Furrier Dennis Basso showed in the tents this afternoon with, remarkably, no animal-rights activists protesting outside. Maybe the inclement weather kept them away, or perhaps they’re giving up the fight against fur in fashion, focusing efforts instead on unassuming figure skaters like Johnny Weir. Whatever’s gotten into them, they certainly have a lot to be riled up about this season. As the shows go on, it’s harder to remember which ones didn’t have fur than those that did. Basso is thrilled with this. “I think it’s good, because fur really is part of fashion, and at one time it was only done by certain, certain people,” he told us. “I think fashion goes in cycles, and today fur is a big part of fashion. I mean, I think almost every designer showed fur. So that’s exciting.”
Not only did the furs grow in number on the runways, they grew in volume on Basso’s. He showed some of the most voluminous broadtail and fox creations we’ve seen from him in seasons. When the huge fur bags with gigantic fur tails dangling off the ends came out, we couldn’t help but recall the bags with neon fur tails that Marc Jacobs showed in his spring Louis Vuitton collection, which looked directly inspired by Williamsburg hipsters. But Basso doesn’t wander the L stops for inspiration. “Street fashion always somehow makes its way through the scenario onto the catwalks around the world. So, you know, from the young people you get a lot of different ideas,” said Basso, who spends a good portion of his post-shows air kissing his fur-clad, 50-year-old-plus customers. “Just wherever I am, inspiration happens all the time. You could be sitting in The Four Seasons restaurant or you could be at Dunkin’ Donuts.” Though Basso said the doughnut chain has never inspired him, you might spot him there. “I like a Dunkin’ Donut now and then,” he admitted.
