What I Bought In March & How I've Worn It: Target Sale and Opshop Finds

First haul of the year. Nearly made it 3 months without shopping, without even trying! After my December opshop haul I hadn't seen anything I had to have as I was enjoying wearing all my thrifted pieces from December, as well as the new things I got for Christmas. But then I stumbled across the Target end of summer clearance sale, and had some time at the opshops, so I bought quite a few things this month!

What I Bought In March:

• Target animal print ruffle hem mini skirt
• Target classic denim skirt in white 

• thrifted wood and marble bead thrifted necklace with white string
• thrifted gold and pastel blue beaded necklace with grey string
• thrifted multi strand multi colour disc bead necklace with tassels
• thrifted wooden geometric bead necklace
• thrifted yellow beaded statement pendant long necklace
• thrifted wooden yellow tassel necklace
• thrifted silver and turquoise multi strand necklace

• thrifted no label black and white leopard print cardigan
• thrifted Kmart blue and pink palm print cover up
• thrifted no label tropical print tassel cover up

Quite a large haul for my first haul of the year! With the exception of the white denim skirt, which I've been thinking about getting for a while, everything was an impulse buy. That explains all the necklaces!

I had fun browsing the Target end of summer sale with my mum and sister at the start of March. I only picked up two things to try on, both of them skirts, and I decided to buy them both. I thrifted a black denim version of the white skirt from the opshop a of couple years ago and love it, so thought it was worth the splurge on the white one in the Target sale. The leopard print skirt looked really cute and when I tried it on I just had to have it! Perfect for autumn here in Brisbane, I'm also looking forward to when it will eventually cool down and I will get to layer it.

The opshop finds were lucky finds! I'd been browsing their $1 book sale for books for the kids, and while I had a little extra time I checked out the clothes and accessories for myself too. Found one of the kimonos on the scarf rail! I loved the colours and the tassels and I pulled it out to take a closer look when I realised it was a kimono. Whenever I see a kimono in an opshop I add it straight to the basket! The cardigan I couldn't pass up either, although I know it will be a while before it's cool enough to wear it.

The necklaces were a little bit of a crazy buy! To be honest I actually put quite a few back, and just ended up taking these 7 home. Still so many to buy at once.

How I've Worn It:

I have a personal goal of wearing everything I buy at least twice in the month I buy it. It didn't work to curb my purchases this time, but my inability to wear everything twice this month has made me realise that yes, maybe 7 necklaces is too many to buy in one go. At just $2 each though, I couldn't resist!

The cardigan I have not worn, as I expected, as it's just not been cool enough, it's been a hot autumn here in Brisbane. I know it will get more wear when the weather cools though, and I've been looking for a printed cardigan for a while.

The kimonos I was sure I'd get two wears from - I do love a good kimono! I have been in the office much more than expected though, and had a few special events this month I'd pre-planned outfits for I wanted to wear, so I didn't meet my wear twice goal with both kimonos, although I do have plans to hit 2 wears with them this weekend.

The white denim skirt, being worn 3 times this month, was definitely the most worn buy of March!

Yearly Fashion Spend for 2023 So Far:

Since I hadn't bought anything in January or February, the March spend is the only amount added to my yearly spend so far in 2023. The skirts from target were 50% off, and the necklaces were $2 each, so my total comes to $52 spent on fashion so far this year.

And in keeping with my fashion goals for 2023, the majority of my purchases this year have been pre-loved, thanks to that awesomely productive opshopping time!

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30 Ways To Wear: Black and White Stripe Tank

Unsurprisingly for such a staple piece, I've worn this Atmos & Here black and white striped tank 30 times since I bought it! The perfect piece to feature for this month's 30 wears post as it goes with everything.

30 Ways To Wear: Atmos&Here Black and White Striped Tank

Out of all the prints in my wardrobe, I think stripes are the hardest working, and something I frequently reach for. The best thing about this black and white striped racer back tank is that it's quite a thick cotton material - so it works in summer with bare arms and layers well in winter too. I really enjoy wearing it and can't imagine not having in my wardrobe. Even if it was an impulse buy!

