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…
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…
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 Style, Elegantly Dressed and Stylish, High Latitude Style, The Pleated Poppy, Style Elixir, A Labour of Life, Doused in Pink, Curly Crafty Mom, Fashion Should Be Fun, Rachel the Hat, Sincerely Jenna Marie, More Pieces of Me, Color and Grace, The Wardrobe Stylist, Not Dressed As Lamb, Style Nudge, Coco et La Vie en Rose, Living on Cloud Nine, A Well Styled Life, Elegance and Mommyhood. Posh Classy Mom, Nancy’s Fashion Style, Shelbee on the Edge Over 50 Feeling 40 A Pocketful of Polka Dots Style Splash, The Fashionista Momma, Tina’s Pink Friday, Fake Fabulous. Lazy daisy Jones, Vanity and Me, Sheela Writes, Jodie’s Touch of Style, Glass of Glam, Mummabstylish
that coat is very pretty and I like how you styled it with that scarf!http://modaodaradosti.blogspot.ba/
Thanks!
But it is a gorgeous one! Perfect color for you!
Thanks, Nancy. I usually avoid grey, but this blue-gray shade works better with my skin tone.
I vote to keep that coat!
Thanks! 😉
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.
Thanks, Jill. Yes, this blue-grey shade is rather gentle on my skin tone, it's fast becoming one of my favourite 'neutral' tones.
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
That sounds exciting. Just be careful: clothes are very good at migrating from one flat to another, in spite of your best intentions…
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
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…
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
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.
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. =)
Thanks, Ada. Now I'm beginning to think I have way too many coats…
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
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
Thanks, Jacqui!Well, if your local shopping centre is in Canterbury…
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 –Â A Pocketful of Polka Dots
Thanks, Jennie.