Winter Dress Coat

I am almost always in a North Face Denali jacket (local retail is my first choice, of course), but they're just too casual for all occasions, outfits, or mood ... plus, they're not really long either.

But alas, they are a NCSU college girl staple - see the following slideshow for proof a la Hillsborough Hike 2007 with the Black North Face Mafia better known as my Pi Phi sisters & Co.


So for all of the other occasions, I have a black pea coat that I've worn for a few years. I've recently come to realize though, that even though it's made by a "petites" brand, it really swallows me up. The shoulders are too big, there is no slim through the waste, and to me... that just doesn't scream "well put together look".

So I'm on the hunt!

I usually start with just a basic "look" search. No budget, nothing. Just a look.

Banana Republic

BR lucked out with a very well-timed email!

Banana Republic Wool-Blend Pea Coat

The Wool-Blend Pea Coat in Heater Grey retails for $180.00

Banana Republic Duffle Coat

The Modern Toggle Coat in Charcoal Heather Grey retails for $198.00
















I then move to budget and finding something that fits my most important demands at a price point that I can afford with an often "Champagne Taste on a Miller High Life Budget" (as Renee calls it - because after all... Miller High Life is the Champagne of Beers!)

Target

That's when those geniuses at Target sent me a weekly flyer that had some nice in-store only sales going on.

Target Mossimmo Pea Coat

Mossimo Pea Coat in several colors (purple, red, black, brown, and green) retails for $30.00 (on sale)







Now THAT looks like a good deal! At that price, I could even get a few colors (including red of course for NCSU football games). They also look to be a slimmer fit. Of course, since these are in-store only sales, I'd have to hope my local store(s) had my color and sizes, but at least I could try the jacket on before buying.

Old Navy

The BF and I then happened to walk into Old Navy last weekend looking for a white sweater for his Halloween costume (Fred from the Scooby Doo/Mystery Inc. gang).

They have a great selection, with lots of price points, but I suspect the large selection online is only carried in varying stores... I really don't remember seeing THAT many jackets there. I did try on the Tab Waist Jacket in red (I think it was the tab waist jacket).

Old Navy Tab Waist Jacket

Old Navy Tab Waist Jacket in red retails for $98.50

Old Navy Funnel-Neck Coats

Old Navy Funnel-Neck coats come in pink and black and retail for $89.50











I swear I also tried on something in a winter white at Old Navy, but can't remember which jacket it was.

Hmmm... decisions, decisions, decisions.

Coats!

I know, if you're a local reader, it's kind of absurd to mention coats already (it's still fairly consistently warm here), but if you're ready to clean out your closet... here's some great motivation from NC retailer, Great Outdoor Provision Company!



Save 20% on a jacket* when you donate a gently used one Oct 1-12, 2009.

*Excludes vests, pullovers and a few jacket styles - over 50 styles qualify for the discount!

Thanks for your support! In 2008 our customers brought in 2561 coats to be donated to local missions.
Full details online at http://greatoutdoorprovision.com/culture/wesupport/coat-swap/.


{Image: GOPC website}

WANT: Fall Staple - Monogrammed Pashmina

I'm thinking I'm going to need one of these monogrammed pashminas in black with red monogramming for any chilly Wolfpack tailgates and football games!

IE: Tomorrow. Dang. I didn't plan that one out very well.


Although... I'm not left out in the cold!

The entire E. Riley-Dorn wedding entourage received red pashminas as bridal party gifts just this past February - perfect for all of us State girls (see below)!

Big props go out to Mrs. (YES, MRS. - it still trips me out to write that) E. {Riley} Dorn for the great taste and outfitting the always classy look for tomorrow's big game vs. USC!

Rest assured, I can get by with my current selection of red or green pashminas, but one more never hurts! I hate having to pick one color to live with for good - a girl needs options! (That is yet another E. Riley Dorn principle, that every well-dressed woman should wardrobe by.)

And I do have some time until fall temperature actually set in for real. I can't imagine that the 90 degree days are actually legitimately over. I mean, I HAVE lived in NC my whole life... I know it doesn't actually work that way. (True Life: I'm also one of the many people that almost passed out at the NCSU vs. Clemson game two years ago when it went from a 60 degree tailgate to a 90 degree ballgame. I went home at half-time to shower and spend the rest of the day in the AC... something I never do.)

Long story short, monogrammed pashminas. At Swagger (in-store or online). $34.00.

Scouted: February 28th, 2009

Quite a few of the bloggin' girls that I follow have found some very shareworthy must-haves recently.

Let's jump right in!


"Mass Customization"
Mass customization is one of the first concepts I learned about in my textile degree as it's been all the rage in the industry for quite sometime. As consumers, we all want to fit in, but at the same time be unique.Beaufort Belle has quite the "mass customization" find from LL Bean:



Well now you can truly customize it. Check out CUSTOM TOTE BAG at LL Bean.
Perfection for Just Pennies
Lauren from Adventures of a Southern Newlywed just posted this Old Navy find. I must have one in each color. A perfect fitting trench just makes one look so pulled together! In addition to Lauren's finds, I found these online for $17.25 - $24.75.
I was out of town last week for work. The area I visited didn't have many shopping options, but there was a new shopping center there. The Old Navy had a ton of stuff on sale. I bought this red belted trench rain coat for $24. There were tons of cute things at Old Navy right now. I was very pleasantly surprised.




Cupperwear
Our seriously Southern friends at the Carolina Cup are keeping up their blogging with some fabulously cuppery trends.

Dressed to Impress

Hat FanFrom Lilly Dresses to the best in elaborate hats, be sure to check in regularly with the 'Cup and subscribe via Google Reader!

Bring on your scouted favorites!

(Images: All from original brands' site. Linked to respective homepage or product page.)

Coat Shopping?

Fabulous... especially if you're following the "buy one - donate one" rule where anytime you add something new to your wardrobe, you also deduct something.

If you're thinking of doing so with jackets, be sure to check out Great Outdoor's Coat Swap!From Sue Stock's blog:
"Customers who donate a clean, used coat during the month of October will receive 20 percent off the purchase of a new one."My to-do list tonight: clean out the winter closets and go select a new North Face for 20% off!