I remember being in town in the dead heat of summer with my mom (small prairie towns near our farm) and asking if she could make me a coat like Joseph's. In my mind I saw a brightly knitted zigzag (missoni before my time, anyone?) coat that came all the way to the ground...purples, reds, pinks, yellows and greens. I can still envision it now. I think she responded with something like, "ask grandma" because my grandma was a crocheter extraordinaire and we were besties. For some reason I never asked her but would, from time to time, wrap myself in the brilliant colored afghan blanket she had made me pretending I had a coat just like Joseph. And the dream of that coat lived on, tucked away in a corner of my mind, for years. It reared it's head when Dolly Parton sang 'Coat of Many Colors' (even though my I claimed my ears bled I loved it), and later when a friend surprised me with tickets to see Donny Osmond perform in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat for my birthday.
About a month ago a Free People sweater caught my eye...The Technicolor Dreamcoat. My heart sped up at the title and I gave it a click. There it was! My dream had come to life some 20 years later!! Unable to take it anymore, a couple weeks ago I stopped into Free People and tried it on...then last week when Shopbop had their sales codes I scooped it up! And last night I slept with it next to me on my bed. It is everything I ever imagined and more.
Free People-Technicolor Dreamcoat, James Perse-Cotton/Cashmere Thermal, J Brand-Houlihan,
Banana Republic-Boots, Brandy & Melville-Bag
The lapels in front give way to fringe that runs to the bottom of the sweater.
It is warm and cozy and the colors are wonderfully soft, yet vivid.
Dean Davidson-Turquoise Ring, Free People-Locket Necklace (from about 4 years ago)
I threw it on with my fringe bag (and other ring from LF) yesterday and almost burst
into tears when I saw how great they looked together.
Christmas came early this year.
I'd like to thank God, Free People, La Mia Vita for hosting the Shopbop Giveaway I won, Shopbop for giving the gift certificate away and having an amazing deal last week, my credit card company, UPS for delivering the sweater, and my late grandmother for the afghan that kept the dream alive! (you'd think i just won a grammy)
And then she walked off into the sunset and never looked back.
The End
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82 comments:
So great that it finally found its way into your life and it does look great on you!
Have a happy Wednesday :)
That is pretty epic Carrie! I would have to say, I would probably wear it around the house all the time and sing musical songs. and sleep with it too!!
What a gorgeous coat!
♥ Leia
that coat is absolutely gorgeous :) I want one!!!!! ... And i totally wanted to go to "sunday school" for the stories and crafts.. that was the best part of church back then!!
<3 Laura
Ok, if you saw Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, you already know theres a whole song about all the colors in the coat. Please tell me you're singing that while wearing this. At least let me think that, because I'd go around singing it if I had a freaking Technicolor Dreamcoat! (I love Free People for naming it that. Brilliant.)
The stars aligned and the dream came true! I think it was worth the 20 year wait.
I am so singing the joseph songs in my head, I LOVE that story and was my favourite too. this looks absolutely divine, I am so pleased for you, I am also crushing on the ring madly! :0
xx
I love reading your beautiful story!! It's so cool that you found the sweater on Free People!! It looks amazing on you and I love the fringe bag! Perfect! xoxoxxoo
Awww...what a great coat story...and it looks fab on you...love the fringe purse too:)
Stop by and say Hello:)
I am now the NEWS EDITOR for Style Sample Magazine♥
LOVE LOVE LOVE that coat and tour fringe bag sooooo mucchhhh!!!!
Kisses
J
xoxo
You have a very beautiful blog!! I like this outfit, it express freedom :)
keep in touch dear!
http://chicneverland.blogspot.com/
Sounds like fate to me! Thanks to you Dolly is now in my head and she is dancing and singing to Donny! Love the sweater Carrie ~ you wear it well. xo
I think this is my favourite piece ever! I would love that adorable coat! Its magical:)
Kisses and hugs
Ps: I am hosting a beautiful scarf GIVEAWAY later today, just in time for Christmas.
Unbelievably fun (I can imagine why you'd sleep with it!)
I can't help but to admire its weave and the colours are beautiful! I'd sleep in it and never take it off:-). Happy December 1st! XX
That's what I'd call a happy coat if ever there was one!
I love it, it's gorgeous! It's awesome how you slept with it!
shut the front door - U WON?! - holy crap that's awesome - i try so damn hard for those Shopbop give-aways!!! .. ANYWAY i love coming on here - b/c seriously girl, u post pics and i'm like 'holy crap i have something like that' - i have ur outfit SOMEWHERE in what is called a 'closet' of mine - or maybe packed in bins - i totally LOVE the boho look - and FAB win! - high five girl!
