Vegetarian bar owner Johnny Barounis, who owns Revision Lounge and Gallery in the East Village, the Back Room on the Lower East Side, and Auction House and Fetch on the Upper East Side, does not take kindly to customers who come in draped in furs. In fact, as DNAinfo reports, he straight-up refuses to serve them. more ›

Fashion Week is nearly here, and PETA is totally prepared to combat any designer that dare bring fur into the tents. Longtime PETA target Donna Karan will allegedly be under an aural assault from the group this Saturday, near her Midtown offices. The Observer reports that "a source within PETA that the group has a permit from the city that allows it to 'blast Karan's offices with the sound of screaming rabbits'... and carry signs that say Donna Karan: Bunny Butcher." PETA says the noise will not exceed 75 decibels at 10 feet away, which is about the same level as a lawnmower. more ›

The Humane Society of the United States has gone on a fur-finding mission and found that a Phillip Lim brand faux fur parka sold online by Barneys New York... is actually made of real animal fur. They tell us "the same coat was sold in their Madison Avenue flagship store without the 'real fur' label required by New York state law." The group is now asking Barneys to become 100% fur-free, like other retailers and designers have done. more ›

This coming Monday, fashion designer Donna Karan is hosting a fundraiser with First Lady Michelle Obama (followed by a concert at the St. James Theatre), and according to the NY Post, "Karan's personal chef is cooking for expected guests at her Greenwich Village home, including Tory Burch, Harvey Weinstein, Sarah Jessica Parker and Michael Kors." Who wasn't invited, however? PETA! But they have no problem crashing. more ›

Last night anti-fur activists (at least four of them!) descended on Pratt Institute as Vogue editrix and fur-lover Anna Wintour delivered a speech at the Brooklyn campus. Along with their "Fur Is Worn by Beautiful Animals and Ugly People" posters featuring Wintour's face, they also brought a lifelike skinned fox to illustrate their crusade. more ›

Is there any fabulous left in Park Slope? Was there ever? Did it end when Amy Sohn referred to the neighborhood as Park Slob? Those are the questions, for some. FIPS posts an open letter to the neighborhood written by what they call a "fur-wearing breeder." The letter was originally posted on Park Slope Parents, and read, in part:

I recently moved here from Santa Monica California. Why I don't think I belong here in Park Slope… I think fur is fabulous (please don't yell at me this isn't about PETA). And I believe that being fabulous is FUN. Apparently, I'm the only one in Park Slope who wants to stay warm…and fabulous at the same time. I'll be wearing my JCrew turtleneck sweater, jeans and uggs. I'll sit at the playground with all the other kids who are cold and have running noses. And I'll stand there while the moms with the hipster combat boots, and knit caps don't talk to me. But I'll know that I'm still fun and fabulous...I'll be wearing the inappropriate fur. So my question Ladies is… is there no fabulous left in Park Slope?

PETA has wrangled themselves another cougar (cheetah?) for their "I'd Rather Go Naked" campaign. Last month it was 1979 Olympic gold medalist figure skater Tai Babilonia, and now it's Bethenny Frankel from the Real Housewives of New York. There's video! more ›

Animal lovers everywhere can consider themselves victorious. One small step was made for the anti-fur set, as the Humane Society of the US's president announced that, "JCPenney, with more than 1,000 stores in 49 states, has become fur-free, making it the first multiple location, traditional department store to be fur-free in stores and on its website. The company is currently fur-free and has no plans for fur items in the future." Racked is skeptical however, and thinks that the store's motives "can't be completely golden; we're sure the current economy's effects on both shopper's budgets and store bottom lines played major parts in the decision." Earlier this year the HSUS called out some other NYC department stores for mislabeling their fur products. JCPenney will be opening their Manhattan Mall store this summer, and maybe the PETA strippers will be doing their shopping there. more ›

Fashion Week is in full effect and The Humane Society of the United States is watching out for our furry friends, as usual. This morning the organization led a press conference with NY State Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal following an investigation that uncovered some big NYC retailers selling unlabeled fur-trimmed garments in violation of state law (which requires that all apparel with real or fake fur be labeled as such, giving shoppers access to product information). All the big names were on their list, including Bloomingdale’s, Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue. Footage of the investigation shows what may happen to confused customers: more ›

Earlier today Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen appeared at a Barnes & Noble book signing, only to be met by PETA's Trollsen Twins, a two-some against the Olsens' use of fur in their wardrobe. more ›