I really want a good faux fur jacket, preferably faux mink...dennis basso, terry lewis, sherry cassin...

KCZ....after checking out the dennis basso, terry lewis coats, I decided to try the sherry cassin faux mink...it is the exact color I want, and looks really pretty...doesn't hurt that it is still on sale for 219.90 and right here on hsn...I have been trying to decide on it for quite a few days, and finally ordered it today..you might want to check it out...

From what I heard, tissavel is much, much more luxuriant and like the real thing - it's also much more costly.

I have a few Terry Lewis's and I like them quite a bit, especially my full-length leopard coat.

Yeah, that's what I heard many times - people are very happy with their tissavel. There is difference in how it's made - I remember only vaguely - I think, regular faux furs are knit and tissavel is woven. Or the other way around??? Anyways, now you guys got me craving for a nice mink tissavel.

Speaking of Persian lamb- I have some Terry Lewis's - and it is not bad too. My only thing is that it is very thin, not warm at all.

KCZ - wow looks like you're looking for some seriouth warmth! In my experience, the only things that are REALLY warm are natural thick fur coats (like mutton or whatever it's called - trimmed-up lamb) with some extra layers of fillers. Those tend to be rather heavy though, but when it's seriously freezing you don't notice the weight. (I posted this same consideration on the past HSN forum and got shouted down by anti-fur people who for some weird reason claimed that I was wrong. I am 99% confident though that I have a far more extensive experience in this regard that any one of those people had.) But in most of US, that warmth is possibly excessive, especially if one has a car.

Thicker, longer faux fur is much warmer than Persian lamb kind - as long as there is no wind, they can do for a lot of circumstances. Persian lamb stuff is good indoors - but people look at you funny at times :)

Edited to add - I think, any conversation of warmth is incomplete without approximate temperature estimate/ climate zone. I think, the TL faux furs (not the Persian lamb) are good down to about 10F, no wind. Persian lamb is good at around 60 F. A decent real mutton fur coat like described above, over sweaters and warm pants, will hold you over down to possibly -30-40F, less with wind; below -40 it will work but you still can't be outside for too long. These are approximate, based on how I feel in them.

Thick faux fur coats can be pretty bulky, even bulkier than the goose down jackets.

If you get cold in winter, remember the accessories - a nice warm scarf, nice warm hat, mittens and warm long johns; nice warm undershirt helps too. I oftentimes cringe when I see young ladies, visibly distressed, teeth clattering from cold, dressed in very low cut dresses with bare chests (brrrr shudder) and a superficial scarf that still leaves most of the skin exposed to the cold. Vermont Country Shoppe sells some nice merino wool underwear, it's supposed to be very soft.

Dennis Basso's faux fur is excellent, but I would love to try something from SHOPNBC in the tisseval. Sherry Cassin's faux wrap is a copy of a well known design of hers that is offered in many boutiques in real fur. I also purchased a king sized faux fur bedspread from Dennis Basso and QVC about 6 years ago-it's beautiful EXCEPT, and this is important to know-when I wanted it cleaned, no one would touch it saying that all faux furs need to be cleaned by FURRIER METHOD only. I had to send it out to be cleaned to the tune of $165.00!!!! UGH!!!!

Has anyone tried washing their faux furs?? If so what happened?

Hello Ladies -

Just found a really good thread on the Q where tissavel is discussed. Many rave reviews. Just google TISSAVEL FAUX FURS and scroll down and you will find it. There are even a few pix of product linked in. Now I am dreaming about a chinchilla! I have really been splurging on a lot of things mostly from HSN lately but will try to figure out a way. I do remember having 3 flex pays on my Persian lamb. Also, will call shopnbc tomorrow to see if Pam will have them this year.

I have a dennis basso coat, i truely love it.. very well made, and very nice. It is the black one with the white and black zebra strip collar.. I get alot of compliments when I do wear it.. it is very upscale and classy looking.. you wont be dispointed in his coats..

I Emailed SNBC about Tissavel coats, and their response:
"Pamela McCoy's Tissavel REVE Fur Replicas is scheduled to be aired on 10/17/08 at 9PM (EST) and 10/18/08 at 2PM and 7PM (EST)."

Pamela McCoy Shopnbc! I didn't buy the Tissavel, I bought two faux furs that were marketed uner her own brand and they are indistinguishable from the real thing. Absolutely amazing. I have owned both for several years and I always get compliments. They look so good, that I feel like I am wearing real mink!