Fossilized

The Fossil 2010 holiday gift guide arrived today.  Leafing through...nice stuff.  Great crossbody bags, and lots of vintage-inspired accessories:  watches for ladies and gents, woolly hats and scarves, colorful flower pins, glitzy necklaces and earrings.  Lots of bright shiny things that will broaden your smile and brighten your day.

But the coolest and most craved accessory for this blogger is the Fossil Maddox tote. It's large. It's loud. It's $228. It's perfect.

This is a fabulously psychedelic hunk of leather that would work with everything you own.  Working it on the weekdays, and on  Saturday for errands and a gossipy lunch (with wine) with your best friend.

Put it at the top of your list for Santa Baby!

Vintage Coats

The brisk winds of autumn are kicking up again, and it’s time to pull on colorful tights and cashmere-lined gloves.  Biker jackets, pea coats, trenches and hoodies will keep you snug as a bug in a rug, but if you really want to work the personal style, vintage coats are your ticket.

I have three vintage coats (see pics below) and each one makes a unique style statement.  Each coat was bargain priced and proves that you can get more for less.  Here's how to make the best choices.  Study labels and fabrics. Watch Douglas Sirk movies or films from the French New Wave.  Read about Studio 54 and check out the outrageous fashions of the 1970s.  Scan the wonderous street styles on The Sartorialist!  Then visit Goodwill, the Salvation Army, local resale stores.  Spend $20, look like a million bucks and be warm as toast.

Village Thrift Find

The main reason that I bought this coat was its price--$5.  It's from the now-defunct Village Thrift Store chain where I also found a pleated black wool crepe  Chanel skirt for $5.  Needless to say, this shopper's diligence paid off! 

I’ve worn this coat to parties where the “hip” vibe was stratospheric.  It’s big (great for layering), warm and the fur collar is Cocker Spaniel-cuddly! 

Franklin Simon Evening Coat

This beautiful coat belonged to my mom. When I was a kid, she wore it when she and my dad went to cabarets and parties that lasted into the wee hours of the morning.  If this coat was on her shoulders there was a sweet overnight stay ahead for me at my grandmother’s or great aunt’s house.

It's an adorable cover up for sexy velvet evening skirts, crystal-studded sweaters, rows of silk ruffles and ropes of pearls.  For day, this is a glamorous head turner.  I would never wear this coat without stepping up my game, so I wear it with my current favorite lipstick color, Bobbi Brown’s Burnt Red.

Ercoli Coat

I was introduced to the Ercoli brand in 1996.  Their boutique always gave me a kid-in-a-candy store high with their dizzying spinning wheels of color splashed all over comfortable, wearable clothing.  It was a place where I could find delightful overdyed wallpaper print dresses and jackets that reminded me of Aunt Bert’s sofa print. 

I spotted this coat on a rack while shopping in their South Philadelphia warehouse.  I asked how much, was told $10, and immediately snatched it up.  I can wear it anywhere.  It’s fabulous for day, always gets second looks and tons of compliments.  It’s a lush, jungle green tapestry which lends a springtime air to chilly days.