I haven’t been back to Neiman Marcus to drool on the coat I fell in love with the other day, but I really haven’t needed to: You guys have kept the item very much in my mind — and I love it!
The huge response to this velvet-quilt dream garment has been super fun. Some PaperGirl readers stoked my desire for that puppy and encouraged me to get it, like Melissa Seegers, who said, “Buy it! You only live once!”
Slightly more of you were reticent about the whole business, seeing as how a person could get an actual automobile for the coat’s ticket price. Not a great automobile, mind you, but if I put $1,850 toward a car I could drive to Iowa a couple times at least, or maybe make it up to Washington Island once or twice, including fuel and McDonald’s.
Pamela Keown said, “Mary! You are a seamstress! All quilters are seamstresses. You can have this coat. Start looking for fabrics. And get busy if you want to wear it this year. If next year is soon enough, you’ve got some time. You CAN DO IT!!”
Oh, Pammie-Pam-Pam. In a fantasy-unicorn-dark-matter-galaxy-of-wonder, I have time to do this and I love your faith in me, but in this galaxy, it ain’t gonna happen. I adore you for suggesting I make a facsimile of a Paris-based, Vogue-darling designer’s velvet coat on my own. It’s a good solution, but it is not the solution for Mary at this time.*
After all the discussion (you know I read all your comments and love them, even if I can’t often respond), I remain resolute: Though it’s true the coat would make me a superhero, it would be irresponsible of me to purchase it right now in my life. I will have to be a superhero in my other coats, which I think is possible. No, there will be no Isabel Marant Log Cabin velvet coat for me, not yet. But I’ll be okay. (Oh, I’m sorry — let me just … wipe these tears off of my laptop … No, no, it’s okay. I’m fine. I’m just allergic … to … sadness. Really, I’m good. Is there a bartender? Anywhere?)
The other fun thing about the coat post was being surprised that so many people were eager to respond with their thoughts on the situation. (Same for the copyediting post!) I’ve written here on the ol’ PG about fashion before, you know; if you click on the “Fashion” category there on the righthand side of the screen, you will see all the posts that I’ve ever written here that have to do with clothes, style, etc. I think this special coat has been the most popular of the Fashion posts and I’m sure it’s because it’s quilty-looking. That’s just fine with me. But it made me wonder if I had another Fashion post in me that would garner this much discussion.
I think I do.
Tomorrow, I’m going to post about the things that look good on me and the things that are a disaster. It’s a balanced list, believe me; at 38, I have a solid understanding of what looks great on me — or, at least, what I feel great wearing, which is usually the same thing?? — and what makes me feel (and look) like the dog’s breakfast.
I’ll bet you’ve got your list, too, but don’t tell me, yet! Tell me when I give you my “style guide,” as it were. That’s for tomorrow.
You know what I love? I love writing this blog. I love that you’re out there and you’ve been out there all this time. We have a good thing going, don’t we, now.
Goodnight,
Mary
p.s. I just thought about how Isabel Marant should offer to send me any quilt-like garments to wear as promotional items!!! Seriously, do you think I should write to her??? Okay, okay: dumb idea. But what if I organized a letter-writing campaign and we flooded her office?? #lol #seriouslythough #maryfonsformarant
*special shout out to Jeanne B. who told me Santa may have heard my plea. Yo, Santa! How you doin’??
Beverly Dilges
As a love of velvet and fashion I can see you in a designer velvet coat in a beautiful eggplant (purple) or a black! And if you had that it would last forever and you would always look like a movie star (as in movie star when there were beautiful clothes for them to wear–think Doris Day in her many 1960’s movies). A traditional, elegant coat would never be out of style! And I would love to see this coat–really! Where can I find it?
Cressa
Maybe you should do a gofundme and see if any of your fabulous readers would like to contribute to the acquisition of the lovely coat
Kerry
Thank you for the early morning ear worm! I now have Michael Jackson singing in my head – and I only remembered the “good thing going” and had to look up the song da da dada da!
We neeeeed you to have that coat one way or another (nooooo exchange Michael for Blondie song) because we knows you wants it. I’m sure you are not on the naughty list, so Jeanne B must be right!
Just don’t bother with the choo choo dress in the photo – they are just fancy brooms – oh the dirt on that floor! Wine spillages, food particles and goodness knows what else! It may not end up being a gold colour – just sayin’!
Robin Smith
My daughter “visits “ clothes. If they come into her willing to pay area, she buys them. Although, I suppose designer clothes don’t often do that.
