<p>It can be surprisingly affordable to have alterations from a good seamstress. I had a suit that I bought in 1982 altered 20+ years later, lowering the waistline & shortening the skirt. It cost about $40 or so and has allowed me to keep wearing the lightweight wool suit that I love (couldn’t otherwise as my waist isn’t quite what it was in 1982 before I had my 2 kids). The suit still looks new!</p>
<p>WNP–love the red coat. It made me smile. I’ve been looking for a transition jacket to wear before I pull out my winter coats. I like this one–my younger daughter bought it in black. I’m thinking about one in brown. I’m wondering if it’s too young? The Barbour jackets last forever, which I think accounts for the fact that it’s pricey.</p>
<p>[Barbour</a> Waxed Cotton Jacket | Nordstrom](<a href=“http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/barbour-waxed-cotton-jacket/3223401?cm_cat=datafeed&cm_ite=barbour_waxed_cotton_jacket:369941_1&cm_pla=outerwear:women:anorak/parka&cm_ven=Froogle&mr:referralID=NA&mr:trackingCode=583EE6D3-29D0-E011-8116-001517B1882A]Barbour”>http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/barbour-waxed-cotton-jacket/3223401?cm_cat=datafeed&cm_ite=barbour_waxed_cotton_jacket:369941_1&cm_pla=outerwear:women:anorak/parka&cm_ven=Froogle&mr:referralID=NA&mr:trackingCode=583EE6D3-29D0-E011-8116-001517B1882A)</p>
<p>I don’t think it’s too young. My mother just gave me a belted leatherlook jacket for my birthday, so that’s what I am wearing this fall.</p>
<p>Bromfield: Nothing about that coat screams “I am 20 years old” or “I am trying to pretend I am 20 years old.” I would definitely wear it!</p>
<p>Bromfield, you have a good eye for style. I really like that waxed cotton jacket. Transitional outerwear is so hard to get right. </p>
<p>Bunsen, oddly I love turtle neck sweaters but the great big coat collars (thanks for providing the right nomenclature – “funnel necks”) swallow me whole.</p>
<p>So I shopped a bit today and got these shoes in the black suede thinking they’d be a nice departure from my trusty Danskos when wearing jeans and no sooner did I get them home then my hs senior daughter made off with them. I’m kind of flattered. But I really wanted the shoes. Hmmm.</p>
<p><a href=“Clarks desert boot chocolate suede + FREE SHIPPING | Zappos.com”>Clarks desert boot chocolate suede + FREE SHIPPING | Zappos.com;
<p>OMG, sewhappy, I had those shoes in 1973. Exactly: same brand and everything. Next is Walllabees.</p>
<p>Send the daughter a bill and buy another pair!</p>
<p>They are indeed the exact original shoe from the seventies. They made my feet very happy and they just might take me into DD’s room to go get them back.</p>
<p>I spent my childhood in either desert boots or flip flops, it’s nice to know they are back in style. Maybe I need to get some…</p>
<p>Count me in on loving that gorgeous Cinzia coat! </p>
<p>Interesting that Patagonia is becoming more popular than Northface, at least out west. I wonder if we’ll see that here in the east - sometimes it seems as if we set certain trends, and lag behind on others. Anyway, I think I tried on almost every down coat on the market last year. My issue was one of cut and fit. I think Patagonia tends to flatter a more athletic build. For me, it was too tight on top and too loose on the bottom. Ditto most of the belted coats. As always, what works for me may not work for you and vice versa - you have to see what looks best on you.</p>
<p>Bromfield, The Barbour coat is great - very classic and classy looking piece.</p>
<p>Those shoes are very cute, sewhappy. Have had my eye on a very similar pair with a wedge heel.</p>
<p>Roshke, I missed my bus today because the &$@*% Protesters occupied my bus stop (no, they are not getting my suppot!) and had to wait for a different bus - naturally, inside the downtown Nordstrom. While I was looking at running clothes, I noticed that the department had more styles of Patagonia coats on display than North Face. It used to carry North Face almost exclusively. I’m glad that North Face is still “in” on the East Coast, because D is not getting a new coat any time soon. :)</p>
