Away From Blue | Aussie Mum Style, Away From The Blue Jeans Rut

Monday 7 May 2018

Blue Dresses and Black Accessories: Mimco Button Bag and Rebecca Minkoff Velvet Double Wrap Belt

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.

What I wore:

black velvet belt over pink vest blue aztec print dress mimco button bag office outfit | awayfromblue

JORD Cora Wood Watch with Mimco Black monochrome button bag original size | awayfromtheblue

awayfromblue instagram velvet belt pink vest blue aztec print dress for office

Jacket: Jeanswest Peri drape sleeveless jacket (on sale!)
Necklace: gifted Swarovski heart pendant
Dress: Jeanswest Aztec print dress
Belt: Rebecca Minkoff Liv double wrap velvet belt (new purchase)
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs black logo plaque ballet flats
Bag: Mimco black button bag
Nails: OPI Koala Bear-y

Why I wore it:

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.

Last worn: pink vest, Aztec print dress, black ballet flats, Mimco black button bag. First time I've worn the velvet double wrap belt as it's a new purchase.

Other ways to wear: pink vest and graphic tee, Aztec print dress and purple bag, black ballet flats and wrap dress, Mimco black button bag and pencil skirt.

Perfect for pregnancy: Aztec print dress in third trimester.

Review and Contents of the Mimco Button Bag (original version)

What I wore:

office french connection paisley print sheath dress black accessories and mimco button bag | away from blue

paisley print dress and mimco black button bag original on shoulder | away from the blue

awayfromblue instagram | black accessories and button bag with blue paisley print office sheath dress

Necklace: House of Harlow 5 station necklace in black and silver
Dress: French Connection blue Paisley print dress
Belt: Rebecca Minkoff Liv double wrap velvet belt
Shoes: Walnut Melbourne 'Ava' black lizard ballet flats (also available in silver)
Bracelets: the usual plus Cora purpleheart and mother of pearl watch C/O JORD
Bag: Mimco black button bag
Nails: OPI Koala Bear-y

Why I wore it:

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!

Last worn: Paisley print sheath dress, Walnut Melbourne flats, Mimco Button Bag (above).

Other ways to wear: Paisley print sheath dress and tote bag, Walnut Melbourne flats and printed skirt, Mimco Button Bag and monochrome outfit.

Perfect for pregnancy: Paisley print sheath dress in second trimester, Walnut Melbourne flats and maternity skirt.

More Velvet Belts Under $50:

How You Can Wear It:

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.

Linking up with Turning Heads, Fashion Frenzy, Style On The Daily, Oh Hey Girl, Modest Monday.

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Friday 4 May 2018

30 Ways To Wear: Louis Vuitton Neverfull in Damier Azur (#30Wears)

Thought it was time to feature another handbag for this month's 30 wears post. Every month, I take advantage of having a daily record of my outfits as I look through the blog and find something I've worn 30 times or more, and share it with you as part of the 30 wears challenge. I started it in 2017, and it's a lot of fun!

30 Ways To Wear: Louis Vuitton Damier Azur Neverfull

30 ways to wear a Louis Vuitton Damier Azur MM Neverfull Tote Bag | awayfromtheblue blog

I got this neverfull bag all the way back in 2011, so it's 7 years old this year. When I looked through the blog I realised I'd worn it a lot more than 30 times. Given all the times it's been worn on the blog, and having it a year before I started blogging, it's easy to assume it's had over 100 wears. In keeping with the theme though, I've picked just 30 of my favourite outfits to share here.

In terms of cost per wear, this is still high. I did have a vintage speedy bag that was 20 years old and still going, so I expect this 7-year-old-bag to also be around and be used in another 13 years.

That's the thing with investing in bags, you expect to have a lot of years of use to recoup the cost you spent. It was $875 at the time, so around 100 wears is $8.75 a wear. Retail of this bag now from Louis Vuitton is more than double, at $1,810 AUD! That's after 7 years worth of price rises, so I'm not to concerned at my high cost per wear, it could be worse! To be fair, the new bag comes with a little pouch too, so it's not just needless price increases. Still a big difference in price though.

