So I need a new winter coat,

and of course I’m approaching this with the seriousness and depth of research that other people have when applying to grad school. Right now I’m struggling with the “As a blonde, can I wear a  camel coat or will I look like a beige chameleon?” question. This street style photo (via Refinery 29) proves that it can be done right—I would wear that entire outfit, from the black neck bow to the red notebook.

But this runway photo scares me! What if I forget my colorful scarf or gloves and people mistake me for a giant walking cannoli?

I wouldn’t even be considering camel (if you know anything about me it’s that I’m a “give me a color or give me death!” sort of girl), but I’m having a hard time finding a good coat in brights and jewel tones. I came awfully close to buying this J.Crew double-cloth townhouse trench, $350, last night, since they had a 25% off and free shipping coupon code:

Now that’s a good color, right? And those buttons! But I was scared off by both lukewarm reviews from J.Crew Afficionada commenters and the very high price. If it goes on sale again I might take the leap, but I couldn’t justify it.
So now I’m eyeing this Laundry Wool Trench, $219.99:

I’ve learned that belted dresses are the best way to prevent looking like a refrigerator while all bundled up, and the skirt is also super feminine. But the color. It worries me. On the other hand, perhaps the classic color should comfort me, because this is a long-term investment piece; I’m thinking three winters, minimum. And a good rule of thumb is that if Betty Draper once wore it, you’ll be able to wear it forever.

Here are three more coats I’m considering (and in case you’re wondering, no, I haven’t done any work today):
Tommy Hilfiger Toggle Hooded Coat, $189.99:

Calvin Klein Belted Wool in wine, $209.99:

BB Dakota “Josie” Wrap Coat, $129: (Ok, not really a serious option, but an endearingly silly one)

Timeless Wool Coats on the Cheap

It's been getting really, really cold in New York, and my winter coat is hanging in a closet in Arizona. It'll get shipped here soon, but in the meantime I'm coveting these:

Nine West Belted Hipster, $59.95
I already have a green wool coat, so I can't really justify two (although this one is way better than mine). Adore the forest green collar, the belt, and the wraparound collar. It would make wearing a scarf a little unnecessary, though, and lord knows I love a good scarf.

Kenneth Cole Peacoat, $59.95
A classic in every way. I love a good winter white, too.

Blogiversary!

For some reason I was convinced that February 10th was the big day, but when I check today I saw the truth: Oh My God, Where Did You Get That was born a bouncing baby girl on February 8th, 2008-- which makes today our blogiversary. I still have the yellow legal pad on which Danielle and I brainstormed possible blog names, and some of our rejects are cracking me up. For example, the titles inspired by J.Lo (Don't Be Fooled by the Rocks That I Got) and Miley Cyrus (My Best Friend Leslie Said...) are pretty embarrassing, but also reveal a lot about what sort of music Danielle and I blasted during dance parties. I also like "Our empty, consumer-driven lives," and "We may be broke but we look fabulous." When we started ruling titles out, it came down to OMG or "The Style Section," although now I see that there is a blogspot with that name, although it hasn't been updated since January 24th, 2008. But it's probably good we didn't go with that, because the NYT Style Section has gotten increasingly annoying in the last year, with all this talk of "recessionistas" and how hard it is to live in Manhattan when you're making less than 5 million dollars.

Anyway, we posted 175 times in the last 12 months, which is about every other day. There were busy months and slow months, but thanks for coming by and checking us out anyway. We started with just a handful of readers (pretty much just the contributers, really) and now get around 200-250 people a day, which is mostly thanks to being part of J.Crew Aficionada's blogroll. This is how warm and fuzzy I feel towards J.Crew Aficionada:

J.Crew Cashmere Dog Sweater, $59.99

And here are some more random pieces that sum up how I feel about spending a full year blogging about online shopping:

Catherine Malandrino Chiffon Tank Dress, $620


Quartz Pinata in gold, $135 (I've always dreamed of adding a shiny gold pinata to my Cinco de Mayo parties)

Prada Metallic East-West Tote, $1,760

Bandolino's "Shari" Slingback Pump, $51.75, at Macy's (I love that suede flower!)

Alice + Olivia Asymmetrical Ruffle Skirt, $220

Modcloth's What a Wonderful Coat, $107.99

Hygge and West Gold Dot Ring, $25 (originally $50, on sale until 2/14)

Again, thank you to all our readers, especially those of you who make my day by leaving comments! Also, thank you to my fellow contributers: Danielle, Alex, Andrea and Emily. And thanks to Mindy Kaling, for being our inspiration.

