Help with Neiman Marcus Coat - 1920-30s?

Hi - I’ve inherited a ladies Neiman Marcus fur coat which my mother says came from her grandmother- so likely 1920-30s. It has “Eva Kitchen” embroidered on the internal lining in large letters (part of the design). Does anyone know who this is? I tried google, but couldn’t find anything.

 

can we see?

 

Here’s the photos

 

Usually the name embroidered inside is custom for the client. The fur was retailed by Neiman.

 

I don't know that this information is definitive but your lettering of the store name seems more consistent with 1950s and later compared to those shown on this site.

https://vintagefashionguild.org/label-resource/neiman-marcus/

 

Thanks - sounds like my mum’s memory of her grandmother wearing it may not be so accurate!

 

That does appear to be the 1950ish logo and the swing coat style would work for that date. As above, typically the embroidered name would be that of the client.

Debora

 

Though it's difficult to see the shape of the coat from the photos provided, I agree with 1950s or later for it. HERE are some examples of NM labels used over the years.
Also, from the photos provided, it actually looks like faux fur to me...?

 

Looks like muskrat to me but could be wrong.

Debora

 

There’s definitely some sort of animal hide beneath the fur.

 

Neiman-Marcus would not be selling faux fur in the 1950s.

Debora

 

more like no one took care of this critter....
rode hard...put away wet...

 

Vintage clothing and even furs were among my special interests years ago. In Philadelphia I had a fur connection that was invaluable for research, a couple who had been in the fur business, including making/sewing furs since the 1930s.
To determine the type of pelt in this coat the question is:
Hard hairs or soft? If hard hairs it could be muskrat, which was a the poor lady's mink, or fisk, another type harder hair pelt.

The picture does not show the hairs as hard. If very soft it may be baby seal. Imitations of baby seal were made with sheared close rabbit that could fool the eye to look like seal. If the coat was made in the 1950s seal was still a politically acceptable fur. It only got unacceptable in the 1970s, 1980s and on, with other animal skins like leopard, panther, tiger, etc.

Don't laugh but it could even be sheared squirrel. I once owned (and wore!) a sheared squirrel coat in this length, called "stroller" that was made in the late 1940s, a gift from the fur couple mentioned above.

Squirrel was a young lady's fur, as opposed to mink that was a mature lady's style.

As for the provenance, Neiman Marcus, this store sold all kinds of furs, not just expensive furs like mink, sable, but even rabbit and squirrel back in the olden not-politically-incorrect days.

Another couple of soft furs come to mind but I don't recall their names right now. Marten might be one but it was getting rarer even in the 1950s. Chinchilla is one but it was rarely dyed solid as its varigations were the definite signs of identification as a very expensive fur, why dye them then, right...

 

Thanks, this is very helpful. It is definitely soft hair. I guess there’s no way to tell what animal just by looking?

 

Yes, experts can tell what fur it is by looking, even at pictures with clear close-ups. But I'm definitely not one of those experts, LOL.
Here is an extensive fur resource:
Vintage Fashion Guild : Fur Resource

 

The more I look at the picture of your coat, the more it looks like mole to me... prove me wrong, please?