A plethora of clothing catalogs keep arriving as a Christmas prelude. Despite all my best efforts to cancel them, they’ve managed to overcome my objections and clog my mailbox.

I’ve noticed something particularly unusual this year, from L.L. Bean, to Eddie Bauer, to J. Jill: they are aggressively pushing heavy-weight winter essentials, “crucial cool-weather outfitting,” Forty four versions of quilted jackets – from “ultra-light” to “deep winterweights” to “winter warmer,” to “premium down”, to “Freeheat polyester” to “performance fleece,” with “double fleece-lined.” Then there are flannel-lined denims galore, thick boots and slippers with a froth of fur or fleece. The madness goes on. DON’T these retailers have a clue about warmer winters?