And just like the cheap and cheerful find I shared last month with the Kmart floral maxi dress worn 30 ways, this is from Atmos&Here, another fast fashion brand. You don't have to spend a lot to get things that last in your wardrobe!

Cost Per Wear

This Atmos&Here Oregon tank was an impulse buy to get myself free shipping! I'd picked up a few things at The Iconic, back in April 2016, but I was 50 cents short of free shipping. I had the choice of paying $7.95 for shipping or finding something else I liked around that same price range to get free shipping. This tank was on sale for $9.98. I figured I'd rather pay the extra $2.03 and have the tank than just paying for shipping!

I'm glad I did that - it's been a good piece to have in my wardrobe, and for just $9.98, at 30 wears, it's down to 33 cents a wear now.

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Jeans and Black And White Striped Tank Outfits

You really can't beat stripes and denim - it's such a classic, and for good reason! I like to try mix it up a little and step away from the blue jeans rut by wearing this striped tank with more colourful jeans, but any shade of denim works well with stripes - even a classic blue.

Bright Toppers To Wear With A Black and White Striped Tank

A black and white striped tank is a great neutral piece to add to an outfit. It doesn't clash with any other colours so you can layer it up with any bright topper! A cardigan for a cooler day, a blush blazer for work, or a pink vest on a warmer day. They all look great with black and white, any colour does.

Black And White Stripe Tank Worn With Printed Scarves

With the neutral black and white, another way I like to add a little more colour to this tank is by wearing a bright scarf on top. It's a great additional layer for a colder day too. My favourite is an Alexander McQueen skull scarf. I love the skull print against stripes and I have them in a range of colours!

Shorts Outfits With Black and White Striped Tank

Just like the striped tank and jeans outfit formula above, shorts are another easy staple pairing. You don't have to stick to denim shorts though, as you can see here I've worn this striped tank with cotton Bermuda shorts and these soft linen blend olive pull on shorts. An easy outfit for a warmer day.

Black and White Striped Tank With Skirts Outfits

As much as I love jeans and shorts, skirts are more frequently worn in my wardrobe. And this neutral black and white striped tank works with any kind of skirt! As you can see, maxi skirts are my go-to, but this tank works well under a blazer with a pencil skirt for in the office too.

Print Mixing With Striped Tank

I think striped pieces are the easiest to try print mixing with, and so I've worn this tank with a few printed pieces in the past. Printed shorts, and a lot of printed kimonos! Not every print mix worked but it was fun to try some different things with the stripes! I think the printed shorts is my favourite, closely followed by that tie dye kimono.

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Where To Buy Black And White Striped Tanks Under $50:

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Similar Posts In The 30 Wears Series:

• 30 ways to wear a navy and white striped tank
• 30 ways to wear navy stripe maxi skirt
• 30 ways to wear a black striped maxi skirt
  
  

For more outfit inspiration, you can see all the times I've worn this tank in my archives, or browse the 30 wears series. What outfit was your favourite?

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Sharing another accessory for this month's 30 wears series. Each month I look through my blog archives and pick out pieces I've worn 30 times or more to put together these posts and give you some inspiration for how you can rewear pieces in your own wardrobe. I got the idea from The True Cost documentary.

With staying home more and getting dressed less I'm not hitting 30 wears as much as I usually would with my clothes, although I'm sure my pyjamas and loungewear have great numbers of wear now! So I had a look around for other things I might have hit 30 wears with and found I've worn this cute turquoise tassel necklace 32 times! It's not the first necklace I've hit that goal with either, I wore a teething necklace well over 30 times when the kids were younger!

30 Ways To Wear: Turquoise Tassel Necklace

The colours of this necklace are beautiful! With the gold chain, cloudy white stone pendant and the little beaded turquoise tassels, it really goes with so much and is often the perfect finishing touch to an outfit. I've heard turquoise jewellery goes with everything and this necklace proves that! Neutrals, greens, blues, yellow, reds, orange, pink... it works with every colour.

