The Tip Sheet.(fake fur fashion)

Byline: Emily Flynn (Marina Suponina-Calland)

Fashion: Faking It With Fall Fur

By Emily Flynn

Fur may be big in the United States and on the catwalks, but Europe's animal-rights activists aren't having any of it. Fake fur? That's another story. Recent innovations in petrochemicals have made acrylics softer than ever, allowing them to stand up to one of the most basic tests of a pelt's authenticity: touch. Fake fur is also lighter, more durable and more practical than the real thing--and much of it is washable. Lovely new lines of synthetic sable and mink feel so soft, "it's like petting your cat," says Donna Salyers, founder of the U.S.-based online faux-fur boutique Fabulous Furs (fabulousfurs.com ). Tip Sheet helps you pull off faux fur purrfectly:

Since fur can look overwhelming, stick to minimal touches. The fur stole is an integral part of this winter's 1920s retro-glamour look. Pick up Lulu Guinness's (luluguinness.com ) feminine pink stole ([pounds sterling]199) or a white-and- satin-ribbon one from Karen Millen (karenmillen.com ) ([pounds sterling]59.95). Accessorize (acces sorize.com ) offers a smart fake-fur purse for [pounds sterling]5. Or put a flash of fur on your boots: Faith has a dressy spiked-heel pair with faux fox running down one side ([pounds sterling]120); for more casual, Shelley's has flat suede boots with a fake-rabbit cuff ([pounds sterling]70).

Forget Grandma's natural-looking mink. The High Street is taking faux fur into new realms with wild colors, inventive cuts and modern shapes. H&M (hm.com ), Oasis (oasis stores.com ) and River Island (riverisland.com ) are pairing trendy parkas and tweed jackets with wide faux-fur collars in white, beige and black [pounds sterling]59.99- [pounds sterling]120). Mango ...