Faux-fur throws: Pottery Barn vs. the generics

B and I made one purchase on the weekend after Thanksgiving, and it was a faux-fur throw from Pottery Barn.

Normally I don't shop at Pottery Barn, unless I want to convince myself that a comparable item from another store is a good deal, or they're offering an item that I couldn't get elsewhere and that is on sale. For instance, our bedroom lamps come from Pottery Barn, and they were so fabulous (and on sale!) that I couldn't resist.

But I had received a 20% off coupon for that weekend, and the coupon could be used on a single item, so we decided to peruse their inventory to see if we could nab a bargain. We came across a decadent faux-fur throw that was so soft and warm and heavy that neither of us wanted to leave the store without it. It was already on sale, and with the coupon, it was close to 50% off the original price. We decided to buy it.

The woman who rang up our order told us that she loved the throw, too, and owned two in her house. B questioned why anyone would need 2 throws, but after bringing it home and using it for the past few months, we began to understand--it's just a fabulous blanket (albeit a tad on the short side if you happen to be in the neighborhood of 6' tall).

So when we saw its knock-off version in a neighborhood Home Goods a couple of weekends ago, we were tempted to acquire a second one. The HG version was half the price that we paid for the PB throw and felt just as soft.

We bought it and brought it home to do a comparison. B removed the tags from the HG throw and asked if I could tell the difference. The furry side of the throws was indistinguishable, but the weight and finishing of the PB throw was clearly superior--it had more nicely finished edges and was significantly heavier and likely warmer.

But still--half price is half price, and now we have two warm and furry throws to keep us warm. We put the HG throw at the end of our bed, and on those nights when the house temp drops below 60 degrees, it makes for a noticeably warmer bed.