehensibly large and grotesque fur (if 75 small animals lose their lives for a basic fur coat, I'm afraid to take a stab, pardon the pun, at how many died for this one). Spike's not off the hook either; he sported a fur collar and a Yankees hat with fur lining. Did they Do the Right Thing and show some consideration before flaunting their wealth, bad taste and lack of compassion during this recession? Not by a long shot.