Thursday, August 20, 2009


Bundle Up

If anyone required further proof that I am no stranger to eccentricity, they need but look to the hottest day in August. For I have a little personal tradition that I try to follow on that day each year, and admittedly, some might find it a just wee bit odd. On the hottest day of the hottest month, I go shopping. For coats. The most beautiful of the new coats for next season will just be hitting the stores then and, you see, I have a absolute passion for coats.
Some women adore shoes, some dream at night of jewelry. But for me, it has always been coats. As a little girl, if ever I wandered away from my parents during a shopping excursion, they always knew they could find me in the coat department. Perhaps it is due to my ardent affinity for cold weather, but I have almost never met a winter coat I did not love. Throw in a hood or a cape and I am over the moon with joy.
Of course I do not buy a new coat every single year. And I am not fickle; I wear coats I have had for years. Such as the long black coat with the velvet collar that remains my favourite to wear when I travel. It is the ideal weight; wonderfully warm, but light. Unfortunately, since I prefer to travel in cooler months, in just about every photograph taken of me in the last ten years, just about everywhere, I am wearing that coat. Rather like a character out of Dorian Gray, I am aging, but the coat never does.
There is also the fabulous grey cape I found on sale at Bloomingdale’s a couple of years ago, complete with a scrumptious hood - and the long, black, hooded wonder that looks as though I snitched it straight off the set of Dr. Zhivago...it makes me feel a shiver of mystery each time I put it on. There is my Ellen Tracy cashmere coat, puppy fur soft, the colour of a perfectly toasted almond.... and of course, I cannot forget my vintage, traditional camel hair jacket - every blonde should own one.
But the one I love most happens to be a coat that I found at Jenner’s in Edinburgh. I was wandering through that venerable old store one chilly afternoon, thinking more of Christmas presents than of coats, when I rounded the corner and spied it. Hanging quietly by itself, a truly magical creation, obviously designed by a wizard of rare sartorial talent. Long black velvet, with amazing, yet discreet, embroidery all down the back, an extravagant red faux fur collar and shell buttons. My heart almost stopped and well, reader, I bought it! Such joy! I happily lugged it all over Scotland and back home again, and each time I wear it, I feel like a princess.
I look for the hottest day to bubble up this very week, and I cannot wait to see what I find.
Oh, and don’t even get me started on muffs!!

In Edinburgh, moments after purchasing my favourite coat!
It's inside the big bag!

57 comments:

  1. Reading the first few words of this post I began breaking out in a big grin. Sounds to me like a perfectly sensible time to look for a coat and a lovely annual tradition. Much love from Dee, me and those darn cats

    yes indeed yo do look joy-full !!

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  2. oh, I can relate so well, but my fettish is for jackets - yes, I love shoes, handbags and scarves, but it's the jackets that I can't pass by - not just womens jackets, but mens also - sweater jacketsl, jean jackets, wool jackets, cashmere jackets, cotton jackets, long, short, the list goes on - I have finally got to the point that if I can just try them on, I don't have to buy and I've gotten fussier over the years - so I'm smiling for you and your hottest day search!

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  3. I have just put the thumbnails on my blog list now and I was intrigued to see what the pink picture next to your blog was. Coats...love them to bits. So lovely to snuggle into and be mysteriously hooded. I wish we still wore cloaks like they had in the medieval period. I am fed up with summer now and I want to get my coats out again...haha.

    PS You look radiantly happy with your purchase.

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  4. I have always wanted a really good, warm, swishy, stylish, long winter coat. One that would last decades. A classic in cashmere or worsted or leather... as long as it felt soft and eternal.

    So agree with you about coats. With one like that, I would never wish for spring.

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  5. A woman after my own heart! All of your coats...or at least the ones you mention here sound fabulous. I have too many coats to wear- but I justify it with the fact that we live in Maine- need I say more about winter? My favorite is a black velvet with frog closures and naturally a camelhair classic. Great post for this- the hottest day so far!