Cost Per Wear

This tassel necklace was an impulse buy at Jeanswest during a shopping trip with my sister, back in October 2018. It was on sale for $14.99, which was 40% off so I got a bargain! At 32 wears, it works out at 47 cents a wear which is pretty good. It still looks new, none of the gold tone has started rubbing off the hardware, so I know I'll get a lot more wear from it in future too.

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Matching Turquoise Necklace To Other Pieces In An Outfit

You know if you have followed me for a while that I love a bit of matchy-matchy! If you're not sure how to wear a colourful necklace like this try matching it with other turquoise pieces in your outfit! I like wearing my aqua Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC bag, or my teal Balenciaga first bag with this necklace bit you can also match it to a print of something you're wearing like I have with the maxi dresses.

Turquoise Necklace With Green

Turquoise is not too similar to wear with green! I've found that no matter the shade of green - a neutral olive or a brighter emerald, this turquoise necklace compliments it well. 

Turquoise Necklace With Blue

Just like with the green outfits above, any shade of blue in your outfit pairs nicely with a turquoise necklace. I do quite like wearing this necklace with that navy printed maxi dress though 😂 You can see it works just as well with the cobalt knit or the pale blue denim jacket.

Turquoise Necklace With Red

I love the contrast of turquoise and red together! Blue and red is a colour pairing I wear a lot and once I decided to try this turquoise necklace with red I just kept repeating it. It's a good way to add an extra touch of colour to your outfit.

Turquoise Necklace With Neutrals

While I've worn this necklace with a few different colours above it's also really good against a neutral outfit, or a neutral piece in your outfit. It really pops and stands out against black or grey.

Turquoise Tassel Necklace In The Office

A tassel necklace brings a little touch of boho to your outfit and it doesn't just work with casual outfits, it looks pretty good in the office too with a pencil skirt to stop your outfit looking overly formal. I've worn this to the office a lot, back when we all used to work in offices...

Adding a Turquoise Necklace As An Extra Colour In An Outfit

Because turquoise goes with everything, I like to add this necklace to an outfit as a way of introducing a third or fourth colour without trying too hard. If you're unsure you can try match it with something else like I have with the bag in the last maxi skirt outfit there, or you can just add it as an extra pop of colour against an already colourful outfit. Orange, green and yellow, green and yellow and blue...it works with any colour combination!

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Similar Necklaces Under $50:

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More Outfit Ideas:

For more outfit inspiration and ideas, you can view all 30 ways I've worn this kimono in my blog archives, or browse the complete 30 wears series.

Similar Posts In The 30 Wears Series:

• 30 Ways To Wear A Red Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Micro Avery Tote Bag
• 30 Ways To Wear: Gold Marc by Marc Jacobs Mouse Flats
• 30 Ways To Wear: Navy Rebecca Minkoff Medium MAB Tote Bag
• 30 Ways To Wear: Rebecca Minkoff Love Crossbody Bag
• 30 Ways to Wear: Rebecca Minkoff Yellow Micro Regan Bag in Harvest Gold
• 30 Ways to Wear: Silicone Teething Necklace

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What I Bought in December And January, And How I've Worn It

Well 2020 has been off to a strange start! And not just because of all the wild events recently, I'm talking specifically about my shopping. This is a personal style blog after all!

I started the new year with my intention, the same as last year, to spend less than I did the previous year. Yet at the end of January, I've bought a lot more than expected! I actually only have 1 Christmas gift card left! A few impulse buys and a few fear-driven purchases. I covered it all in the video below with a quick summary you can read through too.

What I Bought:

• Jeanswest essential v-neck tee in elfin yellow 
• Jeanswest Melanie floral kimono 
• Jeasnwest Kensley tie dye summer poncho kimono 
• thrifted Supre black sheer floral kimono
• thrifted black Emerson drawstring waist utility jacket
• Jeanswest harper skinny pant in Russet
• Jeanswest Vickie button back tank in enamel blue 
• Jeanswest Sophie navy v-neck tee

Why I Bought It:

Now my favourite store (Jeanswest) is in administration and closing stores I wanted to spend the last of my Christmas gift cards ASAP. They can change the terms and conditions with the gift cards when a chain is in administration and that has happened with other stores that have closed here in Australia, from requiring you to spend a set amount before you can use a gift card to just refusing to accept them. 

