And the obsession for this season is...

... the same as has been for the last couple of seasons and is an itch that I've failed to scratch. 

A black cardigan, coaty, long thing.  You can perhaps see the dilemma in locating said item.  It not actually existing being the main stumbling block.  But it so should.  Oh it really really should.  

I can find them in beige, in khaki, in grey - I have an amazing grey speckled one from last year (it's nicer than it sounds) but I want one in black, goddamnit.  Too much to ask?  Apparently.  Proverbial rocking horse poo. 

I should probably explain that I do in fact have one.  Which is now 8 years old?  Maybe 9.  It's a boiled wool Ronit Zilkha gem that I bought as I really wanted the (when they did it) long Joseph one but at about three times the price RZ one, I couldn't afford. 

The Ronit Zilkha number has served me well and I have worn it to death.  Which you can tell.  If I told you the dog had slept in it, you would believe me.  But I still love it.  I really really do.  

So I'm looking for a replacement.   Boiled wool would be ideal.  Maybe not quite as drapey as mine.  I bought it when waterfall cardigans were all the rage (as was using the phrase "all the rage" - all the apologies) and I can't *quite* get past that when I wear it.  That and I sort of feel like I am wearing a dog blanket. 

How hard can it be to find one of these?  Very is the answer.

I found nothing - even the budget went out of the window for research purposes - that came close. 

This was *vaguely* on spec.  But not right.  However it is a cardigan, it is black, it's by a great Danish designer and it's a good price.  Maybe I should order just to prove it's not right (the sort of phrase the husband wants to weep at).

Selected Femme SFDARLA in black £84.99

And then I found this in the coat section.  So it's a coat.  And I really wanted a cardigan.  Although I did say a cardigan coat thingy so I guess I could consider a coat. 

J Lindeberg Mava wool coat £199




Which opened up a whole new avenue of thought - aka I could stop looking at a whole load of really dull, black cardigans which were so not what I had in mind. 

But you know what they say - when something doesn't go quite right, yell PLOT TWIST and carry on. 

Hence we are now looking at black coats.  Ta Dah!  Since it's not exactly cold yet, we're looking at lighter ones that we can layer up.

New Look Side Split Maxi Coat £44.99 in black pattern.  Which is basically grey.  Love this but I don't want and definitely don't need grey.  However if you could go grey, this is amazing.



Monki Duster Coat £60  From now on we have monochrome loveliness.  I adore the styling of all these.  Black, white, pared back, mimimal, Scandi - ok hands up who else wants to throw away everything coloured in their wardrobe and dress like this?  ME ME ME (until tomorrow, but hell for today, this is me and then some).  Proving the point that we all need a black coat (cardigan thingy...).





Monki Minimal Duster Coat £65




Another tailored mac from Sisley £125



Selected Longline Tailored Coat £135



Only Maxi Long Wool Coat £75



But... but but but I feel I may have struck pay dirt at Mango.  Ok so admittedly this isn't what I started looking for but I have loved my grey (not remotely similar so ignore me - this has been a labour of love which needed wine to help the creative juices) one from Whistles last year and this is similar.  At a fraction of the cost. 

Handmade Coat from Mango in black £89.99






And I'll be honest - I am now totally black coated out.  I have also had another small glass of wine and what was helping the research is now hindering it so I'm signing off in time for Bake Off.  I'll be benchmarking this for another day but have high hopes for the Mango number.  Who knew finding a black coat thingy could be so difficult?

Hair yesterday was bad - hair today doesn't look hugely better as I did have it coloured but opted for an Olaplex treatment which I had to leave in for four hours so it looks even worse than when I started.  As I mentioned on Insta - I also decided to try the "wear your bag higher" cross body stylee as is "the trend" this season.  Frankly, I felt like a tit.  Which is slightly irritating as it's a vintage bag so only has a shorter strap clearly designed to be a shoulder bag and not cross body.  Hmmm... need to think this one through.  Any suggestions?  The husband looked at me like I had two heads and said "if it's supposed to be a shoulder bag, why not use it as a shoulder bag".  " Because I feel like my gran?" wasn't met with much sympathy.  So maybe I should just embrace the shoulder bag....




Navy slogan tee - Zoe Karssen
Navy blazer - Alexa Chung at M&S
Jeans - Zara
Red Superstar sneakers - Golden Goose
Vintage navy bag - Gucci

And how warm exactly was it today?  Which is why I have a slogan tee on and not a slogan jumper.  




We all know I love a slogan jumper so writing my newest article for The Pool wasn't remotely difficult.  Hope you like it (sorry - two doses of me in one day....).