Away From Blue | Aussie Mum Style, Away From The Blue Jeans Rut

Friday, 1 March 2019

What I Bought In Jan / Feb & How I've Worn It: Shopping Haul & Try On Video

I bought a few things in January but as I mentioned not everything arrived in time for me to make a video, so I decided to compile my January and February purchases together. Some January sale finds and a few opshop bargains!

What I Bought In January / February:

Kmart culotte short in navy lemon print
Kmart black sleeveless frill hem peplum tank
Rebecca Minkoff Edie small crossbody bag in magenta
Thrifted Kmart abstract blob print tee
Thrifted Crossroads black ruffle hem maxi skirt
Thrifted Target colourful printed tank
Thrifted red statement bead necklace
Thrifted Spirit grey marle jumper
Jeanswest Emily cotton v-neck tee in coral

Why I Bought It:

Despite getting a lot of lovely clothes and accessories for Christmas, I just had to check out the Kmart clearance sale in the new year and came away with some new clothes and even PJs, using a gift card I got for Christmas.

And I eventually succumbed to the temptation of the Rebecca Minkoff sale too! As you will have seen first on YouTube, I picked up another bag in the final days of the sale when there was an extra 40% off sale items. The Jeanswest sales were successfully avoided in January, but I couldn't resist picking up a coral tee later in February when there was an extra 40% off sale items!

My search for a good local opshop continued in January and February, trying to find an alternative one after my favourite closed. I picked up quite a few bargains when I was browsing the opshops in the surrounding areas, most of the clothes only being $1 each. All completely impulse buys though, and nothing I absolutely needed, just things I wanted.

How I've Worn It:

I noticed I'd perhaps gone a little overboard with the buying (although certainly not the spending!) when I struggled with meeting my 'wear twice in the month I buy it' goals with some of my pieces. A good reminder that even if those clothes are only $1 each, I need to be more thoughtful with what I buy. With the grey jumper being an autumn / winter piece, I'm giving that a pass for not meeting the 'wear twice in the month I buy it' rule as I know I'll love it later!

I anticipate that the next few months will be a little slower with the purchases, while I enjoy what I own for a while.

Linking up with Sunday Showcase, On Mondays We Link Up, Mutton Style.

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Wednesday, 27 February 2019

30 Ways To Wear: Balenciaga Day Bag In Truffle Brown

The end of another month, and a new 30 ways to wear post! This month I'm featuring another bag, my Balenciaga truffle brown day bag.

With this monthly series, I pick a piece from my wardrobe I've worn over 30 times and go back through my blog archives to show you some of the ways I've worn it.

30 Ways To Wear Balenciaga Truffle Brown Day Bag

Cost Per Wear

I bought this bag back in August 2015 from Designer Archives consignment store in Brisbane, so of course I've worn it more than 30 times in the 3 and a half years I've had it. Still looks just as good as the day I bought it too!
This was a complete impulse buy, I'd taken some other handbags in to consign and seen this bag and just had to get it - it's the same as the day bag my bestie has, so it reminds me of her! I paid $900 for it so it works out at $25 per wear so far. Not as low as some items of clothing I've calculated cost per wear on but pretty good for such an expensive bag! It's not been worn as much as my other Balenciaga day bags, but it is one of the most recently purchased ones.

30 Ways To Wear Balenciaga Day Bag: Video Style

Balenciaga Brown Day Bag With Colourful Outfit

Unsurprisingly, this neutral brown bag works great with colourful outfits! From a colourblocking blue and green outfit to a more subtle burst of colour like a pink blazer or cobalt jacket, this brown bag is such a good neutral to add to any colourful outfit. It's a good go-to bag when I'm not sure what colour would work!

Balenciaga Day Bag With Flares

5 outfit ideas balenciaga autumne brown day bag worn with flared jeans | awayfromblue

While I do love my skinny jeans, I do have a single solitary pair of flared jeans. And I bought this bag around the time I aggravated my old knee injury in a bus accident. The flared jeans were the only ones I could fit my compression bandage underneath, so they and the bag were frequently worn. This bag does look great with other styles of jeans, but I wanted to call out how well the slouchy hobo style works with flared jeans and make it it's own category.

Balenciaga Brown Day Bag With Green

4 ways to wear Balenciaga brown day bags with green outfits different shades | away from the blue

I was surprised to see when I looked back on the pictures that this brown bag has been worn so much with green! An olive tank, emerald green pants or even olive pants, this brown bag compliments the shades of green so nicely. I'm trying to get outside my comfort zone and wear green more often, so I'm mainly wearing it with neutrals. A no-fuss neutral bag like this is heavily relied on to go with anything green in my outfit.

Balenciaga Day Bag With Matching Boots

5 ways to wear matching handbag to ankle boots outfit with balenciaga truffle brown day bag | awayfromtheblue

The old 'match your shoes to your bag' fashion rule is one that is rarely followed now, and one I certainly don't wear a lot. Partly because my handbag collection is a lot more colourful than my shoe collection! While not a perfect match, the truffle brown Balenciaga day bag is such a similar shade to these Chelsea boots that I can't resist a little matchy-matchy by pairing them together.