<p>I tried on a red Burberry peacoat while I was killing time inside the store. So cute! Sigh.</p>
<p>Bromfield, not remotely too young:). And sewhappy, get those things back! Desert boots are having a moment. No fair letting the young ones have all the fun…</p>
<p>The Barbour jacket is classic, and the cut is not quite a boxy as some of their other, similar, jackets. Should be very flattering. You have my approval to buy it!</p>
<p>Love that coat Bromfield. </p>
<p>I wish we still had an upscale department store where we lived. I would apply for a job in the coat department. I just love coats. </p>
<p>I am still trying to justify the red coat. I know Bloomies just had the 20% off deal - but I still hadn’t rationalized the purchase. I am working on it!</p>
<p>Unfortunately, she looked so darn cute today wearing the desert boots to school . . . maybe these tensions over fashion in the house will ease the empty nest syndrome next year. My closet will be mine again!</p>
<p>Hey – I’m not a big leggings person but found a brand that I really like in a little lingerie store in the town of Princeton. The website looks pretty cheesy but these are great leggings – long enough and substantial so you don’t feel like you’re wearing tights. Also the waistline is such that I’m not getting the dreaded muffin top. One size fits all. And yes, the DD tried them on and loved them, as well (she’s 5’8" and I"m 5’5") but I stood my ground and kept them!!</p>
<p>[Everyday</a> Casual Tops, Camis, Cap Sleeves | Tees by Tina](<a href=“http://www.teesbytina.com/products/ultimate-seamless-legging.html]Everyday”>http://www.teesbytina.com/products/ultimate-seamless-legging.html)</p>
<p>If DD ends up going to school in the Midwest and needs a down coat, please clarify the fits of Northface vs. Patagonia: Which one is better for the athletic V figure (broad shoulders & no hips? Thx!</p>
<p>CCsO, I think NorthFace will work better for the broad-souldered athletic body type.</p>
<p>Want a good laugh? Take a look at this:</p>
<p>[What</a> Men Really Think About Fall Fashion Trends - Yahoo! Shopping](<a href=“http://shopping.yahoo.com/articles/yshoppingarticles/693/what-men-really-think-about-fall-fashion-trends/]What”>http://shopping.yahoo.com/articles/yshoppingarticles/693/what-men-really-think-about-fall-fashion-trends/)</p>
<p>Some of the men interviewed had pretty good points, like this one (about a feathered dress) :)</p>
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<p>Oh! You should hear my delightful, clueless husband comment on “fashion”</p>
<p>One of favorites, after I had actually spent some time to get ready to go out (toddler at home):
“Are you doing that ON PURPOSE?” That comment referred to the bangs I had had for over a month at that point.</p>
<p>Too funny. Occasionally, DD and I force DH to watch Project Runway with us. He protests and tries to run away, but five minutes in becomes totally engrossed and usually quite irate over who goes home.</p>
<p>Hey, this is the coat I’ve been dreaming about – and it’s on sale. Dunno why I’m so drawn to it. I think a friend’s mom had one like this when I was in elementary school and I just thought it was divine.</p>
<p>[Marc</a> New York Leona Coat - Coats & Jackets - Bloomingdales.com](<a href=“http://www1.bloomingdales.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=549359&CategoryID=5584&LinkType=#fn=COATS_JACKETS_TYPE_M%3DFur%20&%20Faux%20Fur%26spp%3D26]Marc”>http://www1.bloomingdales.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=549359&CategoryID=5584&LinkType=#fn=COATS_JACKETS_TYPE_M%3DFur%20&%20Faux%20Fur%26spp%3D26)</p>
<p>Sewhappy - I love that coat! Love the lines. Very flattering. AND reasonably priced.</p>