Monday 30 July 2018

Colourful Winter Office Wear: Blue and Yellow Pencil Skirt Outfits

Sharing some colourful but still very cosy winter outfits, with my favourite blue pencil skirts and a big Rebecca Minkoff MAB tote bag. When our winter temperatures dipped again, I wanted warm knits, and picked some of my bright ones to inject a little colour.

Plus, an update on how I did with my No Buy July challenge, #noBuyJuly18!

What I wore:

blue and mustard yellow knit winter office pencil skirt outfit | awayfromblue

rebecca minkoff moon navy medium MAB tote bag for work with macintosh jacket | awayfromtheblue

awayfromtheblue instagram office outfit winter colourful mustard and blue pencil skirt business casual
JacketJeanswest Monica Mac coat in Indigo
ScarfLouis Vuitton monogram shawl in bleu
Jumper: thrifted SES fashions mustard marle knit jumper
SkirtWarehouse navy jacquard pencil skirt
Shoes: RMK Chester black ankle boots
BagRebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote in moon navy

Why I wore it:

Trying blue and yellow with a mustard marle knit, blue scarf and blue pencil skirt. Decided to wear the Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote as I love wearing blue bags with this pencil skirt, it's a frequent go-to combination.

While I do normally like blue and yellow together, I wasn't sure if this skirt and knit would look as good as I hoped together. I ended up really liking this outfit, I think the scarf really made it perfect for me. This was such a comfortable outfit too, very much appreciated for a crazy day at work where nothing went according to plan at all!


Last worn: navy macintosh, Louis Vuitton scarf, mustard marle knit, jacquard pencil skirt, black ankle boots, Rebecca Minkoff MAB tote bag.

Other ways to wearnavy macintosh and wrap dress, Louis Vuitton scarf and embroidered top, mustard marle knit and a-line skirt, jacquard pencil skirt in summer, black ankle boots worn 30 ways, Rebecca Minkoff MAB tote bag and grey pencil skirt.

Perfect for pregnancyjacquard pencil skirt in first trimester, ankle boots in second trimester, Rebecca Minkoff MAB tote bag in third trimester.



What's In My Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Medium MAB Tote Edition!









What I wore:


Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote in moon navy in winter office bag | away from the blue

awayfromblue instagram blue and yellow bright cheerful winter office outfit love quotes scarf medium MAB tote bag
Jacket: Barkins beige trench coat 
ScarfLove Quotes knotted tassel linen scarf in sunshine yellow
Knit: thrifted Valleygirl blue knit jumper
SkirtAsos blue textured lace pencil skirt
ShoesWalnut Melbourne 'Ava' black lizard ballet flats (also available in silver)
BagRebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote in moon navy

Why I wore it:

Again continuing the blue and yellow theme! I really do like the colours together.  I felt like all of the blue together wasn't quite colourful enough, so I added this cosy and bright yellow scarf. This knit and pencil skirt is a combination I've worn before in the warmer weather, it was good to be able to layer it up for winter.

Unlike the previous week at work, I had to wear my trench coat when I ventured out for coffee with my boss in the morning and lunch in the afternoon. It was a much cooler winter day. While the bright yellow scarf is a fun summery shade, the big size makes it very warm and very cosy to wrap myself up in during winter! I like blue and yellow together so it seemed like a fun choice for a cold morning to repeat the colour combo again.

Usually when it's cold I'll add ankle boots to my outfit, but I felt ballet flats were better for all the running around I had to do in the morning. It was one of those days where you come into work with an idea of what task you're going to do, then the afternoon rolls around and you realise you've been pulled in so many directions you hadn't started your task!


Last worn: camel trench, yellow scarf, blue marl knit, blue lace pencil skirt, Walnut Melbourne flats, Rebecca Minkoff MAB tote bag (above).

Other ways to wearcamel trench and burgundy pants, yellow scarf and maxi dress, blue marl knit and skinny jeans, blue lace pencil skirt and grey tee, Walnut Melbourne flats and skinny jeans, Rebecca Minkoff MAB Tote Bag and maxi dress.

Perfect for pregnancycamel trench in second trimester, yellow scarf in second trimester, blue marl knit in first trimesterblue lace pencil skirt in third trimester, Walnut Melbourne flats in second trimester, Rebecca Minkoff MAB tote bag in second trimester.



No Buy July Results!


It might not come as a surprise, after I mastered 7 months without shopping last year, but I made it through #noBuyJuly18 sticking to my goal and not spending anything on fashion. July is such a busy time with all of the sales, but I'm pretty content with my winter wardrobe now (even after halving my winter pieces from two storage boxes to one), and that makes it easier to avoid the sales. Some of the sales were extremely tempting, but even with the $5 sale at Jeanswest (!) I didn't buy anything. For full disclosure, I did add a few things to carts but decided not to buy at the last minute.


I shared more tips for how to survive a no shop challenge after completing 6 months without shopping: lessons from a former shopaholic.


Bright Knits Under $50:




How You Can Wear It:

Winter wear works well in neutral colours, as you can layer without worrying about colours matching. It's a fun idea to add some colourful pieces though, from bright scarves to colourful and cosy knits, you can still be cosy and warm! Sticking with colour combinations you know you love, or adding a contrasting scarf to a monochrome outfit, is a good way to try it out.