Balenciaga Brown Day Bag In The Office

3 outfit ideas Balenciaga day bag in the office | away from the blue blog

A slouchy hobo style bag might not be your first choice for office wear, but a big bag like this is just what I need to take everything into the office. It's comfortable even when full and a neutral shade means it stands out less than a similar style in a brighter colour, making it a good casual bag to try in a formal office environment. It helps that my office is a business casual one too so it fits in nicely with my dress code.

Balenciaga Day Bag In Pregnancy

3 ways to wear Balenciaga autumne brown day bag in pregnancy second trimester | awayfromblue

If you've seen this 30 wears series before, you'll know I can never resist including my baby bump pics in the wrap up! When I had a little girls weekend away in Melbourne during my second trimester, I picked this bag to bring with me. The neutral colour worked with all of my outfits and it held everything I needed (scarf and water bottle) to tackle the varying Melbourne temperatures. Plus these pregnancy photos illustrate so well that if you invest in accessories you can wear them no matter what changes your body has!

Balenciaga Day Bag in Summer

how to wear a balenciaga autumn brown day bag in spring and summer outfit ideas | awayfromblue

I've worn a lot of layered and cold weather outfits above as this brown bag is a perfect choice in autumn and winter, but I wanted to include these pics too to show you that it works year-round. I'm not one of those people who thinks you need to restrict handbags to particular seasons, and a brown bag works in spring and summer as well as it does in autumn and winter

Where To Buy The Balenciaga Day Bag

You can also try pre-loved sites that guarantee authenticity like The Real Real, Vestiaire Collective and Fashionphile.

Friday, 1 February 2019

30 Ways To Wear Purple Skinny Jeans ~ #30wears Challenge

As I try to move away from blue jeans, I've embraced other colours of denim! This purple pair of skinny jeans is a firm favourite, and the first pair of colourful denim in my collection that I've hit 30 wears with.

30 Ways To Wear: Purple Skinny Jeans

Cost Per Wear

I bought these 'blackberry' purple jeans back in April 2013. I've only been tracking prices with items for the past couple of years, but luckily I wrote on the blog how much I paid for these - $30! At 30 wears, that works out to the '$1 per wear' that seems to be the goal when calculating cost per wear. I'm not bored of these jeans either, despite having them for 6 years, so they will be staying in my wardrobe a little longer!
30 wears over 6 years seems like quite a low amount, but these jeans don't have a lot of stretch so wearing them over my two pregnancies was definitely out of the question! 30 times over say 4 years when you discount the pregnancy and postpartum phases is a bit of a better figure.

30 Ways To Wear Purple Jeans: Video Style

Purple Jeans For A Matchy-Matchy Outfit

5 ways to wear purple jeans with other purple pieces in an outfit | away from blue

If you've been reading my blog a while you'll know I love a little bit of matchy-matchy in my outfits! Having a colourful pair of jeans is a great excuse to continue that colour int eh rest of your outfit - a purple kimono, bag, cardigan or scarf works nicely with the purple jeans. Even if the shades don't match exactly it's a simple way to complete an outfit.

Purple Jeans With Pink

Pink and purple is a go-to colour combination for me, so of course I've worn these purple skinny jeans with pink pieces! If there's a colour combo you love, try it with a pair of colourful jeans! You can do it in a small way with a pink scarf, or go bigger and pair a pink blazer with purple jeans.

Purple Skinny Jeans With Navy

5 different ways to wear navy with purple skinny jeans | awayfromblue

Blue and purple is another go-to colour combination. When I had my wardrobe detox a few years ago, the stylist was curious why I had so many purple pieces. Because they go so well with blue! A little navy like a printed tank, or a lot of navy like a navy tee or cardigan, any amount works well with purple jeans.

Purple Jeans With Turquoise

3 outfit ideas with turquoise and purple skinny jeans | awayfromtheblue

I could have called this out with the blue option above, but I wore these purple jeans with turquoise so many times it felt right to give it it's own category! I like the deeper purple paired with the bright turquoise, it really brightens up an outfit.

Purple Jeans With Neutrals

how to wear purple jeans 3 outfit ideas with neutrals | away from the blue

You've seen how well these jeans work with other colours, but of course they work perfectly with neutrals too. A bold colourful pair of jeans - or any bold piece in your wardrobe! - will so easily go with neutral pieces. Picking out a neutral piece to wear with something more colourful is a good go-to option when you're not sure what else to wear.

Purple Jeans With Prints

Just like the neutral top option above, a printed top is another fail-safe to wear with purple jeans. As you can see, I favour stripes a lot, but any print, or even a little print mixing, will work well with colourful jeans. Purple jeans make a simple outfit base you can add extra interest to with prints.

Purple Jeans In Winter

5 ways you can layer purple jeans for winter cosy SAHM style outfits | awayfromtheblue

While summer in Brisbane isn't the ideal jeans weather, I do wear them a lot in winter. These purple skinny jeans are such a fun way to add colour to a winter outfit, but still just as cosy and practical as normal jeans. You can see I'm using some of the outfit ideas above here too, with the navy, turquoise and printed pieces worn with these jeans.

Purple Jeans and Tee Outfits

changing jeans and a tee outfit with purple jeans instead of blue denim | awayfromblue

The forever classic outfit, jeans and a tee! Swapping our standard blue jeans for a fun colourful pair like these purple jeans adds a little extra interest to a jeans and tee outfit, while still being just as easy to wear as classic blue.