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  6. Oh yes!!! I also bought my favourite winter coat in summer!! but bring on the boots, the scarves, the gloves and the hats..enough of this linen dress and flip flops weather!!

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  7. What a joyful,bueautiful woman in such a fabulous coat!! :) xoxo

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  8. Good for you! I love coats too (one reason my closets are still bulging, after reducing my load of clothes:) ) Since I've lived in California for so long, I've gone over to short coats for the past few years (because of the mild weather I seldomly can wear the long coats).

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  9. How I laughed when I read this. My beloved has more than 30 coats. He is utterly addicted. Some of them are just wonderful, and he does look incredibly handsome in them. But I don't know where we're going to put them all when he moves in in the New Year...

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  10. I think it's wonderfully neccentric to look for coats on the hottest day!

    Your favourite coat sounds wonderful - aren't you going to show us a photo of it too?

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  11. Oh, me, too! One of my faves I bought in London at Harrods, years ago. It's actually a man's dark green wool hunting coat with chocolate brown leather covered buttons and a red plaid lining. Still love it. A girl can NEVer have too many coats.

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  12. Love the picture of you in Edinburgh!

    I bought a lightweight jacket on sale this summer. It looks like just the thing to toss over a blouse on a blustery Fall day. I'm not big on coats since it doesn't get really really cold here much. I wear medium weight jackets the most.

    Enjoy your annual coat hunt. May you find the perfect addition to your collection.

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  13. :)Thanks for coming by!

    I find much in the idea of setting out to try get what you look forward to on the very days it seems farthest away!

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  14. Hi Pamela, I was out Blog Visiting and on a lark after seeing Edward's thumbnail, had to come visit!

    I cannot tell so far, are you the artist of all the artwork on your blog?

    I love the fact that you love coat! Much better than shoes, I think!

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  15. First of all let me just compliment you on your blog. Everything about it is beautiful. Edward is a darling. I love coats too but I can never bring myself to shop for them this early and then regret it because all the nice ones have gone.

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  16. Enjoy your day..it will be cooler in the shops then outside..

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  17. You're making me weep - winter has disappeared here before it even really began and I'm now contemplating the many many months of endless summer heat. Oh how I envy the thought of rugging up in a beautiful warm coat. Maybe next year. Leigh

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  18. Hello P&E,

    I love the fashion picture you've chosen for this post and that art style generally; Erte et al such glamour! Pity we didn't get to see you in the Jenners purchase!

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  19. You are a strong woman! You left, with it in a bag. And not on your back. :-))))

    Oh yes, what a delightful illustrative drawing you put on the top of this entry. Soooooo chic and soooo pink. What's not to love.

    Gentle hugs,
    'Aunt Amelia'

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  20. Me too! There have been some really poor coat-style years but this year is stellar, I am running a post on some beauties this weekend... yummmy.

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  21. Pamela, I'm counting down these hot days as well. I get giddy when I think of how close October is:-)

    You look absolutely over the moon in this photo:-)..My favorite coat is a long black and white houndstooth one that my husband got me for my birthday 3 years ago...My fetish is scarves/shawls....A woman can never have too many. I found one last year adorned with an assortment of dog breeds printed on the scarf:-)

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  22. I love coats too- and shoes and jewellery. Coats do have a way of making any outfit look together, you can have on something very boring but with a good coat you can look a million dollars.

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  23. I just love winter coats! Especially with fur trim around the collar--I'm a sucker for trim.

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  24. Oh I just love that idea!!! Coat shopping in August!! I adore a good cape, flowing, heavy with a good hood!!! My very favorite was a deep red one..had it for years!!!
    I love the picture of you!!!! What joy!!! Sarah

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  25. I'm in Northern California and while we don't need our winter coats yet, I do have my sweaters out for the chilly mornings! But, I love coats!