I tried to shop sensibly and buy basics I can wear over and over, and I'm pleased with what I got but also it wasn't anything I really felt I needed. Although to be honest with a wardrobe the size of mine, there's nothing that's really a need! So pleased I got some cute things with the Christmas gifts I was given, and that I got to spend them before the rules around using gift cards possibly changes. Really hoping that Jeanswest doesn't shut down completely though - where else would I do the majority of my clothes shopping!?

How I've Worn It:

I have a rule that every time I want to buy something I have to think of two different ways I will immediately wear it that month. I didn't do too badly with this goal this month at all....the opshopped jacket doesn't suit the weather at all and so hasn't been worn, but I wasn't going to pass on a jacket for just $1! I bought more than I needed to this month for sure, usually I spread my gifts cards through the year but I was focused on spending all my Jeanswest ones this month. I did enjoy wearing everything and did quite well with the goal, but also didn't get to my twice a wear figure with the jeans and the jacket as they aren't suited for summer temps.

For the upcoming months...I'm either going to spend a fortune at the Jeanswest closing down sales or the closure of one of the stores I frequently shop in will help me meet my spend less target this year!


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Spring / Summer Haul! What I Bought In August

After a successful no buy July last month (5th year in a row!) I went just a little overboard this month and bought quite a lot! Most of it was pre-loved though so not too much of a hit on the budget!

August is the last month of winter here in Australia but I'm already thinking of spring and summer and so bought some light weight scarves for layering on cooler days, along with a LOT of tees and maxi skirts. Oh and a new bag too 😂 You know you've gone overboard when you can't fit all the things you bought in the video thumbnail pic!

What I Bought In August: Haul Video

In The Video:

• Fashion Scarf Girl plain crinkle scarf in mustard 
• Fashion Scarf Girl pretty pink diamond scarf 
• Fashion Scarf Girl zesty stripe tassel scarf in pink 
• Rebecca Minkoff emerald green mini 5-zip rocker bag
• Jeanswest Delilah Long Line Kimono in Green Floral 

Everything I got in my opshop fill a bag for $5 haul:

• thrifted pinstripe maxi skirt
• thrifted SES Fashions vertical stripe maxi skirt
• thrifted Kmart black and grey knitted asymmetric maxi skirt in shadow
• thrifted Cotton On navy and grey striped maxi skirt
• thrifted Kmart space dye cream and black longline top
• thrifted Cotton on grey tunic tee
• thrifted black and white space dye peplum tee
• thrifted Navy Emerson slouchy tee
• blue multi stand long beaded necklace

Why I Bought It:

After catching up with Jess and seeing one of the new Fashion Scarf Girl scarves in person, I had to put in an order! You might recall I was a brand rep for the company last year - but these scarves I bought myself, as I do only collaborate with companies I'd spend money on! I thought they'd be the perfect light layer for the upcoming spring (just a few days away!).

The bag was something I could not get out of my head. I'd put an offer in on it before when I had an ebay voucher but it was rejected, so I decided it wasn't meant to be. I kept it in my watch list though and after seeing it consistently relisted for a few weeks I caved, upped my offer and bought it in mid August when I had another ebay voucher. So happy with it. And still so confused as to how or why these ebay vouchers appear!

The kimono was another purchase I'd been eyeing for a while, when a 40% off sale at Jeanswest came along at the end of August I snapped it up!

The opshop haul is a big one! It was a fill a bag for $5 sale and I may have went overboard - but all these pieces are things I see myself wearing a lot in the months to come. Even if I did question my sanity a little when I realised out of the 5 maxi skirts I tried on I wanted to take 4 home with me....

