Utilitarian Is In When It Comes To Keeping Hip And Warm

Tue., Oct. 22, 1996

Shanna Southern Peterson Correspondent

Winter is just around the corner and the holidays aren’t too far off. It’s time to start thinking about gift giving.

Outerwear may be the perfect gift to warm the heart of that special someone on your shopping list.

Pep up that conservative executive’s wardrobe with a trendy leather bomber jacket that works great for those casual days at the office.

Remember the peacoat? Well, it’s back. The melton wool jacket designed to keeps sailors warm is updated in red, camel and winter white. Women love the versatility and style this jacket offers. It looks great going to the office during the week or to a soccer game on Saturday.

A corduroy shirt jacket with a suede collar makes a great gift for friends in warmer regions. They can layer it over a sweater on chilly nights or wear it as a lightweight jacket during the day. This jacket is most popular in rich earth tones such as hunter green, rust and chocolate brown.

Retro is big, especially for the twentysomething, generation Xers who like the nubuck cowhide jackets with contrasting stitching and patch pockets. Shop the thrift stores for great bargains on these treasures.

Really feeling daring? Give an authentic fringed suede western jacket to your urban cowboy.

Another trend making a big impact this season is utilitarian, industrial outerwear such as the jackets manufactured by Spiewak. “For more than 90 years Spiewak has manufactured industrial uniform outerwear for customers such as the United States Military, United Parcel Service, and American Airlines,” according to Marcy Erhard, company spokeswoman.

Now these durable, functional coats have become a fashion statement stylish enough to be sold in Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom.

MEMO: Shanna Southern Peterson is a Spokane writer and home economist. The Clothesline appears weekly. Ideas for the column may be sent to her c/o The Spokesman-Review Features Department, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210, or e-mail shanptr@aol.com.

Shanna Southern Peterson is a Spokane writer and home economist. The Clothesline appears weekly. Ideas for the column may be sent to her c/o The Spokesman-Review Features Department, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210, or e-mail shanptr@aol.com.