Coats of the Rainbow

I had this brainwave today: I should start collecting brightly colored coats. I already have an olive green one that I really like, but I want sunshine yellow, and crimson, and royal blue, and deep purple, and bright white. I figure that a good coat will last for years and years, and it's not like winter in New York goes by quickly... so why not have a wide assortment of fun coats to choose from when braving the cold?

My first pick is the Old Navy Belted Twill Trench Coat, $49.50, in Cosmopolitan Berry. Ok, since it's 100% cotton it's not really a winter coat-- most stores have stopped selling the heavy wool coats, because apparently January means spring for the fashion world. But that color is so bold, while the design is totally wearable-- it would be perfect for those early spring days when there's a touch of warmth in the air, but you can't put away your tights just yet.




I've already gushed about Michelle Obama's style, but did I mention how adorable and fashionable Sasha and Malia looked at the inauguration? I especially love the blue of Malia's coat, although Sasha's mix of pink and orange is perfect for her age. I love how their coats, designed by J.Crew's kid's line, were similar cuts with shiny ribbons, but they didn't look too match-y, like identical twins or bridesmaids. Anyway, this Gap Funnel neck moleskin coat, $78, is in a similar shade to Malia's coat, although it looks a lot less warm and cozy.







It doesn't get anymore glamorous than a bright red coat. My friend Lish recently posted about a red Marc by Marc Jacobs trench that's to die for-- and, unfortunately, $578. This Forever 21 peacoat, $24.99, is more in my league.

Inaugural Fashion

I have to confess: I love Michelle Obama. I love everything she wears. She can go no wrong in my eyes. She could wear Bjork's swan dress and I'd blog about it, all, "OMG SO CHIC I LOVE HERRRRR!" I feel towards her the way a lot of people feel towards Cate Blanchett, where Cate can wear some crazy metallic alien outfit and her fans proclaim her the hottest woman on the planet, while everyone else scratches her head and thinks, "I don't get it, but I guess she's sort of pulling the 'hot mess' look off." Basically, even if I don't love Michelle Obama's outfit, I love Michelle Obama in the outfit.

By now, I'm sure you've all seen the Toledo yellow coat and dress she wore to the inauguration, and the white Jason Wu gown she wore to the inaugural balls. But just to refresh your memories:



What's to say that hasn't already been said? She turned two lesser-known designers into household names, she made unexpected choices, she opted for her own original look instead of something bland and dull, and she put to shame all the First Ladies that've come before her. Barack is a lucky man, indeed.

One of the reasons I love Michelle is that she makes it OK to love fashion. She is certainly not a frivolous woman, but she has an obvious knowledge of design, trends, and the fashion industry, and you can tell she enjoys playing with clothes and using her outfits to express herself. But she's no Sarah Palin, spending exorbitant amounts of money on attractive but dull clothes-- she knows how to bargain shop, and looks just as good in J.Crew as she does in Narcisco Rodriguez. And she doesn't tsk-tsk those who are as fascinated by her clothes as she is. Notice how she wore her inauguration coat open to reveal the dress underneath, even though it was something like 25 degrees in D.C. She knows that we've been waiting for months to see what she'll wear (and that Isabel Toledo deserves to have her dress shown off as well as the coat), and she's willing to suffer a little bit to give the public what they want. I don't remember where I read this, and it could be untrue, but I've heard that Jackie Kennedy tried to discourage Oleg Cassini from reproducing her looks on a mass-market scale, because she disliked the idea that any American housewife could imitate her couture looks. That's not our Michelle-- Mrs. O is a woman of the people.

So, in honor of our new First Lady and her love for J.Crew (her inauguration gloves and, I believe, shoes were from the Crew, as were Sasha and Malia's adorable outfits), here are a few pieces I could see her wearing around the White House in the near future.

I'm expecting to see a lot of women wearing lemongrass in the future, and this Double-cloth Madeline Coat, $129.99, is a great way to combine a classic coat with a distinct color. If you're looking to invest in a special occasion jacket (because Michelle Obama is certainly not afraid of a little bling), try this metallic jacquard jacket, $89.99.










Boucle fabric is quintessentially Ladies Who Lunch, and no lady lunches better than the First Lady. So I can see our Mrs. President putting her own spin on it with the Astrid Boucle Jacket, $49.99. The bright berry color would look fantastic with her skin tone, and I can see her removing the flower pin and using a vintage pin of her own.





