Coat Conundrum!

I spend my winters in the Midwest and the upper East Coast. This requires me to don one of those puffy coats. Two years ago I bought my first one and made the biggest mistake: I bought a white one. I was inspired by a friend of mine who had a beautiful white one and looked so classy even though the coat sorta resembled a marshmallow. Only there's one major difference between her lifestyle and mine: She drives to work and I take public transit of all sorts in a place where winter is dirty. I also have to wear a backpack. Long story short, the white down coat that I bought two years ago now looks like it was made from the hide of a rodent going through an awkward adolescent phase:

1. Down Coat - Eddie Bauer

It started getting really cold here a week ago and I was lucky to be able to borrow a friend's Land's End coat. In fact, I really loved the option to just use a few buttons instead of zipping the whole thing up:

2. Down Coat - (in black) Land's End
Outfit - From last week

And so, after I tried on a number of different coats last weekend, I settled on the same one only in Spice Brown instead of Black--a shade that should hide dirty snow better than white.

Although Eddie Bauer coats weigh less and use slighter better material, Lands End coats fit better on me. Fit is always even if it the item in question is intended to resemble a sleeping bag.

3. Down Coat (Spice Brown) - Land's End
Dress - Girls from Savoy/Anthro (remixed)
Cardi - ATL
Scarf - London Street Vendor (remixed)
Tights - Vera Wang for Kohls
Boots - Capelli via Marshalls (remixed)

But now, I have a problem: What do I do with the Adolescent Rodent Coat? I took bleach to it and it's lightened up a bit. But it's still too dirty looking for a women's shelter to take and distribute. As far as function, it's still a great coat. I'm going to a football game next weekend in a cold place and there will be extensive morning tailgating outside. I've thought about using fabric paint to make it into a team-appropriate coat. Or will that just look like a gaudy adolescent rodent?

For those of you who know my Twinkle Dress Policy, I wasn't celebrating any great mile stone. (I've actually saved up 3 and can wear the dress 2 times!), but wore it for the last week of regular classes. My students are exhausted, but they're still bringing their A-game and so I thought I should bring mine.

Lastly, for those who celebrate, have a blessed Advent (began on Sunday) and a Happy Chanukah (begins tonight)!