Is This the End?

...of the summer I mean? Like the UK (or parts thereof) we've had a bit of a late blast of summer and it's been lovely in Chicago. Many people don't know that Chicago summers can actually be unbearably hot and humid. Temperatures in the high 90's (farenheit) and humidity that's hard to imagine for Brits. In times like that, you don't see many people on the streets as everyone's taking shelter in air-conditioned buildings.

Now, the weather is more autumnal. Bright and sunny, but light jacket or sweater weather. This typically lasts for 2-4 weeks before we're plunged into another season from Hell. For someone who loves to wear jackets, it's annoying that I have such a short jacket season. Once the temps really drop, even moderately padded coats don't cut it and fashion goes flying out the window. We're talking below freezing for at least mid-November till the end of March, and when you add the wind chill factor in it will literally freeze the hairs up your nose. (I know it always sounds wimpy adding the wind chill factor in, but we're right on the shores of Lake Michigan and those winds come whipping down from Canada. Brrrr.)

 Look, - even pretty, skinny models and bright colors/colours can't make these coats look half way decent.  And, they're actually not that easy to maneuver in. Drop a glove and you almost have to lie down on the floor to retrieve it.

Talking of gloves - none of your elegant, slim leather affairs. Ooh, no. Leather lasts till about early November at a push; then it's more of a chunky look:

Gorgeous aren't they?

All I can say is -- It's a bloody good job I'm not a fashionista.