Two Ways To Wear: Nobody Denim Charcoal Jeans With Chloe Mini Paddington Bag

Despite having reduced the number of sale emails I get after I overhauled my fashion shopping habits with 6 months without shopping, I do still get and click through on some sale emails. That's how I found these amazing Nobody Denim jeans at just $97, instead of the full $239 retail price. Nobody Denim is an Australian made ethical and sustainable jeans brand so I have been wanting to add more of it to my wardrobe. 

Full price is a bit exxy but at over $140 off I could definitely justify the cost! As Stella McCartney says in Fashionopolis, "if you can’t afford it the first time around, get it in the sale. Get it in the sale of the sale of the sale. Get it secondhand... buy fewer things that will last longer".

Here's two ways I've recently worn these jeans for spring.

What I wore:

Necklace: Jeanswest Taryn turquoise tassel bead necklace
Tank: Atmos&Here 'Florida' tank in Aztec print
Jeans: Nobody Denim Cult high rise skinny ankle jeans in charred grey
Shoes: Walnut Melbourne 'Ava' black lizard ballet flats
Bracelets: the usual plus Cora purpleheart and mother of pearl watch c/o JORD
Bag: Chloe small Paddington in 2006 blanc

Why I wore it:

This was a strange day weather-wise! It was a cooler morning which quickly turned into a humid day but then a cold afternoon and evening when the storm blew in. I figured jeans and a tank were a safe choice but I probably should have added a cover-up to this for the cooler parts of the day.

After the school run I had some quick errands (and more Christmas presents to pick up, so thankful for click and collect!), sports for the little one, a playdate, and then school pickup in the afternoon before sports again for both boys in the evening. Luckily the storm hit right after we got home from school pickup and was a lot less severe when we went out for sports after dinner.

This swing tank is such a fun one, I don't know why I don't wear it more! It was perfect with the high waisted jeans, and I wore another of my October purchases with it, this cute Chloe mini Paddington bag that was a second hand market bargain. It seemed like a bit of a dressy outfit with all these pieces together so I went with ballet flats instead of my usual Converse which I thought might have been too casual.


Last worn: Aztec print swing tank, tassel necklace, ballet flats. First time I've worn the jeans and Chloe mini Paddington as they are recent purchases.

Other ways to wear: Aztec print swing tank and shorts, tassel necklace worn 30 ways, ballet flats and pleated skirt..

Perfect for pregnancy: Aztec print swing tank and hidden baby bump, ballet flats in second trimester.

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Reveal: Chloe Mini Paddington Preloved Market Find

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What I wore:

Jacket: Paper Scissors grey wrap cardigan
Necklace: Lovisa mixed texture beaded necklace
Top: Jeanswest 'Hannah' print tank in paradise pink multi
Jeans: Nobody Denim Cult high rise skinny ankle jeans in charred grey
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in black
Bracelets: the usual plus Cora purpleheart and mother of pearl watch c/o JORD
Bag: Chloe small Paddington in 2006 blanc

Why I wore it:

Again I paired this cute little cream Paddington bag with these grey skinny jeans. I waterproofed the bag as I usually do with all my bags, so I'm not worried about colour transfer from the denim. 

This was a tricky day to dress for as once the kids were off to school I had an all day long conference for work that required me to be on camera for most of it. I wanted to be comfortable but look kind of professional too. I figured a day sitting at my desk was good to make sure these jeans were as comfortable as my other black Nobody Denim pair, and they certainly were! 

With the gold hardware on the Paddington, I went with this gold beaded necklace. Even if it wasn't seen on the conference it was a combo seen when I briefly ventured out! Like the bag, the Converse were an outdoor only piece too. They grey cardigan kept me cosy for a rainy day and the bright coral tank with the brushstroke stripes added a little interest to my outfit for showcasing on that little video rectangle. Last time I wore this tank I wore it with a Paddington bag too!


Last worn: grey cardigan, brushstroke stripe tank, beaded necklace, charcoal grey jeans (above), Converse, Chloe mini Paddington bag (above).

Other ways to wear: grey cardigan and flared jeans, brushstroke stripe tank and maxi skirt, Converse and dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: brushstroke stripe tank in second trimester, Converse in second trimester.

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How You Can Wear It:

Grey skinny jeans are a staple that go with anything! But you can't go past the simplicity of the "jeans and a nice top" staple outfit formula loved by so many. Printed tanks are a nice way to add a bit of colour to the grey jeans.

