The Great Cool Weather Apparel Migration

And it so begins: The Great Cool Weather Apparel Migration.

The migration is an annual phenomenon in which normally docile sweaters, light-weight coats and jackets,  gloves, hats,  wraps and scarfs of all weights and sizes exert their independence.  Yes,  even as we work long hours to supply them with laundry detergent, fabric softener, or dry cleaning, the ungrateful apparel dare to plot their exodus.

Oh, they might appear to meekly accompany us to work in the chill of the morning. However, make no mistake about it, they have observed their Sock Cousins and will bail on us at the first hint of warm weather.

It begins innocently enough.  A scarf or wrap, carried on the arm rather than worn,  is left at work or in the SUV on a frost-free evening.  It progresses to a  missing hat or singleton glove a day or two later. Before you realize what has transpired, you go to your Coat Closet and note your favorite hoodie is MIA. You assume it’s in the dirty clothes hamper awaiting Laundry Day. But it’s not.  The mornings and afternoons continue in the  warming trend and thoughts of hoodies and gloves are replaced with frantic calls to the spa for long neglected waxings and pedicures.  

However, the weather is like a fickle woman who changes her mind often.  After the threat of frost is past, an unusually  brisk Nor’Easter  prompts a return visit to the Coat Closet. This time the Coat Closet appears noticeably less congested—not only is the favorite hoodie missing, so are three coats, a jacket, two hats, six scarves, a pair woolen gloves, and a singleton of the extravagantly priced leather gloves, bought on sale with a Birthday Gift Card, and only worn once.   The singleton is found, bloated beyond recognition, the morning after a monsoon.  A Google search ensues on how to repair the damage.  The glove is blocked with absorbent towels, and left to air dry for several days.

To complicate matters, Laundry Day has come and gone, the hamper stands forlorn and empty, and the hoodie, and remaining missing items have not been located. 

Where could everything be?  Is a question that perplexes  sweater owners through the ages. That,  and Where did the sock-mate go?  But that’s the topic for another post, another day.  Now I’m off to corral my miscellaneous cool weather apparel—most of which have escaped and migrated to my SUV or office.