It's perfectly fitting that this silk clutch, $88, is called the "gala clutch," because it would be the perfect accessory for a presidential ball. It comes in a few other colors, including a lovely winter white, but I'm a fan of this optimistic yellow. The big swooping bow is a nice combination of classy and playful-- perfect for complimenting a fancy gown but not competing with it.


Michelle rocked some lovely green heels on inauguration day. These Gayle patent-leather heels, $119.99, are definite showstoppers. The patent leather, suede, and gold buckle are office friendly, but with a lot of personality.


Michelle knows the power of a great printed dress. I think she'd look fantastic in this Grenada palm pleated halter dress, $198, probably dressed down with a matching cardigan. The halterneck would show off her buff shoulders (did I already mention how much I love how she has such a strong, athletic body and she knows how to work it?), and the fuschia against mocha is totally original. I only wish that I had the sort of skintone that would let me look good in this dress, too.

This final dress is a little more restrained, but the shimmery fabric and lovely fabric makes it far from boring. The Watercolor silk taffeta Mcloed dress, $199.99, has cute cap sleeves and a faux-wrap bodice, highlighting her fabulous waist. I could see her wearing this to a afternoon charity tea or something.

Cropped Sleeve Coats

Almost two months ago, a lovely reader by the name of Sarah requested a post on coats with cropped sleeves. I said to myself, "Yeah, I think I can put that together by Halloween," but I obviously failed. I hope, Sarah, that you live someplace where it's still warm enough to wear cropped sleeve coats-- if it isn't, then spring is just around the corner (please don't burst my bubble by saying otherwise). In a way, it's good that I waited, because many of these coats have been reduced from their original prices, because, you know, it's December.

The Gap has a nice selection of impractical-yet-cute outerwear this season. There's this belted coat, $69.99, which is available in a fabulously deep purple as well as a classic navy. I like the buttons on the chest, and with 70% wool content, it'll be warm enough to compensate for your chilly forearms. The tartan plaid version of the same coat is a bit more at $94.99, but I like the rugged fabric paired with a feminine shape. Finally, this Gap peacoat is more short-sleeve, $54.99, than crop-sleeve, but it seems like the perfect thing to throw on on one of those in-between weather days.







Lulu is a shopping site I recently discovered through one of the Lucky Mag shopping blogs, and I'm intrigued by their trendy pieces and very friendly prices, minus the trashiness of a Forever 21. This Fame and Fortune Coat in red, $64, is sophisticated enough for a full-grown woman but could also be easily carried off by a young adult with the right attitude. I adore the fact that the thin patent belt is included, since it really pulls the look together. I'd love to wear this like the model is: with a simple but swinging mod-type dress, and bare arms. It also comes in royal blue (ugh, I hate when shopping sites don't list the different colors of the same product together, so you get all invested in a purple dress before going back to the main page and seeing that it also comes in an adorable shade of hunter green, and it's a surprise Sophie's Choice. I hate being shocked by tough decisions). Other coats from Lulu's that I like: The She's a Vamp trenchcoat, $80 (the gold buttons!) and the Breezy Tuesday Overcoat, $88, (the oversized cargo pockets are badass).







I know I just called F21 trashy, but that won't stop me from checking out their selection of coats with 3 quarter sleeves. After all, it probably makes more sense to invest in a thick, full length coat that you'll wear for multiple seasons, and spend less money on a really fun, trendier coat with cropped sleeves. Like this chic black and white Foliage Silhouette Coat, $39.80. The print could be overwhelming, especially with the double-breasted design, but I think the thick belt helps break it up and keep it eye-catching without being headache-inducing. A simpler, more casual option would be this Hooded 3Q Wool Coat, $49.90. I am the biggest fan of faux-fur hoods, because they allow you to have attend impromptu costume parties-- just throw the hood up and you're an adorable eskimo!


From ModCloth, the Little Plaid Riding Hood Coat, $79.99, hits the sweet spot between being simple enough to be used a canvas for your extra special accessories, and stylish enough to be perfectly cute on its own. The back features a faux-cape; combine it with the velvet-covered buttons and empire waist belt, and you'll feel like a Disney heroine.

The Lola y Maria boutique features this Cropped Navy Lady Coat, for 75% off it's original $300 price: it's just $87.50. With it's cropped length and hook closure, it's really more of a cardigan than a coat. But I'm enamoured with the awesome fabric: a navy textured jacquard shot through with strands of subtle gold. It would look so glamorous as a shrug over a nice holiday dress!


