On the First Day of a Feminine Christmas
I love the drama of this woman’s Christmas coat. I imagine she is stopping by a friend’s house Christmas Eve afternoon to drop off her wrapped package and have a glass of sherry a cup of tea. Although I can’t imagine wearing so much fur these days, she does look warm and feminine.
I saw the coat of my dreams once. It was on a six year old. But it was a lovely a-line, fitted through the
shoulders and chest with a charming flair right where you need it – over the “trouble
spots”. In sumptuous chartreuse, that
marvelous green color that teeters on acid, it was best of all, a nubby
textured knit for added interest and depth. I never tell my family when I am looking for a new coat. “Oh you and coats!” they will cry. The problem is I can never find a coat I
really love. So each fall, I go on a private hunt for that elusive combination of warmth and winsomeness.
A few years ago I took to wearing capes. You would be surprised at how warm a cape can
be except on the most bitterest of winter days. Layering works beautifully under a cape’s sweeping fabric and if you can find one with fresh details such as toggle buttons or small faux fur collars, they can be very special.
Sadly, one of my favorite capes was carelessly tossed in the dryer last
year and when it emerged, it came with a shrunken shoulder and a permanent crease pointing
like an arrow up the left side. It now belongs
in Star Wars Costuming. And ok, it was
carelessly tossed by me who was trying to skirt around another dry cleaning
bill. So perhaps you can imagine my
delight at seeing a high school chum who came for lunch, in an unusual
cape/coat that nearly took my breath away.
be except on the most bitterest of winter days. Layering works beautifully under a cape’s sweeping fabric and if you can find one with fresh details such as toggle buttons or small faux fur collars, they can be very special.
Sadly, one of my favorite capes was carelessly tossed in the dryer last
year and when it emerged, it came with a shrunken shoulder and a permanent crease pointing
like an arrow up the left side. It now belongs
in Star Wars Costuming. And ok, it was
carelessly tossed by me who was trying to skirt around another dry cleaning
bill. So perhaps you can imagine my
delight at seeing a high school chum who came for lunch, in an unusual
cape/coat that nearly took my breath away.
As soon as my friend stepped through the door, I noticed the
dashing fur collar and when she removed her coat, I had a chance to finger the
beautiful cashmere and feel the fine weight of it in my hands. “Oh this is lovely!” I told her. And I immediately asked her where she found
it, something polite people never do according to my etiquette books. Her cape/coat came from a private sale in a
town known for its high-end shopping so I knew it would be expensive. I didn’t ask my friend – I’m not that impolite. But I did know it would be terribly
expensive.
dashing fur collar and when she removed her coat, I had a chance to finger the
beautiful cashmere and feel the fine weight of it in my hands. “Oh this is lovely!” I told her. And I immediately asked her where she found
it, something polite people never do according to my etiquette books. Her cape/coat came from a private sale in a
town known for its high-end shopping so I knew it would be expensive. I didn’t ask my friend – I’m not that impolite. But I did know it would be terribly
expensive.
What I really loved about her piece was the casual élan it
evoked – almost as though it were a thing you grab from a hook by the door to
walk the dog in. But it had such shape
and drape that once it is put on, it becomes a lovely inconsequence that oozes style. I had to have one.
evoked – almost as though it were a thing you grab from a hook by the door to
walk the dog in. But it had such shape
and drape that once it is put on, it becomes a lovely inconsequence that oozes style. I had to have one.
A quick internet search the following day, netted me the
private sale information that was now over.
No matter. I hunted down the
company’s website. But my breath was
taken away for another reason: it wasn’t
just expensive – it was almost sinfully
expensive. Now, I may be
exaggerating a wee bit because what I really mean to say is that it was almost sinfully expensive for me. I had never once in my life, spent as much on
one piece of outerwear before. And for
more danger, I would be purchasing sight unseen and without a return policy of
any kind. Final Sale.
private sale information that was now over.
No matter. I hunted down the
company’s website. But my breath was
taken away for another reason: it wasn’t
just expensive – it was almost sinfully
expensive. Now, I may be
exaggerating a wee bit because what I really mean to say is that it was almost sinfully expensive for me. I had never once in my life, spent as much on
one piece of outerwear before. And for
more danger, I would be purchasing sight unseen and without a return policy of
any kind. Final Sale.
But the heart wants what the heart wants and I knew I would
be making that luscious, full-bodied, inky-black cape/coat mine with a click of
a button. I waited just a day or two
just to be sure, and kept the shopping cart open on my laptop before I clicked
on Wednesday. And by Friday, I was screen
vamp Theda Bara with a bearskin coat about her shoulders, Anna Karenina
wearing a long red Cossack in frozen and crystalline Russia, and Queen Guinevere in
a snowy ermine cape waiting for Sir Lancelot on the wooded edge of Camelot. Or perhaps I was just me wearing a fine
garment that was a rare pricey gift to myself; a mini-splurge to remind only me that in our
relatively short lives, it may just be ok now and then to buy a dream.
be making that luscious, full-bodied, inky-black cape/coat mine with a click of
a button. I waited just a day or two
just to be sure, and kept the shopping cart open on my laptop before I clicked
on Wednesday. And by Friday, I was screen
vamp Theda Bara with a bearskin coat about her shoulders, Anna Karenina
wearing a long red Cossack in frozen and crystalline Russia, and Queen Guinevere in
a snowy ermine cape waiting for Sir Lancelot on the wooded edge of Camelot. Or perhaps I was just me wearing a fine
garment that was a rare pricey gift to myself; a mini-splurge to remind only me that in our
relatively short lives, it may just be ok now and then to buy a dream.
5 Comments
La Contessa
PHOTO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!PLEASE!
XX
Karen
Oh my. dear lady! I have just discovered your blog and the resonance I feel is beyond words! Thank you for writing from your heart… my heart hears you! I would love to see a photo of your coat. (Although my imagination is working very well also.) Have a blessed Christmas season. xo
Erina
Oh I do love your "Feminine Christmas" series every year! I don't know how you think of so many ways to explore the idea. I also enjoy the illustrations that you find; they always compliment your writing. This coat post was fun, full of great writing (the coat of your dreams….on a six year old :-D). You so often make me smile as I read. I'm so glad that you bought your heart's desire, and glad that it lived up to its promise. I concur: perhaps a photo someday?
Erina
Donna
My response after reading this post was "wow". "Wow" because of your writing style, telling a delightfully lovely story with a happy ending. How many times (too many) do we buy a garment without loving it completely and feeling that it's adequate but not fulfilling a dream. Fulfilling our dreams feeds our souls.
Laura Jeanne
I was so glad when I reached the end of this post and discovered that you had in fact purchased this lovely gift for yourself…I thought you were going to tell us that you would have to be satisfied with dreaming about it. I agree that life is too short to *always* be frugal. 🙂
I wonder, if you might be willing to show us what this lovely garment looks like? A link perhaps? My curiosity is definitely piqued…:)