<p>I need a new “short” winter wool coat. Any ideas as to styles and colors? I like the peacoat look, but that has been around for a few years and I would rather get in on the beginning of a trend as I tend to keep coats for years.</p>
<p>I think belts are difficult. I’m not a big fan of Michelle Obama’s belt over cardigan look either. I think she usually wears them at the waist not the hips.</p>
<p>I used to have a great funky watch collection, but then the batteries would go or they’d start gaining or losing time and I stopped wearing them. I generally have a cellphone nearby when I’m out of the house and really don’t need them.</p>
<p>Bunsen - I saw something from MaxMara in camel, on the interwebs somewhere, just yesterday.</p>
<p>Any one else watch the little segment on GMA regarding Princess Kate and pantyhose? Yes, she is wearing them and sales are increasing 88% in UK, 12% in US but informal audience poll said no way would they go back to wearing them. Also said the new kind that women are wearing are in the $30-$60 range!!! Oh…and Kate wears the kind that have little “grippers” on the bottom so they don’t slide.</p>
<p>Awesome, Alumother! Thanks. I will look for it. </p>
<p>I agree that belts are hard to pull off. The trick is in the structure of the belt. If the belt is wide and rigid (solid stripe of leather), it does not work well for wearing on the hips, because it does not conform to the curvatures of the body. Belts made of softer material and/or woven leather change their shape and work much better for these types of outfits.</p>
<p>Belts - they are indeed difficult to pull off. You must check yourself out from all views because as mousegray has pointed out, just because it looks good from the front, doesn’t mean it looks good from the side or rear. </p>
<p>Bunsen - I was longing for a camel coat last year. I love the combination of camel with black. I did find a really beautiful wool camel coat at Ann Taylor, but I was frugal and thought I would wait until it was on sale. I did, and it was gone in my size in the store and online. Let’s hope we see more this season. </p>
<p>Here in the northeast it is still too hot to get excited about fall, but I love fall & winter clothing so much more than summer/spring things.</p>
<p>Mathmom, I wear a lot of watches with expired batteries. Actually, I tend to raid my DD’s watch drawer. She has lots of cheap watches in an array of colors. I almost forgot how to even tell time on an analog . . . use the cell for checking the time.</p>
<p>Also, starting to realize that I am more of a scarf than a necklace person. I just hate the feel of metal slung around my neck. A friend told me this means I was hung in a former life!</p>
<p>Regarding belts, I have two from the early 90s that I wear constantly and none since have measured up to them. One I bought in the Hyatt hotel lobby in Seoul. It’s a Lauren and in a black pebbled leather. Not too wide, not too narrow. Nice understated pewter buckle. The other is a J Crew that I picked up at the Tennessee outlet. It’s sort of cowboy looking, a bit wider, rich brown and a bit of a Western flavored buckle. It’s very supple and just works great with dresses in just about any color. I’ve worn it with black and somehow it worked.</p>
<p>Outerwear is always a challenge to figure out. They say a woman can never have too much outerwear . . . the anticipation of the season change makes talking fashion a lot of of fun.</p>
<p>The woman talking on that Good Morning America segment? The one with the cute Midwestern accent? She’s a blog friend of mine, runs the business called Preppy Princess. Perhaps the nicest human being I’ve ever met on the interwebs. Except you guys of course.</p>
<p>NMinn, DH is glued to the Squawk on the street/CNBC in the mornings, so no GMA for me. 
We have Cramer’s ugly mug sticking out of every TV and monitor in the house, even out of our bathroom mirror!!! Thank god we do not have a 3D TV!</p>
<p>Speaking of pantyhose. There is a pretty young lady sitting next to me on the bus wearing a black dress with black suede chunky peep toe Miu Miu shoes and nude pantyhose. The outfit looks nice. Actually, those $30 pantyhose from Wolford last 5-10 times longer than $10 department store brand pantyhose. I always look for discounted Wolford stuff at my TJ Maxx.</p>
<p>I for one would welcome the return of pantyhose. I know some people hate to wear them, but I think it is like having a soft focus lens for your legs. In the summer, I don’t mind shaving, buffing, moisturizing, faux tanning so my legs look good. It’s a little too much effort in the fall and winter - I’m not Katie Couric for goodness sakes!</p>
<p>I think women who say that pantyhose is nothing but troubles have not tried Wolford or oher fine European brands. I welcome the return of pantyhose, especially with boots. Maybe I’m so old school, but I cannot stand the look of goosebumps-covered bare legs sticking out of boots.</p>
<p>Agree ^^^^</p>
<p>I also think skin tone comes into play. Those of us who are fair look rather silly with a wool skirt, a nice pair of black pumps, pale skin, and aforementioned goosebumps!</p>
<p>Maybe garters will make a come back. It’s all that nylon at the waist that I object to.</p>
<p>Alumother, Saks indeed updated their website with tons of coats. I think I saw the coat you mentioned. Bummer, it is a bit too short. I like the shape of this DVF coat a lot; too bad that the color will not mesh with my bus rides:</p>
<p>[Diane</a> von Furstenberg - Wool-Blend Wrap Coat - Saks.com](<a href=“http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/main/ProductDetail.jsp?PRODUCT<>prd_id=845524446433002&FOLDER<>folder_id=282574492822824&bmUID=j5JzuDL]Diane”>http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/main/ProductDetail.jsp?PRODUCT<>prd_id=845524446433002&FOLDER<>folder_id=282574492822824&bmUID=j5JzuDL)</p>
<p>Off to see the J Crew stuff recommended by MOfWC!</p>
<p>I have worn pantyhose perhaps 5 times in my life, generally only for important interviews & when I’m in wedding parties (didn’t wear for my own wedding). I will not return to them & since I’m >50, I won’t ever HAVE to! They snag way too easily and are just too hot & uncomfortable, especially here in HI. Yep, they look interesting but still, not worth the discomfort, IMHO.</p>
<p>I love wool coats but always find them awkward to drive in. I think maybe they’d work better in an urban environment. Also, weather is so frequently cold and wet at the same time and I hate carrying an umbrella while wearing a wool coat. </p>
<p>Those are pretty coats, though, Bunsen. Love the live models on the Saks site.</p>
<p>HIMom, I would even think of wearing pantyhose in HI! :)</p>
<p>I have pasty pink legs so I much prefer tights or panty hose. Don’t wear them in the summer though. I am old enough to think that panty hose are an improvement over what came before!</p>
<p>I’m beyond petite (not quite 5 feet) and find that stockings and garters work best for me. They’re not so bad in the summer either except when it’s very hot and humid.</p>
<p>The easy solution for the pasty-leg problem is a little self-tanner on the legs. I hate pantyhose! Haven’t worn them in about 15 years (since I quit my job.) Tights (preferably black) with boots in the wintertime.</p>