Continuing on with my blog tradition I started 8 years ago, and kicking off the new year by looking back on what I've bought this year, as well as how much I've worn it. Looking at if I've stuck to my fashion budget and setting my fashion shopping / wardrobe goals are for 2025.
What I Bought in 2024 (And How Often I've Worn It)
In what is becoming a trend, just like the previous few years, most of the additions to my wardrobe this year have been preloved. Only 2 of the 27 things I've purchased were bought new in retail stores. I'm trying to buy preloved first so this is a great result.
I focused mostly on accessories in my opshopping trips, not feeling the need to add too much clothing to my wardrobe this year as I'm enjoying rewearing the pieces I already own for the most part.
thrifted Zara pink frayed hem skinny jeans - 11 wears
thrifted Cotton On The One crew tee in green - 7 wears
Just Jeans metallic gold linen tee - 4 wears
thrifted blue checked babydoll sundress - 3 wears
thrifted Jeanswest cobalt blue blazer - 8 wears
thrifted purple and red Paisley print duster - 3 wears
No surprise that my most worn item this year was the white Converse shoes I found at the opshop! Converse are my shoe of choice for everything from school run to working in the office. Although I do swap over to mostly sandals in summer, I still wear sneakers often and these Converse being white go with everything. Definitely got my money's worth for these, and they have a lot of wear left!
The pink Zara frayed hem jeans were my most worn item of clothing that I bought this year, at 11 wears. That has a lot to do with the perfect timing of finding them at the opshop 50% off sale day in the middle of autumn, when the weather was perfect to wear them over the colder months on frequent repeat!
Sticking To My Fashion Budget:
2024 is not my lowest purchase year as I only added 18 things to my wardrobe back in 2023, and I bought 27 items this year but it's my lowest spend year since I've been tracking on the blog, at $199. A large part of that is due to the credit card rewards I used for the Mimco Mim-Mazing bag purchase, otherwise the total would have been $399. Still my lowest spend year since I started tracking on the blog in 2016 even if you include the full cost of the bag.
Once again getting an under $1,000 spend on fashion was easy this year, as the majority of things I bought were thrifted or preloved. Second hand shopping is much kinder to the budget than constantly buying new. Better for the environment too.
I am really happy with everything I have in my wardrobe at the moment and can't think of any gaps I need to fill in 2025. Plus I got a lot of wardrobe additions as Christmas presents I'm looking forward to wearing with thins I already own. So my goals for the upcoming year, will again be similar to the previous years. Buy less and buy preloved!
Adding cosy winter layers and bright bursts of blue to two black jeans outfits I wore to the office recently. Layering was definitely needed as each of these printed tops are sleeveless tanks!
What I wore:
Jacket: Wittner 'Santa Fe' cobalt blue leather jacket Necklace: Tiffany & Co silver 5th Avenue notes heart pendant necklace Singlet: Kmart navy ribbed tank
I felt that this pretty floral print tank was overdue a wear, it's been so long since I last wore it! Had decided to get it out again and layer a navy tank underneath to help keep me warm for an in-office day. At the last minute I decided to swap out the black leather jacket I planned to wear for this cobalt one. It's a firm favourite I've already hit 30 wears on that always gets me compliments and this day was no exception.
With the cobalt leather jacket against the white floral print tank and the black jeans and white Converse, I wanted to add a little extra colour so I went with this red saddle bag. Doesn't match the deep dark red flowers on the button up tank, but I did like how it brightened this outfit worn with the cobalt jacket.
Even though I layered up under the tank and this is a thick and cosy jacket, it was a very chilly commute to the office and I did wish I'd added a scarf to this outfit!
I felt this big Louis Vuitton cobalt shawl made up for all the other neutrals in the outfit though - it's such a great pop of colour, and a very cosy scarf! Much like the cobalt leather jacket above, this blue scarf also gets a lot of compliments, it's such a great colour to wear. Kept me nice and warm on the early commute to the office.
I don't usually buy a lot in winter - I have plenty of winter pieces in my wardrobe to see me through the few weeks of cold weather we have in Brisbane. But this June and July I bought a few pieces, and felt it was time for an overdue wardrobe update!
I was hoping that I would have had some more opportunities to layer up the summer dress and maxi skirt I bought recently, but it has been very cold in Brisbane, so one wear each is all I have achieved. I set myself a goal of wearing everything I buy twice in the month that I buy it, but definitely wasn't able to achieve that with the very summery things I bought. I know I will get a lot of wear from the sandals when the warmer weather arrives, but I'm sticking to boots and sneakers for the immediate future!
I went out on an early Christmas shopping trip with my mum and sister but my mum let me take everything she bought me home early, so I was happy to add this beautiful denim maxi dress and the cute purple tee to my wardrobe. I am always looking for more basic colourful tees, this purple one will work so well with everything else in my wardrobe.
Looking forward to warmer weather to rewear my summery opshop finds, and to get the sandals out!
