We had a big day yesterday, complete with our first gymnastics class and a makeup soccer game for the mighty Rainbows. It actually wasn’t our very first gymnastics class, but rather our first gymnastics class of the year. I thought we were done with gymnastics but we are in the midst of a gymnastics resurgence that I like to refer to as our gymnaissance.
On the plus side, our double-header of activities will only last one more week until soccer season ends. On the minus side, I was so tired by the time the afternoon was over that I went to dig the Reeses Peanut Butter Cups intended for trick-or-treaters off the top laundry room shelf where I hid them from myself and managed to cause a full package of assorted candy bars to fall on my head.
Unfortunately I didn’t let my head injury keep me from indulging in a peanut butter cup or two. Or five.
But let’s not focus on that because that’s not what today is about. Today is all about the winter coat and/or jacket. I have a deep, ongoing love affair with the jacket as evidenced by the many, many jackets I have collected over the years. Whenever I do my semi-annual closet cleanout, I can make myself get rid of many a clothing item, but never a jacket or a coat.
Which explains the cranberry red wool peacoat in my closet that I bought in 1997 and the denim trenchcoat with a faux fur collar that I bought when Gulley and I took a trip to New York in 2002. It’s not that I ever really wear either of them (I think the red peacoat has shoulder pads) but I can’t bear to let them go.
So here is my list of ten great coats/jackets for this season. As you look at the ones I love, please keep in mind that I live in a climate akin to the center of the equator. Which is to say, some of these coats may not keep you very warm, but they will keep you very fashionable.
And isn’t that the most important thing?
1. Park Avenue Coat
I just think this is the cutest thing. Plus it’s the pick of the week at Francescas and that means it’s on sale. Just think how great it would look with jeans and boots or even all dressed up with a black pencil skirt or pants.
And you seriously have to give some credit to the houndstooth print because it has some staying power. I’ve had something houndstooth in my closet for the last thirty-something years. It’s a classic.
2. Effortless Velvet Coat
If you don’t want to covet then don’t look at this coat. It is a delight and a wonder. It’s an effortless velvet coat.
Sophie called me last week and told me her best friend, EK, had this coat on at the Mississippi State game and it was totally fab. This is that coat.
And it’s totally fab.
The only problem is that Boden makes my bank account sad.
3. Hailey Plaid Coat
I know I’ve linked to approximately 452 variations of the plaid coat this fall, but I am a fan of the plaid coat and I don’t care who knows it.
4. Aeryn Double Breasted Cashmere Coat
A few years back we had to attend an outdoor wedding on one of the coldest December nights I can remember. I didn’t have a warm, dressy coat so Mimi let me borrow her black cashmere coat and it was one of the greatest experiences of my life. It was like being wrapped in buttah.
Although being wrapped in butter would probably feel kind of gross and that’s not how this felt at all. It felt like a warm hug made of fairy dust and bunny tails.
5. Double Breasted Ruffle Coat
I don’t mean to get political, but I am of the belief that you can’t go wrong with a ruffle on a coat.
While I am a little on the fence about the staying power of the red and black checked combo, I adore the style of this jacket. It may not be for everyone but if you are a frilly kind of girl with a penchant for wearing patterns favored by lumberjacks everywhere, then I think this may be your coat.
7. From Russia, With Love Coat
This is just a great classic coat. Love the chocolate brown. Love the faux fur collar. Love the cut.
8. Cloud Spotter Mac
Late this summer, Boden marked down their raincoats to 75% off and I almost bought one about a million times. It was like a daily obsession to go see if they still had my size available. And then once I knew that it was there and available, I was content to just leave it in the online cart and put off making a commitment.
Somewhere in the above paragraph is a metaphor for my late teens and early twenties, but I’m going to ignore it.
The point is that I never ordered the coat because it hadn’t rained in two years and it seemed frivolous to order a raincoat even if it was 75% off. And, I kid you not, since the day they ran out of my size in the on sale raincoat it has rained about 15 inches. Shopping FAIL.
Anyway, this raincoat is darling and I truly hope it goes on sale because, in the words of The Who, I won’t be fooled again.
I hate to bring you down on a Friday with my tale of woe but I’m going to do it anyway.
Years and years ago, I bought this unbelievably darling leopard fur coat. I just happened to spy it in the window of some totally cheesy store at the mall. (I want to say it was Chess King, but even I have my limits. It may have been a Merry-Go-Round.) As if led by the sweet hand of destiny, I went in the store, tried on the coat, and discovered it was only $49.99.
I loved that coat.
Then I attended a baby shower at some upscale restaurant in downtown Austin and, while I was inside ooohing an aaahing over some blue satin blankets and pacifiers, some hoodlums smashed out the window of my sweet white Ford Taurus (company car) and stole my leopard jacket. And also all my makeup and a leather jacket from Harolds. Needless to say, it was tragic.
And I learned that insurance cannot replace a $49.99 leopard fur coat from a cheesy mall store.
10. Faux Suede and Shearling Coat
I am so tempted to tell you about the beautiful faux suede coat that I bought years ago at Wet Seal, but I really need to quit admitting that I actually shop in those stores on occasion. I’m just millimeters away from uttering the phrase, “When I was looking around at Hot Topic the other day…”
Anyway, I love this coat. I have always been a fan of suede and shearling paired together because it’s just that whole Western-influenced style that I adore. This would look so great with a pair of jeans, some cowboy boots and gorgeous turquoise jewelry.
And that’s a wrap.
Or a coat or whatever.
I also want to add that you can find some really great bargains on coats and/or jackets at TJ Maxx, Marshalls and places like that but I am limited to showing you things I can find online. So let this just serve as a guideline, if you will, to help you find the coat that best suits your needs.
If all else fails, you can always go see what they have in stock at Journeyz.