Showing posts with label 30 Wears. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 30 Wears. Show all posts

Monday 2 October 2017

30 Ways to Wear a Classic Denim Jacket: #30Wears Series

First up, #noSpenderSeptember was achieved - nothing spent on fashion purchases last month! I did attempt a shopping trip but a minor accident derailed my plans. So no new purchases to report.



10 months into my #30wears challenge, and I've still worn very few items of clothing 30 times. I was sure by now I'd have a few dresses, maybe some tops that I'd hit 30 wears on, especially after not shopping for 7 months, but it's been mostly accessories like bags and shoes.

If you look at the maths behind 30 wears (this post has an amazing breakdown of it) I'd have to wear something every other week for 14 months to hit 30 wears on it. And I don't wear things that often, unless we are talking accessories. I'm still keeping up with my challenge, but I think I'm going to have to start wearing some favourites more frequently to hit 30 wears. Pieces I think I've worn a lot seem to only be around 12-15 wears. It's definitely an eye-opening challenge for me, making me realise just how much I have in my wardrobe already and how little I've worn even my favourite pieces.


A denim jacket is a classic piece most people have in their wardrobe so it's no surprise I've hit more than 30 wears with it! As it's spring I thought now was a good time to feature 30 ways to wear a denim jacket.





#30Wears: Classic Blue Denim Jacket


This jacket is one of the old pieces in my wardrobe. I remember where I bought it and who I was with (my sister) but not when exactly I bought it. Something I've easily worn more than 30 times as I've had it at least 10 years, and I've only been blogging for almost 6 years.



Denim Jacket in a Double Denim Outfit


double denim with denim jacket and colourful skinny jeans converse | Away From Blue

denim jacket and black jeans and shorts: double denim SAHM style | Away From The Blue

I find double denim tricky to wear. When I was younger I wore similar denim jackets and jeans together for a double denim look without thinking twice about it! Now though, I find it a little harder to pull off. Probably after that famous double denim moment. I even had a denim bag! Not as embellished as Britneys, but it was my favourite bag for a while.

The standard advice for an easy double denim look now is to wear different shades or washes together. I take that a step further and like to wear my denim jacket with completely different coloured jeans. I love my blue denim jacket with my red or purple skinny jeans. Black is another good colour too, for an easy double denim look without looking like you tried too hard.



Denim Jacket and Dresses


Printed dresses in spring with denim jacket 5 ways to wear | AwayFromTheBlue

This is a go-to spring and autumn outfit for me. For those days where it's just a little cooler and you need an extra layer so you're warmer in the cold mornings or evenings, a denim jacket is perfect. It's nice having a plain layer like this to wear with printed dresses too - you don't have to worry about clashing prints or colours, as blue denim goes with everything!



Denim Jacket and Maxi Dresses


denim jacket and colourful maxi dresses autumn and spring layers  ways to wear | away from blue

printed maxi dresses and denim jacket 4 ways to wear spring SAHM outfit ideas | AwayFromBlue

I felt this was worth calling out separately from the other dresses above. A denim jacket works with maxi dresses for many different reasons:

  • a sleeveless summer maxi dress you want to add a warmer layer to to get more wear over spring and autumn,
  • a spaghetti strap maxi dresses you want to cover up in a formal setting like church, a denim jacket is perfect.
  • to make a more formal maxi dress look more casual.

When I need to make a maxi dress work for a cooler day, a denim jacket is my first go-to, and I can even add a scarf if it's really chilly. I like maxi dresses and leather jackets together, but a denim jacket is my favourite way to layer with a maxi dress.



Denim Jacket and Maxi Skirts


Denim jackets and striped maxi skirts easy spring outfits | Away From The Blue

4 ways to wear maxi skirt and denim jacket outfit ideas | AwayFromBlue blog

Just like above with the maxi dresses, I find a denim jacket works really nicely with maxi skirts. It's a good way to make your maxi skirts work for cooler weather, when you just need a little extra layer on a cool spring or autumn day. Although maxi skirts are perfect in warmer months and ideal for summer, you can easily layer them up a little to work for the rest of the year.