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What's In My Bag: #ItsInTheBag Donation For Share The Dignity

It's that time again! Share the Dignity is asking Australians to give back at Christmas and fill up a bag with some essentials and perhaps an extra special item or two to donate to a woman in need at Christmas time. This is the fourth year I've participated with #ItsInTheBag, it's such a fun thing to get involved with. I've shared how you can get involved below too, as you can start dropping your bags off to Bunnings this weekend!

This year I've packed a bag for a local woman in need to make her feel special at Christmas time. And I picked a nice big bag so I had room for a few extra pieces for her.

What's In My #ItsInTheBag Donation For 2021:

The past couple of years I've done a mums and bubs bag to help out a new mum in need. This year, I decided to go back to basics and just fill up a similar bag to what I did the first time I donated in 2018. This bag will be given to a local lady in need at Christmas time. Maybe she's homeless, maybe she's fleeing violence, maybe she's just having a hard time making ends meet and has reached out to a charity for help. Whoever she is I hope that this bag helps her see she's loved and worthy, and brings her a little joy at Christmas time.

This bag has all the basic essential hygiene items and a few extras. Things like tissues, a face mask, wipes, hand sanitiser, hand cream, a necklace, a journal and some pens. And I hope whoever receives this likes coconut, as you can see I ended up with a bit of a coconut theme going on! Almost everything was on sale. I stock up in advance, and don't shop all at once. Half price sales at Woolworths on beauty products are good for this, to add a little extra to the grocery shop, and the bag itself was a $8 bargain at Kmart with lots of room for everything.

What To Put In Your Bag:

Other Ways You Can Participate:

If you're in Australia:

• Don't have time to shop, or ideas for what to put in a bag? (It kicks off this weekend!) You can sponsor a bag on the Share the Dignity website.
• If you can't make it to Bunnings between the 19th and 28th November, why not see if any local charities near you are collecting anything similar? A thoughtful bag of essential hygiene items is likely to be well received. Maybe your local library is already collecting such items, or your local food bank would appreciate some donations.
• Maybe you just can't stretch to something like this at Christmas time - there's always the sanitary items donation drive later in the year.

If you're outside Australia:

I've seen this idea by other names in other countries too - blessing bags, kindness bags, etc. You can research and see if there is anything similar where you live.

More Ideas For What To Put In Your Bag:

• Mum and Bub Bag 2020
• Mum and Bub Bag 2019
• Woman in Need Bag 2018

I'm not sure how many times you need to do something each year before it becomes tradition  - but I'm glad I can do this for the fourth year in a row and that I have the avenue on this blog to share the donation drive with a wider audience. It makes me so happy when friends or family want to include things in the bag or have even put their own bag together to donate. My mum helped me with this bag, the little pouch was a great addition!

 

I plan to do this next year as well - are there any little extras you think I should include that I haven't this year? Or anything you considered a must-have when you donated something similar?

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Dusters & Distressed Denim Skirts With Balenciaga First Bag: Weekday Wear Link Up

I've wanted to add some shorter denim skirts to my wardrobe for a while. This year, with the kids being older I've decided they are a length I can easily rock again so I've added two to my wardrobe! Sharing two outfits I wore with them for today's Weekday Wear Link Up. 

One skirt is a second hand buy I scored on eBay and the other I got from my sister's wardrobe clear out as she didn't want it any more. Both distressed skirts look good with these floral dusters!

What I wore:

(image taken by Claire of my new bag buy at the markets!)

Jacket: Jeanswest Melanie floral kimono
Necklace: thrifted gold and cream multi strand pearl necklace
Top: thrifted Cotton on grey tunic tee
Skirt: Nobody Denim Piper vacation skirt in black distressed denim
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in black
Bracelets: the usual plus Cora purpleheart and mother of pearl watch c/o JORD
Bag: Balenciaga first bag in 2006 Blue India

Why I wore it:

Cheating a little for the link up as this was a weekend outfit, but I would totally wear it on a weekday too! Dropped by the Glad Rags market that Claire organised, just intending to have a browse and support a friend. I ended up buying a cute striped dress I couldn't resist, and then I came across this authentic Chloe mini Paddington bag. Knew it had to be mine! Such a fun morning, even if I did have to run a few errands afterwards.

