The North Face: Don't Face the office in it.

Last night I was sitting at The Boy's apartment with him and his roommates as they watched a show about Logging that is (of course) filmed in Oregon.

Go figure.

People must think so little of this State if they don't have any personal experience with it. Not that Logging is bad by any means (we should definitely be proud of our Commerce here!) but, it just perpetuates the stereotype that Oregon is a bunch of Hippie, Outdoorsy, Tye-Dye wearing freaks who drink Coffee and discuss environmental causes.

{I secretly wish I could wear this for Outdoor ventures via Jason Christopher Photography}

I have traveled all over the United States and I'm familiar with the response I get from people when they hear I'm from Oregon... usually pretty along the lines of:

"You're from Oregon, what do you do out there? Eat Granola?!?"

Grrr... nothing bothers me more. Of course we have our odd sections of town- and YES, there is a Hippie population here but also a Fashionista culture as well if you want to find it. Most of the people in my life love Couture, Fine Dining, Cocktail Dresses and Fashion Shows as much as they love to go for Runs on our coastline or Ski our Mountains. It's NOT all Granola here.

However, I will concede...of course, that the rumors are true about Fleece/Outerwear. Pacific Northwesterners LOVE their fleece to sad degree... there is no exaggeration on that part. I too even have my own section of closet devoted solely to North Face.

{Miranda and Me: Sporting the North Face as I walk the Coastline at night in Seaside, OR}

However, it's like the metaphor Cher on Clueless uses about drugs:

"It is one thing to spark up a doobie and get laced at parties, but it is quite another to be fried all day.

Same can be said about fleece, there's a FINE LINE between those who wear fleece during proper Northwest outdoor events: Camping, the Coast, Skiing, Hiking, Cabin weekends.

... and those who wear fleece at downtown dinner events or to work at their office-a line I would sooner die than cross. I don't believe most North Face or Columbia Sportswear pieces belong in the office (if you're reading this and star in that Logging show I watched last night, these rules need not apply to you).

{Palin doing the Fleece right, she's in a Cabin. Not in the middle of Downtown. What a good Pacific Northwesterner (This is not a political post: I'm talking Fashion reasons ONLY people!)}

And here's where my pet peeve comes into play: those who wear Utilitarian, outdoor coats over their otherwise cute office outfits. Nothing makes the hair on my arm raise more than an outfit like this:

{Ann Taylor sure can style a gal, can't she?}

Topped off with this because it's cold:

{Cute? Yes, very much so. Just wear them offroading and not at the workplace}

How about INSTEAD of wearing wildly inappropriate outerwear into the office, you consider some semblance of this approach:

{Uber chic, uber haut- fashion coats that keep you warm and add that va-va-voom to your outfit}

{Images above via Forever 21- here and here}

{3 images above- Upper left: Puffer Coat, Juicy Couture-utilitarian AND adorable, Upper Right: Max Mara- great outfit - would be ruined with Fleece. Bottom: of course the girls know how to rock the fashionable winter coats.}

So that's enough disgruntlement for the day.

Just remember that a chic, long work coat with an umbrella is wonderful for the office (and easily found everywhere in every price range)... a jacket you would wear skiing or hiking- IS NOT!

Time to make some Granola and drink some Coffee...
Have a great day everyone! :)