So cool! I love the story and you look better than Donny in a dreamcoat! xo
oh and in Sunday school i SO don't remember that story - but i also don't think i paid much attention ...
That's an amazing piece! I always meant to ask you what part of Canada you're from originally?
xoxo ~ Courtney
http://sartorialsidelines.blogspot.com
It's like hippie chic and I am absolutely loving it
xo
You are so cute!! I'm glad your dream finally came true!! And I hope you weren't kidding about sleeping next to it the first night, because, um, I totally do that with highly coveted new purchases. Have ever since I was a little girl, although next to the bed not on it. My mom just recently confessed that she also used to do that as a little girl (apparently she slept with her patent leather mary janes for several days), so it must be genetic!
love that jacket!!!!
ohhh i think u just got urself a new stalker!!!
xx
www.themidnightbloom.blogspot.com
Your patience and dream paid off. Its fabulous!
I was besties with my grandma too. When I was little she would have my dresses made for me and then take me to church to meet her friends.
I loved reading the history of this find! You look fab in your technicolour dream coat xo
"Even then it was all about fashion" haha, I love it! Also, the back of the coat is way cool!
LOVE! That is exactly how I remember the musical!!! You look smoking, but not too hot cuz we don't wanna burn the sweater! ;)
Wow, that is a great story. So glad you won this amazing coat. I saw Donny Osmond in the same musical in Minneapolis, years ago. It is one of my faves.
I read you are a cat rescuer! Me too! :) Actually going to get one today and bring him home out of the cold. My friend has been feeding him for the past couple of months and finally we found a home for our last kitten. Anyways, love your blog!
Aww Carrie that's such a great story! I remember loving the stories from Children's Church as well, and I especially loved the one about Joseph and his coat of many colors. I have my Bible from back then and it had lots of colorful illustrations and I would always marvel at the picture of Joseph and his coat. I guess we were just fashionistas before we knew what the word even meant! ;)
What an amazing sweater!!! Im so happy you got your hands on one after all these years. It looks magical!
xx
Nikki
Isn't it the best when everday items (especially fun fashion ones!) conjure up the best childhood memories? :) Looking good Carrie!!! Happy December!!
That sweater looks SO COZY!! The perfect solution to how cold it's getting!! I'm so feeling Free People right now!!
http://www.glamlatte.com
I love this! It looks great on you and there's an awesome story with it. Such great photos!
Oooh that is so pretty!
(sigh)
You live my life in my dreams.
I would love that colored coat....but for some reason I am PRETTY DARN SURE it would look a zillion times better on you.
You are beeeeuuuuttiful.
(By the way....that coat really does belong in Canada. You know that. It's downright nippy here;)
LOVE that fringe bag!
yay! i saw this online and drooled over it too. it's so great! and it looks just gorgeous on you. i'm so happy you got it! i also love your thank you speech. tee-hee!
Um...WHAT???! That sweater is like the best afghan/woobie I've ever seen...And it's perfecto with the bag! Way to keep Granny and the dream alive...you go sister. xo
That was one of my favorite stories when I was little, too. And you've finally found your coat, haha -- I love it on you!
xo Josie
http://winksmilestyle.blogspot.com
Listen I gotta be honest with you... a giveaway like that is comparable to a Grammy and it's a winnings you can wear right? Hell, it might even beat a Grammy!
Congrats gorg, that's an adorable story from your childhood too!
xox tash
i LOVE this look! i have a bag very similar!
You look amazing! I drool over both the coat and the bag (I'd want to swan around the house in them and sing songs from that musical). And this just confirms for me that Free People is ever-awesome :)
It's beautiful and looks so cozy and warm. Perfect for the freezing week we've had around here. What a dream come true! It does look fabulous with your fringe bag. About your comment today, I cried through the ENTIRE movie when I watch the Blindside. When he says, "I've never had one of those before" talking about the bed?? Forget it. That really tugged at my heartstrings.
xo
Valerie
It was meant to be, who said dreams don't come true? Completely smitten with the fit and colors.
omg you lucky gal. This IS just the thing you had been dreaming about all your life! Gotta love Free People. I love how you describe the colors as soft, yet vivid. perfect my dear!!
What a fun colorful sweater coat and I just love Free People. I just saw the new Anthro catalog and saw a lot of color there too. Perfect for the dreary winter right?
How freaking fantastic that something you've dreamt about for years is now available?!!! I would die! Congratulations.
And, I just about died when I read your thank you list. Awesome!!
love love love... And with the shirt and boots- perfect!
