The Symbolism of Chanel in Blue Jasmine

Cate Blanchett wears this lovely Chanel jacket more than once in Blue Jasmine.

If you get a chance, do stop by Clothes on Film to read my latest article “Hanging by a Thread: Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine.” It’s no secret that I loved Cate Blanchett’s performance in Blue Jasmine when I saw it last August. I expect her to win an Oscar in March for Best Actress for her role as a New York socialite whose world has been turned upside down. I have also rhapsodized over the costuming work done by Suzy Benzinger for this film. It’s too bad she wasn’t nominated for an Oscar as well. I do think it is very tough to costume a modern day movie and get it right. Suzy got it right and I’m not the only person to think so. Guy Trebay of The New York Times also appreciated the subtle costume design in the film in his great article, “In ‘Blue Jasmine’ Suzy Benzinger Turns Clothes into Characters.” I highly recommend this piece since it features a transcribed interview with Suzy herself and has lots of fun background details that costume lovers like myself enjoy reading about!

Jasmine flies to San Francisco from NYC and heads straight to her sister’s liquor cabinet!

In the article I write about the symbolism of the gorgeous white Chanel jacket Cate wears in the film. The use of the jacket in the movie was done so well, by both Suzy, for designing it, and Cate, in the way that she wore it, that watching its own trajectory in the film really knocked home the sad truth of Jasmine’s situation.

If you’ve seen Blue Jasmine let me know what you thought of both the costumes and Cate’s performance!

Sylvia Steininger Totes

The New York tote by Sylvia Steininger. I love it!

I first came to know about Sylvia Steininger Totes through my friend Adrienne of The Rich Life (on a budget). I had seen the Paris tote she has, which I admired for its unique fabric pattern and colors. When Sylvia offered to send me her New York tote to review my first reaction was, “Yes, please!”

I don’t know about you, but I am pretty picky about my bags. They have to be big, but not too big, they have to have pockets, but not too many, they have to be able to be secured when I am riding the train back and forth into Manhattan, and if they can be something other than the same totes I see all over the city, even better.

So Sylvia’s New York tote could not be more perfect for me, from the name to the bag itself.

I love the colors and the pattern of this fabric.

The bag, handcrafted in California (finally, a bag made in the USA!), is 18.5 inches long and 13 inches high. The depth is approximately 5.5 inches and the drop on the sturdy double straps is just over 10 inches. The tote easily and comfortably fits over my black down coat, the biggest coat I own.

The pattern on the New York fabric is so unusual and gorgeous, with its dark purple base (which looks black from far away) on which are swirls and waves in different shades of pink, gray and white. Sylvia designed the textiles of her totes using her own photography and the pattern on the New York tote, which originated from her photograph of a mural, is wild and mysterious.

It zips all the way across the top, keeping your belongings secure!

The tote zips across the top and the interior is lavender, which compliments the outside colors so well. There are two small patch pockets on one side and one large patch pocket on the other side, big enough to hold an iPad. I don’t own an iPad, but I do own lots of books and magazines and the pocket can hold a hardcover with room to spare!

Two small patch pockets on one side are perfect for a phone, wallet, keys, pens and sunglasses.

There is also a large patch pocket on the other side, plenty of room left over even with a book inside it!

Detail from the bag’s bottom. This two-sided construction means no sagging when the tote is full.

My cat Tippi decided to jump into the tote when I was taking pictures of it, making herself comfortable immediately and taking a bath. Tippi is about a year and a half old and I think she weighs somewhere between 8 and 10 pounds. After she jumped in I lifted the tote to see how it would hold up with her inside. Here’s my assessment: you would not be able to tell from any outside angle that there was up to 10 pounds of cat nestled in that tote (doing her DIY kitty manicure, of course), it is that sturdy, from the handles to the bottom. There was no sagging! I have to say, I was even more impressed with the bag. Do you know how hard it is to find a tote that doesn’t sag once it’s full? I believe the split seam at the bottom, as shown in the picture above, is what gives the tote its fabulous strength.

This tote has been approved by Tippi, who literally jumped right in and got comfortable.

