Which leads to the trickle-up theory: couture, being about lasting luxury instead of fashion fads, doesn't set trends but rather picks them up by osmosis, and last March the ready-to-wear shows were full to the brim with furs, from Ann Demeulemeester's cave-woman wraps to Amanda Wakeley's ermine jumper to Fendi's furs-that-didn't-look-like-furs (they looked like hobo patchwork coats, chunky grandma jumpers, and velvet skirts).

ECONOMIST: Fur and fashion