Some people don't like winter wear; but I do - always have.  I think the cold season is when some of the most gorgeous clothes come out: beautiful, smart suits - luxurious cashmere pieces - and coats.  Yes, I actually like winter coats.  OK, by the time warm weather rolls around again; I'm definitely tired of them and more than happy to put them in the back of the closet.  But when it first gets cold enough to need that overcoat; well, I'm delighted. 

And I always like to see how the designers are going to put a new twist on this wardrobe staple.  Now, check out these coats.  They're all beautiful, and they're from some of the top design houses in the world.  I love them all, but...  Notice a problem with them?

 

 

What are they thinking?  It gets COLD where I live.  Who in the world is going to walk out into the cold and snow - with a short sleeve (or three quarter sleeve) coat on?  Oh sure, you can wear gloves; and yes, the model with the sheepskin Hermes coat has on a heavy sweater.  But really!  This is just dumb.

In fact, one of my own favorite coats (a black cashmere beauty) is also one of my least practical; simply because its long sleeves are too wide.  Yes, they come down past my wrists, and yes, I wear gloves, but - a good stiff wind picks up and that frigid air goes right up those sleeves!  A little fact that never occurred to me as I was twirling around in front of the store mirror - admiring how glamorous the coat looked.  Hm, it's not so glamorous when you're freezing though.

Now, I look at these very handsome coats, and all I can say is: what the heck were they thinking?