Old Coats…

weekend wear over 40

Spring clear-out…

It’s wardrobe clear-out time! In other words, time to get rid of all those old t-shirts you never wear, jeans and trousers that no longer fit, impulse purchases in weird colours and anything that makes you wonder what the hell you were thinking when you got it…

I have to admit I don’t do this nearly as often as I should. But when I do, I tend to toss half of my wardrobe…

Unfortunately, I also run out of steam quite easily, usually half-way through the process. However, I’ve decided to congratulate myself even for the small steps: so what if I only cleared out one wardrobe, it’s a start in the right direction…

It doesn’t help that  my wardrobes, and thus also my clothes, are located in two countries… The long story short, for those of you who are new to this blog: my husband works in the U.K., I work in Finland, and therefore we have flats in both countries. And yes, we travel between these two countries all the time (= one of us travels every weekend).

So, as I spent the Easter weekend in the U.K., I thought it might be a good idea to start my spring clear-out there. Besides, I did a (nowhere near thorough) clear-out in Finland last year

weekend casual over 50

subtle pattern mixing

I have somewhat separate wardrobes in each country, so that I can travel light. Of course, I have my favourites-of-the-moment (which I tend to wear all the time, never mind where I am), but at least  I don’t have to pack underwear, sleepwear, toiletries, heavy coats, shoes, etc. for a weekend visit. Needless to say, perhaps, but the bag-of-the-moment always travels with me…

The thing is, in the past year or so, I’ve actually spent very little time in our U.K. home (poor hubby has done most of the travelling). So, all the clothes I have there are from way back. And I’m sick of all of them. And in my clear-out frenzy I must have tossed about two thirds of them…

However, I’m a bit wary of getting rid of coats, even if I’m bored with them. Thus, this old coat narrowly escaped the culling (this time), even though I’m slowly getting to the conclusion that it’s way past its best-before date.

It’s not that I have a shortage of coats, quite the contrary. But unlike skirts, trousers and tops, coats (and shoes) are very good at hitching a ride between countries… Let me explain. I may wear a particular coat when I travel from Finland to the U.K. (depending on the weather in my starting point and / or destination), but I may be wearing a different coat going back (again, depending on the weather…).

As a result, eventually most of my coats end up in one country. And then I suddenly realise that I have no weather-appropriate coat to wear, in spite of the fact that I have, say, 6 raincoats (all of which are ‘in the wrong country’, i.e. not where I find myself at that particular moment)…

And that’s the reason why I have so many coats: the idea was to have seasonally appropriate coats in both homes. However, in spite of my best intentions, I always ended up buying a new coat to replace the one that had somehow ended up in the wrong place…

So, at some point I made a decision to stop buying coats and wear more the ones lurking at the back of the closet instead. And that’s how this particular coat ended up here, in these photos…

over 50 blogger

Outfit details:

coat: Marks and Spencer (old) / top: Gap / jeans: Next (old) /

scarf: Shanghai Tang / bag: Furla / sunglasses: Michael Kors / shoes: Maripe

How’s your spring clear-out going?

Tiina

Linking up with:

Not Dead Yet StyleElegantly Dressed and StylishHigh Latitude StyleThe Pleated PoppyStyle ElixirA Labour of LifeDoused in PinkCurly Crafty MomFashion Should Be FunRachel the HatSincerely Jenna MarieMore Pieces of MeColor and GraceThe Wardrobe StylistNot Dressed As LambStyle NudgeCoco et La Vie en Rose,  Living on Cloud NineA Well Styled LifeElegance and MommyhoodPosh Classy MomNancy’s Fashion StyleShelbee on the Edge Over 50 Feeling 40 A Pocketful of Polka Dots Style SplashThe Fashionista MommaTina’s Pink FridayFake FabulousLazy daisy JonesVanity and MeSheela WritesJodie’s Touch of StyleGlass of GlamMummabstylish

21 Comments

    • Tiina L
      11 April 2018 / 3:48 pm

      Thanks!

