30 Wears: Rebecca Minkoff Grey MAB Satchel Bag

Another 30 ways to wear, with an update on #6monthsWithoutShopping.

6 Months Without Shopping: Month 5 Update

You might find it hard to believe but that's the 5th month of my no shopping challenge completed with no shopping! Of course now I've shared the secret for how I've been distracting myself from shopping for these 5 months - I was working on an eBook in any spare time I had. Not that you get spare time often with two boys under 3!

This month I think I've been more tempted by things, there have been so many sales. I'd usually use a sale as an excuse to jump online to 'just take a look', but I've distracted myself with doing something for the book instead so I've never had the time to think about purchases for too long. It's also easy to talk myself out of wanting things when I realise I've nearly done 6 months without shopping and I'd hate to go and spoil it so close to the end by buying something!


And now, 30 wears. Still finding it difficult to identify clothing that I've worn 30 times, I'm featuring another accessory. The Rebecca Minkoff MAB mini that I've worn over 60 times in the 4 years since I bought it. A surprisingly low number given that when I get it out of its dustbag I tend to wear it for a few days in a row. It's such a good bag I usually wear it for a while before thinking I need to enjoy some of my other bags again.

#30Wears: Rebecca Minkoff Grey MAB Mini (MAM) Bag

I bought this Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB bag back in 2013, before the boys were born. At the time I liked the flexibility of the bag as you could wear it so many different ways: over the shoulder, handheld, and cross body. It's only now I'm chasing toddlers that I'm really appreciating the cross body feature for more than just a different look, it's a very practical choice for a mum bag! The neutral grey mini MAB goes with so many different outfits and I've worn the bag for many occasions too, as you can see in the 30 ways I've worn it below.

Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAB in the Office

The classic shape and neutral colour make the MAB satchel a great choice for the office! It's just large enough to fit in all of the usual things I carry as well as a small notebook, water bottle and snack - essentials for meetings across the city. While my workplace has a business casual dress code, I think this is the kind of bag you could easily wear in a more formal office too.

Mini MAB and Maxi Skirts and Dresses

The beauty of the Rebecca Minkoff MAB satchel is that while it works in a more formal office environment with a pencil skirt, you can dress it down nicely with a maxi skirt or maxi dress for the weekend or stay at home mum style. The rectangular satchel shape of the bag slouches down nicely so it's just as suitable for a casual outfit too.

Grey Mini MAB and Print Mixing

The benefit of neutral grey bag is that it goes with anything, so you can be a little more adventurous with your outfit. You can easily try some print mixing and pair different clothes together, as the bag won't clash with whatever you're wearing. Stripes and skulls, stripes and Aztec print, stripes and stars and even polka dots and skulls. I love my colourful handbags, but you can't beat a nice neutral sometimes!

Grey MAB Bag and Colourful Outfits

Just as a grey bag works in the outfits above when you are wearing different prints, it's the perfect neutral for a more colourful outfit where you're trying a new colour combination. I'm trying to add more colour to my outfits so when I'm wearing two colours I like to opt for a neutral bag. Blue and grey work so nicely together, and continue to do so even when you add in other colours like purple, yellow, pink and red.

MAB Satchel and Printed Dresses

Of course you don't have to be paring different prints or colours together to wear a neutral bag. A fail-safe grey bas is a good accessory with a bright printed dress too. 'Pick a colour from the pattern on the dress to accessorise with' is wise advice, but you can never go wrong wearing a colourful printed dress and a classic neutral bag.

Difference Between the MAB and Mini MAB Satchel Bag

I've used MAB and mini MAB (or MAM) interchangeably in this post. The bag I'm wearing is the mini MAB which I think is better for my petite self. The difference is that the mini MAB is 20% smaller than the MAB. It's the exact same style, just a tiny bit smaller. A mini MAB (or MAM) is 13" wide, 8" high and 5.75" deep. Anything bigger is the MAB. 👍

Grey Rebecca Minkoff MAB Satchel and Monochrome Outfits

A you've seen above, an outfit with prints or colours or combinations of them both can benefit from a neutral handbag. You can try different prints and colours together, or try something a little simpler and wear a monochrome outfit. Black, blue and even orange, a grey bag can compliment a monochrome outfit nicely.

Grey MAB Bag With Jeans and a Tee

Jeans and a tee will always be a go-to outfit for me. A grey tee and denim is a simple outfit, and the grey Rebecca Minkoff MAB works nicely with it too, simple and stress free dressing. I haven't had any denim transfer on the grey leather, even when the bag rubs against my jeans when I wear it cross body. I do spray all my bags with a waterproofer before I wear them though.

Anything and Rebecca Minkoff MAB Satchel

As you've seen above, a neutral grey bag with multiple ways to wear it like this one really will go with everything. You can wear it with jeans, colourful outfits, prints, dresses...it works in so many different outfits. You can wear it year-round, and to multiple activities. It's one of those wear to work, wear on weekend pieces that I wish I had more clothing equivalents of in my wardrobe with my upcoming return to work after maternity leave.

