Joanne
Faux fur, a hot Rabbi, and Nobody Wants This
The day has come. “Shiksa” has officially entered the cultural lexicon.
As someone who both lives in OC and was obsessed with the show THE OC—and just someone with eyes and a pulse—anything Adam Brody is in is an automatic piqued interest for me. So naturally, when I heard of the new Netflix show NOBODY WANTS THIS, I was already half on board despite knowing nothing else about it. Throw in the fact that the plot follows the story of an unexpected romance between a Rabbi and a gentile? They had me at hela. The chemistry between Noah Roklov (played by Brody) and Joanne (played by Kristen Bell) is off the charts and immediate, and it is the kind of rare pilot episode that actually hooks you within the first ten minutes.
Joanne’s fashion is the second most talked about piece of the show, just behind the chemistry between the pairing, and has already been the subject of multiple articles and hundreds of TikTok videos. There is a wonderful Marie Claire piece with insights from costume designer Negar Ali Kline that I loved reading, especially the details on the concept behind Joanne’s color palette. I honestly don’t think Joanne has a single fashion miss in the entirety of season one’s 10 episodes. But there is one piece in particular that I immediately knew I had to talk about, and that is her faux fur chinchilla coat.
My love of faux fur has been around since the dinosaurs roamed the earth. I really love the drama of the piece and the instant luxury it adds to any outfit. It is my favorite coat to travel with, despite actually being the most inconvenient coat to travel with. It’s warm (hot), takes up so much room that you absolutely cannot pack it in any sort of way. I can hear your next sentence—“Wear it on the plane then.” Yes, I know, and yes, I do. Inconvenient. But chic enough to be worth it.
There is another unforgettable ‘faux fur coat in media moment’ that remains in my brain at all times and that is, of course, Carrie Bradshaw in SEX AND THE CITY when she rushes to meet Miranda on New Year’s Eve. While the styling here contrasts starkly with the look in NOBODY WANTS THIS, both are moments cemented in fashion history.
What is it about a faux fur coat that elevates a look so much? And when did the shift from actual fur being a sign of opulence shift (rightfully) into inhumane? The use of faux fur in fashion has been going on for much longer than one might think, and its origins are not quite as noble as one might hope.
Faux fur first debuted in the 1920s as a budget-friendly alternative to real fur, using materials like alpaca wool. Back then, it was all about affordability, not ethics, giving middle-class shoppers a way to tap into the luxury real fur had represented for ages. It wasn’t exactly high-quality at first—definitely not as soft or warm as the real thing—but as technology improved, so did faux fur’s texture and appeal. What started as a cheaper option eventually became a stylish statement in its own right. By the 1960s, it became a popular alternative to real fur, aligning with the rising environmental and ethical consciousness of the time. One example is Doris Day's faux fur coat in MIDNIGHT LACE (1960), which signified glamour without the guilt. Faux fur was gaining traction, but it still had a long way to go before becoming a fashion staple.
Faux fur really leveled up in the 1950s and 1960s, thanks to new synthetic fibers like acrylics and modacrylics that made it softer, warmer, and much closer to the real thing. As these materials started to look and feel more like authentic fur, faux fur became more mainstream. The rise of the anti-fur movement in the 1960s, sparked by growing awareness of animal cruelty, gave faux fur an even bigger boost. People really started thinking about ethics when it came to fashion, with both designers and consumers gravitating toward options that offered the luxe look of fur without the guilt.
The 1990s and early 2000s saw a turning point for faux fur, particularly with its representation in film and media. CLUELESS (1995) gave us Cher Horowitz, who draped herself in playful, pastel faux fur ensembles, showing that cruelty-free fashion could be both youthful and trendy. This was a pivotal moment in blending high fashion with pop culture. At the same time, the rise of PETA's anti-fur campaigns in the 2000s, featuring supermodels like Naomi Campbell and Cindy Crawford, drove home the message that faux fur was not just a trend but an ethical choice. The fashion industry, particularly luxury designers, started incorporating more faux fur into their collections, embracing it as a modern material that could exude glamour without harming animals.
By the late 20th century, faux fur had cemented its place in fashion, evolving from an affordable alternative to a symbol of conscientious luxury. The materials used in faux fur production continue to improve, becoming softer, warmer, and more varied in texture. This evolution helped mark faux fur as an important player in ethical fashion, blending style, sustainability, and innovation—not just by the public but also by high-end designers like Stella McCartney, who refuses to use real fur in her collections.
THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA (2006) gave us another pop culture moment when Miranda Priestly’s impeccable coats were swapped for faux fur, a subtle yet powerful nod to ethical fashion. In 2022, Billie Eilish made headlines when she wore a vegan fur coat to the Met Gala, proving that faux fur is not just a seasonal trend but a permanent fixture in fashion.
Why the outfit works: From the moment we’re introduced to Joanne, we can already see she commands attention. As we learn more about her, this continues to track, so it is really fitting that one of her first looks is also one that does the talking for her. It’s bold, confident, and she wears it, rather than it overpowering her. She also admits that she loves attention in the scene after her entrance, but she’s quick to announce that the coat is faux fur to the group staring at her, showing us that she doesn’t want attention for the wrong reasons.
Where to find similar pieces: Joanne’s coat in the episode is a vintage coat by Tissavel of France, and is unfortunately only available on resale sites like Poshmark. But here are some options if you’re looking to make an entrance and instantly steal the show.
Furrocious / Two Tone French Chinchilla / $709
This one is closest to the original worn in the show, and carries the highest price tag along with it.
Topshop / Faux Fur Long Coat / $189
This Topshop coat is another statement piece. Though this option gives more Carrie Bradshaw on NYE versus Joanne walking into the party, it definitely adds an immediate sense of opulence.
Free People / Annice Faux Fur Coat / $289
This is my personal favorite option of the bunch and one 2024 Heather will likely be purchasing. Again, the color and style are different than the chinchilla faux fur tones, but the vibe is there, and this coat just adds such an immediate edge to any piece you throw it on over.
Alicefurs / Chinchilla Faux Fur Coat Belted Long Overcoat / $89.99
This is an option for those looking for something a bit more budget-friendly but still a piece that will turn heads.
We have finally hit a high of under 90 in Los Angeles this week which means it’s the perfect time to start faux fur shopping. What was your standout Joanne look on Nobody Wants This? Were you as instantly drawn to the coat as I was or did another piece hit you harder?
XO, H
a favorite staple piece forevFUR!!!!
obsessed with this research!!!!!