first, i have to say, i’m so thrilled you’re all loving this month’s giveaway prize so much!  keep those entries coming – you have until thursday night – and we’ll keep making the giveaways even better!

anyway, on to our cheap thrill.  i wandered into my friendly neighborhood target the other day, and spotted this beautiful windowpane plaid trench hanging on the wall.  naturally, i had to take a closer look.  i assumed that up close, it would be poorly constructed, oddly fitting, or any other manner of sins – it is target, after all.

but this trench is absolutely darling, dear readers – quite well made, actually, and only $39!  i love the white for fall and spring (the cotton fabric, though fully lined, won’t be warm enough for really chilly days), and if you’re going to indulge in a white coat, let it be a $39 coat from target, so that when you spill your morning latte all over it (which, inevitably, you will), you won’t have to cut your wrists.

plaids, as you probably know, are huge this fall.  while i haven’t jumped on the bandwagon, i adore this windowpane version (in fact, it reminds me of another, much more expensive, coat i’ve been loving for some time). it’s subtle enough to stay chic, without making you look like you’re fresh out of the junior’s department.  and the military detailing that comes from the button placement and that great stand-up collar is such a perfect contrast with the preppy plaid.  it’s all very audrey hepburn – proof that wearing white after labor day can make you the chicest girl in the room.

one caveat:  i took a look through the other colors in this style, and personally, i’d stick with the white.  where it looks much, much more luxe than it’s $39 pricetag, the others…well, they do not.

you might even try styling this with a black belt, for some contrast – there’s definite play potential there.  plus, of course, it would look amazing with that royal blue scarf we’re giving away…don’t you agree?