Denim Jacket in Pregnancy


denim jacket with a baby bump: easy pregnancy style | Away From The Blue Blog

As I usually wear my denim jacket unbuttoned, it still worked perfectly in pregnancy. Having it unbuttoned left plenty of room for a growing baby bump, and it was just the right layer for a pregnancy over autumn. It was nice to have some non-maternity pieces to wear during pregnancy to help me feel more like myself, and a denim jacket unbuttoned is a piece that works in all three trimesters. You can get more pregnancy outfit tips in my book, Stylish pregnancy on a Budget.



Denim Jackets Under $50:





Want more outfit ideas? Check out the 40+ ways to wear a denim jacket in the blog archives.


Linking up with Confident Twosday, On Trend, Turning Heads, Style Sessions, Wardrobe Wednesday, Fashion Frenzy, Style on The Daily, Oh Hey Girl.



Follow Away From the Blue on:
Bloglovin
Twitter : Instagram Youtube : Facebook : Google Plus : LikeToKnow.It 

Monday 4 September 2017

#30Wears: Ways to Wear Rebecca Minkoff Yellow Micro Regan Bag in Harvest Gold

Another month, another #30wears post showing 30 different ways to wear something. This month I've picked a bag again, my Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan cross body bag.

Even after not shopping for 7 months, I'm finding it harder than I thought to hit 30 wears on my clothes. I think if I had a capsule wardrobe it would be easier, but I have a pretty large wardrobe and so I'm not frequently rewearing things as much as I think!


30 ways to wear Rebecca Minkoff Micro Regan Bag mustard yellow | AwayFromBlue



#30Wears: Rebecca Minkoff Micro Regan Cross Body Bag in Harvest Gold


I bought this cute little mustard yellow Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan bag back in October last year. Since I sold my yellow Rebecca Minkoff swing bag, I'd been looking for a replacement, and this was in the Shopbop sale. I like the rectangular shape of it, just a little roomier than my Rebecca Minkoff mini MACs and I love the extra tassel details.

The colour is harvest gold, which is a beautiful mustard yellow. It's from the fall/winter collection, and although October is spring here in Australia it didn't put me off of buying. I like colourful bags, no matter what season they are from I tend to wear them year round. You can see that in the photos below.


Micro Regan and Shorts and Kimonos


Proving my point above right away, this mustard yellow cross body bag works perfectly in summer. I wear the outfit formula of kimono and denim shorts a LOT in the warmer months, and this bag looks great with the denim. I love to wear it with the grey floral Somedays Lovin' kimono as you can see, as the kimono has a little yellow in the print. It does work nicely with my other kimonos too though. A plain, unpatterned bag is a good accessory with a busy printed outfit.

mustard yellow bag in summer denim shorts kimonos | Away From The Blue


Micro Regan and Maxi Dresses


The Rebecca Minkoff micro regan doesn't just look good with denim, I like to wear it with my maxi dresses too. It's a simple boxy shape so it's quick and easy to throw on. It's fun to use it for a pop of colour with a grey maxi dress, or try new colour combinations with yellow and coral and pink dresses.

Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan satchel with maxi dresses | Away From Blue Blog


Micro Regan and Maxi Skirts


I wear my maxi skirts a lot so it makes sense I'd wear my Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan bag with them often too. Just like with the maxi dresses above, I like adding extra colour to an already colourful outfit with combinations like orange and yellow and red, blue and yellow. A neutral maxi skirt outfit can be made more interesting with a little touch of colour from the bag too. It's not as in-your-face as a lighter yellow, the mustard colour makes it so wearable with many different things. And I've always liked yellow and grey together, so it's an easy accessory choice with a grey outfit.

Colourful maxi skirt outfits with mustard yellow micro Regan Bag | Away From The Blue

neutral maxi skirt outfits with mustard yellow micro Regan Bag | Away From The Blue


Mustard Yellow Bag and Monochrome Outfits


Blue and yellow is another colour combination I like - and you can see that beautifully in the monochrome outfits below. I like this set of photos as it shows how well the micro Regan bag works in multiple different outfits. While they are all monochrome outfits, it involves dresses, denim shorts and a maxi skirt. And it looks so good with all 4!

