New Red Coat

OK, I really didn't need to shop but I just love walking around Greenwich. I also have this desire to pop into Brooklyn Industries when on Christopher and Hudson to check their sales rack. I've been super lucky at times to score wool lined pants for $9.99 and superslim cut jeans for $19.99, which I just happened to be wearing today. Some of the jersey stuff is sloppy and the cuts for women can often look bulky but they often pull off urban with a edge and I like that. I also like their T-shirts. Today their long down coat caught my attention as I've noticed on long walks through the blustery city that I wished my down jacket were longer. Well this coat has it all. It's quilting is angles to draw the eye down and up, not across the body thus giving it a slim look. I don't look like a Macy's balloon in it. It has three interior pockets one of which has a little port hole for your iGear. What caught my eye were the thumb-button holes in the wrist cuffs. This is so you can put your thumbs in them and keep the coat snuggly fit over your wrists and half of your hand. This leaves your fingers free to surf your iTouch while waiting for the subway or bus. The sale guy also pointed out some other cool features like the gap in the cuff and sleeves so you can easily just tuck your hands in there as if it were a muff. Love that! and the hood is zipper detachable and comes lines in a non-static fabric so your hair won't get all Jim Jarmusch after walking around all day. Pluses - no velcro to catch on sweaters and gum up with hair, machine washable. Negative - made in CHINA :( Plus - the back also has a zipper bottom for walk-ability and venting and it has two collar snaps and a drawcord to snug up the hood for those blustery days. It's like the coolest sleeping bag coat EVER, except for that damn China thing. I'll assuage that guilt by noticing how they use tags made of 100% recycled paper and bag up your goods in reusable bags (although I always use my own bag).

Question - Why do I never see long-length down coats for men? You'd think we women, who tend to have more 'padding' on our thighs and butts, would be more insulated than guys from the hips down. Men in general, however, tend to not get as cold as women so maybe they just don't feel the cold on their a** and legs when winter blows. Or maybe they like that feeling. Makes 'em feel like their lumberjacks or Alaska frontiersmen.