How I've Worn It:

With my big opshop haul coming mid August, and filling my $5 bag with so many clothes, I was doubtful I'd hit the "wear everything twice in the month I buy it" rule that I set myself. I made a good attempt at it though, and give myself a pass there as I honestly wasn't expecting to have so much good luck at the opshop! I wasn't going to put things I loved back if I was paying the same price for the bag no matter how much was inside it!

In saying the above though, I'm also not expecting to shop much more the next few months, I have plenty of new to me things to wear and I feel stocked up for spring and summer! The pieces I bought have been perfect for our warmer end to winter too.

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The Ultimate Handbag Gift Guide - For Any Budget!

It's gift guide season yet again! As it's been so well received in previous years, I'm again doing my annual handbag lover gift guide. Lots of different gift ideas at multiple price points for the bag mad person in your life! As I'm only sharing one gift guide for Christmas, I've made it a good one.

No matter how expensive their taste in handbags, you're sure to find something that will fit your budget and make any handbag fan very happy!

Under $50: Stocking Fillers

You might not be able to get them a luxe handbag under $50, but you can get some fun accessories! Think of inside their bag: pouches to organise things inside or mini emergency / first aid kits. You can give them pieces to add to the exterior of their current handbag too, with luggage tags or bag charms. You can always get them a book relating to the brand they love, or a general fashion / handbag one. For someone who has absolutely everything, there's always the raincoat for handbags!

Under $100: Handbag Related Gifts

You might not be able to score a bag for under $100, but you can pick up a SLG (small leather good) from their favourite mid-range designer. Think key holders, coin purses and card holders! Kate Spade, Coach, Rebecca Minkoff, Furla, Sophie Hulme and Tory Burch are good brands to look at. Of course for those same designers you might have luck second hand shopping to find a used bag in this price range. See the note about second hand shopping at the end.

Under $250: Beautiful Bags For A Bigger Budget

Shopbop and Nordstrom have a wide range of bags and you might be able to score one on sale to bring it down to your budget. Wallets are a good pick at this price point. You can also look at the same mid-range designers above. Kate Spade and Rebecca Minkoff often have bags under $250, as do Madewell.

Under $500: Handbag Splurges For That Special Someone

If they've hinted, or they've outright told you they are saving up for a special bag, this would be the perfect splurge! An idea gift for a close friend or family member who you want to treat. At this price point, you could get a luxe brand like Chloe or Balenciaga second hand, or something a little smaller like a SLG brand new. You could also get a top range bag from the previously listed designers at lower price points. If you're unsure what colour to get, best to stick to a neutral colour so it easily works with the recipients wardrobe and will be a classic they can treasure for years to come.

Second Hand Shopping

Second hand shopping is a great way to find a bag they love at a price more suited to your budget. Do your due diligence on researching condition so you know exactly what signs of wear there will be on the bag of their dreams. Buying from sites like The Real Real or Fashionphile that guarantee authenticity are good ways to go too.

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I hope you found this list useful and it's given you some wonderful gift ideas! There's lots of time to buy now before Christmas and surprise someone with the perfect gift. It's even better to purchase now with the Cyber Weekend and Black Friday sales. I've shared some of the best bag related ones below!

Shopbop Buy More Save More Sale

Use coupon code 'MORE18' for 15% off orders over $200 all the way up to 25% off orders over $800! Includes sale items too, for extra discounts.

Rebecca Minkoff Thanksgiving Sale

Get an extra 25% off orders over $100 at Rebecca Minkoff when you use discount code 'THX25'
Or use code 'THX30' for 30% off your $200+ order!

David Jones Cyber Monday Sale
Get 20% off a selected range of bags, and free standard shipping (Monday only!)

Looking at the higher end handbag gifts? Try these sales!

Luisaviaroma

Get an extra 20% off sale items with the discount code 'BF20'!

The Outnet 

Get up to 80% off in their sale, no coupon code needed!

MyTheresa 

Shop 30% off selected items for black Friday with code 'BLACK30'

Do you have any handbags on your Christmas list this year? Of course I'd be thrilled with anything on this list, I would never say no to another handbag!