Sylvia offers eight different totes, all named after some of the most glamorous cities in the world—New York, Paris, Capri, Vienna are just a few—and all using Sylvia’s photography as a starting-off point for the beautiful textile design. You will have a hard time picking just one to love!

Tippi would love them all.

Check out the entire collection at www.SylviaSteininger.com.

Disclosure: Sylvia Steininger sent me the New York tote for review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Amy Adams in Pink

Amy Adams in Roland Mouret. Photo by Getty Images.

There has been a ton of pink, of all shades, on the red carpet lately, from Cate Blanchett’s pale pink and sequined Givenchy ensemble at the SAG Awards to the dusty-rose pink of Julia Robert’s Valentino jumpsuit at the same event (you can see both over at the “How I Wear My” Facebook page, but my favorite look has been the Roland Mouret dress Amy Adams wore to the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards this month.

I love a redhead in a pink and this deep shade suits her so well. I also adore the black ribbon belt at her waist and detail at the top of the dress and shoulders. Roland Mouret has done beautiful work in the past. Most famously, he single-handedly put Sienna Miller on the fashion map back in 2005 when she stepped off a gondola wearing his black Galaxy dress at the Venice Film Festival. Talk about looking like a million bucks. No wonder Jude was smitten. It’s nice to see Roland’s work once again and his dress is perfect on Amy Adams.

Consider this a friendly reminder that the theme for February’s “How I Wear My” is pink, any shades welcome! Adrienne of The Rich Life (on a budget) and I are accepting photos until Monday, February 3, 2014. You can send them to us at [email protected]. Join us!

Gilded New York Weekend

Tiffany & Co. Pendant brooch, ca. 1900, platinum, diamond and sapphire. Stunning!

If you are in New York City this weekend and have the time, throw on that Charles Frederick Worth gown you have laying around and get your carriage driver to take you uptown to the Museum of the City of New York, where there will be FREE gallery tours with the purchase of admission of the exhibit Gilded New York with Curator of Costumes & Textiles Phyllis Magidson, who I could listen to all day, she is that entertaining (and charming and erudite) when she talks of historical fashion. She will be giving 40-minute tours at 11am and 12pm today, January 24, 2014.

Also happening today, January 24, at 1pm and 2:30pm, culinary historian Cathy Kaufman will host Gilded Manners: How to Lay a High Society Table. Oh how I wish I could attend this, everything from finger bowls to fish forks will be laid out on the table and discussed!

Click here to make reservations for either of these events or the other tours being held on January 25 and 26.

Gilded New York examines the city’s visual culture at the end of the 19th century, when the wealthy were really putting on quite a lavish show through fashion, jewelry and architecture. Remember that Vanderbilt mansion I showed in December? The one Cornelius Vanderbilt II built on Fifth Avenue? The one where Bergdorf’s nows stands? Here it is again:

Yeah, that kind of rich. That is the subject of Gilded New York.

100 works are on display, all created between the mid-1870s and the early 20th century. What’s that you say, MCNY? Worth dresses and vintage Tiffany jewelry on view? I’m so there.

Satin damask wedding gown by Maison Worth, 1878, worn by Annie Schermerhorn.

Gilded New York runs through November 30, 2014 at the Museum of the City of New York.

The Museum of the City of New York
1220 Fifth Avenue (at 104th Street)
New York NY 10029

Butterflies and Lions at Valentino Couture Spring 2014

What a magnificent creation from Valentino!

I never thought I’d say this since I am such a fan of Chanel couture, but Valentino couture is now so good that that is the show I want to see, even above Chanel, every January and July. And I know I said it already, but I will say it again: Valentino couture just keeps getting better. They held their spring/summer 2014 show yesterday in Paris and it was divine.

I love this butterfly coat.

Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli, co-head designers at Valentino, said they were inspired by the opera this season and “wanted to describe the character of each [opera’s] protagonist in a primordial way.” The show made references to La Traviata, Carmen, and La Bohème. I cannot get over the gorgeous lace dresses, the embroidery and appliqué, the butterflies, and the lions! I am a Leo so I am definitely partial to big cats and these, splashed on the front of the dresses, and the backs of coats, are unexpected, wild and beautiful. Even the simple dresses, with no embellishment at all, have a heart-stopping drape and elegance to them. Can you imagine how comfortable they must be?

