Showing posts with label #6MonthsWithoutShopping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #6MonthsWithoutShopping. Show all posts

Wednesday 4 January 2017

#30Wears: Black Jersey Maxi Skirt and #6MonthsWithoutShopping

Introducing a new 30 Wears series on the blog and outlining my 6 months without shopping challenge.

30Wears: 1 black maxi skirt 30 different ways to wear outfit ideas | Away From The Blue blog

Why 30 Wears?

This all came about after watching a documentary on netflix: 'The True Cost'. If you haven't seen it yet I recommend it. It's a really interesting look at fast fashion. While I watched the movie last year it got me thinking more about my shopping habits.

With #30wears, before you buy anything, you ask yourself "would I wear it 30 times?". I already have my "if I buy it I need to wear it twice that month" rule to ensure I wear new purchases immediately and that they will be versatile in my wardrobe. I browsed my blog archives and was surprised that even pieces I thought I'd worn frequently hadn't been worn 30 times. In 2017, I'm going to focus more on wearing and enjoying what I already own and try hit 30 wears on as much as I can. This new 30 Wears series will initially be a monthly series. I will review as I go and post more frequently if I make faster progress on my goals.


#6MonthsWithoutShopping Challenge

It's no secret that I have a lot of clothes. Probably more than average. To get anywhere near 30 wears for everything have to stop buying new things and just focus on wearing and enjoying what I already own. So I set myself the #6monthsWithoutShopping challenge.  The rules:
  • No clothing or accessory purchases in the first 6 months of 2017.
  • Gifts (or products provided through blog partnerships) will be allowed and disclosed.
  • Attempt to achieve #30wears with as many clothing pieces as possible over the 6 months.
  • Any clothing that's donated, sold or falls apart can't be replaced until the 6 months is over.
  • Food, makeup, skincare, undies, kids clothes and gifts for others is allowed. The ban is only on clothes and accessories for myself.

I asked for and received a lot of gift cards for Christmas. At the end of the 6 months there will probably be a massive shopping trip celebrating the completion and using the gift cards, as I will not be spending them during the challenge. Hopefully I'll be shopping with an updated clothing wishlist and just buying what I need.


30 Wears: Black Jersey Maxi Skirt


Kicking off One Item, #30Wears is my beautiful Jeanswest black jersey maxi skirt. My sister bought this for me at the end of 2013, and I've worn it 39 times over the past 3 years. It works out to an average of at least once a month. It was actually difficult picking just 30 times I've worn this skirt to share, I really like it. I'ts starting to get quite worn now (not surprising given the number of wears) and so I picked up a replacement in the boxing day sales.

10 Ways to Wear a Black Maxi Skirt in Pregnancy


From the first trimester all the way through to 39 weeks, this comfortable elastic waist maxi skirt has seen me through two pregnancies. Elastic waist skirts are my favourite. So forgiving in the postpartum days too.

10 Ways to Wear a Black Maxi Skirt in Pregnancy | Away From Blue Blog



10 Ways to Wear a Black Maxi Skirt in Winter


I wear my maxi-skirts year round. Here are some outfit ideas for layering with a maxi skirt in winter weather. Scarves and leather jackets are perfect with a skirt.

10 Ways to Wear a Black Maxi Skirt in Winter | AWayFromTheBlue Blog


10 More Ways to Wear Black  Maxi Skirt

Maxi skirts work year-round for so many different occasions, they are one of my must-have wardrobe items.

10 Outfit Ideas how to wear Black  Maxi Skirt | Away From Blue







I've done No Buy July and No Spender September before, but never tried 6 months without shopping. Have you achieved it or considered it? Any advice?

If you enjoyed this 30 Wears post as well I'd love your suggestion for what clothing or accessory item to feature next!

Linking up with What I Wore, Fashion Files, Thursday Moda, Fabulous Friday, Fun Fashion, Flashback Fashion, Friday Faves, Passion for Fashion, Modest Monday.


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Monday 2 January 2017

5 Year Blogaversary and Giveaway!

Happy New Year!

This weekend marked 5 years of blogging! 1,014 posts and 1,600 outfits. A massive thank you to everyone who reads and comments and follows along. Especially over December, where things have looked a little different from usual on the blog as I've been so focused on Baby Boy after he was discharged from hospital. I hope to return to regular blogging this week. But first, a giveaway to celebrate the past 5 years!



Away From Blue Giveaway Handbags 5 Years of Blogging


Yes, I do own a lot of handbags! It's such a nice feeling knowing you enjoy following my little blog with everyday outfits. And all the outfit fails, the toddler and dog photo bombs and the less than perfect photos that involves. There are a lot of impeccably posed, planned out, edited and professionally photographed style blogs out there. Real life is never perfect and I hope I continue to demonstrate that you don't need to be flawless or dressed in new clothes every day to feel good. 2017 will see me continuing to share my outfits, but it will look a little different with more rewearing and remixing as I attempt #6monthsWithoutShopping. More of that in a future post.


To celebrate this 5 year blogging milestone, I wanted to do something really special for the people who have supported me over the years. It's largely due to the kind and encouraging people I've had the privilege of getting to know that I've stuck with blogging for so long.  You can see some of the bloggers I admire and respect here, with a special shout out to Beth, Kim, Anne, Sheila, Sam, Yun, Kiki and Lorena.

To everyone who leaves a thoughtful comment and actually reads my posts, thank you! I'm so pleased to be able to share a little bit of life and a lot of outfits with you all. While thinking about what to do to mark 5 years, I knew I wanted to do a giveaway. There's a Charlotte Tilbury makeup giveaway on YouTube as well as this blog giveaway.





As a thank you for your support, I'm giving away $50 cash! It will be $50 Australian dollars paid via PayPal. I'll be giving $50 to one of my followers. There is one little catch though: you have to spend it on yourself! It is a thank you gift after all. If you're unsure what to spend it on, check out some of the sales for inspiration. The giveaway is open internationally to anyone who follows my blog or social media and who has a PayPal account.


To enter to win $50, leave a blog post comment as well as filling out your response in the Rafflecopter form for your entry to be valid. The winner will be chosen for most creative answer to the question, 'How would you spend $50 on yourself?' and will be picked on 14th January.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hopefully you will find it the perfect way to start off the new year, treating yourself to a little something. Good luck!



Linking up with Modest Monday, Mix It Monday, On Trend, Turning Heads, Confident Twosday, Style Sessions, Midweek Inspo, What I Wore.


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