mustard yellow bag with monochrome outfits: 4 ways to wear | AwayFromBlue


Matching Yellow Bag and Accessories


If I'm feeling a little matchy-matchy, I like to wear my yellow teething necklace with the mustard micro Regan bag. While they are both different shades of yellow, I like how they look together.  Yellow can be seen by some people as hard to wear, so trying yellow accessories first is a great way to experiment with new colour combinations and add just a hint of colour to your outfit. You might be surprised by how many things yellow goes with once you give it a try.

how to wear a yellow bag: 5 outfit ideas with yellow accessories | awayFromBlue


Yellow Bag and Yellow Clothes


While I love the yellow necklace and bag outfit formula above, I like to match my mustard yellow bag to my yellow clothes too. You don't need to keep colour in your accessories, you can wear a bag that matches other pieces in your outfit. Again, the cardigan below doesn't match the bag exactly, but I think the slightly different shades look good together.

4 match matchy outfits yellow bag with yellow clothes outfit ideas | Away From The Blue


Mustard Yellow Bag in Any Season


As I mentioned previously, you can wear the mustard yellow micro Regan bag year-round. Mustard might be seen as a fall and winter colour, but there's nothing stopping you from wearing it in spring and summer.  It's a lovely all-rounder and I'm so glad I bought it!

How to wear mustard yellow Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan bag in multiple seasons | AwayFromBlue





Where to Buy the Rebecca Minkoff Micro Regan Bag:








Rebecca Minkoff currently has a 50% off sale on bags at the moment too, perfect time to shop!








Want more outfit inspiration? All the 35+ ways I've worn the micro Regan bag.


Previous 30 Wears posts:

I hope this gave you some new outfit ideas! You can use the social media buttons below to share this post if you enjoyed it.

Do you have a yellow bag? How do you wear it?


Linking up with On Trend, Turning Heads, Style Sessions, Confident Twosday, Wardrobe Wednesday, Oh Hey Girl, Style on the Daily, Fabulous Friday, Passion for Fashion, Hello Monday.


Follow Away From the Blue on:
Bloglovin
Twitter : Instagram Youtube : Facebook : Google Plus : LikeToKnow.It 

Wednesday 2 August 2017

#30Wears: Black Ankle Boots

Another month, another #30wears post. This month I'm sharing 30 ways you can wear black ankle boots - across multiple seasons. If you're currently enjoying summer and want more sandal inspiration, I've done 30 ways to wear gladiator sandals.



#noBuyJuly17 Results

Quickly wrapping up #noBuyJuly17 - I achieved it! Even after 6 months without shopping, I stuck to my goals this month and avoided the sales, not spending anything on fashion. I'm not going to try do 8 months without shopping, I'm open to shopping again in August.

However, I don't have the big 'wishlist' of items I was sure I'd have by the time my no-shop challenge is over, so I'm not going to be breaking the shopping drought with a huge haul or spending all those gift cards at once. I'll just see what I come across, and gradually spend the giftcards I'd set aside as a reward over the end of the year. A fairly uneventful end for a rather big achievement, no shopping for 7 months!

Despite the lack of a properly planned celebratory shop, I'm still really proud of managing to change my shopaholic ways. By buying nothing, I'm really getting more use from the things in my wardrobe that I already own, something I was trying to do but never seemed able to when I was just slowing down my shopping.



30 Wears: RMK Black Leather Ankle Boots


I bought these boots in June, a little over two years ago. It was a month of a lot of purchases thanks to all of the sales there were on at the time and needing new winter pieces. These boots were a little more expensive than the pair they replaced, but they were on sale, in my size and with a smaller heel so they were the perfect choice for me as a mum! It's also good to see that while 30 wears in two years doesn't sound like a lot, it's more frequently than I wore the boots that these replaced so it was definitely a practical purchase, and I'm pleased I bought these.

I think black ankle boots are such a classic - definitely a must-have for me, and you can wear them many ways in different seasons.


30 ways to wear black leather ankle boots | Away From The Blue blog


Ankle Boots & Dresses in Warmer Weather


This is my favourite way to wear ankle boots. While I'm petite, I don't think these black ankle boots make me look shorter when paired with bare legs - they are a very flattering style. The slight dip at the front of them is one of the features that's supposed to stop them from 'cutting off' your legs and making you look shorter. While we rarely get weather that allows me to be bare legged and wear boots, wearing dresses and ankle boots with bare legs in spring and autumn is definitely a favourite.