Here are a few of my favorites, but if you have five minutes, stop by Style.com and have a look at photos from the whole show. I hope you find them as inspiring as I do.

I love this lion dress!

This is an amazing ensemble.

Look at these butterflies!

Love love love.

Will we see this dress at the Oscars in March?

I love the colors of this dress and the floral appliqués over lace. 

So simple, so beautiful. I can imagine wearing this!

Another gorgeous lace dress from Valentino.

I adore the color of this dress, its lightness, and its beaded collar.

Maria and Pierpaolo, co-head designers at Valentino.

All photos by Yannis Vlamos/Indigitalimages.com

Lessons from a Shopping Ban

Not a Planned Purchase, but irresistible: this rhinestone Eiffel Tower was just $5 at a Brooklyn thrift shop! 

While my Shopping Ban for 2013 got off to a great start, I wouldn’t say it ended very successfully. I seemed to fall off the wagon in summer, did better in early fall, then had many moments of weakness at the end of the year, especially with the December release of the L’Wren Scott Collection at Banana Republic. I will not be repeating this exercise for 2014! However, I’m glad I tried a Shopping Ban last year and I did learn some valuable lessons about my own spending and shopping habits, which I thought I’d share with you.

1. A little luxury goes a long way.

I noticed if I let myself indulge in a little something it made it easier to look at online sales or things in a department store and think, Do I really need that? Is there something I already own that can take the place of buying that jacket/pair of jeans/pair of shoes/bag? And a good deal of the time I could think of something I already owned that precluded me from making a purchase.

The polishes I bought in 2013.

My little luxury very often turned out to be nail polishes. I bought seven of them last year. My current favorite is still Elusive by Revlon, but I’m already eyeing Essie’s Bachelorette Party (the hot pink in the center) and Lilacism as colors for late winter. The most expensive was butter LONDON’s Queen Vic, at $15. Most of the rest were $6 or under. Not bad!

A leopard clutch I bought from Sheree of It’s Not That Deep. What a great buy: I use this all the time.

2. The “I Want It” list does work.

The “I Want It” list, when I used it, really helped me to control my spending. If I saw something and just had to have it, on the list it went, where I thought about it for a month. Plenty of times I forgot what was on the list by time the month was over, which proved it would’ve been just an impulse buy. Of course, I will admit most of the nail polishes above were impulsive purchases, but there were times when I resisted the siren song of new colors! And sometimes buying a $5 nail polish kept me from buying something more expensive that it turns out I didn’t need.

I couldn’t say no to this J. Crew crystal baguette necklace.

3. Shopping bans force you to think before you buy.

The most important lesson I learned was that a ban can force you to think before you buy anything. Sometimes I’d steamroller right over my good intentions but I never forgot about the ban and that by saying yes to one item now I might have to say no to something else down the line in order to stick to my budget. Just knowing that proved to be very helpful at times when saying no was my best option.

Even more temptation in this white blazer by Zara.

In reviewing what I did buy in 2013, I’d say my one of my downfalls was wanting to take advantage of J. Crew in-store sales, when I could stock up on basics like T-shirts (which were Planned Purchases), but then I’d fall in love with something else, like the crystal baguette necklace above.

All in all, it was an interesting exercise and I’m glad I gave it a try. I am also glad it’s over! Who needs the guilt?

How did your 2013 goals fare by the end of the year?

The Anna Wintour Costume Center

Anna at the Girls Season 3 premiere, January 2014. Photo by Andrew H. Walker.

She’ll always have the Met.

It was announced yesterday by The Metropolitan Museum of Art that the newly renovated galleries for The Costume Institute will be renamed The Anna Wintour Costume Center. It opens May 8, 2014 with the inaugural exhibition Charles James: Beyond Fashion (and oh yes, I will definitely be there).

The complex is being named in Anna’s honor because of all her efforts to raise money ($125 million to be exact!) for The Costume Institute since 1995.

