Happy Birthday to my friend Mark Emberton who shares my addiction to outer garments. Unlike trousers or shoes, coats and jackets are just too easy to buy. Last week, in a charity shop I failed to resist an immaculate vintage 1960s Crombie overcoat. In its heavy cloth and black velvet collar, I was looking forward to strutting around the cold London streets, giving it the full Ronnie Kray. The sleeves were a bit short so I needed them taken down, just in case I needed to conceal the length of lead piping which was Ron’s weapon of choice. I collected the coat yesterday and it fits perfectly. One problem – the weather is now positively spring-like so it’ll be about a year before get to I wear it. But to a serious coat head, this doesn’t matter. Mark Emberton will understand. And former Hackney dandy, Mark Feld would have understood too.
Serious Coat Habit.

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