Just in Time for the 30% off $250 Sale at J. Crew...A Review of the Carlin Coat...

I fell hard for the Double-Cloth Carlin Coat the first time I saw in the catalog back in October. Thing was--I already owned the Camino Coat in dusty blossom, so I said "no" at the time because the Carlin coat was only being offered in a couple of colors. But then...November comes and all of a sudden, it is being offered in wild blackberry. It is basically a deep, rich navy, with slight purplish undertones.

I went to the closest store and tried it on in that color and in a size 6. Both the color and size worked well for me. But at $298, I just couldn't do it. Unh-uh. No, sir. The lady at the store was very sad for me, saying how it could sell out and where would I be then? (I just thought, "yeah, right.") Even if it did sell out, ebay has navy shipleys from last year, so I know I could just buy that instead (even if I don't need the stadium-cloth all that often).

So to end this story (and tell you how I finally bought it), last weekend, J. Crew had a 30% off of coats sale, and that was it...perfect timing...the weather had just turned cold, I was planning on selling a few of my coats (the white coat is spoken for and as of a couple of hours ago, the Lille coat has had some interest), so I knew I could get it and not be all guilt-ridden.

It has come, I wore it last night to go out with Mr. Dina for sushi, and let me tell you, I felt SPECTACULAR wearing it.


Here I am wearing it, opened. I like it this way, and think it makes this very lady-like outfit even more pretty and special. I just wish (and this is my only beef with the coat) that its collar would stand up more like my Sybil coat's collar. It doesn't bug me all that much, and I bet my cleaner could figure it out, but still, a bit irksome.

Don't worry, Rex's grubby little Doritos-chip hands didn't come in contact with the outfit...thank goodness. :) BTW, see little CW peeking behind me? So cute!!!

Oh, the outfit under the coat??? I will be doing that polyvore and post tomorrow. The dress is for sale at Boden, and I do love it. I bought a UK 12, which fit just right.

The outfit was also worn because it is the outfit I wore to do my latest "Mid-Century Mom" post. I spent twenty minutes folding laundry in this get-up. That post will be published this weekend.


Here is the coat buttoned-up all the way and the collar folded down. I do think this way looks very pretty and sweet.


It was (for us) very frigid last night, with temps dipping into the 20s. Yes, Canada, and Boston, and Indiana, that isn't that cold, but for NOVA, we only get temps like that every so often. I probably should have worn the Stadium-Cloth Shipley I have in ivory, but I REALLY wanted to wear this one...so I just kind of dealt and put on a scarf to give me some extra warmth.

The coat here is buttoned-up except for the top button.

If I have piqued your interest, the Carlin Coat can be purchased here. If I haven't piqued your interest, maybe gigiofca can. :)

Have a great weekend...be talking with you soon. No outfit of the day today because I am sitting at home in very casual loungewear. :) I have zero plans to change out of it.