Winter white from Kenneth Cole Reaction.

No white after Labor Day?  Please.  One of my favorite trends of recent years is the white or cream-colored winter coat.  Living in an urban area where I go everywhere on foot, they’re 100% impractical.  Which is probably why I love them so much.  There are few things as gorgeous on an awful winter day as a woman chicly bundled in a winter-white coat, defying the elements and the gray street slush.  Sure, they require a little extra effort to keep clean, but they’re that little bit of luxury and cheer in the most depressing of seasons.

I, um, already own one (a long Soia & Kyo coat from a couple of years ago), but that has not kept me from desperately lusting after this great number from Royal Underground.  (The chevron detailing on the sleeves?  Shoot me now.)  After the jump, the results of my vicarious romp through the online stores in search of this season’s best.

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Gorgeous Ted Baker at Bluefly -- too bad it's not his size.

So, I mentioned last month that despite my talking big in March about being the most conspicuously single Femme, I recently started dating someone.  (Amusingly enough, a friend of The Ex’s, and a guy who I’ve known for years and whose Hidden Talents I have mentioned in previous posts.)  One of the most entertaining parts about dating a new guy?  Dressing him up after your own tastes, of course!  Assuming he’s cooperative, there is a special kind of fun in ignoring his actual wardrobe and putting him in exactly the outfit in which you think he will look the hottest.  This is particularly true if you have been admiring said guy’s looks for several years but have not previously been in a position to do anything about it.  Now that we’ve been dating for a couple of months, I figure this is all fair game.

Despite the fact that I’ve known The Man With The Hidden Talents for years, what I didn’t know is that he has a previously hidden talent for hoarding plaid.  He has a truly impressive collection of button shirts, long and short sleeved, in a rainbow array of plaids.  I don’t really have a problem with that — there’s nothing wrong with plaid in concept.  It’s in execution that it becomes problematic.  Anyone with eyes can hardly have failed to notice there are some really horrifying plaids out there.  I decided this would be the perfect opportunity to exercise my fashion talents/treat him like a giant doll and play dress up.  He needs a few more shirts that are not plaid, for choice green.  (He also has several shirts that snap rather than button, but I’ve decided to leave that alone.  I was initially unconvinced by the snap thing, but I am willing to admit I’ve been converted to the point that I suspect he is slightly sorry for having convinced me.  Snap shirts do in fact provide good entertainment value.  Particularly in public.)  And hey, I have time on my hands!

After the jump, my quest for good men’s fashion… which turned out to be a little harder than I expected it to be.

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I swear to God, I want to not like these clothes.  I tried, I really did.  But I just cannot help myself.  Ever heard of Royal Underground?  It’s my secret sin.  Yes, that’s right, I love a clothing line designed by NIKKI SIX.  You heard me.  Motley Crue’s Nikki Six.  He and Kelly Gray of St. John founded the clothing line in 2006, originally for men, and subsequently expanded the collection to women’s wear.

My mind rebels against the idea of wearing anything designed by a member of Motley Crue, but honestly?  One look at some of these pieces and my inner rocker chick screams to be released.  I am hardly the most punk girl in existence.  I went to LAW SCHOOL, for God’s sake.  But really, some of the line is pretty great.  They lean toward casual wear featuring graphic designs and a rocker edge, be it rhinestones or an artistically frayed hem and cuffs.  The result is pieces that are surprisingly sophisticated and totally wearable.  Since I’m coming out, here are some of my favorites.

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