An indelibly painful memory I have from an otherwise very pleasant childhood is that of my mother routinely zipping my lower lip up into my coat, mummifying my face within some blanket-of-a-scarf, and rolling my human burrito body toward the school bus each morning.
Oh, and how unfortunately ugly were those coats! Always two sizes too big so as to allow for a heavy wool sweater underneath, bright ugly colors, gross toggle buttons. At eight years old I looked like America Ferrera in Ugly Betty, episode 1. Regrettably, many moms, like mine, have the same unwritten standard when it comes to their kids: Keep warm. Not fashionable. You cannot, CANNOT, do both.
As an adult, I now relish winter shopping with hyper elation. “What’s that you say? This tailored trench is made of 100% wool and lined in shearling? Yes please! I’ll take two…Also, what’s your return policy?” No more stifling fabrics and boring silhouettes, layering purely for the purpose of not freezing to death. No tiny metal zipper teeth eating away at my face. Am I alone in this? Were you too mummified as a child and now are desperately enthusiastic when buying your own coats and jackets?! Let’s bond over these first world problems.
Develop an unhealthy fixation, rooted in painful childhood memories of critical lameness, on outerwear. Here are 5 trends guaranteed to start you down the path of layer dependence.
5 Fall Trends
Each day this week, Chicagoings.com will be featuring street style that incorporates one of these trends in an inimitable way. I can tell you, I’m sincerely inspired by what we found on these here Chicago streets.
Check the blog every day this week for cold weather tips. Stay cool and keep warm!