I got to a few stores in Toronto this afternoon to compare trenches. The raspberry London Fog trench at the Bay is a totally different style and fabric than the black one I got. NOT the same species of coat at all. The one I got is "exclusive to the Bay" and is a more classic cut and style, as well as a more water repellant fabrication. But since I was there, I gamely tried the pink one on, and—honestly, I don't THINK I am imagining this—the sales assistant had to cover a smirk.

And really, I couldn't blame her.

I also looked at the Classic Trench in Banana Republic. As Zapotee reports, it is a lovely coat. And it is also on sale. But it was no better looking on me than the one I bought already, and it was no better made, either. At least as far as I could tell. And, like the one I bought, it is black. So that battle came out a draw.

Then I went to Zara where I found a navy trench. I think it's this one, although here I can't see the gold exposed zipper pockets that were on the one I tried.

I didn't bother taking it to the dressing room; I just put it on over top of my blazer right out there in plain view. And I hadn't even got it completely on, when another customer came by, gave me the once over, and leaned towards me confidentially.

"It doesn't look good," she said.

Wow. I felt like I was channelling Claire on one of her shopping expeditions! Since when do strangers give me unsolicited sartorial advice?

Um...maybe since I started trying on clothes that look so BAD on me?

This coat really did look lousy. It was a really awkward length on me, it didn't layer well over my jacket (even though I sized up), it was uncomfortable, and then I could tell immediately that those groovy zip pockets would drive me nuts. I kept looking for REAL pockets to put my hands into, but these were placed in a way so as to make that impossible.

So I think I'm keeping the black coat.

And if the weather predictions are accurate, I probably won't need a coat at all! Today it was so warm in Toronto that I could have gone out in short sleeves. I was hot in a wool blazer! This is freakish weather.