I hate coats.
Winter jackets, specifically. I love a fitted leather jacket and a classic, camel trench (in the ideal world I’d own one; in real life, they’re really not that necessary)—but that’s about as far as any positive emotion I’ll ever harbor towards coats. Yes, they keep me warm, but when clothing becomes a hassle, I’d rather not bother at all. They’re annoying. Bulky. Unflattering. I rather despise anything that makes me look shapeless or just… poof-y.
And then things like the latest Holiday 2010 jacket collaboration, between Penfield and Rag & Bone, come along and change my mind altogether. They’re a brilliant team: the classic, outdoor heritage of Penfield combined with Rag & Bone’s edgy, fashion-forward aesthetic make for the perfect balance of, well, the perfect coat. It’s practical: puffy, quilted, and chock full of down feathers to keep you cozy. But it makes puffy chic. The silhouette is based on Penfield’s classic Stapleton jacket: it’s tailored, the waist nipped in to mimic an hourglass shaped body thus flattering and quite possibly slimming. Le sigh.
The sleeves zip off to become a classic puffer vest—another check for versatility and practicality. Aesthetically it’s a bit more utilitarian for my usual liking, but for this I’ll make an exception. Penfield’s heritage look is seen in the charcoal Schoeller wool exterior, snap front pockets, olive corduroy shoulders, and plaid interior. Rag & Bone’s finesse for clean tailoring modernize the coat, producing a final product that is indeed lust worthy for reasons beyond pure want. It’s a need.
Here’s the catch. The jacket will retail at $895. It’s steep, the price tag. I suppose if you think of it as buying two in one—a coat and a vest—it’s slightly more justified, but it’s still quite the splurge, and no where within my budget. But if you’re willing to take the plunge (because this jacket truly combines style and practicality with effortlessness!), it’ll hit stores in late November, and will be available at all Rag & Bone boutiques in New York City, the flagship in Tokyo, and “finer boutiques and department stores” like Bergdorf Goodman, Barneys, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, and Intermix in the U.S., Tsum (Moscow), Hanstyle (Seoul). And for all you online fiends, our ever-favorite Shopbop.com will have it too.
. . .
bises! x
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Your turn. Thoughts?