Vintage 1980s or late 1970s Black Mink & huge Fox sleeves tuxedo front fur coat by Edelson luxurious quality real Power Fur Venus Glamour
Oh yes 
Kiss the boots of shiny shiny leather because this is most def a 'Venus in Furs' fur coat from the late 1970s or 1980s by very high class furriers Edelson, of the "Who's that in the Edelson?" advertizing slogan of the time. Sold at the likes of Selfridges and Harrods, Edelson were one of the top fur companies , and this is one of their finest pieces for sure.
 
This is suitable for a size UK 8 which is me and I will def wear it and in fact may be keep I haven't decided yet it's the vest one of this style I have seen for sure (as sometimes they can hang off the shoulder a bit if too big and this one doesn't) right through to a size UK 14 even maybe a small UK 16.
 
It is a natural black so has some warm brown undertones on both fox and mink, and some glossy cool highlights on the mink, so not that very dense dyed black. 
Now the person I bought it from said it was from the mid 1970s but I think it likely later. Certainly Gia Carangi was modelling one like this in Vogue in 1978/79 so it is not correct to place them all in the 1980s as is often done, though a variety of companies certainly did manufacture them in this style of mink or sheared fur body and these huge sleeves and shoulders in fox in a variety of colours and right up until the late 1980s, including Christian Dior. Indeed they were producing similar in very early 1970s but they tended to be a little shorter length and more A line. So I suspect this one dates from c 1979-85. TV Series Dynasty and others featured furs like this and even Nolan Miller's purple velvet suit of the Joan Collins steamy scene with Dex had huge fox sleeves. So the look became synonymous with power, while the shorter fur for the body could be even cinched with a soft obi belt. Indeed I think it may have been YSL or Dior that eventually did them with a basque leather belt as part of the structure around the waist on sheared dyed bodies, I think c 1984 (remember a Jours de France Automne Hiver collections mag with them in think this date must get to the fashion college library at some point to verify but the models were posed like the primary profile pic though they had fur hats on too). Anyway that made the cinching with wide belt a real trend.  
So I am including one of my modern leather Obi belts, which are very soft so will not damage the fur with occasional wear as a gift with the coat. 
 
 Perhaps the empowering structure of these type of furs, which are exaggerated with the massive sleeves and shoulders , are why they chose one almost the same as this one in black too for the 1994 Dutch version of 'Venus in Furs' directed by Victor Nieuwenhuijs & Maartje Seyferth, which is very erotic, rather extreme, but very arty. I can hear the whip now, so avoid if of a sensitive disposition. But one of her furs is like this one. I mean guys did walk into lamp-posts & drool when you wore these in the 80s, and were more than a little fearful of you. And still are. 
 
Let me tell you how it was if you are a younger pretty pretty but have a little edge, and don't recall the 1980s, but since if you have read this far you suspect anyway, how it was. So, furs were very expensive. These were around £5-£10k normal prices back then so us working class girls had to wait until the sales. All over the world, they had January sales where the prices of the furs would be slashed. Every year in the mid to late 1980s I queued in those sales queues to try and get one. This one. Had to be this one. Or maybe one with silver fox sleeves they also did. But it had to be black. I didn't ever succeed. 
 
They only ever had a couple and they were snapped up first, While the elegant well heeled classic ladies wee trying on more conservative minks, and the glamour model girls were trying on the flirtatious huge blue foxes, the chic and edgy were hunting for these. The  high class cosmetics counter girls in those stores were generally first in line and snapped them up. They used to actually serve you in them happened more than once! But I was a flight attendant at the time and difficult for me as New year always busy to get to the sales queues early. But my friend managed it, and got one, just like this. She even let me wear it on a weekend away. And I know what power they have. Over red blooded gentleman of taste and also those more inclined to drop to their knees. 
 
When you wore one of these, unlike the foxes where you could be mistaken for a trophy or Mob wife, you'd be more likely to have a trophy alpha male on your arm! Of all the power furs, these had the most power, and especially in all black. Of course, they have far too much class and elegance to be associated with real ladies of dominance, and generally too expensive, but they just have a bit of their edge. This is truly the ultimate femme fatale fur coat.
Even now, I have seen them at Torture Garden. Not that I frequent such places normally but I do get the odd fashion show invite as many of the very high end lingerie and corset designers show there. And the music is good, 80s dark wave Bauhaus etc.
 
Otherwise it's not my scene  I hasten to add.... I'm a good girl I am I just like to look bad. Well ok I may watch the burlesque too. But last time I went one of the well known fashion models attending had one of these on (she had a carnival mask but everyone knew who it was heh, with silver fox sleeves and another lady one a shorter version all black. If you aren't wearing much, you do have to queue for a bit in the cold strictest dress code anywhere as they don't let anybody in, so people do wear them still. 
And you do see them at winter race meetings, especially places like Cheltenham and Ascot Sandown etc. 

You will see them at ski resorts, and always in Milan. You will see ladies arriving at Mayfair hotels for Balls, and Curzon street and Ritz casinos wearing them. And you will see them at other very smart places in London seen them at beach Blanket Babylon, Kensington Roof Gardens where a fur coat is a must if you are out smoking a lot and taking in the views, The Gore and Sketch for eg in winter. 
 
So my temptation is to keep this for myself when I saw it I was 'at last mwah ha ha ...come to momma' but end of the day I can't keep everything. So will list, but don't even try and think of bidding me on it so not happening this is the BEST quality of all I have come across in this style. And you have to want her and appreciate her as much as I did! Hurry up before I change my mind. What am I even doing after I lusted after one of these for best part of ten years? 
 
If you're a fellah looking here for a Xmas gift for your lady, well, stick  a long stem red rose and a bottle of quality champagne in with this and you're sorted. And yes she deserves it and a lot less expensive than it would have been in the 80s! If you're not sure if she's ok with real fur then check out my high end faux furs and do the same btw. Can't believe I have to tell you this, guys used to know how to do it in the 80s! Sigh so much glamour we had...anyway girls point your man in this direction as often they need ore than a hint these days....