I blame Marion Cotillard I bought the materials for a new project today. This is nothing out of the ordinary for me [cough], but this seems like an extra-special project.→[More:]

A month or so ago I came across a bolt of silk velvet at Fabricland that really appealed to me. It was dark brown with a scattering of autumnal leaves printed across it. I resolved to keep it in mind for any future projects for which it might be suitable.

Then about a week ago I decided I could really use a long winter coat. I thought of the velvet. I dreamed of the velvet. I craved the velvet. I browsed the current Vogue patterns to see what they have that would work with it. I loved this one, but it is knee-length. I came across this very classic one (see view E, sketched in gray) and decided it would be just right. (The pattern also conveniently went on sale today.)

And I have just got home from Fabricland, where I bought 5 metres of the velvet, 3 metres of a crepe-backed brown satin for lining, and, since the velvet isn't really "coat" fabric, 3 metres of something called Thinsulate, which is just what it sounds like, a very thin kind of interlining that will make the coat warm enough for winter. The crepe-back satin will help a little as insulation too.

Several other customers plus the sales woman who helped me were asking me what I planned to do with the velvet and oohing and awing over how nice it will look as that coat. It had better, as it wasn't cheap even with my membership discount, and will be a lot of work.

I blame Marion Cotillard for the splurge. I think her posing for the August 2012 edition of Vogue, looking exquisitely beautiful and divinely elegant in velvet coats, made me unconsciously crave one of my own, even though I will never be anywhere close to as elegant as she is, let alone attain any attractiveness that is even comparable to her looks. I suppose I should be glad that in my sad, futile efforts to try to be elegant I at least know better than to try to actually walk on a cobblestone street in five-inch stiletto heels.