Adding a black border

Lesley asked what it would look like if I left a little of the black collar showing underneath the braid.  I tried it tonight and it looks great! and very much like this:

Many thanks to Lesley for the suggestion!

Now, however, the black welt pocket looks out of place.  So I tried removing it:

This might be better (my jury is still out on that), but is now boring on the bottom.  I also haven’t decided what to do with the front edge of the coat.  If I let it fall straight down, it will basically be double-breasted width, which tends to look boxy and unflattering on me.  If I angle it, as in the photo, it’s okay, but lacks definition.  Adding black piping calls attention to it, and it clashes with the line of the collar.

Hum-de hum-de-hum (as Pooh might say).  What’s a girl to do?

Sleep on it, I think, and reconsider the problem in the morning.