This is not just another garden variety puffer. Not a chance. This cutie is a really warm, water-resistant thinsulate made with 100% down and cotton blend fabrication. I fell for the exuberant XS (xtra specially important down the paragraph pike) floral print and an ultra-feminine, yet boyish silhouette as defined by a fitted chest, slim shoulders and a short shaped waist. It is a feisty floral, indeed. The Garland hooded jacket is sweet and stylish and the floral pattern, front-zip closure and 3/4 length sleeves make it a completely casual coat that’s just perfect for Fall days and denim. (Rag & Bone light wash with llesteva glasses and a pair of Jack Purcell’s, fill in the blanks.) So. Thats that. I’ve pretty much described the item (catalogue like) complete with product description, materials, fit and style.
That is, everything but the price, there was a tag that said XS, however there was no name, no logo and no price. And it was the only one on display in this adorable little tri-plex townhouse/mini department store on the Upper East Side. After my own thorough search through all the racks, I engaged the help of the sales duo on the floor. Neither had ever seen it before and they couldn’t sell it to me without a price. While it might just seem to be a fun little jacket, at the time, I did not find any humor in this situation as it is very rare that I find a perfect fit at hello. And I wanted it – all the while thinking – it is so colorful and easily stood out amidst the sea of dark monochromatic outerwear, when I saw it, it was hard to believe that it never caught anyone’s eye but mine. It was odd. And so I left it there, on the counter – all alone, the way I found it.
Anyhow I skipped the elevator and decided to walk down a fun spiral staircase to the mezzanine level above the first floor, and strolled first through a gift area, then past a creative toy chest full of in house free play things to keep kids occupied while their mothers shopped and then curiously landed in the tween wear section. And staring right at me was the flowered coat, that very same one I left behind, in the women’s department. It took but a nano second to realize that the jacket was obviously carried upstairs by accident, and that was the reason the women on 3 didn’t know that kid on 2. So I am the 1 that got it, NWT. And I always enjoy a junior discount.
It is a memorable, happy little wrap that truly blossoms in the sun and it was a just the right choice to wear on a perfect and pretty Fall Day “OOT.”
Out of Town, Out of Touch and Out of The Greene Door.
Photographs by joanne o’shaughnessy photography
