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Every now and then I go somewhere and feel I am getting my own personal fashion show. I realize that I am merely in tune to a certain clothing item and therefore I notice it when I am out and about. But the experience still seems like a fashion show as I see beautiful girl after beautiful girl walk by in whatever fashion item I am currently focusing on. Recently I was privileged to see a parade of coats at a local upscale shopping center. Here are my impressions of a real life coat parade.

Tall girls in knee length wool coats that fasten with a single row of buttons located in the center of the coat win the day. I saw several girls in this style of coat during my brief time in the shopping zone and they made the most impact. The coats looked stylish yet conservative. Each young woman I saw presented a polished appearance in the cold winter weather. These coats were cut well and made of fine material but they were without trim. There were no fur cuffs or collars to give these gals a overt look of luxury. A sense of luxury was present in the women I saw but it emitted from the fine wool and excellent tailoring of the coats they were wearing. It probably helped that each girl I saw in this style of coat was wearing heels in addition to their already towering height. They gave the appearance of models even if they were merely holiday shoppers.

As I moved into the more crowded portion of the shopping center, I started counting the number of fleece jackets with " The North Face" label on them. This is made easier by the fact that this ski wear/ outerwear company places its' name on the outside of its' apparel. I only became aware of this company within the last several years though it has been around for quite some time. Their fleece jackets are warm, expensive and the "must have " item in my community. A Columbia or Lands End fleece jacket will not do. To be "in" here you need to have a North Face on or you will feel the chill of the status conscious community. I stopped counting when I reached twenty North Face jackets, reassured that I was still on top of the current trends in outerwear.

I could not help but notice the lack of fur. This did not really surprise me as I tend to meet more people who are horrified by fur then those who revel in its' comfort and luxury. My personal experiences are not in line with the recent trends reported by The New York Times. A recent article in this esteemed paper reported that the fur industry is experiencing a huge boom and sales of furs have increased dramatically. Most of the boom in furs is in foreign markets, but a huge increase in American sales was reported. While Americans may be buying furs, I am not sure where they are wearing them. I did not see one fur during my personal coat fashion show and I cannot remember when I have seen more than just fur trim on women in my community.
While the anti-fur movement may be loosing steam internationally, it is alive and well in the heartland of America.

On the way out of the shopping center I viewed a woman leaving a department store in a parka worn with a skirt, tights and unattractive shoes. This gal was frumpy. After seeing the coat parade, I wanted to rush her back into the department store to give her a makeover. I normally would not have even noticed this shopper but for my recent immersion into the land of outerwear. Seeing a large number of people in stylish outerwear reminds you of the impact we all have when walking down the street. In the winter your outerwear choices can be more important then any other fashion choice you make. Your coat and accessories create your first impression on any group of people. Sometimes we forget the importance of that impression. The impression may be casual or dressy, luxurious or minimalist. The impression your outerwear makes is often your first impression on the people you meet. This makes your choice of coat as important a fashion decision as anything else you will buy.

Having said that, I will admit to having worn layered sweats to the coat parade. I finished my holiday shopping as my knees slowly gave out and while I enjoyed my own personal fashion show I had no urge to join the parade. I dress to be a spectator, not a participant in the fashion wars that occur on a daily basis in my retail driven community. I do have to admit that my coat experience did get me thinking about my own outerwear choices.

In terms of casual coats, the North Face may have their hold on the rest of the community but I am not tempted to buy. Years ago I purchased a fleece coat at a local discount store for five dollars. It was off season and on the super clearance rack. The next year an identical coat was featured on the front cover of the Lands End catalog, for more than five dollars. I also inherited several Columbia fleece jackets from a family member, and I find they keep me just as warm as the more expensive fleece jackets on the market. I still have my hooded parka from many years ago and it serves when the fleece jackets are in the wash.

I did consider whether my dress coat was passe. My coat has a fur collar and is by no means tailored. It is a luxurious coat, and brings to mind a well loved mistress more than a conservative wife or business professional. It is a coat that amuses me and I enjoy wearing it, even if I do not wear it very often. I began to consider it may be time for a more conservative coat, like those I had seen on the tall girls in heels. I decided to take a walk in my coat to give the matter some thought. My decision? Well if I am going to make a fashion statement with my dress coat, it is not going to be one of stylish restraint. Let the young gals take that road. I am keeping my "mistress" coat with its' fur ( fake) collar and cuffs and fabric covered buttons. The coats unstructured lines hides a multitude of figure flaws that a tailored coat would merely accentuate. My coat does not present the image that turned my head during the coat parade, but it is the image I am going to project if I choose to be a participant rather then a sweat jacket wearing observer of a outerwear fashion show. I am old enough now to find my own sense of fashion rather then follow the dictates of the masses. Who knows, maybe I'll start a trend for in your face luxury around this staid little town.

No new dress coat for me. My fashion focus tuned into coats and while I enjoyed the experience, and considered changing my own personal style, I am not buying outerwear this year. I am not sure what parade I will view next. Spring is just around the corner and I have not replaced my rain coat in awhile. If I go to the shopping center and see model type women in rain gear in freezing weather I will let you know. Stranger things have happened, but not for awhile.

Next time you are out and about, give yourself your own fashion show by focusing on one clothing item and see what people are wearing and how they are wearing it. Pick a shopping venue where people dress to shop, and you too can have your own personal fashion show.