My trusty wool winter coat has seen me through every winter I’ve lived in New York (and a few in Cleveland) and has been looking rattier and rattier for it. This is true especially in the inside of the coat where the quilting has worn away and it resembles a bunch of rat pelts sewn together. Time for a new winter coat, one to withstand the brittle temperatures of Colorado and Wyoming, where I’m headed for Thanksgiving.
I took a PATH train to Jersey City after work and it’s convenient that the first stop on the Jersey side is directly across the street from the Newport Centre mall. There’s a Sears there, unlike anywhere in Manhattan, and I purchased a hooded quilted down jacket from the Lands’ End store. It’s rated to keep me warm in -5° weather with a light layer underneath and as low as -20°, pending additional layers. I like that it’s lightweight, has a rain/snow-resistant nylon shell and a set of two pockets both inside and out. Monetarily, I like the fact that, like New York City, there’s no sales tax on clothing in Jersey, plus the fact I was able to snag $10 off at the register after I convinced the salesperson to apply to my coat the $10-off-your-next-purchase coupon she gave me.