The bag is easily my most worn piece as I bought back in June but never got around to sharing the purchase on the blog then. It was one of those "special little treat" impulse purchases that I love. I'd been admiring my sisters bag for a while, then a MIMCO sale, some expiring credit card rewards and a very illness-filled winter had me adding it to cart to cheer myself up. I love it! I like that the Mimco brand uses leather from tanneries that are part of the Leather Working Group so it's a bit more sustainable than other brands I've bought bags from before. (Although preloved will always be the most sustainable way to get leather!)
What I wore for celebrating the end of our 3 day lockdown in Brisbane at the start of July to enjoy what was left of the school holidays and get out with the kids. Kept my outfits simple and monochromatic with jeans and a tee. Even wore monochromatic scarves too, and a real wardrobe oldie with my black Mimco button bag. Added some colour with cardigans as I just can't seem to do a full neutral outfit without adding a bit of colour!
After a little uncertainty, we were so pleased when lockdown was lifted the evening before and my son was able to compete in his sports tournament as planned. Even if all the parents and spectators had to sit outside and peer into the sports hall from the doorway to make sure everyone met the post lockdown indoor space restrictions 😅
Despite having to sit far away it was so good to see him competing and my bright mustard cardigan ensured my son could spot me in the crowd. I wasn't expecting to have to sit outside so I was pleased this was just the right outfit for it. The cardigan wasn't too heavy when the sun came out, but it and my scarf kept me warm when the sun hid behind the clouds. And luckily no rain too! Turned out to be such a good morning, so pleased they were able to still run the event.
I liked using my big Mimco button bag again! The 25th anniversary of Mimco had me thinking about my button bag again - this is one of the original styles, I bought it in 2007 when I was at uni. Was so thrilled when I bought it, it was a craze for a few years and they were everywhere in Australia. Still see them around now and then, although mostly the newer, smaller version of this style. This one you wouldn't know is over 14 years old! It's in great condition, I should wear it more!
Very similar to the outfit above. Again, a monochromatic jeans and tee outfit with a black and white printed scarf and a colourful cardigan. This purple one isn't as bright as the mustard yellow one above, but it still adds the perfect amount of colour to this outfit. With the different shades of grey in the tee and the skinny jeans, the purple cardigan was the perfect topper. And with no other prints I could wear this fun contrasting striped scarf for a bit of an instant print mix without it clashing with anything.
Thankfully one of the workshops I'd booked in advance for the kids went ahead despite a lot of other school holiday activities I'd planned for the week being cancelled as soon as lockdown was announced, even though it was just for 3 days. Because it was still on after lockdown was lifted we had a pretty fun day. The kids got to make their own light up DIY aquariums in a jar which look really cute! These are kind of similar. We even managed a little play time in the playground before the rain arrived that afternoon which was perfect.
Again I wore my Mimco button bag - it seemed the obvious choice with the neutrals and it fits snacks and water bottles and the essentials nicely.
Layering in winter gives you lots of fun options for accessorising. A colourful cardigan can add a burst of brightness to a monochrome jeans and tee outfit, and a printed scarf adds some extra interest and a little warmth.
Last month I picked up the cute Rebecca Minkoff Liv double wrap belt in the Shopbop sale. A complete impulse buy, I was just looking for something a little different to update my wardrobe as I am feeling pretty content with all the clothes I have. And I looked at accessories as the weather wasn't cooperating with all the dreams I had for buying cosy knits, it was a very warm start to autumn!
I wore the belt to the office two slightly different ways, with the same bag each time. My Mimco black button bag is a classic most Australians would recognise, and my very first 'expensive' (triple digit) handbag purchase.
With the cooler mornings and evenings, and a bit of rain, I was excited autumn may finally be arriving in Brisbane. I did want to get more wear from this vest before it got too cold though. I find vests better suited for warmer weather. When it's cold, I want my arms covered. If was the perfect day to wear this vest though. Cool, but not too cold. When I first bought this vest, I thought of belting it. I see bloggers belting vests all the time, so that's probably what gave me the idea. This is it's tenth wear though, and the first time I've belted it!
I really liked this outfit! The dusty pink of the vest worked perfectly with the blue Aztec print in the dress, with the black belt matching the black in the dress print as well as the Mimco button bag and black ballet flats. I'm surprised it took me so long to belt this vest as I love the look. I'm glad I eventually gave it a go! The outfit was practical too - had the flu shot at work in preparation for the upcoming winter and needed my arms uncovered.
I didn't like this outfit as much as the one above. The blue Paisley print of this dress is beautiful, but I felt the black accessories didn't look as good as they could have with it. I was really liking the outfit until I went to pick a black necklace. I don't have many, and this was the best one I could find. The velvet belt has gold hardware and this necklace has really prominent silver. I felt a little mismatched all day. I don't mind mixing gold and silver in bracelet stacks or when layering necklaces together, it just felt a little 'off' having the different metals on different accessories.
Just a minor thing, but next time I'd spend the time to hunt out a gold necklace and I'm sure I'd like the outfit better!
A really easy way to change up the look of your favourite dress is to add a belt. It doesn't require buying anything new, as you probably already have a couple belts you could try it with. In these photos above I matched the black belt with black accessories, but you could also add a belt that contrasts with your outfit and other accessories for a pop of colour.
