What? This old thing? - Wardrobe rummage finds

The house sale continues to trundle along at a sedentary pace, so I'm making use of the time to sort through every item in the house and have a good old declutter.  That includes the wardrobes.  Him indoors has already made some jumper donations to charity, I've acquired quite a stash of fabric (still masquerading as items of clothing!) and we have new dusters courtesy of some old t shirts.

Today I turned my attention to the spare wardrobe in the back bedroom, the place where I hide my second hand treasures (and him indoors has a suit, yes, a three piece suit!).  I did have a bit of a declutter about a year ago and sold some vintage dresses I had acquired donkey's years ago, and was rather attached to.  They didn't suit me and I could not envisage ever wearing them, so onto ebay they went.

I have always had regular wardrobe clearouts, and when you buy second hand that's easy to do with a clear conscience I find.  Thankfully, some pieces just get left behind in the sortout. 

Today I found this fabulous black and white swirly pattern velvet coat, one of a few fur hats I have and used to wear, these gorgeous soft as butter leather Clarks lace up boots with Louis style heel, an old sleeveless dress I wear as a pinafore (with lace top underneath which cannot be seen), and a black with silver thread scarf which was a gift ages ago and I do actually wear occasionally.  Oh, and those tights were straight out of the packet but are a couple of years old, I have a tights habit!

When I had put it all on I felt rather mutton, as in mutton dressed as lamb.  Yet not too long ago I would happily wear similar items to go to work in and not give it a second glance.  I don't like this lack of confidence, and wonder if it is to do with approaching 50?  I was more than happy to hit 40 head on and relished in my confidence and attitude.  I follow older bloggers who could wear the same things and look stunning.  I just feel overdressed. Maybe I've been slobbing around in jeans for too long.  Maybe this is the kick up the backside I need to start dressing up for the day?  Make-up wouldn't hurt either!  I do have some so there's no excuses.

So, do I need to bother dressing up more often or am I mutton dressed as lamb?

Outfit

Velvet coat - Birmingham Rag Market £20 many years ago

Dress - Tesco sale £7 years ago

Boots - ebay £15

Tights - Boots the Chemist sale (probably less than a pound)

Black fur hat - Next sale, less than a fiver

Sparkle scarf - gift 

As I'm wearing a hat I'll take the opportunity to link up with the incredibly stylish Judith of Style Crone for her latest Hat Attack!