It made me laugh last year to read the speculation that Anna was hoping to be made an ambassador to England after Obama’s re-election campaign, in thanks for her fundraising efforts with his second presidential bid. Why would she ever want to be ambassador to England when she is the Queen of the Fashion (and Magazine Publishing) World? Even when she is no longer Editor-in-Chief of Vogue, Condé Nast named her as Artistic Director over its entire organization, and now the chief wing of The Costume Institute, with its exhibition galleries, library, conservation library, research areas, and offices will bear her name.

I’d take all that over an ambassadorship too. Talk about power!

Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images North America.

I am kind of digging the coat she recently wore to the Girls Season 3 premiere. Let me know what you think of it.

Cate Blanchett Makes the Case for Lace

Cate at the Golden Globes 2014. Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP.

There were some gowns I loved at the Golden Globes on Sunday, including Amy Adams’ two-toned red Valentino gown (which at first looked like Gucci to me), and Sandra Bullock’s unusual pink, black, and blue Prabal Gurung, but for me the best dressed was Cate Blanchett. I’m normally not a fan of black gowns on the red carpet but I never get tired of black lace and this Armani gown on Cate was perfection, from the cap sleeves to the mermaid-like skirt, and the way the lace framed her neck and face and highlighted her gorgeous skin. The diamonds are by Chopard and after all my recent musing on diamonds, I have to say, Cate, who is the same age as me, is in her prime diamond-wearing years too and it certainly showed!

I love the delicate lace and the Chopard diamonds! Photo by Getty.

There is a fun story over at The Coveteur showing the people getting Cate ready for her big night and featuring insights from the man who did her amazing faux-bob, Robert Vetica. Over at Into the Gloss is a rundown of the products that makeup artist Jeanine Lobell used on Cate to give her that luminous glow. Not very many, it turns out, and I loved this light-handed makeup approach on her.

A side glimpse of the dress. Photo by Getty.

Cate with her award for Best Actress and a back view of the dress. Stunning! Photo by Getty.

What gowns at this year’s Golden Globes caught your eye?

Victoria and David Beckham Cover Vogue Paris

Victoria & David Beckham on the cover of Vogue Paris, December 2013/January 2014.

About two days after Christmas I already had the post-Christmas blahs and needed a little lift. I knew just where to get it! I headed to Barnes & Noble to buy the Vogue Paris I had spied on Christmas Eve, but didn’t let myself buy, thinking I needed to focus on presents for my kids, not buy a $16 magazine for me!

I did have a look at it however, and I loved what I saw, starting with the very romantic cover. Victoria and David make a great-looking couple and he is in a tux, while she is in a gorgeous green silk crêpe gown by Lanvin and stunning vintage emerald and diamond earrings by Bulgari. Inside are more simple clothes, subdued makeup, and beautiful gems. The photos are by Inez & Vinoodh, who seem to be everywhere right now.

I love these amazing earrings by Bulgari.

I put the magazine back on the shelves on Christmas Eve but wound up buying it a few days later. I only buy Vogue Paris once a year, if that, and since I never throw any issues out, I can’t work up the guilt over the price.

Victoria is the guest editor of the December 2013/January 2014 issue, so there are articles on her beauty routines and what products she likes, the photo shoot with David, plus personal photos, including her gigantic Hermès collection (she does like her Birkins!), and a funny spread featuring models that look like her and David and inspired by the paparazzi constantly taking their photos.

The beauty section features a 60s look on Victoria.

This look is right up my alley. Blouse by Burberry Prorsum. Photo by Terry Richardson.

Yes to the dress, yes to the bag! Photo by Terry Richardson.

Her Hermès collection runneth over!

I know some people have negative opinions of Victoria Beckham but I can’t help it, I like her. I was never bothered that she was a Spice Girl who turned her eye toward becoming a designer. She clearly loves fashion and she had an opportunity to start a company. I say, why not? I was not into her style when she was a pop star or the scandalously-clad WAG (Wife and Girlfriend) of a soccer phenomenon, but now that she is the (mostly) buttoned-up head of a fashion line, I find it a lot more interesting. The ladylike look suits her so much better than the wild clothes of her earlier years.