Ankle Boots & Dresses in Warmer Weather | Away From The Blue

3 ways to wear Ankle Boots & Dresses in Warmer Weather | Away From Blue




Ankle Boots and Dresses in Winter


As much as I like the look of dresses and ankle boots with bare legs, I don't stop wearing it when winter arrives. Just add some extra layers like a cosy cardigan or jacket, a big scarf, and some fleece-lined tights (a winter essential for me!). If you're concerned about black ankle boots making you look shorter, this is a good way to wear them as the black tights and boots together elongate your legs.

3 outfit ideas Ankle Boots and Dresses in Winter | Away From The Blue

3 ways to wear Ankle Boots and Dresses in Winter | Away From Blue



Ankle Boots and Office Wear


While I don't think ankle boots would work in all offices, I have a business casual dress code at work and so ankle boots are a great choice in winter. Just like above, I wear them with dresses, although they look equally good with pencil skirts too. If it would fit in with your company dress code, there's no reason you can't rock ankle boots in the office.

Ankle Boots and Office Wear Business casual winter outfits | Away From The Blue Blog




Ankle Boots and Maxis


You can continue to wear your maxi skirts and dresses year-round by layering them up for winter weather. While sandals are great with maxis in the warmer weather, it's much cosier wearing them with ankle boots in winter. I've worn ankle boots with maxi dresses as well as maxi skirts.

ankle boots and maxi dresses and scarves - colourful winter outfits | Away From Blue

Maxi dresses and ankle boots - cosy winter layering | Away From Blue




Ankle Boots and Jeans


A really common way to wear ankle boots, because everything goes with denim! When it's a cold winter day, I'll usually tuck my skinny jeans into my ankle boots to keep my legs warm. It it's a warmer spring or autumn day, I'll usually roll my jeans up so they stop just above my ankle boots, showing the tiniest bit of skin. I've read a few times that cuffed jeans are a no-no for petites as they make you look shorter, and so I spent far too much time avoiding wearing my ankle boots this way. I really like it after giving it a try, I don't think it makes me look any shorter than I am and I love wearing it. Rolling my skinny jeans above my ankle boots is my favourite way to wear them with denim.

5 Ways to Wear Ankle Boots and Skinny Jeans in Winter | Away From The Blue

rolled cuffed skinny jeans and ankle boots petite friendly | Away From Blue Blog




Black Ankle Boots Under $100:








How do you wear your ankle boots? Want more outfit ideas? 100+ ways to wear ankle boots in my blog archives.



Black Ankle Boots With Extra Detail Under $100:







Linking up with Friday FavesFlashback Fashion, Weekend Wear, Passion for Fashion, Friday Favourites, Shoe & Tell.


Follow Away From the Blue on:
Bloglovin
Twitter : Instagram Youtube : Facebook : Google Plus : LikeToKnow.It 

Monday 3 July 2017

30 Wears: Black Printed Moto Leather Jacket by Markus Lupfer

I've mentioned on previous posts in this 30 wears series that finding clothing I've hit more than 30 wears on has been tricky. It's certainly easy to find accessories I've worn 30 times, but I'd love to try show more variety and include some clothing options.

I was pleasantly surprised when I was writing a post and searching my blog for the last time I'd worn this black printed leather jacket and discovered it had been worn over 30 times! It's the middle of winter here in Australia, and we just had a very cold snap in Brisbane so perfect timing to share some ways to wear a leather jacket. Apologies to those in the Northern Hemisphere facing heatwaves!



#30Wears: Markus Lupfer Black Printed Moto Leather Jacket


I bought this Markus Lupfer printed leather jacket in one of the ASOS sales in Autumn of 2013, so I've had it just over 4 years. 30 wears in that timeframe is quite low, but I did try to avoid my leather jackets for the two autumns and winters when the boys were babies, so I'm actually impressed it's been worn so much when you take that into account.

When I bought it I was definitely swayed by the sale price (reduced from $385 to $150). Check out the ASOS sales for leather jackets, you can get some amazing bargains. I wasn't sure how wearable it would be with the navy and grey print but decided to try it and give it a go. It was a special 'ASOS Black' collaboration with Markus Lupfer so I figured it would be the only time I'd get to buy a designer piece of clothing. I tend to splurge on designer bags instead!