Linking up with Modest Monday, Trend Spin, Turning Heads, Confident Twosday.


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Friday 27 July 2018

Printed Jeans and Basic Tees | Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAC and Micro Regan

Jeans are a frequently worn option in winter for me. I do try mix things up a little in my effort to stay away from blue jeans. I have a few colourful pairs, and some really fun printed pairs. I'm wearing two printed jeans below, in a monochromatic outfit and a second more colourful one. Although I'm wearing different prints and colours, I kept to a simple outfit formula in both outfits with basic tees and cosy cardigans.

What I wore:

SAHM style: monochrome printed jeans outfit with space dye tee pop of colour micro regan bag | away from blue

Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan satchel in Harvest Gold on wrist | awayfromtheblue

awayfromtheblue instagram monochrome printed jeans outfit mustard yellow rebecca minkoff micro regan bag
JacketCotton On black knit wrap cardigan
Necklace: Kmart Gold and Navy beaded necklace
Tee: thrifted Mix Apparel black marle tee
JeansSass & Bide Playman skinny jeans
ShoesMarc by Marc Jacobs silver tuxedo flats
BagRebecca Minkoff micro Regan satchel in Harvest Gold

Why I wore it:

No scarf as this was a rather warm winter day! In fact, when we came out of ABA mother's group and we went to grab some groceries, I took the cardigan off as it was a really warm winter afternoon. It was nice to enjoy the sunshine briefly.

I thrifted this tee a while back to replace a plain black v-neck one that I'd destroyed in the wash, and realised this hadn't been worn in a while. With the space dye print being similar to the lines on the chevron print of these jeans, I thought they would look quite nice together. I was worried the print mix was a little bold, definitely bolder than I expected when I put it on, so to keep things simple I added a plain black cardigan over the top. I'd planned to add my mustard cardigan, to match my mustard Rebecca Minkoff Micro Regan bag, but I think the black worked perfectly. It let my little bag be the touch of colour with the outfit.

I felt the silver shoes tied in nicely with the monochrome outfit, even if the necklace was gold and the bag was mustard. Really liked how well the printed jeans handled messy food covered toddler hands at the ABA mothers group too, ha! Prints are so good for disguising finger marks!


Last worn: black belted cardigan, space dye tee, Sass and Bide printed jeans, metallic silver ballet flats, Rebecca Minkoff Micro Regan.

Other ways to wear: black belted cardigan and skater dressblack tee and pink shorts, Sass and Bide printed jeans and wrap top, metallic silver ballet flats and dressRebecca Minkoff micro Regan bag worn 30 ways.

Perfect for pregnancy: black belted cardigan in first trimestermetallic silver ballet flats in third trimester.


Christmas In July Boxswap!


Super excited to share my first every box swap video! I did a Christmas in July surprise box swap / secret santa with some of the other Australian Mum Vloggers I've gotten to know this year.




What I wore:

SAHM Winter colourful printed jeans outfit pink leopard grey cardigan mini MAC bag | away from blue

Rebecca Minkoff neon pink mini MAC, chain strap doubled | away from the blue

awayfromblue instagram pink leopard print skinny jeans blue tee neutral cardi converse mini MAC bag
NecklaceZuriCollections blue polymer clay necklace
TeeAtmos & Here Avery marle tee in navy
Jeans: Portmans pink leopard print skinny jeans
ShoesConverse Chuck Taylor All Star low in white
BagRebecca Minkoff neon pink mini MAC

Why I wore it:

Another day with the boys, another chance to use the same outfit formula with another pair of printed jeans. I was surprised to realise I hadn't worn this blue marle tee with the pink leopard print jeans before, I really like blue and pink together! As the outfit felt a bit bold, I thought a neutral grey cardigan would be the best layer to add. Kept me cosy too, as this is wool.

With the neutral white Converse shoes as well it was looking like a good outfit, but I decided to go even bolder with the hot pink mini MAC bag. While an even brighter shade of pink than on the leopard print jeans, it really popped and just made the outfit for me. I tried doubling the strap over a little to make it a little shorter. I do that frequently with my Rebecca Minkoff Love bag. This mini MAC is not as structured though, and the soft leather pulled a big, as you can see in the close up shot. I don't think I'll try that again!

Again, a slightly warmer day so I went without a scarf. We spent most of our time indoors too, running a couple errands and taking the boys to rhyme time at the library.


Last worn: grey wool maxi cardigan, blue marle tee, pink leopard print jeans, Converse, neon pink mini MAC.

Other ways to weargrey wool maxi cardigan and pencil skirt, blue marle tee and printed shorts, pink leopard print jeans and blazer, Converse and denim shorts, neon pink mini MAC and little black dress.

Perfect for pregnancypink leopard print jeans in second trimester, Converse in second trimester.



Printed Jeans Under $50:




How You Can Wear It:

Printed jeans are easy to pair with basic tees, and neutral cardigans if the weather is cooler. You don't have to stick to neturals though! While the first monochrome outfit works, the second outfit follows the same formula but with more colourful pieces. Don't be afraid to add more colour to a printed piece.  You can stick with a colour combination you already love to make it easy.




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