As I was kid free (hubby took the kids to the playground) I made the most of it and wore this awesome yet delicate statement necklace - it doesn't survive well with kids tugging on it (it's snapped twice) but I've repaired it and it's too pretty not to wear. Took it off as soon as I got back home to the kids of course! Thought it would work well with the thrifted grey tunic, and it's the first wearing of this Nobody Denim Piper distressed denim skirt that I got on eBay. With the column of monochromatic colour with the grey and black together, this fun tropical floral print duster was a good way to add a little more colour to my outfit, as was the turquoise Balenciaga first bag.


Last worn: tropical floral duster, statement beaded necklace, grey tunic, Converse, Balenciaga Blue India first bag. First time I've worn the skirt as it was a recent purchase.

Other ways to wear: tropical floral duster and Bermuda shorts, grey tunic and culottes, Converse and pencil skirt, Balenciaga Blue India first bag and blazer.

Perfect for pregnancy: Converse in second trimester.

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What's In My Bag: Balenciaga Blue India First

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What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Delilah Long Line Kimono in Green Floral
Necklace: Kelly's Kloset rainbow layered necklace
Tee: Jeanswest Shelley garment dye tee in faded denim blue
Skirt: JayJays distressed denim mini skirt
Shoes: thrifted Adidas Superstar sneakers
Bracelets: the usual plus Cora purpleheart and mother of pearl watch c/o JORD
Bag: Balenciaga first bag in 2006 Blue India

Why I wore it:

Last time I wore this denim skirt I made a blue and green outfit and really liked it, so I tried it again with a blue tee this time and a green kimono. I think this outfit was missing a little something though. maybe a navy bag would have worked better. the Balenciaga first doesn't really pop with these colours, or maybe a brighter or longer statement necklace. I like this beaded necklace with this tee, it just didn't seem to add enough to the outfit. It was nice and comfortable but I feel looking at the pics it doesn't look as good as it could have.

The kimono was a helpful addition for the hot day though! We had a couple of errands to run after the school drop off for my eldest and before sports for my youngest. At one of the stores I stopped at I picked up some decorations I'd been eyeing for a while. With self checkouts, even after I asked a sales assistant there was nothing they had at the checkout for me to use to wrap them with once I bought them. Took off my kimono and used that instead, just to get them home in one piece, haha! Unexpected benefit to a kimono!


Last worn: green floral print duster, blue tee, beaded necklace, distressed denim skirt, Adidas Superstar, Balenciaga turquoise first bag (above).

Other ways to wear: green floral print duster and jeans, blue tee and shorts, distressed denim skirt and green cami, Adidas Superstar and midi skirt, Balenciaga turquoise first bag and dress.

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How You Can Wear It:

A monochromatic column of colour looks great with a printed duster on top, and suits warmer spring days.

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Weekday Wear Linkup #145

Welcome to the Weekday Wear linkup! A linkup for you to share your weekday outfits - whether that is office wear or stay at home mum wear - if you wore it on a weekday, you can link it up!

Guidelines:
1. Please link to a specific outfit post, not your blog homepage.
2. Link back to this post so others can find the link up.
3. Follow your host Away From The Blue on Bloglovin, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or YouTube.
4. Add up to two posts and be sure to visit and comment on as many other posts as possible to get some weekday outfit inspiration!
Optional: tweet the post you linked up with the hashtag #weekdayWearLinkUp so I can retweet!

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The 2021 Budget Friendly Handbag Lover Gift Guide

It's gift guide season! Just like last year and the year before, I'm sticking to one gift guide post this year: the ultimate annual gift guide for a handbag lover. No matter your budget, you're sure to find a gift for the bag mad person in your life, or a cute piece for yourself. And while this isn't a wishlist of what I want for Christmas, I wouldn't say no to any of these things!

Handbag Adjacent Gifts for the Budget Conscious: Under $50

This is my favourite category as you can be so creative. Maybe you can't get that budget-breaking Chanel bag they have their sights on, but Chanel do make nail polish! Beauty items like lip stick or lip gloss allow you to gift a little piece of luxury at a much more affordable price point. 

Sticking with a general bag theme, look for things like a bag shaped crossbody phone holder, a passport holder, phone case, or personalised embroidered dust bags for the bags they already have. If they really love one designer, why not get a book or print featuring their favourite fashion house instead?