Finally, this is the cropped sleeve coat I would buy if money were no object: the Alice + Olivia Sophia Jacket, $440. Check out the how perfectly the yellow accents compliment the greyish-purple fabric, how the spread collar and hidden button snaps give it a thrown-on feel, how the belt and the crazy cape sleeves make you look like you might have wings... I adore it all. Typical A+O.



So, again, Sarah, I'm sorry it took me forever and a day to get to your request! I hope this was helpful! Anyone else who wants to shout out a request, I will have a lot more time starting next week (woohoo, Christmas break!) and promise to put all my online shopping resources at your disposal.

More Mod Cloth

Let's jump right into the cuteness with the Moroccan Trench, $89.99. I'm in love with the orange piping and high collar on this coat-- I would feel so coy and mysterious wearing it, like I was an undercover spy who must work with her ex-lover in order to infiltrate a coterie of Parisian intelligence experts. But even if I was just running errands on a crisp October day, this coat would add an extra bit of excitement to my life.

The Parisian Trench, $94.99, is a little bit less dramatic, but it has a "Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby" feel that could work for the right girl. The Peter Pan collar is fun and playful, but I'm not a fan of the cropped sleeves--they're good for rainy spring days that hover between chilly and warm, but for fall you don't need frozen forearms.


This coat is unabashedly girly, all lace and empire waist. The Baroque Brocade Coat, $74.99, is what I would wear on a first date with Prince Harry, in order to prove that I would be worthy for inclusion in the House of Windsor. Brocade is such a classic, so the traditional fabric mixed with the flirty cut results in a beautiful, feminine coat.


My final coat, the Mod Evening Stroll Coat, $114.99, has a more refined shape, but the daisy-print buttons and sleeve buckle add youthfulness. You really can't go wrong with a navy dress coat, especially one that looks like it would have been just as stylish in 1960 as it does today.


Moving on from coats, check out the Royal buttoned skirt, $34.99. I don't need to mention my love for all things nautical, so naturally I love this because it fits right in with my sailor-girl aesthetic. It reminds me of something Blair would wear on Gossip Girl, as she executes her schemes with military precision and long, long legs.


I realized after doing the John Krasinski/man cardigans post that I was totally remiss in not giving due to Pam Beesley and her adorable receptionist cardigans. Expect me to correct that oversight very soon, but in the meantime, Mod Cloth has the wittily named Winking Violet Cardigan for $49.99. This is totally a season 4 Pam cardigan, when she was wearing her hair down and glowing with Jim love, and no longer wearing drab colors and flat fabrics. The greyish beige color of this sweater is unremarkable, but it makes the violet buttons and ribbon totally pop.


Mod Cloth also has some fabulous shoes. I've never been a big fan of the Oxford heels trend, but the Literary Love Heels, $129.99, are a great spin on it. By taking the penny loafer and adding a chunky heel, Mod Cloth created a shoe that's both sexy and smart. I'd love to wear these with some dark grey tights and a pencil skirt. I just wish there was a little spot to slip a penny.


These shoes make me wish it was Valentine's Day: by Chinese Laundry, the Be Mine Peep-Toes, $43, are way romantic. The suede heart on the toe and patch on the heel are nice counters to the tougher patent leather, and the pleating on the sides brings it all together nicely. Personally, I'm not a big fan of the kitten heel; I find it harder to balance on a one-inch peg than on a three inch heel, for some reason. But the kitten heel does have a certain demure appeal that can't be denied.


These Darjeeling Express flats, $34.99, are more funky option. The pointed toe, perforated top, and big ass buckle across the toe are all fun and surprising, plus the great blue color is very eye-catching. I'd love to have these kicking around the back of my closet for those days when I'm running late for class but want to do better than my beat-up black flats.


One of my roommates always teases me for wearing belts with no purpose (although I'd argue that defining my waist in a looser dress is an essential purpose), but this belt is so faux-practical that even Alex would approve. The Hipster Holster Belt, $24.99, has two little pockets on the side to put some cash or ID or something. So much classier than stuffing those things in your bra, right?




Nothing pulls together a Saturday night outfit like a pair of dangling gold earrings. These Cascading Earrings, $12.99, are perfect for any sort of occasion when you want to seem a bit come-hither.


The Mint Condition bag, $39.99, is as simple and refreshing as a scoop of mint ice cream. The embellishments are simple: studded rivets on the side, braided straps. The color is the real star here, although I'd be terrified of setting it on the floor and getting it smudged or dirty. It's the purse equivalent of the new Cadillac your dad bought with his bonus, but then won't let anyone bring food or soda near it. That's why the name "Mint Condition" is so perfect-- the beauty of this bag is how flawless it is.