David & Victoria on the cover of W, August 2007.

The Vogue Paris pictorial is so very different from the one Victoria and David did back in 2007 for W. My my my, that was one racy spread. I saw it in a doctor’s office and could not stop laughing at the sheer outrageousness of these two world-famous people posing in this way for a major American magazine! I won’t show it all but here is one of the cleaner pictures. You can Google the rest.

I do love Victoria’s manicure, ring, and eye makeup in this shot from W, August 2007!

This Vogue Paris feature is worlds away from that W tawdriness, and has the couple formerly known as Posh & Becks looking so glamorous and wonderful. I love the romance and fantasy of it, to tell you the truth. They probably do too.

The subscriber cover. This is such a great photo of them!

Now if I can just translate the very lengthy interview with Victoria to find out how she is juggling a foxy husband, four cute kids, and a growing fashion empire! Let me get out my French-English dictionary and get cracking. Comment dit-on “lots of money and help” en français?

How I Wear My: Coat

Adrienne of The Rich Life (on a budget). Photo by Sylvia Steininger.

Happy 2014! The winter season made it so easy for Adrienne of The Rich Life (on a budget) and me to pick coats as our theme for this month’s “How I Wear My.” It seems especially timely since much of North America is in the midst of a “polar vortex”! The range of coat photos we received made us realize that your definition of a coat may depend on where you live. Californians and Floridians think about coats in a different way than somebody who lives in Alaska or Minnesota or the U.K. No matter what your take on a coat - from capes to utility jackets, from full-length furs to mid-length car coats - wearing one is a terrific way to get through the winter in style!

Adrienne, above, of The Rich Life (on a budget), my lovely “How I Wear My” partner, wrote, “I am wearing Gap destroyed boyfriend jeans, Ivanka Trump hot pink pumps, a cable knit sweater and a deep blue oversized micro-suede coat I bought at a consignment shop that I am guessing is from the ’90s. It’s a lightweight coat so it’s great for our mild California weather. I bought the blue snakeskin print clutch at the enormous Banana Republic in San Francisco last month.”

She could definitely transport this look right to where I’m at in Brooklyn (once it warms up). This is an outfit that easily translates coast to coast!

Teresa. Photo by Denton Taylor.

My photographer friend Denton Taylor said the coat his wife Teresa wears in this photo was purchased from eBay years ago though he cannot recall what type of fur it is. He also said, “It is paired with a fox hat that was one of my Christmas gifts to her this year, bought directly from an eBay seller in Russia. Super warm!”

It has been so cold in New York City lately that this is exactly what you need to step outside! And I am digging those Balenciaga sunglasses, another Christmas present to Teresa from Denton.

Aya of Couturgatory.

When I saw this Diana coat by Buddhaful on Aya of Couturgatory I actually gasped because I LOVE this look on her. The coat feels so Old World, with the lace trim and laced sleeve detail, and yet modern, with a zip front and an asymetrical hem and shoulders, and I adore how Aya has paired it with a full white skirt, flower necklace, and shoes right out of the 1920s. Gorgeous!

Tamera of Tamera Beardsley.

Tamera of Tamera Beardsley wrote, “I am wearing my chartreuse tapestry coat from Target. I have paired it with my faux-fur infinity scarf, leopard heels, and my Dooney and Bourke bag.”

Talk about a mood lifter. I love everything that is happening here, especially the mix of colors and textures and the giant snowflake on the fur scarf!

Kelly of Grunge Queen.

Kelly of Grunge Queen is wearing a late-1930s/early-1940s vintage jacket she borrowed money from her sister to buy when she was just 19! Ah, the things we do for fashion love! I am a big fan of the way she has styled it, it reminds me of pictures of Audrey Hepburn in the late 1960s. Don’t you love those white lace tights and white shoes?

Sheree of It’s Not That Deep.

Sheree of It’s Not That Deep looks amazing once again in a beautiful vintage coat and a chunky knit scarf. I love this combination on her, especially with the addition of that clutch tucked under her arm.

Alice of Happiness at Mid-Life.

Alice of Happiness at Mid-Life said of her look, “I picked up this hot pink jacket from the Gap and love how versatile it is. It’s perfect for pairing it for work with toned-down colors.”