  1. Nancy's Fashion Style
    8 April 2018 / 7:41 am

    But it is a gorgeous one! Perfect color for you!

    • Tiina L
      11 April 2018 / 3:49 pm

      Thanks, Nancy. I usually avoid grey, but this blue-gray shade works better with my skin tone.

  2. Patricia Sasso
    8 April 2018 / 11:48 am

    I vote to keep that coat!

    • Tiina L
      11 April 2018 / 3:50 pm

      Thanks! 😉

  3. Jill James
    9 April 2018 / 10:02 am

    I must agree , this coat is such a soft blue and suits you beautifully. Well done on your wardrobe cull , not a job to be undertaken lightly.

    • Tiina L
      11 April 2018 / 3:51 pm

      Thanks, Jill. Yes, this blue-grey shade is rather gentle on my skin tone, it's fast becoming one of my favourite 'neutral' tones.

  4. notdeadyetstyle
    9 April 2018 / 12:38 pm

    Gorgeous coat and color, Tiina! We are furnishing our tiny NYC studio next week, and I cannot wait to follow your lead of having a set of goodies in both places. And you are so right about Scandi-cool, my bad! thanks for linking up, xo-Pattihttp://notdeadyetstyle.com

    • Tiina L
      11 April 2018 / 3:52 pm

      That sounds exciting. Just be careful: clothes are very good at migrating from one flat to another, in spite of your best intentions…

  5. Anna of Mutton Style and Years
    10 April 2018 / 7:02 am

    Oh i so loved reading this . What an interesting life . Lots of variety. Oh I have 6 coats, just in the wrong country! Brilliant. Is that true of brollies too. Anyway you now have an excuse for a UK shopping spree. http://www.muttonstyle.com

    • Tiina L
      11 April 2018 / 3:54 pm

      Thanks, Anna. Well, it's not quite as interesting as it sounds, I'm afraid. Constant travelling is rather exhausting. I think I'm pretty good as far as brollies go: I have quite a few in both places. It's the shoes that are the problem: they migrate…

  6. Maureen
    10 April 2018 / 4:57 pm

    Beautiful coat and I love how you styled it! I like the neutral color and the longer length. I also love the bright scarf or neckerchief that you accessorized with. Such a beauty! I don't have a lot of spring cleaning to do since I don't have a very big wardrobe but I do have to clean out my son's closet as he is growing out of last seasons clothes way too fast! Maureen | http://www.littlemisscasual.com

    • Tiina L
      11 April 2018 / 3:56 pm

      Thanks, Maureen!I like to keep my wardrobe quite small, too, it makes life easier. Too much stuff makes both your house and head feel cluttered, in my opinion.

  7. Elegance and Mommyhood
    10 April 2018 / 11:00 pm

    I always love your coats Tiina – old or new – and this is agreat one in a fabulous light color. Your street style is always so put-together!Welcome by Thursdays and join my lovely Style Linkup, pretty lady. Thanks, Ada. =)

    • Tiina L
      11 April 2018 / 3:56 pm

      Thanks, Ada. Now I'm beginning to think I have way too many coats…

  8. mummabstylish
    12 April 2018 / 7:25 pm

    This is a keeper Tiina! Wow two lots of sorting – well done, I can't even manage one, lol. Thanks for joining me on the #chicandstylish #linkup. x Jacqui Mummabstylish

    • mummabstylish
      12 April 2018 / 7:30 pm

      OMG, I know exactly where you are, my local shopping centre. x I'm about 15 mins away on the coast. Be great to meet up at sometime! Jacqui Mummabstylish

    • Tiina L
      16 April 2018 / 12:30 pm

      Thanks, Jacqui!Well, if your local shopping centre is in Canterbury…

  9. Jennie L.
    16 April 2018 / 7:41 pm

    Nice coat and it looks quite versatile. The striped tee and floral scarf look beautiful framed by it! Thanks for linking up with Fabulous Friday, Tiina!Jennie – A Pocketful of Polka Dots

    • Tiina L
      19 April 2018 / 1:02 pm

      Thanks, Jennie.

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