Real stories · Fur, without the guilt

I always wanted a proper fur hat — but I could never bring myself to wear real fur

All the glamour of a fur hat, and not an animal in sight — that's what finally talked me into it. I'm 67, and I've had a soft spot for fur hats since I was a girl watching winter films: the deep, plush brim, snow settling on top. But I could never wear real fur — not with Winnie asleep at my feet — and the cheap imitations always looked like a toy.

What I wanted was the look, without the conscience.

Then I found the Aurevine from a British label called York Boutique — a luxurious vegan fur hat with a deep, plush, rolled brim. I chose the brown; there's khaki, black, pink and white too.

It's vegan fur, so there's nothing to feel bad about — which is why I wear it with a clear conscience instead of admiring other people's. And it has the look I always wanted: plush, deep and elegant enough for the good coat, with a soft interior and proper warmth over the ears.

Luxurious vegan fur — plush, warm and elegant — which is why I finally have the fur hat I always wanted, with nothing on my conscience.

At £19.95 — half the usual £40 — it cost a fraction of what I'd once have expected to pay for the look.

A neighbour I've known thirty years stopped me at the gate to ask if it was real. 'Vegan,' I said, and she looked down at Winnie and nodded as if that explained everything. I did check before ordering that I could send it back if it didn't suit — you can, within a fortnight, and the delivery's free.

If you've also always wanted a fur hat but never real fur, do have a look. The Aurevine is rated 4.7 out of 5 by more than 190 women, it comes in five colours, one size fits most — and the popular colours always go first.