Bisous,
Rachel
lovealamode.wordpress.com
Your coat is amaaaazing!!!!!
That's such a lovely story Carrie! I loved reading all of it. That coat is gorgeous and I can see what you man now - after reading the story. :) Enjoy it for many many years!
xx Vivian @ http://diamondsandtulle.blogspot.com
It's gorgeous Carrie! And something you will wear forever. I love the location of your photo shoot, too! Joseph would be proud ; )
Can you come coach me on posing? You always look so effortlessly cool in our outfit pics! Love that bag!
your coat is perfect and suits you so well, what great friends you have
The coat is absolutely gorgeous, I love the colours and style, it looks really snug and warm too :)
L x
awww Carrie! What a beautiful and meaningful purchase! I love it and the story.
p.s. Thanks for bringing me back to my younger dance recital days where we all had different colored unitards as we performed to Joseph's Technicolor Dreamcoat.. lol xo
That sweater is amazing and you look amazing in it. There is a SATC episode in which Carrie wears a gorgeous, multi-colored coat (it's the last episode of season 4 and it's called I<3 NY--the one where Miranda has her baby and Carrie and Big have a farewell date and a carriage ride) and I've had similar thoughts about that.
I love it! It's so pretty! You're always so phenomenally put together. Maybe I could learn a thing or two if I'd ever get out of bed more than 10 minutes before I have to leave for work. Snooze snooze snooze, story of my life!
Thanks, sweetheart! Stray Cat Alliance doesn't sound silly at all. Animals are people too. Er, um... you know what I mean. ;)
Living the dream. I love it!
And I love how you got such a great deal ;)
Wow I love it!! It looks sooo amazing!!! I'm glad you finally got your technicolor dreamcoat :D :D
http://aclosetfashionista.blogspot.com/
Wow. that's a gorgeous sweater and beatiful pictures. Free People has a couple cardigans I like, but unfortunately, I'm broke. :(
I love this Carrie! This is totally my kinda jacket! And the location is amazing!
♥
Thank you for the belated birthday :)
That is quite the sweater Carrie! You wear it well! ;) And haha, no I missed your tweet yesterday - too funny!!
That coat is beautiful. I missed out on Shopbop sale codes?!?!
I just bought a sweater (from American Apparel of all places) that I have been sleeping in bed with too.
wow, you look awesome in that : ) : ) so inspiring. i love that bible story, too, thanks for sharing. lol @ your long thank you list!
That jacket is so you!! Love how carefree it is!
Love your rings and necklace!!!!
What an awesome story! Your new coat is fun, and it totally fits your style. I love how you paired it with the fringe bag; you're right, it does look great!
That coat is so beautiful and the story behind it even more amazing.
aw that coat looks so nice--definitely very you. Now that you mentioned Joseph I have "Any Dream Will Do" stuck in my head now (and I don't hate it)
xx
MILK TEETHS
Oh my goodness, this coat is a technicolor DREAM! I love this, and you styled it to perfection, as usual!
Probably, NO, definitely thee most beautiful blog post I have read yet to date! 71 comments, girrrrrl shut your mouth! Love how you included your granny in the story as well. I too, was besties with my nana. Love.
Isn't winning the best? I love that coat. It is something that will be in style forever. Even more, I love that ring and your necklace. Carrie, you are quite the accessorizer.
:) M
With 71 comments.. you may as well have won a grammy!! In fact, this is probably better.. grammies are too common anyway!
I love this, all of it!
Make that 72 now.
Aww, what a sweet story!! I'm so happy your dream came true!! I'd sleep inthatsweater too - it looks so cozy.
This is such a great sweater! I love your turquoise ring too, its absolutely stunning!
I LOVE this story!!! When it was off Broadway, I went to see the musical. I loved musicals (and still do) and that was such a great show.
I love your coat. It looks so very warm and perfect.
What a great story! Love your outfit. And I also always loved the story of Joseph and I love the play Joseph and The Amazing Color Dreamcoat.
If I ever imagined Joseph's coat - it was just like this one. You look so wonderful in this setting and with that fringe! I think Joseph would be jealous ;)
XOXO,
Erika
I love the hippie style! If i lived in California I would look something like that. Not sure why I wouldn't do it in New York... I guess the corporate midtown Manhattan has gotten me trying to fit in. Sad.
Happy Thursday!
That coat is great! I'm so glad you won, there's nothing better than a good giveaway! I love how colorful it is and it fits your style perfectly!
xo Mary Jo
love love love ittttttttttttttttttt.
and the fringed bag!!!!!
love the sweater!xx
www.zscloset.blogspot.com
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