When the AB and I were first together, Fashionable Reader, we went shopping on Haight Street. I find this is a good test of any relationship. Because, frankly, I can out shop almost everyone I know, with few exceptions, and it requires serious stamina to even keep up. The AB proved up to the task, if not entirely happy about the unexpected marathon. I walked away from that epic jaunt with two new jackets, one of them The Big Pink Moving Blanket of Doom. I can't remember the details but I suspect I paid something around $200 for it.
Early on in our relationship, as it was, the AB was circumspect with opinions. Eventually, however, the AB dubbed this the Great Pink Moving Blanket of Doom. And frankly, it does seem a bit like a moving blanket, what with the wide grosgrain trim. I love this jacket. Love it!
Of course, living in the San Francisco Bay Area, I rarely get an opportunity to wear it. But it came with me to Edmonton in November and than recently to New York during a Polar Vortex and earned its space in my closet. The zipper is not a YKK and gives me trouble on occasion, I've had it fixed 2x already, and will probably have to replace it entirely. And, of course, it's a horribly impractical color, but I do love it so.
It's a high-low hem cut with a cross over zipper that fit over the Rack. Its almost drop-waist look is made less frumpy by being basically form fitting, which also keeps it from looking as bulky as most large winter coats would on a curvy figure.
The sleeves on my pink coat fit perfectly, and are long and slender. Although sometimes I wish I had a bit more room to layer sweaters under, I find that this coat and a cashmere sweater can take me, at least for the space of an hour minute walk, into well bellow freezing. I do think, in the end, it was worth investing in a quality coat that stands out. Let me just say, in NY (land of black) and Edmonton (land of puffy) this jacket
stands out!
Despite the unique cut I think of this pink coat as a maxi coat, and here's a bit of a retrospective on the breed. I'm thinking in terms of both high low, pink, and maxi coats.
For Lord Akeldama a cut away or swallow tale jacket (the original high-low?):
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| 1790s The Los Angeles County Museum of Art |
The early 1800s we see the pelisse...
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| 1820 Pelisse The Metropolitan Museum of Art |
For Dimity after the Finishing School series...
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| 1863-1867 Skating Ensemble The Metropolitan Museum of Art |
For Lady Kingair after the Parasol Protectorate series...
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| 1885 The Metropolitan Museum of Art |
For Ivy after the Parasol Protectorate series...
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| 1885 Dressing Gown The Metropolitan Museum of Art |
Note the steampunk style and the influence from the earlier pelisse?
For Prudence, Primrose, and company in the Custard Protocol series...
1890 Worth coat; 1891; 1898 The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Custard girls are very brand loyal to House of Worth.
The turn of the century and beyond...
1900 Evening Coat Jean-Philippe Worth The Metropolitan Museum of Art; 1900s Antique Dress
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| 1902 Evening Coat ean-Philippe Worth, The Metropolitan Museum of Art |
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| 1934 Dressing Gown The Meadow Brook Hall Historic Costume Collection |
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| 1949 Evening Coat Charles James, The Metropolitan Museum of Art |
(I actually have one similar to the one above, only in deep royal blue, and slightly more robe like. For some reason I always forget to wear it.)
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| 1955 Coat Valentina The Metropolitan Museum of Art |
1968 Shannon Rogers, The Metropolitan Museum of Art (BEST COAT EVER!); 1968 Wedding Coatdress The Victoria & Albert Museum
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| 1980 Arnold Scaasi, Augusta Auctions |
Retro Rack is also on
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