My blog friend Ruth does these 5x5 style challenges on Instagram. Another blog friend, Eileen and I started talking with her about it and thought it would be fun to participate. We decided to do an international style challenge a couple of weeks ago near the end of November.
The rules: 5 pieces of clothing to create 5 outfits over 5 days, with a black and burgundy colour scheme. Accessories like shoes, necklaces, scarves, handbags, outerwear, can be added as needed and don't count as one of the 5 pieces.
Who took part: Ruth @ruthyannie, Eileen @eileensed and myself, @awayfromblue. Ruth did this over autumn in the cold weather, and Eileen had to dress a growing baby bump too! I have so much admiration for them both!
This is going to be a bit of a long post as I share with you what we wore over 5 days! I hope you'll get a lot of outfit inspiration from it though, and discover some new ways you can rewear pieces you already own.
My Capsule Wardrobe
After a few last minute swaps and changes, these are the 5 pieces I came up with for the challenge.
black drawstring waist maxi skirt
black denim shorts
burgundy jersey dress
black, burgundy and cream shirt dress
burgundy slouchy tee
My choices were limited by the colour scheme which helped me make decisions about what to pick as my 5 pieces. The last time I did a capsule, it was my third trimester capsule wardrobe and the growing bump helped limit my options there too! I did have to go into the office for one day which made me pick the shirt dress, even if the print is more red than burgundy. I figured it was close enough!
The main worry I had was around structuring the pieces I wore to allow me to have them washed and ironed ready for the next wear With two messy toddlers it was highly unlikely I was going to be able to wear things twice in a row without washing them! In the end I came up with 6 outfit ideas so that if something wasn't ready in time, I'd have a fall back option.
For the first day of the challenge I went with a classic tee and maxi skirt combo. When I'd first started planning outfits and pieces for the challenge I'd went with a different burgundy tee, and changed my mind and swapped it for this tee instead. I didn't like the way this one sat with the maxi skirt though, I was a bit frustrated with it both tucked and untucked and wasn't as comfortable with this outfit as I could have been. Easy outfit for playgroup though.
This was as 'formal' as my outfits got during the challenge, the majority of them were casual outfits. I had to go into the office, so picked this shirt dress to fit in with the business casual dress code. I found myself fussing with this outfit too during the day though, the dress seemed to ride up a lot and I was constantly tugging it back down. I much prefer wearing this dress as a kimono, or layering it up with tights in winter.
I knew with the darker black and red print on the dress (it's a geometric print although it looks like polka dots in the pics!) that this Marc Jacobs bag would work perfectly with it. This bag doesn't get worn as often as it did when I first got it, but it's still a nice choice for work. It's been tagged in 62 posts on the blog and most of the time it featured in both outfits of the posts, so you can see it was worn a lot in the past! Such a unique colour too, a deep purple-y brown.
The simplest of all my challenge outfits, and also the most popular. I wore this to work from home and attend a specialist appointment with baby boy in the afternoon. With the burgundy star print dress, I added black through my accessories, with the same ankle boots I'd worn the day before and another little worn bag, my Mimco button bag.
This was actually my first expensive bag purchase, despite how little I wear it now I'm never going to let it go. I spent months thinking about it and saving for it and picking out the perfect colour combo I wanted and I still remember the excitement of going to the store to pick it up! Very treasured even if not frequently worn now. I think I bought it in 2007 at the height of the button bag trend, still looks great. Sadly it's discontinued, the closest thing is the Mimco Turnlock bag that's around $200 more expensive than the button bag was 10 or so years ago, or to go to ebay for the classic style.
An incredibly busy day called for a comfortable and casual outfit, and the first wearing of the last of my 5 pieces, my black denim shorts. Added the comfy slouchy burgundy tee and the printed dress was worn as a kimono. Converse were a practical choice for a busy day, and the mustard yellow bag was a fun touch of colour with the black and burgundy.
Baby boy had some more tests at the hospital in the morning, so I had the day off. With my mother in law available to watch the boys, as it was a day I normally work, I made the most of it and she looked after them both once the testing was done so I could gt a rare child free afternoon to go Christmas shopping. And I shopped up a storm, getting the majority of the things remaining on my Christmas present list!
For my fifth and final outfit with my 5 pieces, I wore my denim shorts again and the lovely burgundy dress as a top. I added turquoise accessories with the necklace and Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC bag for an extra touch of colour. I've won dresses as tops before, it's a nice way to wear something a little differently. The extra dress fabric wasn't too bulky although it was a bit of a pain tucking it in to the shorts every time I went to the bathroom! I had considered doubling up on the dresses and wearing the shift dress as a kimono over this again, but despite how little time I spent with the boys the day before it still got messy and had to have a wash. That was the hardest part of this challenge - making sure everything was washed and ironed in time to wear again!
This was a nice outfit to finish the challenge on, I ran around with the boys completing a few errands.
Hope you enjoyed seeing the different outfits we were able to create for the challenge. While it was a fun challenge for me, I was looking forward to getting back into my regular wardrobe at the end of it! Especially after buying lots of new pieces that month that I was eager to wear.
Thanks so much to Ruth and Eileen for inviting me to take part - if you don't already, you should follow them on Instagram!