Small Leather Goods For Those With More To Spend: $50 - $150

A budget like this lets you stretch a little further and while you might not be able to pick up a full sized handbag at this price point unless it's on sale, you can definitely get them a SLG (small leather good) to put in the bag of their dreams! Think coin purses, wallets, card holders and clutches.

Suitably Spendy Splurges: $200 - $400

A big splurge can pay off here - you won't get the high end luxury bag they lust for but you can certainly get a handbag from a contemporary designer at this price point. Rebecca Minkoff (my favourite!), Marc Jacobs, Kate Spade, Coach, etc. Or what about a wallet on a chain or pouch from a luxury brand? Hover over these bags to see prices.

Money Is No Object: $1,000+

For a very special someone or just because you're feeling extra generous, these bags are sure to make the recipient smile. If you're not sure on their preferences but still really want to spend at this price point, stick with neutral colours to guarantee it will get the use such a splurge deserves.

You Know What They Want But Your Budget Just Can't Stretch To It!

• Check out places like The Outnet to get past season bags at clearance prices. You might find a current style that doesn't fit in your budget in last season's colour at a much more budget friendly price point! The Outnet has bags up to 85% off.
• Shopbop has a wide range of designers and a decent selection of bags on sale too.
• Don't forget that with the Black Friday sales coming up in the US things might be deeply discounted in the next couple weeks. Add to cart and wait for a sale or discount code!
• Take them for lunch! Organise a day out of window shopping at all those places you (or they!) can't afford and a nice lunch to refuel after trying on all the pretty bags all day! Because at the end of the day, bags are pretty but time with loved ones is always the best gift.

Special Mention: Preloved Purses For You

Second hand buys are kinder to the budget and the environment, but sometimes you can be disappointed when the item is not in the condition you were expected and isn't worthy for gifting. You can minimise the risk of this by sticking to shopping second hand stores in person so you know what you're getting, or trying a reputable online reseller that has a good returns policy and lots of clear photos. Fashionphile is always good for gifts, as authenticity is guaranteed and the photos are clear and show condition well. Fashionphile has a sale section too!

The best time to buy second hand is when you're buying for yourself though, and it's easier to accept that the "pristine" bag you ordered has an undisclosed scuff on the corner. I've scooped up a few lucky finds on eBay and Gumtree myself for designers lesser known in Australia. 

You can also go this route when the person you're buying for has already checked out some preloved bag bargains and sent you a list of ones they like and are happy with the documented condition of. Ask them if you're not sure! I've already sent a few links to the family with preloved bag bargains I have my eye on at the moment! 😂  

I always have a lot of fun putting this gift guide post together and I hope you enjoy it! Are you hoping for anything handbag shaped under the tree this year?

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V-Neck Tees and Maxi Skirts With Chloe Small Paraty: Weekday Wear Link Up

Two easy v-neck tees and maxi skirts outfits I wore back in October, for some really warm spring days.

What I wore:

Necklace: blush pink and gold beaded tassel necklace

Tee: Spectrum basic v-neck tee in washed lilac
Skirt: Ally Fashion blue border print floral maxi skirt
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star coast blue
Bracelets: the usual plus Cora purpleheart and mother of pearl watch c/o JORD
Bag: Chloe periwinkle small Paraty

Why I wore it:

When I was putting this tee away in my wardrobe I was trying to think of another way I could rewear it next time, as I want to hit 30 wears with it soon. I realised that despite loving the trio of purple, pink and blue together, surprisingly I hadn't yet worn this skirt with it! It seems like such an obvious combo so I was glad I could give these two pieces a wear together. The accessories seemed like a no brainer too, the blush necklace went nicely with the pastel pink in the floral print of the skirt, as did the periwinkle Chloe Paraty bag even though it's a slightly different shade of blue from the print. The Converse were another way to get more blue into my outfit!

Had a stressful morning as I had to get a blood test and I don't like needles, but after that was over we went out to a little local event with the kids. It was a super hot day so we didn't stay long, just a couple of hours, but they enjoyed exploring somewhere new and we bought a few things at the market stalls. They had some second hand books for just $1, and the boys got some more of the Weirdo series they love so they were really happy. The Chloe small Paraty bag was a great one for the essentials, including our water bottles and a little reusable tote for our market purchases. It holds a lot despite the small size!


Last worn: lilac tee, blush tassel necklace, floral print maxi skirt, blue Converse, Chloe periwinkle Paraty bag.

