The Heartbreak of Looking Like the Michelin Man

Photo credit: forum.baby-gaga.com

I’ve renewed my love affair with Boston these last several weeks. Except for a few rainy days, the weather has been sunny and moderate, and the leaves are starting to show just a hint of color. Despite the darkness engulfing the Charles when I launch my boat at 5:30 a.m., it’s still early enough in September that I can see the sun rise before I finish rowing.

Still I have a premonition of what’s to come. The great collection of coats in the huge walk-in closet off my den will come into use as early as November – as will the La Canadienne water proof leather boots now stored on a high shelf.

Blame it on that back to school mentality requiring new clothes, new shoes, and yes, a new coat. Face it, I’m not growing any more, and since I’m fortunate enough to be able to keep my weight stable, everything I’ve got still fits.

I work in an environment requiring professional attire, and I don't think anything in my closet fails to pass muster. But when I checked the coat I count on for bitter cold temps without precipitation, I decided I’m sick of looking at the long, black fitted down coat with fur-trimmed hood I got at Nordstrom’s.

The purchase was made on the recommendation’s Finicky Shopper, Laura Landro, at least two years ago. At under $600, she said the Bogner Fire & Ice coat was the best value among long down coats and also reasonably stylish.

In that same article, she also said that if one were going for the ultimate in style, a Moncler model was available for more than $1000. She said she’d get the Moncler only if it went on sale. But I thought that this would be the year to splurge.

Tonight Dennis and I will be headed to the Bloomingdales in Chestnut Hill. We will carry two large brown cartons, each containing a fire engine red, Moncler down coat. I’d hoped to look as fabulous this winter as the model wearing the coat on Bloomingdales.com.

After opening the first carton, I didn’t need to open the second. As I’ve said before, Dennis is the arbiter on all matters relating to style. Sparing myself the pain of modeling a coat that made me look like I’d rented a Michelin man costume, I put the coat back in the box before my husband could see it.

The question of why I have two coats to return, both the same size, is more complicated. So impatient was I to order the coat one evening last week that I dismissed Dennis’ suggestion that I check to see whether I could save money using a Bloomingdales charge instead of a Visa card.

After checking with Bloomingdales.com, it turned out that Dennis was correct. If I put the coat on the store charge, I could save more than $250. But getting the discount required that I re-order the item.

I’m disappointed that the coat didn’t work out. Next month I can check the department stores on the Magnificent Mile when we’re in Chicago visiting family. In the meantime, I won’t have to subject myself to hearing that voice of judgment. The voice, existing solely in my head, will be that of my mother, saying “You paid nearly $1200 for a glorified ski jacket?”