Despite being unsure about how tricky the print would be to wear when I saw the jacket online, I'm glad I took the chance and bought it anyway as I loved it the minute it arrived! It really can be worn with so much, as you can see from the 30 wears below.



Black Leather Moto Jacket and Dress in Winter

I love layering up my dresses in winter with some cosy fleece-lined tights, boots and a leather jacket. With the subtle print on the jacket, I find it works well with plain dresses, but equally well with printed ones. I like the 'tougher' printed leather moto jacket with something feminine like a dress too, it's such a nice outfit combination. My favourite dress to wear with it is my navy and black striped tee dress, the print on the jacket is the perfect accompaniment with it!

30 Wears Markus Lupfer printed moto leather jacket dresses winter | away from the blue

5 ways to wear dresses and Markus Lupfer black printed moto leather jacket | awayFromTheBlue



Black Leather Moto Jacket and Jeans

My stay at home mum winter uniform quickly becomes jeans, leather jacket and cosy scarf, as you can see in these pictures! I like that this jacket works well with skinny jeans and flares, and it's just as good for casual Friday as it is for weekend wear. When it gets really cold I add some leather boots. I feel like a printed leather jacket like this is an easy and cosy way to add a little bit of edge to an otherwise plain jeans outfit.

30wears Markus Lupfer printed leather jacket Casual Friday SAHM style jeans

4 ways to wear skinny jeans, boots, printed leather jacket in winter | AwayFromTheBlue



Leather Jacket and Skirts

I still like to wear skirts in winter, usually with some fleece lined tights instead of bare legs when it gets really cold. A leather jacket is a nice piece for added warmth in the cooler early morning commute too. While I have worn these outfits to work, I always swap the leather jacket out for a cardigan once I get to my desk. My office does have a relaxed dress code but I just find a leather jacket a bit much to wear in the office. It's perfect for any times I'm outside during the day though.

5 ways to wear leather jacket and skirts in winter | Away From Blue blog


Leather Jacket and Maxi Lengths

I've only just started wearing this outfit formula recently so I don't have too many examples of it. But this printed leather jacket instantly makes a maxi outfit look more pulled together. A maxi skirt and knit can be a cosy winter outfit, but looks a little plain. The printed leather jacket is the perfect topper, and it keeps you cosy too! I'm planning to wear a leather jacket and maxi dress a lot more often this winter.

3 outfit ides Markus Lupfer printed leather jacket maxi dress and skirt | AwayFromBlue


Printed Leather Jacket and Printed Clothes

Despite my initial fears with the print on the jacket, I have found it to be really wearable! As you can see in the photos above I like wearing it with colourful printed scarves, but I'll happily wear it with other printed pieces too like jeans and skirts. The subtle print is just enough to add interest but not so much that it clashes with other prints in my outfit.

4 ways to wear printed leather jacket with other printed pieces | AwayFromTheBlue blog




If you're calculating cost per wear for this leather jacket, over 33 wears it's down to $4.54 a wear. Definitely something I'll continue to wear for years to come and can see it getting down to a $1 or less a wear - it still looks pristine.

I hope this has given you some inspiration for how to wear your leather jacket. If you're in the northern hemisphere you can always pin this post for later!


Leather Jackets Under $150:









There are a few fun Markus Lupfer pieces for sale at the Outnet right now too, although not as cheap as my jacket was.


Want more outfit ideas? See all the ways I've worn my leather jackets.


More posts in the 30 wears series:


Linking up with Style Sessions, Turning Heads, Oh Hey Girl, Fashion Frenzy.


Follow Away From the Blue on:
Bloglovin
Twitter : Instagram Youtube : Facebook : Google Plus : LikeToKnow.It 

Friday 30 June 2017

#6MonthsWithoutShopping: Lessons From a Former Shopaholic

It's here! The end of June! After completing my #6monthsWithoutShopping challenge without a single fashion purchase, I think I'm officially able to call myself a former shopaholic!