Other ways to wear: lilac tee and shorts, floral print maxi skirt with navy, blue Converse and culottes, Chloe periwinkle Paraty bag and red skirt.

Perfect for pregnancy: lilac tee in second trimester.

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Changing The Chloe Paraty Strap:

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What I wore:

Necklace: thrifted pearl and heart charm long necklace
Tee: Cotton On The One Deep V tee in marle nep white body black 
Skirt: Target navy side split maxi skirt
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star coast blue
Bracelets: the usual plus Cora purpleheart and mother of pearl watch c/o JORD
Bag: Chloe periwinkle small Paraty

Why I wore it:

This was a busy day! After the school run I had a doctor's appointment, and then I took the little one to the library. We decided not to go to the playground after as we usually would as it was far too warm mid-morning, so it was home to relax a little and have lunch before another appointment in the afternoon to get my tax done and then picking up my eldest from school. Not the most fun day, but at least we enjoyed the library in the morning.

I wanted to try this white tee with this striped maxi skirt - the texture it has on it with the fabric looks like a really subtle print and it makes it easy to try print mixing with. I enjoyed the combination last time I wore it with a printed maxi skirt too!

With the casual Converse and Chloe Paraty bag I'm not entirely sure that the long heart charm necklace was the right choice with this, maybe a little dressy compared to everything else, but I hadn't thought about what necklace to wear in advance and when I saw this hanging up that morning I felt it deserved another wear.


Last worn: textured white tee, heart charm necklace, navy white stripe maxi skirt, blue Converse (above), Chloe small Paraty bag (above).

Other ways to wear: textured white tee and blazer, navy white stripe maxi skirt and mustard, blue Converse and striped dress, Chloe small Paraty bag and maxi dress.

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How You Can Wear It:

Printed maxi skirts are spring staples, great for mum days. They work well with a v-neck tee for an easy casual outfit.

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Weekday Wear Linkup #144

Welcome to the Weekday Wear linkup! A linkup for you to share your weekday outfits - whether that is office wear or stay at home mum wear - if you wore it on a weekday, you can link it up!

Guidelines:
1. Please link to a specific outfit post, not your blog homepage.
2. Link back to this post so others can find the link up.
3. Follow your host Away From The Blue on Bloglovin, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or YouTube.
4. Add up to two posts and be sure to visit and comment on as many other posts as possible to get some weekday outfit inspiration!
Optional: tweet the post you linked up with the hashtag #weekdayWearLinkUp so I can retweet!

Subscribe for The Weekday Wear Linkup reminder emails

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Printed Tee Dresses and Colourful Crossbody Bags

Two more easy outfits for hot spring days here in Brisbane: printed tee dresses, sneakers and crossbody bags. Nice and simple!

What I wore:

Dress: Atmos & Here Willow printed tee dress
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in black
Bracelets: the usual plus Cora purpleheart and mother of pearl watch c/o JORD
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Avery crossbody bag in burgundy

Why I wore it:

This was a rare kid free day! I had quite a few errands to run and yet still found time for a sneaky little massage to successfully tackle the back pain I'd been having. I even managed to film a couple more videos for my YouTube channel. While I do occasionally film some videos and put them up within a couple of days, most of my content on YouTube is scheduled in advance (just like my blog posts) so it's always nice to have a few more videos filmed to pad out the schedule.

This green tropical floral print tee dress is a really fun one to wear - it's a beautiful print and nice and light on a hot day. I haven't tried burgundy with it before, but I thought this burgundy Avery crossbody bag complimented the red in the print nicely even though it was a different shade. And as I was by myself I didn't need to carry more than my wallet, keys, mask, phone and hand sanitiser so this bag was perfect for that.


Last worn: floral print tee dress, black Converse, burgundy Rebecca Minkoff Avery crossbody.

Other ways to wear: floral print tee dress layered for winter, black Converse and maxi skirt, burgundy Rebecca Minkoff Avery crossbody and little black dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: floral print tee dress in second trimester, black Converse in third trimester.

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Ways To Wear Bright Bags:

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What I wore:

Necklace: House of Harlow sunburst necklace in silver and grey
Dress:  Cotton On 'Tina' white striped tee dress in Lissy black / Gardenia
Shoes: New Balance Coast women's running shoe in black 
Bracelets: the usual plus Cora purpleheart and mother of pearl watch c/o JORD
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Edie small crossbody bag in magenta

Why I wore it:

This was another really hot day! We took the kids out to the local park and since hubby came he carried the backpack with the snacks and water bottles in it. I just had this little Edie crossbody bag to keep all my essentials on me that I'd worn the day before.

