After posting on our reluctance to purchase anything resembling a 'fashion coat' this winter, Mayle solved all of our problems. First of all our love for shearling is strong. When we saw shearling this season from Richard Chai, Matthew Williamson, and Preen, we were just about beside ourselves. Shearling is like the morally sound alternative to fur and it's likewise really, really warm. Although we've never donned a pair of UGGs, we've long been fans of shearling. So Mayle, ever the clever indie star, came up with a little shearling caplet which can drape around the collar of your favorite trench or not-so-warm 'fashion coat'. It's darling, really, and might just solve your warmth problem come snowstorm time. The only snag in this plan is that the caplet itself is $240 dollars. Now, that might be nothing to some fashionistas and if so, all the power to you. We do know, however, that not every chicster will want to spend that much post-coat purchase. The only answer we can come up with is to act like Steve Madden and hit up the garment district on a DIY adventure, or, make the fashion coat purchase now and save the caplet investment for later, when you've long forgotten the former investment.

Today we bumped into a gallery of some outerwear options for Fall 08 and found ourselves daydreaming of the possibilities. Alas, we experience this song and dance every season. First we draw up an ideal fall wardrobe, the coat being an integral part of this scene, and shortly after the beloved purchase is made it finally gets cold. We will acknowledge the fact that some places do not get as cold as others and that some people need not walk fifteen blocks from the subway to their apartment but in New York, we do. That said, the coats we buy in September hardly ever make it past the holiday season and maybe, you know, that's fine. We're just saying. Or maybe, you never know, we could think ahead and skip the chic short-sleeve number in favor of something more substantial. Being chic, in any context, means dressing appropriately and yet having your own sense of style. Maybe this season we'll try to think ahead, and leave those coveted short sleeve numbers for the Californians. Below, our best guesses at what might help you brave a harsh winter in New York. Sigh, and below that, the coats we really wish we could wear as our winter jacket.