If you've been considering a Rebecca Minkoff bag and haven't been sure which one to get, I highly recommend snapping up the MAB on sale. It's on sale right now at Shopbop, in tan too. It's the first handbag Rebecca Minkoff sold back in 2005 and it really is one of those classic pieces. The video below shows just how much it can comfortably fit inside!

Where to Buy the Rebecca Minkoff MAB:

Where to Buy the Rebecca Minkoff MAB Second Hand:

(While the MAB style has recently been re-released, it was discontinued for a while. There are still a lot more colour options available second hand if you want to get one of the older bags like mine. Just remember to check sizes as mentioned above to make sure you're getting the MAB or MAM you want.)

Want more outfit inspiration? All 60+ ways I've worn the Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB on the blog.

❝ 30 ways to wear the Rebecca Minkoff MAB satchel! - Click to Tweet.

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Linking up with What I Wore, Oh Hey Girl, Style On The Daily, Budget Bloggers, Thursday Moda, Fashion Files, Fun Fashion, Fabulous Friday, Passion for Fashion, Flashback Friday, Weekend Wear, Friday Favourites, Style Sessions, The Ultimate Rabbit Hole.

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#30Wears: Jeanswest Super Skinny Jeans

As I mentioned last month, I'm discovering that identifying items in my wardrobe I've actually worn 30 times is tricky! Despite being in the middle of #6monthsWithoutShopping, I do have a lot of clothes and I'm finding 30 wears of anything other than maxi skirts or accessories isn't as easy as I'd thought at the start of the year. This month I'm sharing another classic piece, my skinny jeans.

These were the first jeans I pulled out to wear when autumn and jeans weather finally arrived this past week. They are a firm favourite in my wardrobe, so much so that I purchased the maternity version of them to wear over my pregnancies too! Since blue jeans are a fairly common wardrobe item for most people, everyone is sure to have at least one pair of jeans they've hit 30 wears on. I'm going to make this post another 30 unique ways to wear to give you some inspiration for how to rewear your favourite jeans.

#30Wears: Jeanswest Blue Super Skinny Jeans

These Jeanswest 'super skinny' jeans were purchased almost 4 and a half years ago. I have a pretty large collection of denim, but still these have racked up 50 wears. Given how much I used to love blue jeans that's a bit of a lower number than I expected, but I have really been trying the past few years to stay away from the blue denim rut, especially during my maternity leave periods where I've been lucky to be a stay at home mum for a while.

Skinny Jeans and a Blazer

Jeans and a blazer isn't just a great option for casual Friday! It's a nice way to dress up a casual jeans outfit a little. You can stick with a classic knit blazer for comfort, or even try a tweed blazer for a little extra warmth. While I have worn this outfit combination in winter (in the last pic), I tend to wear jeans and blazers most in spring and summer.

Skinny Jeans and Knits

When it starts to cool down for autumn or heat up slightly for spring, adding a knit with skinny jeans is an easy outfit. Either a cute knitted jumper like in the first two pictures, or a light cardigan in the next 4. A scarf is a good extra layer if it's chilly. This combination is so comfortable I've worn it for an interstate flight (second picture) and a long road tip (last picture).

Jeans and Maxi Cardigan (Duster)

I wanted to call this out separately from the shorter cardigans above. This cosy maxi cardi was a sale purchase last autumn and although it's too warm to have worn it yet this year I'm looking forward to wearing it again with my blue jeans when the weather cools more. A duster just works perfectly with skinny jeans as you can see in the outfits below.

Skinny Jeans for Casual Friday

It's often too hot and humid for jeans in summer here in Brisbane but I definitely make up for that with how often I wear my jeans in winter! 4 of the 5 outfits below were actually winter casual Friday outfits for the office. Only the second outfit with the boots wasn't worn in the office.A classic pair of skinny jeans and a cosy jacket like a leather jacket or trench coat and you're set for Casual Friday.

Skinny Jeans and Kimonos

Denim and a kimono will always been a frequently worn combination in my wardrobe! Even when I swap my jeans for shorts in summer I still like to wear a pretty printed kimono with some kind of denim.

Skinny Jeans and Tanks

Such a simple outfit formula for a warm spring or autumn day, just pick a tank to wear with your jeans. Each of these tanks have a twist from a regular tank and jeans combo to stop it being too boring. The tank in the first outfit is actually a lace overlay one so you can kind of see the purple tank underneath poking through. The plain black tank in the middle outfit has a peplum hem, and there's a fun print on the Sass and Bide tank in the last outfit. A tank and skinny jeans outfit doesn't have to be boring.

Skinny Jeans and Tees

This was definitely my most-worn outfit formula, and was my go-to outfit for a few years. A jeans and tee outfit is just to quick to put together each day. Like the tanks above, a jeans and tee outfit doesn't have to be boring when you wear a printed or brightly coloured tee. Don't forget you can a pretty necklace too for more interest!