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What I Bought in October & How I've Worn It: Shopping Haul & Try On Video

After I managed #nospenderSeptember without really thinking about it, I expected I might shop a little more than usual this month.

As you can see from the video below, while I did shop at a couple of places I got most things at a discount thanks to sales!

What I Bought:

• Jeanswest Lucille golden yellow scarf 
• Jeanswest Taryn turquoise tassel bead necklace 
• Jeanswest Vicki skinny pant in moss green 
• Jeanswest Sophia high-low maxi dress
• Walnut Melbourne Ava White leopard ballet flats
• Atmos & Here black essential v-neck tee 
• Rebecca Minkoff small Darren messenger bag in peony 

Not Mentioned In the Video:

Just like in August's haul video, I've only included things I've purchased, but I was given more things I wanted to share here. As part of my brand rep role for Fashion Scarf Girl on Instagram, I was gifted some scarves to wear. You might have seen these pop up on Instagram over the month, but they haven't appeared on the blog yet. As always, I'll disclose when an item was sent to me to wear (marked c/o). There's another one I was given too but I haven't worn that yet!

Why I Bought It

I go into this in a little more detail in the video.

Somewhat predictably, the allure of the Jeanswest sale was too strong and while I avoided it for September, I caved on the very first day of October and went in 'just to look' while out with my sister, which turned into a try on session and some purchases..

It's been a LONG time since I've ordered anything from The Iconic - last time was in their boxing day sale almost 2 years ago! Was overdue a shop there!

And you might already know about the Rebecca Minkoff bag from my reveal / unboxing video!

How I've Worn It

With the majority of my purchases being early in the month, it was easy to mostly achieve my goal of wearing things twice in the month I purchase them! That dress is the exception - I haven't even worn it once as I've decided to set it aside for Christmas day. I know it's early to plan Christmas outfits, but I know a dress like that needs a special debut! I'm happy with it not meeting my 'wear twice in the month I buy it rule' as I know it's going to be worn a lot after Christmas.


What was your favourite piece of everything I bought?


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What I Bought In August & How I've Worn It: Shopping Haul & Try On Video

After completing no Buy July last month, I was felt like I bought a lot this month to make up for it! Everything was on sale or an opshop find though.

There's a little for everyone here, with new purchases from Jeanswest, opshop (thrift) finds, and awesome accessories. Nothing was over $17, even though I bought a bag too!

What I Bought:

• Jeanswest Emma woven trim tee in terracotta
• Jeanswest Emma woven trim tee in dark green
• thrifted ASOS petite green skinny jeans
• thrifted French Connection olive skinny cargo pants
• thrifted cobalt blue long sleeve tee
• thrifted Maison Scotch black paint splatter print long sleeved tee
• Kmart sparkly silver glitter sneakers
• Kmart blue fringe crescent statement earrings
• Rebecca Minkoff red micro Avery cross body bag (used ebay discount voucher)

Not Mentioned In The Video:

I will always be upfront on the blog about additions to my wardrobe. I didn't include these in my haul video as I didn't buy them, but I became a brand rep for Fashion Scarf Girl in July and received 4 scarves as a result to wear over the next few months.

Shopping-wise, this month felt like a month of impulse buys! I wandered into the Jeanswest store just for a browse, and these tees were on sale with an extra 50% off sale prices. I got both for less than the full retail cost of one of them, I'm pretty happy with that! A nice slouchy, basic tee will get a lot of wear in my wardrobe so I couldn't resist getting both colours.

I'm an emotional shopper, so after a bit of a stressful start to the day, I went into Kmart for the containers I planned to buy, and decided to browse. While I didn't buy anything extra that day, I couldn't get these sparkly shoes out of my head (the messages on my Instagram stories telling me to go back for them may have helped there!) and so went back to Kmart again to pick up the shoes and some statement earrings.

After some luck with the green pants at various opshops, I really was hoping to get more for myself in the 'fill a bag with clothes for $2' sale at my favourite opshop (especially as all the proceeds were going to drought-stricken farmers), but as you can see I only ended up with two items of clothing for myself, that pile for the boys you saw in the video and some homewares after I'd been looking out for similar pieces for a while.

