What I Bought After a No Shop Challenge: The End of 7 Months Without Shopping

There's been a lot of interest in what I'd buy after I managed to complete not just the 6 months I'd planned but 7 months without shopping.

I'd had one big splurge planned but other than that I wasn't really sure what I wanted, as I tended to overthink most things I went to buy. I ended up making a few impulse buys. I've actually had quite a lot enter my wardrobe too, mainly from my sister's wardrobe clear out.

What was added to my wardrobe during my no-shop challenge:

• A knitted dress from my Grandma's wardrobe (worn here)
• Purple high top Converse look-a-likes from my sister (worn here and here)
• Jeanswest two tone boxy oversized tee from my sister (worn here and here)
• A floral ruffle detail tank from my sister (worn here and here)
• A trio of band tees from my sister (not yet worn)
• Jeanswest Cecile dove grey skinny jeans a very generous gift from a special someone who is surprising people with their savings from the $5 money challenge (worn here and here)
• Nibbly Bits Feather pendant in peach (C/O)
• Nibbly Bits BB plum silicone teething necklace (C/O)

What I Bought in August:

• Balenciaga raisin purple 2009 giant silver G21 hardware work bag 
• Starfish Project Veronica short yellow multi strand necklace
• Starfish Project Hannah turquoise bead necklace
• thrifted SES Fashions mustard yellow cardigan
• thrifted billabong red printed maxi skirt
• Kmart Aztec print tiered little black dress 
• Jeanswest Flavia foil printed polka dot tee deep iris (gift card purchase)

As you can see, only one of the things I bought was with one of my end-of-challenge gift cards. I'd asked for gift cards for Christmas and set them aside to spend at the end of my no-shop challenge. I just haven't seen anything I had to have that looked as good as I imagined when I tried it on (with the exception of the impulse buy polka dot tee, which is SO soft). With more spring and summer stock coming into the stores as winter ends I'm sure I'll have spent them before they expire in December. Being in Brisbane, winter clothing isn't a priority for me to buy as I tend to wear my summer pieces year-round, just with a few extra layers.


I still have my 'wear it twice in the month I bought it' rule to ensure that everything I buy and add to my wardrobe will work with what I already own. While there might have been a few impulse buys, I'd mostly been thinking about adding similar pieces for a while, and I've hit two wears on everything this month.

The Kmart dress is the only thing I bought full price. I probably could have waited for a sale, but seeing it while I was on my no-shop challenge and then starting to notice the stock levels falling in my local store made me go snap it up before I missed out quite quickly in August! It was only $15 so I'm not too upset I paid full price - still a bargain! And out of stock in my size now in my local Kmart so a good purchase.


The Starfish Project necklaces were an impulse buy too, I was a few days into August and hadn't bought anything yet when I stumbled across the brand on Instagram. From their website, 'the Starfish Project restores hope to women escaping human trafficking and exploitation in Asia.' They provide shelter for women and their children, counselling and employment and education. For every piece on their website that you can buy, it tells you exactly what that money can do. The yellow Veronica necklace is equal to the cost of 5 days of room and board at the Starfish Project shelter. The turquoise Hannah necklace is is equal to the cost of 1 week of counseling for an exploited woman.

This isn't a sponsored post, I bought the necklaces with my own money - but I wanted to share as with Christmas coming up it's a lovely gift idea - especially as you get a little note with each purchase. A nice way to help someone look and feel good when they unwrap your gift on Christmas day! I may have added a gift for someone special to my order too...

How I Wore It:

Balenciaga purple work bag / Starfish Project yellow necklace / Starfish Project turquoise necklace

Balenciaga purple work bag

thrifted billabong red printed maxi skirt / Jeanswest polka dot tee

Starfish Project turquoise necklace / thrifted mustard yellow cardigan / Kmart little black dress / Jeanswest polka dot tee

What I'm Buying in September:

I'm going to try Beth's #noSpenderSeptember now! With some hand-me-downs coming into my wardrobe during my no-shop challenge, and having bought a few pieces in August, I'm pretty wardrobe content at the moment. I still have a lot of gift cards to spend though so we will see what happens...

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Plain Jersey Maxi Skirts and Striped Tops

The classic rule of 'you can't go wrong with stripes' is one I follow when I'm not sure what to wear. With my plain maxi skirts, a striped top is a great addition. Add in a few colourful layers and you have a comfortable and practical outfit stay at home mum outfit for running around with two toddlers.