They might just be plain blue skinny jeans, but they are certainly a wonderful addition to my wardrobe!

Where to Buy the Best Skinny Jeans:

(First pair pictured are the ones I'm wearing in this post)

Want more outfit inspiration? All 50 ways I've worn these skinny jeans in my archives. 

I hope you found this post useful. Did it give you a new idea for how to wear your favourite blue jeans? Don't forget to share or pin!

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#30Wears: Striped Maxi Skirt Black and White Jersey

Honestly, I had no idea wearing things in my wardrobe 30 times would be so difficult! When I first heard about the challenge (in The True Cost movie) I thought I'd have a few pieces I'd achieved it with. As I take a photo of what I wear every day, I had my blog archives to look through and was surprised how little even some of my favourite pieces are actually worn.
 I thought attempting 6 months without shopping would give me time to wear and enjoy what's in my wardrobe and rack up 30 wears. But if I want to get 30 wears of something in these 6 months, that's wearing something 5 times a month on average. That's more than once a week.

Since I own much more than a week's worth of outfits wearing things 30 times isn't often achieved. There are a few pieces I've already clocked up 30 wears of, but they are mainly accessories. Even my most worn kimono has only got 20 wears so far! I thought I'd be able to feature it in this post until I saw that count. Wearing everything you own 30 times sounded like a bit of a challenge, but I didn't realise just how difficult it would be for someone like me with such a large wardrobe.

I'd really like to show something other than an accessory or a maxi skirt in this 30 wears series soon, but as I'm challenging myself to find something every month to share, it means that this month it's going to be another maxi skirt. A printed one at least, so a little different from the plain one I featured previously.

#30Wears: Target Black and White Striped Jersey Maxi Skirt

I've worn this maxi skirt 44 times, so it was difficult narrowing down to just 30 outfits! I really like this skirt. Purchased it while pregnant with (now Toddler) T as I wanted something stretchy and comfortable. I'm amazed I'm still loving and wearing it over 3 years later, and to have gotten through another pregnancy with it. There is no sign of wear on it either, still as stretchy and comfortable as ever so it will be worn a lot more in the future.

Striped Maxi Skirt in a Monochrome Outfit

A classic black and white maxi skirt makes an easy monochrome outfit. You can pair it with white, grey or black and not worry about looking boring as the stripe print adds an extra bit of interest to the outfit.

Black and White Striped Maxi Skirt with Colourful Tops

A colourful tee or tank really pops against a black and white base. You can go bright with blue or purple or stick with another neutral like olive.

Striped Maxi Skirt and Scarves

I like to wear my maxi skirts year round, and when the weather cools a little a scarf is a great addition to a maxi skirt outfit to keep you cosy in autumn or spring. You can even do a little pattern mixing with a printed scarf. Stripes are so easy to pair with other prints.

Black and White Striped Maxi Skirt in Winter

While you do need to do a little more layering and perhaps wear boots, I've never had any issues wearing my maxi skirts in winter. Of course we don't get snow in Brisbane which helps!

Striped Maxi Skirt in Pregnancy: Second Trimester

I originally bought this maxi skirt in pregnancy when I was looking for something that would fit a growing baby bump. It was affordable, comfortable and stretchy. I had no idea I'd love and wear it so much that it would be worn through two pregnancies and beyond!

Striped Maxi Skirt in Pregnancy: Third Trimester

In the third trimester you outgrow a lot of the non-maternity pieces in your wardrobe that worked in the first and second trimesters. I ended up making a pregnancy capsule wardrobe last time with pieces I knew would fit and wore that for the final trimester. Luckily the elastic waist on this maxi skirt comfortably accommodated a growing bump. In fact it was the last thing I wore before Toddler T made his overdue appearance into the world.

Jersey Stripe Maxi Skirt in PostPartum Days

The stretchy waistband that made this skirt so good during pregnancy also makes it a perfect choice in the early post-partum days where your stomach changes daily and you need something quick and easy to wear as it's going to get covered in baby spit up anyway! Paired with a oversized tee or a cosy soft knit it's a comfortable outfit option to help you feel pulled together on little sleep.

You'll know from reading my blog that I obviously have a bit of a maxi skirt obsession, but I think this post illustrates quite well why I adore them so much. You can wear them so many different ways.

I think I bought this for $20 (or something close to that), so at 44 wears that's 45 cents a wear, for those who like to calculate cost per wear. Not bad for an impulsive pregnancy purchase over 3 years ago!

Want more outfit inspiration? View all 44+ ways to wear this maxi skirt in my blog archives.

I hope you found this post useful. Don't forget to share or pin!


Linking up with Hello Monday, Mix It Mondays, Modest Monday, On Monday We Link Up, On Trend, Turning Heads, Confident Twosday, Style Sessions, Wardrobe Wednesday, Midweek Inspo, What I Wore, Thursday Moda, Fashion Files, Labour of Fashion.

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