Aside from the morning at the park and a little stroll, scoot and bike around the trail we didn't have anything planned so an easy throw on and go dress and comfortable sneakers for all the walking was ideal. I did add the necklace to try make it look like I put a little effort into this outfit, but really I just wanted something easy and comfortable and this was perfect.


Last worn: striped tee dress, sunburst necklace, New Balance sneakers, Rebecca Minkoff Edie crossbody bag.

Other ways to wear: striped tee dress and purple bag, Rebecca Minkoff Edie crossbody bag worn 30 ways.

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How You Can Wear It:

Printed tee dresses are something that looks great dressed down with sneakers - and you can add even more colour to the print in your outfit with a little bright crossbody bag.

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What I Bought In October (and How I've Worn It) Preloved Finds: Nobody Denim and Chloe Bag

Despite saying last month that I was almost exceeding the amount I spent last year and I shouldn't buy anything for the rest of the year, I had a very big spending month this month, with four things purchased. A special reveal video for one, as I bought yet another handbag (that's now 5 bags this year if you're counting 😂).

Chloe Handbag Reveal:

What I Bought In October:

• Nobody Denim Piper vacation skirt in black distressed denim
• Nobody Denim Cult high rise skinny ankle jeans in charred grey
• Chloe small Paddington in 2006 blanc
• Target navy and white striped shift dress with frill sleeves

Why I Bought It:

Aside from the jeans, another month of preloved buys. While I have bought a few things this year (and have definitely exceeded my 2020 fashion spend) the jeans are my first retail buy since February which I feel pretty good about! As much as I love the Nobody Denim jeans for how they are ethically and Australian made and designed, they are also on the expensive side. $239 retail price for these jeans I couldn't justify, but on sale for $97 they are perfect! Was really thrilled to stumble across these in the David Jones sale.

Since I added a denim skirt to my wardrobe that my sister no longer wanted a few months back I've been thinking about getting another, so this black Nobody Denim one was perfect, and an absolute bargain preloved on eBay.

The dress and bag were just lucky finds! As I mentioned in the video, I'd gone to the first local Glad Rags second hand market to support the organiser, and just wanted to have a little browse. The navy dress seemed like a great basic. At only $5 I was pretty pleased with my purchase and started making my way out when I stumbled across the Chloe small Paddington bag on the edge of a stall. I was very excited to realise it was authentic and that it was only $90! What are the chances?! The prices vary a lot online as it's a 2006 bag but some are still pretty exxy! I used to have a couple mini Paddington bags back in the day, and I used to authenticate Paddingtons too so I was super pleased to confirm it was real and grab this bargain. 

I wasn't expecting to spend so much at the market, the bag was the item that pushed me over my 2020 fashion spend limit, but I knew I'd have so many regrets if I didn't snap the bag up. Didn't even haggle for the price, just wanted it to be mine! 😂

How I've Worn It:

Surprisingly, the jeans got worn more than I expected as we had a few cooler rainy spring days than we normally would in October. I was hoping to get one wear out of them before it got too hot but cooler days meant I managed to hit the "wear twice in the month I buy it" rule with these jeans, and everything else I bought. Of course the bag got worn a few more times, the neutral cream goes with everything!

How I'm tracking With My Annual Fashion Spend:

So far I'm $85 over the amount I spent in 2020, and I have two months left in the year and another Glad Rags preloved market coming up... Still under my 2019 spend at the moment though. It will be interesting to see my spend at the end of the year. It's the first time since 2018 and when I started tracking that I've increased my fashion spend from the year before. 

Since I spent so little in 2020 on fashion I think it was going to be hard to meet or spend less than that amount this year, with everything opened up and so few restrictions in Queensland. It was a good goal to aim for though!

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Spring Florals, Kimonos, Black Denim and Magenta Edie Crossbody Bag | Weekday Wear Link Up

Sticking with staple spring outfit formulas for two outfits I wore at the end of September. Florals (groundbreaking!), kimonos, and black denim with Converse and my little Rebecca Minkoff magenta Edie crossbody bag for an extra pop of colour.

