my soul mate

So I am a cold person. And no I do not mean I'm cold emotionally (in this case at least). I mean I get cold very very easily and I usually still shiver underneath a heavy coat on a cold winter's day.

Then about 2 years ago I happened upon a coat that changed all this. Unfortunately the very same coat elicited the initial reaction of "I bet it's really comfortable!" from people which is like the apparel equivalent of people saying of a single guy people want to set you up with as "he's really nice!". Doesn't speak much of the aesthetic appeal.

I remember when I bought this coat as well. I happened upon it at Banana Republic on the sale rack and noticed it had been marked down from 300 dollars to 40.

So what if it was a size medium and I was a was a size extra small? Who cared that it was a long puffy giant black coat that even fashion victims like myself know shouldn't be warn baggy?

As I eagerly tried it on, I felt like I had found a diamond in the rough. Unfortunately when I turned to gage the reaction of friend he looked at me like I resembled a giant piece of coal.

I bought it anyways (the Asian in me couldn't let the good deal go by). When I finally wore it to work a friend confided in me that I looked like I was wearing a sleeping bag.

She was right, but at this point I didn't care. For the first time in my life I could step outside in 5 degree wind chill factor and still feel toasty. It covered almost all of me had a giant hood which made it possible for me to walk long distances in the rain without an umbrella. Looking like the grim reaper late for an appointment when I did was just a bonus.

You know that feeling you have in a cold winter's day when you're under your thick comforter and you don't know why you have to get up from under that warm cozy goodness? Wearing the coat was like wearing a giant comforter. But with arms.

Alas after two years my shield against the elements started to literally break apart. Battered and warn I packed it away when I moved to Paris.

Recently during my walks from the metro to the office, I started to feel the cold crisp air of winter through my wool winter coat and started to think about my sleeping bag coat and considered the possibility of investing the money into get it repaired and dry cleaned. Then this past weekend I was browsing one of my favorite second hand stores in Paris when I saw it.

Almost the exact twin of my sleeping bag coat except it was from the Gap and had a duller fabric than the shiney synthetic of it's sister store BR. Otherwise it was the same. From the zipper to the buttons, same style, same color. Size medium. 30 euros.

Call me crazy but it's like my coat had died and reincarnated itself to find me again in that second hand store just when I started to really miss it. Second hand store, second chances. The message was clear.

It's a happy ending.