Marianne ten Kate
I’m so glad that the ‘hurricaine’ auction quilts are out the door and on their way to their new homes, otherwise I would have advised you to put Forest Preserve on Ebay and get yourself that coat. But that would be wrong on so many levels as the people of Puerto Rico really need that donation and I really want that quilt! Luckily, our better selves have triumphed – or at least yours has – and we need to trust the universe to bring you THE coat of your dreams when the time is right and that a trusty mail carrier will safely deliver FP! Meanwhile, the fact that you share your struggles with us is truly enlightening and the fact that your better self triumphed is heartening. Who knew a quilted coat had so much to teach us!?
Anita Roy
Maybe just try it on by photoshopping THE coat and YOUR head to see how it “fits” you?
(My momma said sometimes you’ve just gotta scratch that itch….then you’re okay,)
Melinda Seegers
Write to her. What have you got to lose? If you don’t, you’ll obsess about not writing— and you know how that goes.
Rita
Mary, you are a super girl for realizing that at this point in your life the coat is not for you. Just put it in the back of your mind, think about it once in awhile. Then remember what your goals are for this point in your life. Who knows what the future holds. Your future looks very bright.
Nancy McFall
I think this coat has hit a cord with all of us because we all have that ONE item we wish we’d bought. *Sigh*
Lindsey
I think that coat is awful. Don’t you want one that shows you off instead of one that competes with you? The suggestion of one in a classic color with fabulous scarves is a better way to go, imho.
Marilyn Jackson
I tried writing a few days ago and it wouldn’t go through.
Get the coat!
Does it fit? Do you have a credit card? Is it a business expense, as in, you will wear it to all your presentations, lectures, classes, TV spots, etc? Will you think about it for the rest of your life?!
How many things in life are we sure are just right?! Make yourself afford it.
Get the coat.
Cynthia
Mary,
First…go try on the coat. Maybe you won’t actually like it on yourself. If you do like it, note the size and everything about it on the label. Then in a few months to a year you can scout out a gently-used coat on Ebay or high end thrift shops. You may still have a chance.
Jan C.
I didn’t like the coat,
I don’t care for the pineapple pattern, it moves! And, to me, the coat looks like a living test-pattern.
Since there are so many positive responses to the coat, I thought maybe I’m missing something. My mother used to have the expression, “her taste was all in her mouth” and I want to be fair in my assessment of The Coat ~ is my taste bad? Am I swimming upstream against the flow? Am I just too old to appreciate a “new” thing of beauty? I went back to the picture of it to check my memory of it. Nope. Still a test-pattern. Maybe it looses something in the translation from real to photo. However, another expression is, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”.
As the coat is as costly as a small car, it will be there for a while, maybe a long while. Go visit it like you would an old friend, or a favorite work of art in a museum. .
Tracy
I once bought the most beautiful sweater I’d ever seen. I was a student and couldn’t afford it but bought it anyway. There was an incident with a friend who borrowed it (long story) that ruined my enjoyment of the sweater. I kept it for years, protected in a nice box but every time I took it out, I just could not wear it. I finally gave it away and felt much better. I’m just trying to say that sometimes it is better to have loved and let it go. If I had never bought the sweater I might still have a friend. We didn’t fight, just drifted apart and I think guilt on her part and resentment on my part had a lot to do with it. It’s up to you, of course, but I’m just saying. Love your blog and look forward to seeing you on Fons and Porter again someday. You are very good on that show! I used to watch once in a while when I thought of it, but when you started, I made sure to watch-even the reruns.
Pat Hicks
Dear Mary, I just heard today that you in my stomping grounds. Springfield. also in the very quilt store where I once worked. We were only a few miles apart. You could have seen one of your Paper Girl devotees. So close and yet so far away. Of course my old boss said she couldnt tell me a bout it. I still love u anyway hopefully sdomeday we will meet.
Susan S
Maybe it will remain long enough to go on — if you’re meant to have it. On the other hand having is not the same as wanting, to quote Mr Spock. And would you wear the coat or would the coat wear you? It is very in your face. Good luck whatever you decide!
Susan S
On clearance. .. Dang!
Sus
It’s on sale… Go get it!
High Fashion Temps Me Again With Ugly/Fabulous Quilt-Inspired Item! - Mary Fons
[…] cool $240. Which isn’t as much as the velvet Log Cabin coat (on which I realize I need to do a final update.) But still. That’s some bread and even though I have a new job, it’s still part-time. […]