The bag was explained a bit further in the video too, but I wanted to try a new style and could not believe that I scored this for under $20! Still not sure how I ended up with that ebay voucher but it came at a perfect time! Its second wear is today so I haven't got the photo for this post unfortunately.

How I've Worn It All:

After buying those long sleeved tops at the opshop, the weather started to warm up and I wasn't sure I'd be able to squeeze in two wears of them! Thankfully they work for my business casual office, and it's really cold for my early morning commute so they got some wear that way! Was really pleased to wear everything at least twice, with some surprise pieces like the green skinny jeans being worn a lot more over the month!

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What I Bought In June & How I've Worn It: Shopping Haul & Try On Video

Time for an overdue shopping haul video! The last item I ordered in May finally arrived so I thought I'd do a wrap up video with some of my May purchases and my June ones. I felt like I bought a lot, but it was only a handful of pieces - 3 to be exact! You can see my June purchases and the other pieces I bought in May in the video below. Plus, I included some bloopers at the end!

What I Bought:

• Rebecca Minkoff chevron quilted small Love crossbody bag in pale coral 
• Thrifted SES fashion mustard marle knit
• Thrifted navy stripe Coca-Cola logo tee
• (Red and navy cardigans in the video bought last month)

A month of impulse buys, after last minute browsing of the Rebecca Minkoff sale and just popping into the opshop for a quick look both resulted in buying things.

While I'm a little annoyed that the handbag I bought didn't arrive the same month I bought it, and it wasn't the colour I expected, I absolutely adore it. It was a bargain too, at 50% off! I'll upload a proper review of it on my YouTube channel at some point, but for now I'll just say I love it and I've enjoyed every time I've worn it.

I had been looking at the new Jeanswest winter collection and admiring the yellow knits when I saw this one in the opshop and for just $1 I quickly forgot all about the Jeanswest ones I'd been looking at! While it would be too thin a knit for winter in most other places, it will be perfect for Brisbane. When it gets really cold, I plan to layer a long sleeve tee underneath, which I've done in the past with my open knits to make them more winter appropriate.

The Coca-Cola tee caught my eye to add to my collection of Coca-Cola things. I have so many glass bottles, as well as towels, balls, badges, toy cars, even a Coca-Cola cookbook! While I don't drink it so much now, I still smiled when I saw this tee and just had to snap it up for just $1. I also feel like I've seen something similar in stores lately, with the recent rise in logo tees it's perfectly on trend.

How I Wore It:

I had no troubles finding and thinking of different ways to wear the pieces I got this month - which is a sign that they will hopefully be good additions to my wardrobe. They seem to be so far.

Every month I set myself a goal of wearing everything I buy at least twice in the same month I buy it, to make sure I'm buying pieces I want to wear immediately and can easily think of different ways to wear. As you can see from the pics above, everything was happily worn twice or more.

I'm giving myself a little bit of grace with the Rebecca Minkoff Love bag, as it didn't arrive until a month after I ordered it. I did wear it 3 times in the month after it finally arrived though, so still counting it as meeting my goal.

Update on Yearly Budget:

June is usually a big spending month for me as it's a change of season and I want to stock up on all the fun winter pieces in store. I'm pleased I haven't done much of that and only bought a handful of pieces this year. I'm really focusing on rewearing more of what I already own.

I've definitely spent more in the first six months of 2018 than I did in 2017 though, only because I did 6 months without shopping in the first half of 2017. I'm still less than half way under my total spend from last year so I'm hoping I can stick to that and spend less overall this year than I did last year. Fingers crossed!

I'll be attempting #noBuyJuly18 (just like I've done in previous years) so there shouldn't be any purchases next month to report. Feel free to join me if you want to forgo fashion spending for a month! My tips for surviving 6 months without shopping might come in helpful!




And finally, I was the Featured Fashionista over at Have Clothes, Will Travel so go check it out! You'll find out a little more about me and why I blog.



