Thrift Inspiration......One Scarf In, One Jacket Out

Hi everyone!! Like a lot of style and fashion bloggers I have been reorganising and sorting out my wardrobe for Autumn and Winter over the past few weeks. I recently sold my Kate Moss for Topshop Liberty print jacket on ebay as it was too small (alas I have gained some weight which I should address by regular exercise but am still slow to gain any inspiration for this)-anyhow the jacket was too small and surplus to requirements and it gave me some ammunition and funds to put towards a new seasonal purchase.

I've been inspired by a few style bloggers recently who like me have a scarf addiction and have been wearing the new berry tones in existing scarves they have or by their new purchases. I decided that I wanted to get a statement scarf such as the Mulberry one I got last Christmas. 

Requirements for the new one included pure wool content, cream and berry hues with black if possible and I really did want a heritage brand thrown in for good measure. My local T K Maxx is generally a walk-thru from one side of the town to the other, but yesterday as I was walking through I had the brainwave to check out the scarves and I'm so pleased I did. After searching through the racks I found the perfect one for me which ticked all the boxes:

This scarf is by Aquascutum and has the cream, black and berry colours I wanted, plus it's 100% wool. It's wider than a normal scarf but smaller than a shawl, so will provide perfect coverage for colder spells:

The price was spot on too- for a heritage brand such as Aquascutum I would have expected to pay at least double what I did, so when I saw the price tag at £24.99 I was really pleased and knew I would be taking it home with me. 

This was a perfect swap for me, I now have the scarf I wanted and the jacket has gone to a new home. Reassessing and selling what you don't want in your wardrobe is a great way to raise funds for potential new purchases-will you be doing this for Autumn and Winter, or have you done so already?

Cocoon coats, Vintage v Modern

Cocoon coats have been in style for decades now and the earliest picture I can see is from Balenciagas Fall 1954 collection, featuring this rather fashionable cocoon design:

Fast forward more than half a century and Prada have the style in their Autumn/Winter 2011 collection-the shape and cut is so easily such a style classic, reinvented by different designers virtually every decade in plain or printed versions:

Before I realised the coccon coat was back in fashion this winter, I had bought this 1960s heritage green version for my vintage fashion fair stall. It had not sold all year and I decided to try it on last month as an alternative day winter coat and its been in my own wardrobe ever since!

Lisa Armstrong did an article on cocoon coats last month, featuring an Etro claret version and I do agree with her that they are such a style which tend to go with skirts or trousers and have the added bonus of allowing thick jumpers underneath without creating extra bulk.

Here is my Aquascutum coat in action with skinny jeans-its a perfect day coat and I really love the colour too:

What style of coat are you currently in this winter?