Getting and Spending: I buy a c'vest

Well, that poncho post tied the record for most-ever comments, "What Is It About Eileen Fisher?" (My opinion on EF stands.) Thanks to all for your insights, warnings, paeans, and pros/cons.

I'm still on the poncho fence, but here's a piece for which I had an immediate "Yes, please!"

If they can call a shirt jacket a shacket, I'm calling this coat-meets-vest a c'vest, pronounced kuh-vest. (I'm a fan of branding and naming pro Nancy Friedman's blog, fritinancy; this is my Nancy-Fantasy Moment.)

I was in Ottawa, Ontario, for a family occasion last month, so visited my favourite local boutique, Muriel Dombret. Her clothes are very good quality, well-cut, and made on site. The plan was to replace a pair of shiny-seated trousers. 

But instead, I bought a long puffer vest by Coster Copenhagen, drawn to its drift of warmth, matte-brass disc snaps, and small-scale leopard-print lining. 

Though I felt the thwap of a bulls'-eye buy at first twirl, I returned twice to be sure, trying different-weight sweaters under it, and soliciting opinions about size. No one expects a puffer to be sleek, but I wanted the least bulk possible. 

Usually, I am not a vest woman. I tried one of those wide, hip-length sweater vests last year, and donated it because the proportions were off, but admire them on others. 

Long sweater vests are better, but I still feel like Bea Arthur in "Maude".

The puffer vest has a different vibe. Maybe I am still Maude—but a Danish Maude.

 

You might wonder, isn't it way too cold in Montréal for a coat with no sleeves? Yes, at our coldest. But with a thick sweater, I think it will serve until pretty far down the Celsius scale. 

Here's Muriel in hers on a cool Ontario morning:

Photo: Murieldombretclothes, Instagram

I would wear most things at Muriel Dombret; after over two decades as a customer, I trust that her clothes will give pleasure for years. You can order from a selection here. If they have the fabric, the boutique will cut to your specifications.

But enough about me and the c'vest. What have you bought that surprised you? How did it work out?