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  26. I understand exactly! I also have an ardent affinity for cold weather (must be my British ancestry) and I understand exactly how Edward feels about the heat.
    Enjoy the great coat hunt ...and don't forget to share your shopping experience! You look great bundled up in Edinburgh!

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  27. Pamela, the Jenner's coat sounds scrumptious!

    I am the same way about sweaters ...I just adore them! I am so looking forward to "sweater weather."

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  28. Dropping by again to say thanks for the follow! Have a great weekend, wearing one of your coats:)

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  29. I need your help buying coats. I always buy sporty coats and then wish I looked more stylish! lol This summer I have been buying scarves! Do you like scarves, too? I'm sure you do!

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  30. The bliss on your face is patent.

    I had a wonderful muff when I was little and lived where it was a necessity.
    As coats go, I once had a dream coat cut on princess lines that fitted me perfectly and had belonged to one of the Prof's great aunts in the 1920's. It was the softest black cashmere with a little fur collar. Unfortunately the '83 fire consumed it with all the beautiful matching capes I had made fo go with my evening gowns.

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  31. I just love a good coat. Right now you have me longing for some cool air. I still in search of the perfect wool one wrap with a hood. Have not found it yet but I will. LOL.

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  32. I love coats too - I well remember the joy of buying my first coat for myself - it was a long tweed maxi coat and I loved it so much:) I still love the thrill of buying a new winter coat - hope you find one you love this year:)

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  33. There are far worse sins than having a yen for more coats Pamela. Luckily Edward and Apple are not of that persuasion too, otherwise goodness knows how we would ever recognise them!

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  34. I love the description of your various coats! You are clearly someone who prefers coziness above all.

    And you have reminded me that my favorite winter coat (navy blue cashmere blend with fake fur color) needs to be collected from the dry cleaner's! It will be November soon . . .

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  35. I love coats too.
    Where I live, it never really gets terribly cold and we do not have snow where we live.
    I have a favourite coat, a long double breasted, black one.

    You are a beautiful Woman in a fabulous coat. All your other coats sound wonderful too.

    Hugs
    Carolyn

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  36. Sometimes I think a coat can carry the memories and how you felt when buying it and where you were. I bought a sweatshirt in New Quay this week, and wore it a lot, so I know that when I wear it here, I am surrounded by a little layer of New Quay magic.

    Maybe there is a little of Scotland just waiting to surround you in your wardrobe. :-)

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  37. Oh, I hear you! I love coats. One disadvantage to living somewhere as temperate as the PNW is that you don't need much in the way of coats... It has greatly dampened my enthusiasm for purchasing...

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  38. I'm a big coat and vest fan, too. But mine lean toward the country workhorse sort rather than beautiful. Not one, but two, cotton vests filled with down, fleece vest, an army-navy surplus 'hippie' tweed from the 1960s that was Tom's, Tom's late stepfather's cotton, down filled giant jacket, my mother's cashmere coat with big gray buttons, and her wool nurses' cape. I wish I had a closet for them all.

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  39. Look how happy you are with your coat-in-a-bag! It sounds really special and beautiful. And what a terrific souvenir!

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  40. Isn't it funny that when the weather truly becomes cold all the coats are sold out...and when the weather is hot it is easier to find a good coat than a good bathing suit?....
    I just realized that I bought my favorite coat on a very hot day in the summer at an LLBean store...and it has a wonderful hood:)

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  41. I'm a bit late with this one but was quite thrilled to see those familiar landmarks.

    Coats are wonderful. I am still thinking summer, not ready for winter just yet, but the thought of being wrapped up inside a coat is quite comforting.

    I'm so glad your favourite coat came from Edinburgh. A reminder of Scotland.

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I love to read your comments! Each and every one! Though I'm always reading your comments, I may not respond in the comment section. If you want to write me directly, you may do so at pamela@pamelaterry.net. Thank you for reading!