Long Game

Coat | Reformation
Boots | Cole Haan Marina

     About once a year, I'll see some item that clothing that, even if it seems wildly impractical or unusual, I know that it will pay off in my wardrobe if I just buy it and play the fashion long game. It really has to be something special, and even though it may seem like a surefire method for closet-disappointment, it is almost never the case. This coat, was my 2015 gut-driven purchase, and even though it has been taking up precious space in my closet the last two years, I have no regrets. (In case you were wondering: my 2014 one was a vintage couture jacket, this top was my 2016 one, and I haven't made such a 2017 gut-driven purchase yet, so hopefully that means I'm in for a treat over the next 3 months 😉.)

If you are reading this, thanks E and K for taking these photos.

     I found this coat/dress at a Reformation sample sale in 2015, for less than $90. I didn't really need a coat/dress, and at the time it was much more formal outerwear than I would usually buy, but I bought it anyway because: (1) it is really well made (sometimes items from the Reformation, frankly, are not, but this is fully lined, the fabric feels really nice, and it has pockets); (2) I loved the button details; and (3) except for the length of the sleeves, it basically fit perfectly. I wore this to a wedding recently, when my initial outfit fell through. There was an unexpected cold snap, so rather than a balmy 50 degrees at night, the low was closer to 29 degrees, and a midi length lace dress with open-toed shoes just did not seem like the move. I was combing through my closet the night before we left, looking for alternatives, and boom - there it was - so obvious.

     In order to maximize warmth, I paired the coat with over-the-knee boots, which isn't something I would normally think of as wedding-appropriate, but a lot of ladies were in boots that night and frankly, I was worried about my feet otherwise freezing. These are the Cole Haan Marina OTK boot, in Stormcloud Suede. They are actually currently 50% off on the Cole Haan website, however the remaining sizes are limited. I found that they run TTS. After pining after the Stuart Weitzman Highlands for over a year, I bought these because they were, when on sale, a third of the price of the Highlands, the color is amazing and, they run very narrow in the calf, which is what I was looking for in an OTK boot. If you are someone that often finds your boots slowly slouching down your leg over the course of an evening, these might be a good option for you. On an related note, which I'll save for another time, is the OTK boot dead? Or is it more like a "what is dead may never die" Iron Islands sort of situation? Regardless, I'm glad that this coat finally got its day in the sun, and it's a good reminder that I should find ways to wear it to work, come the fall and winter. 

I didn't get any action shots with the bag.

When it comes to shopping, do you follow your head or your heart? Is your closet a streamlined masterpiece, or stuffed to the gills? 

Thanks for stopping by!