What I wore:

Jacket: Bubblegum denim jacket

Scarf: Marc by Marc Jacobs scarf in Island pine-print
Top: Atmos&Here 3/4 sleeve stripe tee in berry white
Skirt: Jeanswest Luxe jersey maxi skirt
Shoes: Walnut Melbourne 'Ava' black lizard ballet flats (also available in silver, 15% off both with code 'TREAT')
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff MAB mini in soft grey (on sale, 30% off!)
Nails: OPI Fire Escape Rendezvous

Why I wore it:

I've been playing along a little with #FMSPAD_STYLE style challenge on Instagram, which is taking the FMS picture a day challenges and making them style orientated. I posted this one for the letter 'G' due to the green in the scarf, but I'd actually worn it a few days before. I had a couple of errands to run with the boys and we had a relaxing morning which then translated to me rushing around the stores trying to fit everything in before lunch time, ha! At least I was comfortable with all the running around.

This striped tee is one of my favourites but it hasn't been worn much this winter. It was good to get it out again and it was a nice print to pair with the plain drawstring waist maxi skirt. The scarf was cosy for the cooler morning and I like the colour combo of the scarf with the burgundy stripes. I've worn it them together before.


Last worn: denim jacket, Marc Jacobs scarf, burgundy stripe tee, drawstring maxi skirt, Walnut Melbourne flats, Rebecca Minkoff MAB mini.

Other ways to wear: denim jacket and maxi dress, Marc Jacobs scarf and flares, burgundy stripe tee and skinny jeans, drawstring maxi skirt worn two ways, Walnut Melbourne flats and skinny jeans, Rebecca Minkoff MAB mini and colourful printed skirt.

Perfect for pregnancy: denim jacket and second trimester bump, printed scarf in early first trimester, striped tee in third trimester, ballet flats and maternity wrap dress, Rebecca Minkoff MAM and maternity pencil skirts.

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Plain Maxi Skirts Under $50:

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What I wore:

Jacket: thrifted SES Fashions mustard yellow cardigan

Necklace: Nibbly Bits Feather pendant in peach (C/O)
Top: Jeanswest 'Marina' stripe henley
Skirt: Target grey marle maxi skirt
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs silver tuxedo flats
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan satchel in Harvest Gold

Why I wore it:

It was a quieter morning when I wore this. Again sticking with the plain maxi skirt and striped top combo, this time with my mustard yellow cardigan. If you follow me on Instagram you'll have seen this cardi pop up a lot recently!

I've always admired mustard yellow cardigans on others and wanted to add one to my wardrobe, but never found the right one. Until a few months into my #6MonthsWithoutShopping challenge, when I saw the perfect cardigan at an opshop, for $2. I really wanted it but had to walk away to stick to my challenge. Every time I passed I'd see it and wish I could get it. Until one day, it was gone as someone else bought it. 😢

While taking some bags of clothes from mine and my sister's wardrobe to the opshop the other week I had a little browse on the racks and spotted this! Not the same style as the other cardigan I'd seen, and not in as good condition, but it does have pockets and it was also $2 so I'm happy! I like the colour it added to the otherwise neutral outfit. Although the Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan isn't an exact match to the mustard shade, I think they look nice together.


Last worn: striped henley, grey maxi skirt, metallic silver ballet flats, Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan bag.

Other ways to wear: striped henley and denim shorts, grey maxi skirt and black tee, metallic silver ballet flats and skinny jeans, Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan bag and floral dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: striped henley in third trimester, maxi skirt and graphic tee in third trimester. 

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Long Sleeve Striped Tees Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

You really can wear stripes with anything! A plain, block colour maxi skirt is a nice base for a printed top. If you want to add more you could try mixing stripes with another pattern with a scarf, or add a colourful layer with a cardigan and let the stripes be the only print in your outfit.

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Wearing A Colourful Bag to the Office with Textured Pencil Skirts and Black Shirts

After I completed 7 months without shopping, I celebrated in my usual fashion and bought a new bag! 😂 Although it's big and purple, I still think it's perfect for the office - you don't have to stick to neutral bags for work.

I wore it to the office the other week with a classic black shirt and textured pencil skirt outfits, wearing more of my office pieces that were packed away while I was on maternity leave.

