Style needs

I really do need an overcoat. I have quite the collection of blazers, but nothing to wear over them in the colder weather. Most of the overcoats I try on are too long and make me feel like I am playing dress up in my father's clothes. Personally, they look best when they hit around the knee. The other problem is that I like my clothes fitted, so if I am tempted to buy an overcoat, I end up buying a size that is too small to fit over a blazer.

Problem solved. This Dries Van Noten Fall/Winter '09 black wool overcoat has amazing details, from the heavy wool melton fabric (that seems indestructible), to the roped shoulders, to the more casual slash pockets (lined in corduroy) to keep my hands warm. Even the thick real horn buttons are beautiful. But the subtle Luxury that pushed me over the edge is the white flannel lining under the collar, a recurring theme in the show, which I will be showing off all winter. I loved trying on the dramatic long double breasted model, but I am not tall enough to carry it off. I bought the shorter single breasted version instead. I have always believed that the simplest things are the hardest to design: The Perfect Black Coat.

Available at IF Boutique Soho (212) 334-4964.