I love shopping and bargain hunting a lot. Getting together with friends would be an excuse to shop, I'd shop during my lunch breaks, shop when a sale email came through....shop whenever I got the chance basically, and often that meant shopping more than once a week. I'm an emotional shopper too - happy, sad, bored, all were excuses to shop. My parents taught me the value of money so I wasn't spending huge amounts and never more than I earned, but I suspect I was shopping a bit more than average. Especially after discovering designer handbags 😂


Away From The Blue blog: lessons from a former shopaholic #6monthsWithoutShopping no shop challenge


How My Wardrobe Grew



awayfromtheblue wardrobe progress 2008
Wardrobe at my parents 2008

My wardrobe expanded from a single wardrobe at my parents to a wardrobe and a half after getting married and moving in with hubby, then adding on an extra clothes rack and eventually taking over an entire room filled with clothes and bags. I routinely broke the clothes racks from overloading them! I had way too much stuff. It was when my 'wardrobe room' was turned into Toddler T's nursery that I did my first big declutter. I got frustrated at the amount of new with tags items in my wardrobe and resolved to shop better.




The year Toddler T was born I realised if I was going to be adding things to my now limited wardrobe space I'd best be sure I would get use from them - and so started thinking more critically about what I bought.

I attempted a few 'tricks' to help tame my wardrobe and my shopping.






away from blue wardrobe progress 2012
Wardrobe 2012

Why #6MonthsWithoutShopping?

I covered it in more detail here, but basically it was another 'trick' to hopefully curb my shopping and help me use my existing wardrobe more, so I could wear more of what I own 30 times (idea from The True Cost movie). I wasn't sure I could do an entire year, 6 months seemed more reasonable.


away from the blue wardrobe room handbag wall 2014
Wardrobe 2014

How did I manage no shopping for 6 months?


I couldn't make it 31 days without shopping before, so I'm just as amazed as you are that I made it a whole 6 months without spending anything on fashion. There are a few things that helped make me successful this time around that I thought I'd share, in case you want to do your own no-shop challenge for any length of time.


  • Major life change. I mentioned it briefly on the blog, but the later half of 2016 was a bit scary, particularly in December when Baby Boy was admitted to hospital. The next few months involved re-prioritisation and shopping was just not on my radar.

  • Tell people about it. Of course I shared my intentions online on the blog, but I told everyone else about it. Friends, family, everyone was 'in' on it to help me with my goals. I'd meet up with them other places instead of defaulting to shopping as an activity.

  • The long timeframe. I didn't want to be that person that caved in the first half of the challenge, and by then I'd had 3 successful months behind me so didn't want to invalidate it by buying something in the last 3 months. It actually got easier the longer it went on.

  • Timing is everything. The challenge started in summer, and after an autumn full of heat-waves I was thoroughly bored and uninspired by my current wardrobe. When the temperatures eventually dropped, I got to unpack all my winter items and feel like I had something 'new' in my wardrobe. As I don't pack away much of my summer clothes, I wouldn't have had the same enjoyment if I'd started this in winter and had to box away half my wardrobe when it got warmer.

  • Get another hobby. I've always said shopping was a hobby for me - instead I took that time and channeled it into something else. I recently started a volunteer job as an example.

  • Limit your time. Similar to the point above, as Baby Boy grew and he and his big brother napped less, I had less time to shop. Instead of online shopping on the computer when they went to bed, I'd be trying to write a blog post or read the blogs I didn't get to through the day.

  • Have a reward. I purposely asked for (and gratefully recieved) a lot of gift cards for Christmas. It was my 'reward' at the end of the challenge. Didn't make sense to spend money in my favourite stores when I had gift cards just waiting to be spent in July!

  • Practice makes perfect. I didn't always meet my goals when I did No Buy July but I did learn more about my shopping habits - when I was inclined to shop and break the challenge and how I could avoid doing that in future. They were lessons rather than 'failures'.



away from blue wardrobe 2015
Wardrobe 2015


What Next?



I have the gift cards ready to go, I've had 6 months to put together an updated clothing wishlist...but I'm not going to be marking the 1st July with some purchases. I'm going to do #noBuyJuly17 instead, making it 7 months without shopping.


Why another no shop challenge?