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Dixie collarless jacket

Necklace: freshwater pearl necklace and long freshwater pearl strand necklace
Shirt: French Connection verity voile black short sleeve shirt (with Target grey marle tank top underneath)
Skirt: Cotton On 'Mica' mesh spot skirt in dusty pink
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs black logo plaque ballet flats
Bracelets: the usual plus Roie Designs howlite and hematite beaded bracelets
Bag: Balenciaga raisin purple 2009 giant silver G21 hardware work bag (from my bestie's wardrobe!)

Why I wore it:

I felt really lady-like in this outfit! Which helped counteract some of the awkwardness I felt when I stepped back from setting my tripod up in the morning to get a blog photo and realised I'd just been standing in my bemused neighbour's way (you can see them jogging away in the background!). So awkward. I never know what to say when people see me taking outfit photos so I just kinda smile and shrug.

I've worn this top and pencil skirt together before. Back then I was hiding an early baby bump, this time around I'm using the outfit to disguise my mum-tum 😉
This pencil skirt was one I saw in a magazine a few years ago and thought it was nice, so I checked out the price details. When I saw it was called the 'Mica' skirt I just had to get my namesake. It's perfect for the office and one of those pieces I'm glad I impulsively bought. Despite the top layer being textured polka dots on a fine mesh, it's held up well over the years and I'm impressed by the quality, considering I bought it 5 years ago.

I hadn't planned a necklace to wear with this, I'd set out the clothes and thought I'd pick one at the last moment. I was still unsure as I was getting dressed until I added the tweed blazer I knew I had to go for my pearls. They are actually two different freshwater pearl necklaces! The shorter one is from my jewelry designer friend and I've worn it as a bracelet before.

Last worn: tweed blazer, French Connection shirt, grey target singlet, pink polka dot pencil skirt, Marc Jacobs black flats. First time I've worn the bag as it's a new purchase. 

Other ways to wear: tweed blazer and skinny jeans, black shirt and peplum skirt, grey target singlet and striped maxi, pink polka dot pencil skirt and striped tee, Marc Jacobs black flats and skinny jeans.

Perfect for pregnancy: boucle blazer in third trimester,grey singlet in third trimester, shirt and pencil skirt hiding first trimester bump.

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Textured Pencil Skirts Under $50:

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What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Monica Mac coat in Indigo

Scarf: Marc by Marc Jacobs mauve square scarf
Shirt: Forever 21 sheer black ruffle detail shirt
Skirt: Warehouse navy jacquard pencil skirt
Shoes: Walnut Melbourne 'Ava' black lizard ballet flats (also available in silver)
Bag: Balenciaga raisin purple 2009 giant silver G21 hardware work bag

Why I wore it:

I've been wearing blue and purple together often recently! I really like the combination. This purple scarf was the perfect topper to my black and navy outfit, and tied in nicely with my purple bag.

This black shirt is another one that hasn't been worn for a while. It's button up so would work for breastfeeding, but it feels a bit 'fancy' for stay at home mum wear so it was packed away with all my office clothes while I was on maternity leave. It's a little hard to see in the pictures with all the layers but it's got a fun ruffle detail down the front. You can see it better when I previously wore it here, again with the same skirt!

This jacquard pencil skirt is one of my favourite textured ones - it's a very pretty design, even if the skirt rides up a little as I walk! A ruffle shirt, textured pencil skirt and purple accessories might sound a bit much for the office, but I think all the pieces work well together.


Last worn: navy macintosh, purple blanket scarf, sheer ruffle shirt, jacquard pencil skirt, Walnut Melbourne ballet flats, Balenciaga work bag (above).

Other ways to wear: navy macintosh and striped dress, purple blanket scarf and chambray dress, sheer ruffle shirt and pink skirt, jacquard pencil skirt and grey tee, Walnut Melbourne ballet flats and wrap dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: jacquard pencil skirt in first trimester, ballet flats and maternity jeans.

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Purple Tote Bags Under $200:

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How You Can Wear It:

Neutral bags are a good choice for the office, but if you have a relaxed work environment with a business casual or smart casual dress code, it's easy to add a little extra colour to your outfit with a bright bag. While there are some exceptions, my general rules for picking a bag for work are to:
Carry a neutral bag if -  I'm going to be travelling for work, either across the city or to another state, and I'll need to carry my bag into meetings.
Carry a bright bag if -  I'm going to be in meetings in the same building all day leaving my bag behind at my desk and I'd like something fun to look as I work.

Don't be afraid to add a little colour to your office wear with a bright bag.


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