I am loving that bright color against those patterns. And I never get tired of pink and black!

Nicole of High Latitude Style.

Nicole of High Latitude Style, who lives in Alaska, wrote of her look, “I love everything motorcycle except motorcycles themselves. Here I am wearing my eggplant motorcycle long shearling coat on a snowy day. The white dots in the photo are actual snowflakes. I wore it with my blue shearling hat that I found in an art gallery in Boulder, CO. It is sewn in a sort of 20s style and has this eggplant colored fabric flower. I had a ride to work - basically door-to-door. Otherwise I would not have worn my plateau loafers outside.”

Oh do I love this coat worn with two-tone platform heels and a cloche. Who says it’s all gigantic down coats and heavy boots in Alaska? Nicole proves otherwise!

Natalia of In the Writer's Closet.

Natalia of In the Writer’s Closet said of her coat, “I fell madly in love with this wool coat in burnt orange from the very first time I spotted it on the Lands’ End web site. It was one of my Christmas gifts, and I absolutely adore it - the lines are very elegant, and the color is very funky and makes me happy every time I wear it! It is on sale right now in regular, tall and plus sizes and in a few wonderful colors. I recommend it to anyone, just be sure to size up if you plan to wear layers underneath, since it is not especially roomy.”

I love this color on Natalia and that she shared sale and fit info with us. I also love all the colors in this picture with the coat, balloons and gumball machines!

Ana of Mrs. American Made.

Ana of Mrs. American Made wrote of her coat, “This dove gray peacoat is by Nanette Lepore and it has a wonderful shape and long bell sleeves. The double collar can be worn down and open or closed up for extra warmth. It is casual and classic, just perfect for an average day for me.”

You know I live for a peacoat so I can’t resist this look!

Suzanne of Suzanne Carillo Style Files.

Suzanne of Suzanne Carillo Style Files is wearing a trench in one gorgeous shade of blue. The pattern of it reminds me of impressionist paintings and I love that everything she selected to wear with it is blue or black, which gives the whole look an interesting depth.

Charlotte of Sublime Mercies.

Charlotte of Sublime Mercies said of her coat, “To me, this is a nice, basic coat. Though I live in a rainy, Canadian city, I won’t be caught dead in fleece or Gor-Tex. A nicely-fitted, muted tweed wool coat is a classic that dresses up any casual outfit. It’s age-appropriate in a classy way.”

I agree with Charlotte, a classic coat, like the one shown here, and worn in a way I would wear too, is always age-appropriate and never goes out of style. I love the addition of an elegant brooch pinned to the lapel.

Veshoevius of The Taxonomy of My Wardrobe.

Veshoevius of The Taxonomy of My Wardrobe wrote, “There’s a bit of a story to this coat. I posted back in 2011 on the colour pink and how I was wishing for a pink coat. Well I got my wish courtesy of my blogging fairy godmother Vintage Vix who sent over this vintage pink wool beauty. Ever since it has been a dear wardrobe friend whenever winter comes around! I love the colour!”

Me too, what a great shade of pink! This is the kind of coat that gives me a little boost to see someone wear on dreary winter days. And how wonderful of Vix to send it to Veshoevius out of nowhere! I think bloggers are some of the most generous people on the planet.

Anne of Music and Markets.

Anne of Music and Markets said of her look, “My favorite coat is from Claudia Strater in Amsterdam. I’ve cozied up the coat with a red and black scarf from Florence, perfect for strolling the sunny winter lanes of Aix-en-Provence, where the photo was taken.”

Oh lucky Anne, to be traveling the world and to buy key wardrobe pieces along the way!

Cyrillynn of Any Second Now.

Cyrillynn of Any Second Now lives in San Diego, where I grew up, and I can attest to many mild winters there as a child! She very stylishly proves my point that a coat is a different thing to different people in different parts of the world. And in San Diego a coat can be a cape (this one from Talbot’s) and you are set for the winter!

I am so digging the houndstooth mixed with stripes and skinny jeans and tall black boots. And don’t you love that gorgeous dark pink bougainvillea behind her?