As I mentioned above, my parents taught me the value of money and I'd frequently buy bargain pieces to fit my budget. 30 wears and the 6 months without shopping has taught me the value of quality: to have a wardrobe that I love, that I wear often, and where every piece is something I'd want to wear 30 times. It doesn't matter if something was $5 or $50, as long as it's something that's actually getting worn.

I think I have so much further to go to really get value from what I already own in my wardrobe, so I'm not looking at shopping again any time soon. I calculated if I wore some things 30 times I'd have 11 years worth of outfits. Not really feeling the urge to add to that number at the moment! Buying more just means I'll wear the existing things I already love less.

I'm not saying I'm never going to shop again, just that I'm content with the wardrobe options I have at the moment and don't yet see the need to add anything new. I'd like to wear more of my recently unboxed winter pieces before I buy any new ones.

I'm definitely a former shopaholic!


Away From The Blue Blog 2017 current wardrobe
Wardrobe 2017



Have you ever attempted a no-shop challenge? Do you find my tips useful? Or did you just scroll in amazement at my ever-changing wardrobe?

Linking up with Friday Faves, Mummy Mondays, Modest Monday, Hello Monday, Bloggers Linkup.


Follow Away From the Blue on:
Bloglovin
Twitter : Instagram Youtube : Facebook : Google Plus : LikeToKnow.It 

Wednesday 31 May 2017

30 Wears: Rebecca Minkoff Grey MAB Satchel Bag

Another 30 ways to wear, with an update on #6monthsWithoutShopping.

6 Months Without Shopping: Month 5 Update


You might find it hard to believe but that's the 5th month of my no shopping challenge completed with no shopping! Of course now I've shared the secret for how I've been distracting myself from shopping for these 5 months - I was working on an eBook in any spare time I had. Not that you get spare time often with two boys under 3!

This month I think I've been more tempted by things, there have been so many sales. I'd usually use a sale as an excuse to jump online to 'just take a look', but I've distracted myself with doing something for the book instead so I've never had the time to think about purchases for too long. It's also easy to talk myself out of wanting things when I realise I've nearly done 6 months without shopping and I'd hate to go and spoil it so close to the end by buying something!


And now, 30 wears. Still finding it difficult to identify clothing that I've worn 30 times, I'm featuring another accessory. The Rebecca Minkoff MAB mini that I've worn over 60 times in the 4 years since I bought it. A surprisingly low number given that when I get it out of its dustbag I tend to wear it for a few days in a row. It's such a good bag I usually wear it for a while before thinking I need to enjoy some of my other bags again.


30 Ways to Wear Rebecca Minkoff MAB Satchel Bag | Away From Blue Blog


#30Wears: Rebecca Minkoff Grey MAB Mini (MAM) Bag


I bought this Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB bag back in 2013, before the boys were born. At the time I liked the flexibility of the bag as you could wear it so many different ways: over the shoulder, handheld, and cross body. It's only now I'm chasing toddlers that I'm really appreciating the cross body feature for more than just a different look, it's a very practical choice for a mum bag! The neutral grey mini MAB goes with so many different outfits and I've worn the bag for many occasions too, as you can see in the 30 ways I've worn it below.


Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAB in the Office

The classic shape and neutral colour make the MAB satchel a great choice for the office! It's just large enough to fit in all of the usual things I carry as well as a small notebook, water bottle and snack - essentials for meetings across the city. While my workplace has a business casual dress code, I think this is the kind of bag you could easily wear in a more formal office too.

Rebecca Minkoff grey MAM bag office Corporate Style | Away From Blue Blog


Mini MAB and Maxi Skirts and Dresses

The beauty of the Rebecca Minkoff MAB satchel is that while it works in a more formal office environment with a pencil skirt, you can dress it down nicely with a maxi skirt or maxi dress for the weekend or stay at home mum style. The rectangular satchel shape of the bag slouches down nicely so it's just as suitable for a casual outfit too.

