Coats

Elegance does not consist in putting on a new dress.

Coco Chanel

Living in a warm country has lots of benefits, but one thing that you definitely miss is owning a good and warm coat. You just don’t need it, that’s all. You just borrow one from your family and friends when you need one to travel. So this story is about a coat, and not an ordinary one, but about a coat that became my amulet and a real world traveler.

I was born on Valentine's day so my husband used to surprise me with airplane tickets to different countries as my birthday gift. This time it was Venice, Italy. I was very excited, but when we arrived there I put on a yellow ski jacket, which I had borrowed from my brother-in-law. Needless to say, I felt pretty uncomfortable. The ski jacket was warm, but I looked ridiculous wearing this yellow balloon. I enjoyed looking around, seeing beautiful things, shops, architecture, especially because it was carnival time and people walked around in very interesting costumes. I was wearing my yellow balloon jacket and was surrounded by women wearing elegant and beautiful clothes.

Suddenly I saw some window decorations, and I fell in love with a coat in the window. I had a  trick up my sleeve. Knowing that he disliked shopping with me, I told my husband that I needed to check something out in this shop. I don't know, maybe I felt green with envy, but I needed that coat! When I asked to try it on, the coat fit like a glove. It took a few moments, and when I went out, I was already wearing my new coat. From this moment on, I felt that I was dressed to impress. Our whole trip was extremely interesting, happy and accompanied by very nice and sunny weather. I honestly felt that it was thanks to my amulet, my new coat, but it was my secret. 

A year after we visited London in February. London on Valentine's day can be drizzly and grey. Of course, there are red hearts and flowers everywhere, but it is still pretty grey. But not that year! The sun was shining bright, the weather was mild. My husband was surprised, since he had visited London at least four times before, and for the first time he did not need to use his umbrella.

A few years later, we were in Paris in February. Guess what? The skies were blue, the sun was shining. And then my amulet coat visited Berlin with my friend, Prague with my cousin and London again with another friend.

In Canada, I put on my lovely coat on nice days, because it's not warm enough for very cold days. But every time I do, it reminds me of all beautiful places we visited together. And every time I am wearing my coat, I admit that I have this feeling that I am dressed to impress.