60's Wool Princess Coat with Mink Trim: Designer? and Cleaning

trappersdaughter

trappersdaughter

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I found this at the local Salvation Army this week - I went in to look for some pyrex bowls and on my way to housewares, this jumped right out at me! AND IT FIT! It is very heavy wool and the construction is very solid with very strong seams and no tears. It needs a little cleaning, rather dusty near the bottom, but has no stains or obvious soiling. The snaps all appear to be the original hardware and are wrapped in the same fabric as the lining. I am not sure if the metal decorative buckles on the front tabs are original, but they appear to be sewn on with the same color thread that was used to stitch the collar and decorative tabs to the coat. Some snaps were moved (sewn back on with different colored thread) and some of the whip-stitching connecting the collar to the coat has become loose.
I am definitely going to be wearing this coat so I think I will replace the stitches holding the collar piece on with some snaps instead (easier to remove that portion of the fur for cleaning), and move and reattach the front snaps back in place with like colored thread. I am considering putting the original snaps in a little bag and replacing them with ones that can be sewn on a little sturdier.
There is a union tag in the side seam of the coat with the AIF-CIO label, so with that and the style, I am guessing it is likely 60's, however there is no designer label anywhere. Any suggestions on designer, and if so, are there other details in a coat's construction that could help identify the designer?
As far as cleaning, I am so tempted to hand wash this myself rather than send it out (and being careful with the fur cuffs while doing so!). Has anyone ever washed their own wool coat and if so, any suggestions?
Thanks!!
Amy IMG_20141014_205311.jpgCollar.jpgFront.jpgInside Snaps.jpgSnap.jpgSnaps.jpg
 
yes, it's from the 60s, and it's lovely. because of the construction, it's a higher end coat, but is more than likely not a designer piece. there were quite a number of manufacturers that did higher end coats with this kind of quality construction.

unless you're willing to risk ruining it, i would not hand wash! not any garment that's lined. usually the lining or the outer fabrics shrink, and often at different rates, so you end up with a big, unwearable mess. threads also shrink, and weaken, and if the thread shrinks, the fabrics pucker. this lining is acetate, which weakens when wet, shrinks, and is almost impossible to get wrinkles out of, even if it's not an attached lining you can easily get to to press with a low heat iron. that's not even getting to the fact that you can't wash fur. have it dry cleaned. it's a beautiful coat! you won't be sorry.
 
Thank you! There are all kinds of DIY things on the web on how to wash a wool coat, but I don't want to chance it or ruin it (and nope, I would never attempt to wash fur!). I appreciate your input - exactly what I was looking for! I will be getting this to the cleaners :-)
 
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