Rebecca Minkoff MAM Bag and Maxi Skirts and Dresses | Away From Blue Blog



Grey Mini MAB and Print Mixing

The benefit of neutral grey bag is that it goes with anything, so you can be a little more adventurous with your outfit. You can easily try some print mixing and pair different clothes together, as the bag won't clash with whatever you're wearing. Stripes and skulls, stripes and Aztec print, stripes and stars and even polka dots and skulls. I love my colourful handbags, but you can't beat a nice neutral sometimes!

grey satchel handbag with print mixing outfits | Away From The Blue Blog






Grey MAB Bag and Colourful Outfits

Just as a grey bag works in the outfits above when you are wearing different prints, it's the perfect neutral for a more colourful outfit where you're trying a new colour combination. I'm trying to add more colour to my outfits so when I'm wearing two colours I like to opt for a neutral bag. Blue and grey work so nicely together, and continue to do so even when you add in other colours like purple, yellow, pink and red.

bold colourful outfits with grey neutral handbag | Away From Blue Blog


MAB Satchel and Printed Dresses

Of course you don't have to be paring different prints or colours together to wear a neutral bag. A fail-safe grey bas is a good accessory with a bright printed dress too. 'Pick a colour from the pattern on the dress to accessorise with' is wise advice, but you can never go wrong wearing a colourful printed dress and a classic neutral bag.

Rebecca Minkoff MAM Bag with printed dresses | AwayFromTheBlue Blog



Difference Between the MAB and Mini MAB Satchel Bag

I've used MAB and mini MAB (or MAM) interchangeably in this post. The bag I'm wearing is the mini MAB which I think is better for my petite self. The difference is that the mini MAB is 20% smaller than the MAB. It's the exact same style, just a tiny bit smaller. A mini MAB (or MAM) is 13" wide, 8" high and 5.75" deep. Anything bigger is the MAB. 👍


Grey Rebecca Minkoff MAB Satchel and Monochrome Outfits

A you've seen above, an outfit with prints or colours or combinations of them both can benefit from a neutral handbag. You can try different prints and colours together, or try something a little simpler and wear a monochrome outfit. Black, blue and even orange, a grey bag can compliment a monochrome outfit nicely.

4 ways to wear: monochrome outfits and Rebecca Minkoff MAB satchel | Away From Blue



Grey MAB Bag With Jeans and a Tee

Jeans and a tee will always be a go-to outfit for me. A grey tee and denim is a simple outfit, and the grey Rebecca Minkoff MAB works nicely with it too, simple and stress free dressing. I haven't had any denim transfer on the grey leather, even when the bag rubs against my jeans when I wear it cross body. I do spray all my bags with a waterproofer before I wear them though.

Grey tees and jeans with rebecca minkoff mini MAB Bag | away from the blue blog



Anything and Rebecca Minkoff MAB Satchel

As you've seen above, a neutral grey bag with multiple ways to wear it like this one really will go with everything. You can wear it with jeans, colourful outfits, prints, dresses...it works in so many different outfits. You can wear it year-round, and to multiple activities. It's one of those wear to work, wear on weekend pieces that I wish I had more clothing equivalents of in my wardrobe with my upcoming return to work after maternity leave.

4 ways to wear Rebecca Minkoff grey MAB satchel bag | AwayFromTheBlue blog




If you've been considering a Rebecca Minkoff bag and haven't been sure which one to get, I highly recommend snapping up the MAB on sale. It's on sale right now at Shopbop, in tan too. It's the first handbag Rebecca Minkoff sold back in 2005 and it really is one of those classic pieces. The video below shows just how much it can comfortably fit inside!





Where to Buy the Rebecca Minkoff MAB:





Where to Buy the Rebecca Minkoff MAB Second Hand:



(While the MAB style has recently been re-released, it was discontinued for a while. There are still a lot more colour options available second hand if you want to get one of the older bags like mine. Just remember to check sizes as mentioned above to make sure you're getting the MAB or MAM you want.)

Want more outfit inspiration? All 60+ ways I've worn the Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB on the blog.


30 ways to wear the Rebecca Minkoff MAB satchel! - Click to Tweet.
I hope you found this post useful. Don't forget to share or pin!


Linking up with What I Wore, Oh Hey Girl, Style On The Daily, Budget Bloggers, Thursday Moda, Fashion Files, Fun Fashion, Fabulous Friday, Passion for Fashion, Flashback Friday, Weekend Wear, Friday Favourites, Style Sessions, The Ultimate Rabbit Hole.


Follow Away From the Blue on:
Bloglovin : 
Twitter : Instagram Youtube : Facebook : Google Plus : LikeToKnow.It