serendipity: the fatigue jacket is promoted to the front closet and a travel outfit plans itself

I sometimes use phrases like "60-day probation" or "15-day short-timer" to refer to purchases that may not have a long-term future with me. There's a little section of the closet in which those that need to hang, do so in seclusion. But they do hang, because if they stay with me I want them to be nice, and if they go back, well, they'll be nice for somebody else.

Sometimes it gets a little crowded in the probationary wing. OK, not wing, but is there a single word to describe "8 inches of closet pole that's just behind the door"? Didn't think so. And so, as a result of overcrowding, occasionally something gets hung on top of something else. Thus it came to pass that the other day I found a black fatigue jacket that I'd bought in back in November during some sale/promo/markdown fest, and put aside to think about on or before January 15th. Then there were holidays, trips, packing, unpacking... And here we are in the middle of May, it finally got warm for a day or two, and while the thought of a full-scale closet turnout is beyond unappealing, a little reshuffle wouldn't hurt.

Bingo! there was a fatigue jacket! and not a moment too soon, either, because I was just about to go  buy one. The one I was about to buy is on backorder until some undefined future when I might - or might not - need it to go bar-hopping on Jupiter, others that I considered require much too much of an investment, and then there was this brand-new jacket, hanging next to but not in its plastic shipping cover, right in my very own closet. I didn't even need to put shoes on. I tried it on, and I can't remember why I found it dubious six months ago. Maybe there was just too much black going on then?

So, details. If I remember correctly, the color is called "faded black," but in reality it's a nice deep charcoal gray. My iphone is making the color look greenish, which it is not. The fabric is treated with something that makes it water-resistant. It's partially lined with a light cotton check that Aquascutum would not be ashamed to use. The coat closes with a zip and/or buttons. I like this because I have difficulty managing heavy-duty snaps on coats and jackets. There are two large front pockets with flaps and underneath the flaps are slots to allow you to reach your other pockets. There are also two smaller, chest pockets. No pockets on the back of the coat, but there is a drawstring at the waist. There's a little wind guard at the neck, cute and doesn't get in the way. The removable hood is lined, but not with the check. I tested the coat, hood and all, in today's drenching downpours and winds, and was satisfied.

I have no recollection whatsoever of having pondered sizing when I got this. Mine's a medium, my normal JC blouse size is 6, 8 or 10, and the coat has room for a heavy sweater underneath. I'm not worried about wearing the coat over a jacket, because if I were going someplace where I had to wear a jacket, I wouldn't be wearing this coat. This is not the kind of cute bell-skirted trench that one might wear over a mini with 5-inch heels - note the use of "one." "One" does not include me. I think it will be just the travel coat I need. And the front closet abounds in dressier coats (hangs head, blushes). They have been joined by the charcoal gray fatigue jacket.

Speaking of travel clothes, here are a couple of outfits I'm putting together for the upcoming trip. One doesn't involve black silk pants, one does.

DVF silk top, RL silk twill pants,
JC featherweight cashmere sweater.
Lighting is terrible, sweater is a darker
value of the blue in the top.

Blue-gray linen pants, Elie Tahari, Missoni tank and cardigan, and guess what! It's our ability to accessorize that separates us from the animals. I swear I wasn't thinking about my scarf when I pounced on the sweaters. But when I put the iPad down and went into the bedroom, I heard a tactful murmur from the armoire and there was the scarf.