Last weekend marked the official opening of holiday shopping season with the Vets' Day sales, so while some of you paraded, others purchased. I did a little of both. A little armistice, a little Armani – civic duty and chic are equally important tenets of America, and should never be ignored. Especially on holidays.

So, after checking out the Healing Fields in Deering Oaks, I then, freezing, set about to find a winter coat. A summer lover to the core, I just this week accepted that beach weather is over. Yes, it's almost Thanksgiving, but I was still jumping in the ocean at the end last month, so I'm deep in denial about the coming snow. But it's time to embrace the season. And what better way to start than with a fun, yet practical, coat. Sold.