How to Display Furs

Historical Displays

• 1

  Research the era that each fur piece was created in. Look through books on old Hollywood actors with large photographs of film stars from that era to get a sense of the fashion and styles of the era.

• 2

  Select mannequins and dress them in fashions of the era, ideally putting together ensembles that are evocative of the pictures in old Hollywood books. Style their hair, imitating common hairdos of the era.

• 3

  Place the furs on each mannequin last. Each mannequin must have a styled outfit before you arrange the furs on them. The furs should drape fluidly with the body and texture. Pin fur stoles in place with rhinestone or pearl pins.

• 4

  Install track lighting so that each bulb hits directly upon each mannequin, but not on the furs as the heat from the light could eventually damage them.

Shop Display

• 5

  Select a setting for your display. Since fur garments are under such scrutiny, you want the setting to be the focal point of your display, with your furs to be a decorative accessories, less prominent. For example, you could dress your shop windows to look like an opulent ski lodge or luxury cabin or the penthouse suite of a New York City hotel. The key is to pick a setting which communicates luxury.

• 6

  Arrange the furniture in your display so that it looks authentic. If you're creating a luxury bedroom, push the bed to where it would be, evenly spaced away from the dressing table.

• 7

  Dress the setting with accessories that really communicate the idea of luxury, such as antique radios, gramophones, crystal vases, reproductions of priceless antiques and paintings.

• 8

  Add your furs to the display last. Place them in areas that lack prominence. The furs should simply be another element in the display that contributes to the idea of opulence. For example, toss a fur coat over the side of a chair or the edge of the bed. Or hang a fur coat off the back side of a door.

• 9

  Install lighting that's organic to the setting of your display. For example, if the setting is a luxury log cabin, lanterns, a table lamp and faux candles should be your lighting for nighttime. Use sunlight during the day to keep costs down.