Linking up with Lizzie In Lace, Weekend Link Up, Shoe & Tell, Mix It Monday, On Mondays We Link Up.

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What I Bought In May & How I've Worn It - Jeanswest Waterfall Drape Cardigan

While I did do some shopping, there is no haul video this month. One of my purchases hasn't arrived and so I'll wait until then to film a video. Instead, I'll share with you the two pieces that I do have after buying them this month.

Jeanswest had a 30% off sale on knitwear, so as I usually do, I checked the site 'just to browse' and saw this beautiful waterfall drape cardigan. I ended up buying two!

The cardigan comes in three colours, so I went to the store to try them on, and ended up loving both colours I tried on and bought both. After donating 3 of the cardigans I'd just unboxed from my boxes of winter clothes I pulled out of storage though I felt justified in doing so!


As you can see from the photos below of how I wore the cardigans, you can wear them two ways which instantly appealed to me.

What I Bought:

• Jeanswest waterfall drape cardigan in navy night sky marle
• Jeanswest waterfall drape cardigan in scarlett marle
• <third item not yet arrived>

There are two buttons, one on each shoulder of the cardigan, and a button hole at the bottom of each hem. That means you can button up one or both sides of the cardigan when you wear it (like I did here). It's ideal for breastfeeding, as it turns your cardigan into a breastfeeding cover, and is something I wish I had when I was breastfeeding. I used to have to hold baby and the cardigan over the top of him when using my cardigans as breastfeeding covers. While my breastfeeding days are behind me, I'm still tagging breastfeeding friendly outfits on the blog. I'll just be making use of the feature when I want to wear these cardigans differently!


When I buy things, I think of two ways to wear them. With the buttons making these cardigans adaptable, it was an easy purchase to make as I have so many more ways to wear them. I'm thinking that the new thicker red cardigan will get worn more than the light one it replaced too.

How I Wore It:

I'm pleased I was able to wear these cardigans so soon after I bought them, unlike the last knit I bought back at the start of autumn when it took weeks for the weather to cool.

Special mention also to these two lovely kimonos the boys got me for Mother's Day that were added to my wardrobe in May!

For the third thing I bought, I will share a reveal video as soon as it arrives. I ordered something from the Rebecca Minkoff online sample sale. There will be a delay in shipping as the sale was so popular, and it takes a while to reach Australia from the US too. Can't wait for it to arrive. Make sure you're subscribed to my YouTube channel to see it before it reaches the blog!


Linking up with Style On The Daily, Oh Hey Girl, Fashion Frenzy, Fashion Files, Fun Fashion, Weekend Wear, Fabulous Friday.

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What I Bought In April & How I Wore It

Every month I like to share what I've bought and how I've worn it. This month was a month of impulse buys, driven by sales. Grab a drink and watch the video where I go through everything in detail, and try everything on.

What I Bought:

• Jeanswest Chana long sleeve studded boho top in night sky navy
• Rebecca Minkoff Ruana poncho
• Rebecca Minkoff Liv double wrap velvet belt

I know I don't usually include beauty products in my hauls, mostly because only wearing makeup two days a week to go into the office means I rarely have to buy replacements! But I picked up a couple of things in the Priceline 40% off sale.

• L'oreal Paris Infallible 24H Stay Fresh Foundation
• NYX Makeup setting spray 
• NYX Butter lipstick in 'Little Susie' 

How I Wore It:

No surprise I wore the navy Jeanswest top twice right away - it's perfect for SAHM life and office life. You could even breastfeed in it if you do the singlet underneath trick and lift it up for access.

I'm pleased I managed to wear everything else twice too, especially the kimono as I was worried it would be too warm to wear this month. Thankfully autumn weather started to arrive near the end of April so I could meet my goal and wear it twice! I like to wear everything I buy twice in the month I buy it. It ensures I buy things I can use right away, stops things being bought just to sit unworn in my wardrobe, and makes me think of different ways I can wear things before I buy.

Linking up with Confident Twosday, Turning Heads, On Trend, Trend Spin, Style On The Daily, Fashion Frenzy. 

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