But a good thing to remember - if you're saving up for a designer bag like this, save up and buy the bag as soon as you can, before the price is increased out of your budget! Plus you deserve a splurge now and then 😉

30 Ways To Wear A Damier Azur Louis Vuitton Neverfull Tote in Video Form

Louis Vuitton Neverfull and Maxi Dresses

Louis Vuitton Neverfull ways to wear with maxi dresses | away from the blue

While I love tiny little cross body bags and clutches like the Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC with my maxi dresses, a big holdall tote like the neverfull looks great too. It's such effortless style, picking a big tote bag and a classic maxi dress.

Damier Neverfull and Jeans

ways to wear Louis Vuitton Damier Azur Neverfull tote with jeans | awayfromblue

It's not just maxi dresses a neverfull looks great with! You can easily pair the bag with casual outfits, and I often wear mine with jeans. Skinny jeans are my go-to choice, but any pair of jeans works well with a tote bag, even those metallic ones in the third picture.

Louis Vuitton Neverfull and Dresses In The Office

Outfit Ideas Louis Vuitton Neverfull tote and dresses for the office | away from the blue

While a neverfull looks great on weekends with a maxi dress or jeans, it also functions perfectly as a big tote for the office. On days where I have multiple meetings to attend or I'm away from my desk for an extended length of time, I like to take the neverfull bag as it has room for any files or notebooks I need, as well as a bottle of water and a cardigan if necessary.

Review and Contents Of The Louis Vuitton Neverfull

Damier Azur Neverfull And Pencil Skirts For Work

3 ways to wear Louis Vuitton Neverfull and Pencil Skirts | away from blue

Just like the dresses above, a neverfull works great with pencil skirts to the office too. I have the damier azur neverfull with the blue checkerboard print, so as you can see from these photos I like pairing it with purple! Blue and purple is one of my frequently worn colour combinations.

Louis Vuitton Neverfull At The Beach

4 outfit ideas Louis Vuitton damier azur neverfull bag at the beach | awayfromtheblue

Of course it's not just a workplace you can wear your neverfull! Being such an easy to care for tote it's a good bag to take to the beach, as you can just wipe away the sand. The body is coated canvas so wipes clean easily with a baby-wipe! You can see the versatility of the bag in these four photos too, as it works with the denim shorts or maxi dresses, all good outfits for a day at the beach.

Damier Azur Neverfull In Winter

Wearing the Damier Azur Neverfull Tote In Winter: 3 Outfit Ideas | awayfromtheblue

While the spring-like white and blue damier azur print looks perfect in a beach setting, I don't reserve the bag for exclusive spring or summer wear. It's a nice bag to wear in winter too, to add a little lightness to your outfit. The damier azur neverfull has leather handles and trim so I would keep it dry and wouldn't take it out on a snowy or rainy winter day, but it does look just as good in the cold as in the heat. Definitely a year-round bag.

Louis Vuitton Neverfull as a Baby Bag

Louis Vuitton Neverfull And Striped Skirts

The monogram and damier print neverfull bags are easier to wear than you think! I don't have any problems pairing the printed bag with an outfit that has a print in it. Of course, stripes are my staple for pattern mixing so they are a good option to start out with if you're unsure about what prints to wear with the damier print bag.

Damier Azur Neverfull and Print Mixing

4 ways to wear Louis Vuitton damier neverfull with printed pieces | away from blue

It's not just stripes you can wear the printed neverfull with! I really do see the classic damier azur print as a neutral, and I'll wear it with bold prints like florals, or even in an outfit I'm already print mixing with as a third print. You can easily wear this with printed dresses, skirts or scarves.

Louis Vuitton Neverfull In Pregnancy

You need to carry quite a lot in pregnancy! Whether it's the bottle of water you constantly sip from, various crackers, ginger tablets or lollies that help you overcome morning sickness, or snacks for the second trimester munchies, you need a big bag! The Louis Vuitton Neverfull is perfect for that, and being a canvas bag it is light enough to wear that it doesn't add to any of the pregnancy aches and pains. This set of photos proves why I invest in accessories too - they consistently work for you, no matter how many pregnancies you have or how big your belly gets. A definite must-have!