What the lady will be wearing this winter: To LL Bean

Received LL Bean's ½ inch Christmas 2005 issue. In last four city years, I'd tossed it unopened. If I wanted country I went with Sundance, outdoorsy to Patagonia.

But Bean time is now.

Mostly, things appear unchanged in Freeport; and to have settled since the late 70's shake-up when Bean staff were replaced on the catalog's pages by nationally palatable/non-Maine models.

A few standards have gone missing/been unfortunately updated: whither the the white checked sweater and too many fitted fleeces.

But constants remain: seasonal embroidery on the holiday turtleneck, jeans $29.50, an embarrassment of flannels, ragg socks, Bean Boots, Bluchers, Boat and Tote bags and a women's section that fits the lady of the house in Pleated PlumWine Bayside Stretch Corduroys and, for chilly January-in-New England nights, a billowy Tartan Flannel nightgown with “easy gathering at the bust seam for additional sleeping comfort,” that (still thought you might get some?), “falls at ankle.”

Bless Bean - I'll take the book.

C