Winter Coats and Boots 2010

Hello my cold readers! In the past week I've received requests for tips on coats and boots for this (seemingly endless) winter. Request #1 came in the form of a letter:

Dear Caroline,

I have the requisite down black puffy long coat, purchased 5 years ago. It is hideous, though still warm and functional. I want to replace it with something a little hipper, a little more flattering. I don't want it to read too Upper East Side and I don't want to spend a lot of money. I have narrowed it down to a few options and would welcome your readership's opinions as well as other suggestions.

Thank you,
Puffer-challenged

Here are her selections:

SPIEWAK AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM


THE GAP


NORTH FACE AVAILABLE ON BACKCOUNTRY.COM


Puffer-challenged,

I believe the option from The Gap is your best bet. Though I am not a fan of hoods, when it's frigid outside it's absolutely necessary to have a hood. Plus, that one is the best middle ground between ultra-stylish (the Spiewak option) and ultra functional (the North Face option). Any other thoughts from the peanut gallery? Comments welcome.

Request #2 was about good winter boots. Boots are absolutely impossible! If they are cute or fashionable, they're useless in the cold/snow. If they're ugly, you're guaranteed to be protected from the elements. What the ladies up North tend to do is to wear ugly boots to tromp through the snow, and then to change into sassy shoes once they've arrived at their destination. I found that process totally annoying, so what I did my last few years in NYC was to rely on leather boots that I didn't mind getting covered in snow and the related salt strewn out on the sidewalks.

The question about boots came from KB who has recently moved from SC to DE. I can count on one hand the number of times I've worn the following collection of boots since we moved down to SC. How nuts is that? These items were absolute staples of my wardrobe in NYC, but now they are virtually useless.



So to answer your question about boots, KB, I advise layering up on socks and choosing the tread of the boot based on the amount of rain, sleet or snow you'll be facing that day. I usually chose the option second from the right.

Good luck, ladies, and stay warm!

Fall/Winter Coat 2007 Review

This past week I had two people email me about coats so I figured tis the season to blog about outerwear!

Nordstrom.com seems to be the hook up online with the Coat Shop. Question is, what's a girl to do in order to keep up with the trends without dipping into her children's college fund? Here are some affordable alternatives. These are all $200 or less.

Calvin Klein Peacoat














Nine West Wool Melton Blend














And this is my personal favorite - Guess Sculpted Coat. Look at those sleeves! Genius.














Button, button, who's got the button?

KH introduced me to the Soia & Kyo line in her investigations for a new coat. Look at all these button-riffic coats! Equally as important, look at the brand's trippy website. This red number with the exaggerated collar has my vote for KH . How funky fresh can you get?

Shiny McPuffy Trend

When I was in high school it was JCrew, Patagonia, Tweeds, maybe LLBean and the Salvation Army. We all looked the same and that was exactly the point. Ok, nothing new there. Flash forward 14 years and everywhere I turn in the East or West Village I see this shiny puffy winter jacket from Patagonia.



Actually, it's not even technically a jacket but rather a "down sweater." Now I love Patagonia as much as the next guy or gal. When the temperature drops I say bring on the fleece, but have we become so provincial that this is all we can come up with for Winter 2006? Oh and when I say "we" I mean those of us who are men and live downtown.

Guys, high school is over - college is too (I know you're not NYU students). Enjoy brunch, drink expensive wine, celebrate not having homework, be an individual and wear original outerwear.