The other night I went coat shopping with my mom because the alternative was to sit around by myself for three hours. For some reason, we do this every winter. I love the woman, but she and I have very different taste in clothing. She prefers the “tailored” look, while I dress in what I like to call a “floppy boot” style. Needless to say, shopping together goes as smoothly as a Real Housewives reunion. Now, let me explain the “floppy boot” look: You know how there’s always some British girl in fashion magazines that’s super tall and wearing some short floral dress with tights, big floppy combat boots and an oversized army coat that probably belongs to her equally thin boyfriend who is probably in some band called “Light Laser” or some shit? Although I’m as far removed as they come from that kind of person (I doubt she collects beer koozies), I do adhere to that aesthetic. Especially when it comes to the army coat. I’ve tried embracing other types of jackets, like I did this Saturday with mom, but I always end up buying some variation of the army style. Part of it is habit, and part of it must be that I’m still bitter that my mom dressed me like a Von Trapp for most of my childhood. I was bound to rebel somehow, so maybe looking like I enlisted is my way. With that, here’s my homage to my go-to jacket of choice.

Clockwise, l-r: SAM COATED COTTON ANORAK, $695.00, Saks Fifth Avenue; MARC BY MARC JACOBS IRIDESCENT COAT WITH FUR-TRIMMED HOOD, $598.00, Saks Fifth Avenue; PATTERSON J. KINCAID ANGELA FUR-TRIM PARKA, $298.00, Neiman Marcus; PARKA WITH FAUX FUR HOOD, $129.00, Zara.