An Isabel Marant collarless Coby Coat:  bronze quilted cotton with caramel suede trim. Boxy, relaxed, magical.There’s something about it. I don’t know what it is, but this coat of mine draws attention from the most unlikely of sources. The number of times complete strangers made the effort to compliment my coat within a 75-minute time span at the Mall of America on a Friday afternoon? Thrice. And once from across a wide hallway as we walked in opposite directions. Really? The shopper inconvenienced herself to mention it. I’m not sure I have ever felt so compelled to compliment someone’s garb. (Is that wrong of me? I have certainly admired, but not quite so vocally). There is hardly a time when I wear the coat that I don’t receive a compliment. I’ve never experienced anything quite like it. It has surpassed the point of normalcy and has reached an incomprehensible status. What IS it about this item? It boggles my mind.

It’s not that I don’t like the coat. I love it. In fact, it’s one of the best purchases I have ever made. I fell so hard at a Minnesota Consignment-Store-Which-Shall-Not-Be-Named (a girl has got to keep some things to herself) that I didn’t think twice about its size (approximately 2-3 sizes larger than Ms. Marant intended for it to be worn, it seems). It is totally wearable and pairs well with almost everything. The dollar-per-wear statistic has reached a minuscule amount. In two words: worth it.

I just can’t seem to understand why the coat draws so much attention. It’s lovely, sure. It’s easy and breezy – check. It’s well-designed and of quality construction. I appreciate all of these things. But I am the owner. And typically, I tend to like things that don’t always please the masses (see: “Some Dolls are Cool” for more on this). I’d love to have some concrete answers to offer up here; but unfortunately, that is not the case. Further analysis on the subject will be undertaken. Obviously, this is a serious matter.

Thanks to all of the complimentary people of the world, I know this coat must work for me – whatever the reason. I’m fairly certain that in order to fulfill my destiny, I must wear this piece of outerwear to every job interview and impression-forming meeting from now until the end of time. Below-freezing temps? No question. 90 degree heat? Whatever, coat! I’ll wear you anyway. You ooze me-ness but somehow make me seem way cooler than I actually am. This can work to my advantage. Thanks for the fake-out tool, Lady Isabel.

(Photo cred: Benjamin Leis; from September 2012, Lake Pepin, MN)