What I wore:

Jacket: Shein lace trimmed crochet inset white kimono c/o
Necklace: engraved interlinked silver circle family name necklace
Cami: H&M blue floral crinkle knot front button down cami
Shorts: Jeanswest Heather Bermuda short in black
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star coast blue
Bracelets: the usual plus Cora purpleheart and mother of pearl watch c/o JORD
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Edie small crossbody bag in magenta

Why I wore it:

I loved this outfit! It was quite a hot day for spring (36 Celsius) so I was pleased I'd taken the opportunity to book the kids in for a play at an airconditioned indoor play place after my little one's sports in the morning. Despite it being a public holiday and the last day of the school holidays it wasn't too crowded either. Thankfully when we had more sports for the boys in the evening, without the AC, it had cooled off a lot!

The white crochet trim kimono was a nice light layer when we were outdoors and kept the chill off my shoulders from the aircon indoors too. I wore this kimono with this cami previously as well, it's a great combination. Managed with some help from my sister to figure out how to knot the front of the cami too, much prefer this over the poor attempt I made last time I wore this top, ha!

With the pretty blue floral print on the cami the blue Converse were a nice matchy-matchy option, and of course black denim shorts go with everything. The Rebecca Minkoff Edie crossbody bag in magenta was a fun pop of colour too.


Last worn: crochet trim kimono, silver necklace, floral knot front tank, black Bermuda denim shorts, blue Converse, magenta Rebecca Minkoff Edie bag.

Other ways to wear: crochet trim kimono and maxi dress, floral knot front tank and jeans, black Bermuda denim shorts with olive, blue converse and striped dress, magenta Rebecca Minkoff Edie bag worn 30 ways.

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Rebecca Minkoff Edie Bag Worn 30 Ways

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What I wore:

Jacket:  Target Karolina summer kimono in purple black floral
Necklace: thrifted Mix Apparel clover designer inspired necklace
Tank: Jeanswest Maji metallic tank in soft green and silver
Jeans: Nobody Denim Siren skinny super high-rise jeans in power black denim (c/o)
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in black
Bracelets: the usual plus Cora purpleheart and mother of pearl watch c/o JORD
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Edie small crossbody bag in magenta

Why I wore it:

This was not such a fun day. With the rain that morning jeans were called for, and these black Nobody Denim skinny jeans worked well with the darker floral print on the kimono. The Converse were good for all the running around that morning too, and I think the magenta Edie bag was nice with the print. Even though it doesn't match the colours exactly, it goes well.

I'd booked the kids in for a school holiday event and we had some errands to run in the morning as well as books for us to take back to the library. It ended up being a little stressful trying to complete everything in time though and trying to make it a good day for the kids while my mind was on other things. I do try keep this blog fashion focused and frivolous (and so few people read what I write anyway) but while I tried to make it as normal a day as possible for the kids I was always conscious of getting home in time for lunch and giving myself enough time to change for a funeral that afternoon.

Thankfully I got home in time to eat and get changed before the funeral. By then the sun had came out and I had changed from this outfit and was just in a simple little black dress and a grey blazer, with a more subdued grey bag. I decided not to take any photos of that outfit.

Last worn: black floral kimono, clover necklace, metallic silver tank, black Nobody denim jeans, Converse, Rebecca Minkoff magenta Edie crossbody bag (above).

Other ways to wear: black floral kimono and shorts, metallic silver tank and pencil skirt, black Nobody denim jeans and blazer, Converse and pencil skirt, Rebecca Minkoff magenta Edie crossbody bag and striped dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: Converse in second trimester.

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How You Can Wear It:

Black denim goes with everything - you can pair it with lighter florals like the first outfit, or darker florals like I have in the second outfit. It's the perfect neutral for any print.

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Weekday Wear Linkup #143

Welcome to the Weekday Wear linkup! A linkup for you to share your weekday outfits - whether that is office wear or stay at home mum wear - if you wore it on a weekday, you can link it up!

Guidelines:
1. Please link to a specific outfit post, not your blog homepage.
2. Link back to this post so others can find the link up.
3. Follow your host Away From The Blue on Bloglovin, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or YouTube.
4. Add up to two posts and be sure to visit and comment on as many other posts as possible to get some weekday outfit inspiration!
Optional: tweet the post you linked up with the hashtag #weekdayWearLinkUp so I can retweet!

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