Friday, 29 November 2019

Handbag Lover Gift Guide 2019 - For Any Budget!

My fifth annual handbag lover gift guide! I love bags so really enjoy putting this post together to share some gift ideas with you. No matter your budget, you're sure to find something special for that bag loving friend or family member in your life. Or maybe a little splurge for yourself! Christmas is a time for special surprises after all 😉 With the Black Friday sales on everywhere, now is the perfect time to buy.


ultimate handbag lover gift guide purses for any budget! | away from blue



Budget Bag Related Finds Under $50





These are perfect stocking fillers or last minute gift ideas that won't break the budget! Looking out for sales or discount codes can help bring the cost down more too. I've included some Black Friday sales at the bottom of the post for you to help. While you might not be able to get a designer handbag for this price, you can get little accessories to adorn the inside or outside of bags they already own. Think pouches, card holders, clutches, travel pouches and bag charms! Or even a straw bag.



Contemporary Bags $50- $150





Extending your budget a little lets you pick up a cute bag from a mid-range designer, or a small leather good from a higher end brand. Rebecca Minkoff is my current favourite contemporary brand and you'll find a lot of bags in this price range there! Think also Kate Spade, Coach, Ted Baker, etc.



Splurge Worthy Bags $200+





This category is idea for someone special in your life, where you have a bigger budget. You could even get a wallet from a high end designer for under $400. It's good to look for hints for the brand, style or colour someone would be interested in before splurging in this category. If you're not sure, a neutral coloured classically shaped handbag would be a safe bet, or you could always just get them a giftcard for their fave store instead to let them pick out the bag of their dreams!



Second Hand Shopping


You can find some real bargains second hand. If you're shopping for yourself this is a good way to go, or buy early from a store with a good return policy so you have time to return in case you've bought the bag as a gift and it's a little more pre-loved than you expected!

Buying from sites like Vestaire Collective (who are having a 30% off sale for Black Friday) and Fashionphile that guarantee authenticity takes a lot of the stress out of purchasing a designer bag second hand. Bag Mad Boutique is UK based but ships worldwide and there is a 10% off black Friday sale on at the moment (and full disclosure, the owner is a wonderful friend of mine!).


Some Handbag Related Sales to Check Out:


The sales can mean something that was out of our budget before becomes a little more attainable, and a handbag will have a lot of staying power in your wardrobe!

Shopbop - use code "MORE19" to get 15% off orders over $200 to up to $25% off orders over $800 - and you can use it on sale items too for an even bigger discount!

Rebecca Minkoff - use code "THANKS25" to get 25% of orders over $100, and "THANKS30" to get 30% off orders over $250.

David Jones - up to 60% off in the Black Friday sale.

The Outnet - get up to 85% off in the clearance sale!

Net A Porter - get an extra 15% off selected sale items!


I hope you enjoyed browsing some of my top handbag related gift ideas this year! Are you wishing for a bag shaped present under the tree this Christmas? I may have already given hubby a direct link to the bag I want...leaving nothing up to chance! 😂



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Friday, 15 November 2019

What's In My Bag: #ItsInTheBag2019 Nappy Bag For Share The Dignity

A special what's in my bag post today as I'm sharing what I have pulled together for Share the Dignity's It's In The Bag Christmas campaign!

Share The Dignity provides sanitary products to those in need across Australia and every year at Christmas time they have the drive to donate a little more than just pads or tampons.

You can fill a new or gently used bag with some essentials and a few (non-food) treats to make a woman, teen or new mum smile. Last year I donated a handbag for a woman in need, this year I am donating a nappy bag for a mum and baby.


What's Inside My Nappy Bag:


It's In The Bag Christmas Campaign Share the Dignity Nappy Bag | awayfromblue blog


A little more about what's in the bag and why is in my video!




I had so much fun putting this bag together! As you can see, it had to be quite a big bag to fit all the essentials in it so I went with this pink and grey Kmart gym bag. Nothing else was big enough! I had forgotten just how many things you need as a new mum, now my youngest is 3 and a half! I ticked off all of the essentials from the list for mum (things like breast pads, maternity pads, shower gel, shampoo and conditioner) and for baby (nappies, wipes, nappy balm). With the little space I had left I added some extras for mum, like a hairbrush, lip balm, tote bag and of course a little hand written card.

I can't imagine being a new mum at Christmas time in a shelter or homeless and so I hope that this bag helps a little. While I picked up a lot on sale spreading my shopping out over time, I also picked up things we use and love at home for the boys. I've shared my review of the Mater baby products before on the blog when I collaborated with them, but this post, like last years It's In The Bag post, was not paid for in any way and I purchased the Mater products myself.


Ways You Can Help


  • Share The Dignity has some great ideas about what you can put in your bag to give to a woman, mother or child in need. See what to put in a bag for a lady, teen or new mum. You can donate your bag at your local Bunnings from Friday 22nd November to Saturday 7th November.
  • If you don't have a new or gently used bag to donate to the Christmas campaign, why not take part in the sanitary products drive in April or August next year?
  • If you're not in Australia and still want to help women in need, have a look and see if there are any charities in your country that put together blessing bags. Similar things I found on google are blessing bags in the US and bags of kindness in the UK.


What You Can Include In Your Nappy Bag:




There are so many ways to give back at Christmas time. If your heart aches for men, women, children, mothers, animals or families in need, Christmas is a great time to give back. I loved being able to do a little something for a struggling mum this year and hope in some small way it brings a little joy at Christmas time.


I'd love to do this again next year too! Have you done something like this before? What should I include in my next bag?


Note: My posts, like this one, are usually written 2-3 weeks in advance. I had to add on this updated note though. We are safe from the bushfires, as are our family and friends. For ways to help, see here: https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/hack/bushfire-donations-heres-how-you-can-help/11696418


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