The long awaited tweed, tartan and wool season has finally arrived.
I adore the whole experience of winter clothes. I love the texture,
the color, the snuggliness, and the bug-in-a-ruggliness. They're just
far more interesting and fun to wear, than simple summer fare.
I miss the annual washing up of the kids' winter coats and trying them
on for size. So, in the spirit of the tradition, I was digging in the front
closet at the empty nest manor this week, the one that's under the
front staircase.
I found a fun cobalt blue wool coat, made in Peru, I bought back in the
'70s, completely forgotten, zipped up in a bag in the back. It's blanket
style, trimmed in fabulous floppy, extra long fringe, and the wool has
a wonderful waffle pattern. The collar can be buttoned up, in a scarf-
like fashion, or worn open and drapey.
.
Best of all, amazingly enough, it fits me after all these years. Talk
about doing wonders for my self esteem. And not a moth hole in sight.
No new coat needed for me this year. You know what that means?
More books!
You know what else? The cobalt blue compliments my family tartan
perfectly. My ancestors are smiling. Hey, is it my imagination, or am
I seeing all kinds of tartan everywhere this fall, after
I posted on it in
September? I just saw a whole page of tartan products in the
December issue of Elle Decor's "Trend Alert". I told you I was
psychic. Or maybe they just love my sense of style? Keep your eye
out, now, for cobalt blue blanket coats. Don't forget, you saw them
first at Willow Manor.
.
Wear the old coat and buy the new book.
Austen Phelps
(Mr. Phelps certainly got this right.)
