Brora and Lochcarron of Scotland

Brora Wool and Mohair Coat
Fabric from Lochcarron of Scotland
Hermes Giverny scarf

 I have an older Brora coat in a wool and mohair boucle fabric that is super warm on even the coldest days.
So when I saw this gorgeous blue coat in the same fabric, with a matching skirt, I knew it was just the  winter outfit I would wear on repeat for many years.
The Liberty cotton lining is absolutely exquisite, and the perfect compliment to the blue tones.  And the coral piping on the interior is an inspired choice!

Interior pocket with piping detail.

 I've already worn this outfit twice, it is super comfortable and easy to wear, popped over a simple merino crewneck in black with black boots.

 The interior tag states that the fabric is a wool and mohair blend from Lochcarron of Scotland.  This surprised me because I know Lochcarron as a producer of tartan fabrics, so this particular fabric must have been ordered specially for Brora.

Have you heard of Lochcarron?  If you have some Scottish ancestry (or even if you don't!) this is the place to source your perfect tartan skirt for holidays (you can have one made full-length) or for everyday wear (they'll make up a simple straight skirt for you out of your choice of tartan as well).

This is something I've been thinking of doing for years.  My grandfather was from Scotland, born in Edinburgh he immigrated to Canada at age twelve.  He was a Grant, and when I was a kid he had kilts made up for me in his clan tartan.  Through Lochcarron I could order a kilt or a skirt in Grant Ancient, Grant Modern or Grant Weathered.
You can check out their Ladies Tartan Hostess Skirt, and the various available tartans, here.

Back to the Brora coat and skirt and my love affair with it:

 You can see this skirt is quite long at a below the knee length.  This is particularly good for extra chilly days, and the a-line shape makes it really easy for walking.  I went on a huge long walk with my friend Berna on Friday wearing this outfit.  The weather was cold and windy but I was kept toasty warm by the wool and mohair fabric.

 I love the very subtle colour block detail at the hem:

 I have a couple of scarves that suit this blue fabric, the Giverny shown above and this really vivid scarf in blue and violet shades:

Hermes scarf whose name I cannot remember.

 Without the coat:

I think I'll wear this coat and skirt again today!
Enjoy your Sunday Tooties, are you doing anything fun?  I'll definitely be watching the Oscars later on today, with some sparkling wine and snacks.  How about you?
xoxDani

Polar Vortex and Dale of Norway

 Was the Polar Vortex to blame for this week's cold snap all across the Europe?

Apparently so, according to this excellent article in the NYT this morning.

I don't think I've had a real understanding of what the Polar Vortex actually is, to me it just sounded like a dramatic way to describe some unusually cold weather.
You know how some people will try to insist that climate change is not a real thing because hey, look at the cold snaps we've been having in winter?  Well apparently those cold snaps are caused by the weakening polar vortex.
The polar vortex is a low pressure system that is usually capping the North Pole, sort of like a hat.  In doing so it traps the extremely cold air of the Arctic.  But with a warming North Pole the vortex weakens and the air flows down through Europe and North America.

How warm is the North Pole right now?  This week it was above freezing, warmer than Europe, and the Arctic ice (whose extent is at the lowest level ever recorded) is in fact already breaking up in what is really still the dead of winter.  
You can read an AMS article about the weakening polar vortex here.

Guess what the coldest area of Europe was this past week?  That's right, Norway.
Which brings us to a discussion of an excellent brand of cold weather clothing out of Norway that might come in super handy as the polar vortex continues to wreak havoc during our winters.

You can read all about Dale of Norway, and view their collections, here.

 During the Great Coat Meltdown 2018 I purchased a coat from Dale of Norway and I have zero regrets.
It arrived this week in a glory of technical ivory wool, with three layers of protection from the cold and a smart, fitted design.

For the past few years I've been wearing a parka I purchased during a JCrew sale that seemed to consist mostly of polyester.  The colour was nice, a sort of aqua blue shade, but the fabric was fraying and the filling lumpy.  It was both heavy to wear (kind of like one of those lead aprons they place on you at the dentist while you're having X-rays) and actually coming apart at the seams.

I first bought Dale of Norway a few years ago when I needed an outfit for spring skiing.  I purchased one of their signature sweaters (which I've since passed on to Middle Rascal) and a quilted wool vest in black that I have ended up wearing all the time (you can see the vest in this colour story).
It was the vest that had me appreciating the knitting techniques they apply to their wool, so warm yet not bulky in the least, and with a really attractive pattern to the weave.

Coat interior.

 I love the colour of this coat, it's perfect to break up the all-black outfits I wear during winter.  Here I have it on with my Brora black cashmere turtleneck (my warmest layer) and my usual Theory pants.

 The details on a Dale of Norway piece are extraordinary: extremely high quality zippers, and in this case, toggles.

This is an heirloom brand, I recommend!

It's already Friday and you know what that means, Miller Time.
We're planning to lie low this weekend.  MrBP has been ill this past week with a dreadful cold, and he really needs to rest.  I had quite a painful treatment for my neck and shoulder yesterday, perhaps made more painful due to injuring the area again during a too-ambitious walk with Scout on Monday.
It will be comfort foods and sitting by the fire for us this weekend!
What are you up to?  Any shenanigans or tomfoolery?  Any thoughts on the Polar Vortex or Dale of Norway?
xoxDani