Can you get there from here?

You can start from different places. "Yep, they say it'll be a cold winter," or "I don't think I can stand another four straight months of looking like a neon Michelin Man," or even "I need a backup coat for when the first sweaty-from-shoveling one is in the wash."

Go straight to, "If I get a burgundy coat, I can finally wear that cool stripey hat with the tassel and matching mittens," which leads to "But then I'd have to get new rubber boots, because they're really best for deep snow and the pink polka-dots just won't go with burgundy."

Then you can go to "That leaves pink, which I already have but it's too puffy" and "I'll have to go with black."

Take a left at "But black is so drab. I always wear black. Four months is a long time to be practical, even with polka-dot boots."

And that'll take you down the hill to "Maybe if I had a big scarf or shawl to wear on the outside of the coat..."

And you're there! You've justified the swallowtail shawl that both Kathi and Karen have been flaunting! Congratulations and enjoy.