Deja of Une femme d’un certain âge.

Deja of Une femme d’un certain âge wrote, “This Sandro lightweight utility jacket was a coup de foudre, love at first sight piece when I spotted it in London last May. It’s turned out to be a perfect three-season coat for LA.”

See what I mean about these Southern Californian babes and their take on a coat? And unrelated side note: The next time I look for a utility jacket I am going to skip J. Crew and go straight to Sandro.

Sue of A Colourful Canvas.

Sue of A Colourful Canvas is wearing a great (and thrifted!) blue coat by London Fog. I love it so much with those apple-green Hush Puppies and chunky green knit scarf. A tip of the hat to you, Sue!

Silk Path Diary.

Silk Path Diary wrote, “This is a vintage Aquascutum pure wool coat I found on eBay a few years ago. I don’t know how old it is but the quality of the material and cut of coat are simply amazing. I love everything about it especially the matching belt with a proper buckle. I wear it as my evening coat but I’m going to try to wear it more during the day this coming year.”

This is such a divine ladylike look, made even more elegant with the addition of black lace tights and (I’m sure) vintage alligator bag, its handle wrapped in silk!

Pam of Over 50 Feeling 40.

Pam of Over 50 Feeling 40 said, “Here is my favorite orange coat by designer Jana Kos. She no longer has this brand so I consider it a rare treasure in my closet!”

Orange is definitely one of Pam’s colors and I have thought so for awhile now so I’m glad to see her in an orange coat. The fact that the coat is no longer made makes it even more special.

Julia of Lessons With Oscar.

Julia of Lessons With Oscar wrote of her coat, “For my look I’ve got different patterns going on with my wool coat and lace dress because I swear I’m allergic to wearing things that look as if they’re supposed to go together. And I’ve finished it off with a statement necklace to bring the outfit together and to make me all set for a friend’s birthday drinks.”

I toast to this look, pattern mixing, and wearing things that don’t go together.

Liz of What Liz Loves.

Liz of What Liz Loves said, “I don’t have a proper coat, preferring instead jackets and parkas.” The coat she is wearing is a faux-fur from a few years back. Liz went on to say, “It’s quite a smart jacket so I like to wear it with a casual outfit.”

I could see this paired with something dressy too; what a great multitasking jacket!

A J. Crew coat in Sea Salt and added fur collar. Photo by Gwynne Keresty.

I fell in love with this J. Crew coat a few years ago, and even went so far as to try it on in the store but ultimately didn’t buy it. A cream-colored coat? And I live in Brooklyn? Really? When I found it on eBay for less than the retail price a few months later I broke down and bought it. I know a cream-colored coat is not the most practical for NYC but I can’t help loving a pale hue in winter.

The collar is an add-on and was one I literally found on the street. Here in Brownstone Brooklyn there is a time-honored tradition of putting anything you don’t want out on your stoop for a passerby to take and enjoy. You can find it all—books, clothes, kids’ toys, kitchen equipment, fur collars!

This collar had a homemade price tag attached and I know the lady who set it out so I’m pretty sure she offered this at a stoop sale, no one bought it, and she decided to give it away. It looked so elegant draped over her black iron gate as I walked by one morning, and I knew if I didn’t take it right then it would be gone within mintues. Sold! From what I can tell by the tiny snaps on the reverse side, it was the detachable collar for a sweater. It looks great over my black J. Crew coat too.

As for the portrait behind me, my friend’s mother painted this in a studio class at The Art Students League of New York. Isn’t it amazing? I love that picture and I think Gwynne’s mother is a very talented portrait artist!

Under the coat I kept it simple and dressed in black!

Let me know if you have been living under this Polar Vortex like we have in New York City! It has been the coldest weather since I moved here in 1996.

For February please put on your rose-colored glasses and join us for “How I Wear My: Pink”. All shades of pink are welcome—from the palest pink you’d find on a peony to the most lurid Pepto-Bismol shade you can handle, and everything in between! Adrienne and I will accept pictures until February 3, 2014.

Do head over to Adrienne’s to see even more amazing coats.

And thank you to all the fine foxes who participated this month!