ZURICH SHOPPING: MY NEW SHEARLING BEAUTY.

Whenever I spend some days in Zurich, I invariably try to find some spare time for valuable shopping. One of my favourite spots for fashion findings is Jelmoli, Zurich's premium department store situated in the famous Bahnhofstrasse and selling a wide selection of international luxury brands in all product categories. Luckily, Zurich's sale season begins just after Christmas, so tourists can find real bargains in every sizes, also for the petites, like me, if they choose to sojourn there in this period. On this occasion, I bought a dark grey shearling coat on sale, a garment that has been in my wish list for several years, since I hadn't one already hanging in my closet. Shearling coats have been a winter staple since, well, forever, and these cozy coats are as cool as they come, but I took the chance of a sojourn in Switzerland, where this classic garment gets a cold-weather update in the form of a wider choice of shearling beauties. And this one was a real bargain - generally, if you want to buy one, you must be prepared to drain your bank account, since the real thing will set you back thousands of euros.

Anyway, I immediately spotted this classic and versatile model, which is sure to suit my cold-weather style needs, during the official coat season, since it's less sporty than a puffer coat, but less elegant than a fur coat. It's sturdy and durable, with a detachable hood, which makes it as practical as a winter parkas, while its timeless look suits all styles and ensures it will hold its own, no matter what the current seasonal trends may be. Plus, its reputation for timeless style makes it the perfect investment piece—an important fact to consider at a time when shopping for items that you can love and own for years, and perhaps even pass down one day, has never been more important. And you, have already considered to buy your own shearling coat? Or do you already possess one? If this is not the case, you really need to know all the advantages shearling coats provide you, together with a variety of styles and length available on the market! Here they are:

1) Warmth: Shearling coats are an invention of the First World War, but they became popular during the Second one. At that moment, these very warm garments were worn by the pilots who were flying in unpressurized cabins at altitudes over 30,000 meters where temperatures can reach - 50°C. Sheeps’ wool has a structure that insulates the air circulation, which means shearling coats can retain the body heat and keep you warm even in the coldest days of winter.

2) Durability: It’s true, real shearling coats cost more than a faux garment or a fabric one. But, if you have in mind the quality of these luxury garments, you may realize that shearling coats are a great investment. If you take care of them, you can have them for several years without any problem, or if you get bored by the same shearling coat you have worn for many, many years, you will be able to sell it in a vintage store and buy another one. All you have to do is to properly take care of your shearling coats: place them in a dark closet, away from the direct sunlight. Of course, don’t clean them using the washing machine and keep your shearling coats away from flames or another heating source. Don’t use mothballs and you can be sure that you won’t regret a single euro spent. You can take them to a professional cleaner at least one time every year, after a cold winter and before storing them during the summer.

3) Water resistant and moisture wicking: Shearling coats are naturally water resistant and moisture wicking. They don’t only repel the external water but wick the perspiration away from your skin. Wool fibers are provided with strong, water-repellent layers that protect the fiber’s core against moisture. The core of each wool fibre can absorb 30% of its weight in moisture vapour, without getting damp. So with that humidity absorbed, and the external water repelled, we can conclude that is a thermally regulating material. If you get caught by rain or snow, you should gently shake your shearling coat and smooth it with a soft brush if it's developing water spots over time.

4) Multi-climate comfort: Now that you have found out these properties, you should have already concluded that shearling coats are too warm for moderate climates. But let us tell that you are totally wrong. Shearling coats are versatile and known for their breathability and moisture-wicking properties, which keep the body temperature regulated regardless of temperature fluctuations in the environment. That means you’ll stay cool and dry in your shearling coat, no matter we talk about winter, spring or autumn.

5) Lightweight: Usually, winter coats are very heavy and we barely wait to get home and undress. But shearling coats are special. Even if the World War models were heavy and hard to be worn, the modern options don’t weight as much as other winter coats.

CELEBRATING NEW YEAR IN ZURICH.

I love Zurich for its sober, urban, chic and contemporary atmosphere, during all year long, but I love it especially at the end of December, when I find that it's simply enchanting. The whole city is bathed in a warmer light, and what's more, Zurich's hoteliers throw fantastic parties on New Year's Eve. As we did in past, we sojourned at Hotel Savoy Baur en Ville, amid the grand style of its luxurious 19th century architecture and tastefully furnished rooms, since we like this privileged location in the centre of the old town.

The skies above Banhofstrasse twinkle with Christmas lights, a light frost covers the rooftops, and the delicious smell of roasted chestnuts from the stalls selling "Heisse Marroni" and strategically positioned all around the city tempt the passers-by. But besides the truly magical atmosphere that the city exudes during this period, I love shopping in Zurich, where the choice of home decoration objects and fashion accessories is varied and sophisticated. 

There's nothing better in the wintertime, when it's bitterly cold outside, than to warm up with a cup of tea, cocoa, or coffee with a some delectable patisserie in a cozy café. Useless to say, my favourite is the Sprüngli Café and Restaurant, the most representative of historical café-salons, centrally located in Paradeplatz and very near the Savoy Baur en Ville, with its Confiserie boutique on the ground floor, where I never miss to buy light and airy Luxemburgerli macarons. On New Year's Eve, the choice of glamorous indoor parties is varied,  but for open-air festival-loving tourists, Zurich hosts the largest New Year's party in Switzerland, whose centrepiece is the massive fireworks display let off from two anchored boats in the lake at 20 past midnight, after allowing the city's church bells to ring in the new year first. So from the windows of our room we could enjoy the atmosphere of partygoers heading to the lakeside streets to watch live music, partake of a bratwurst and some glühwein and join in the general merriment, since, after fireworks, celebrations continue until 3 am not only in the elegant salons of the hotels, but also on the lakeside.

And in the afternoon of the first day of the year, what's better than having a short corroborating walk from the Old Town to the Kunsthaus, a first class art museum with a great collection of Swiss artists, such as Hodler and Giacometti, as well as international artists, such as Monet, Picasso and many others.