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

Friday, 29 March 2019

30 Ways To Wear A Blue Lace Pencil Skirt: #30wears

I've been looking forward to doing this 30 wears post for a while, this textured blue lace pencil skirt is a firm favourite!

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. Inspired by the #30wears challenge!

30 Ways To Wear: ASOS Blue Contrast Lace Pencil Skirt

30 ways to wear a blue lace pencil skirt #30wears | awayfromtheblue blog

There are a few reasons why I've been looking forward to doing this post. This is a pencil skirt that is a frequent reader favourite whenever it pops up on the blog, it was an impulse sale buy that really has worked for my wardrobe, and something I've hit much more than 30 wears on. A few of those wears were way back at the start of my blog so I wanted to wait until I could use a little more recent pics and less of the early days headless shots for this compilation post!

I bought this skirt after falling in love with it in a photo online - I think it may have been a photo of Wendy's but I'm not sure after all these years. I was sad to see it was sold out, and thrilled when it was in stock in my size and on sale a little later. I hurriedly bought it back in January 2012. The elastic waist means it still fits now just as it did pre-babies and during my pregnancies!

Cost Per Wear

Luckily I have the old email confirmation of my ASOS order to know that I paid $35.49 for this skirt 7 years ago! After wearing it more than 37 times, it's down to less than a dollar per wear, that magic figure that seems to be the goal for most people. Pretty good CPW for such a statement piece! Surprisingly, I don't have any of the other things I bought from that ASOS order still in my wardrobe, including a plain black pencil skirt I purchased at the same time. Apart from one small snag to the lace, this skirt still looks as good as new.

30 Ways To Wear A Blue Lace Pencil Skirt: Video Style

Blue Pencil Skirt With Grey

3 ways to wear a blue lace textured pencil skirt with grey tees | awayfromblue

This is a theme that will pop up a lot more often as you scroll through the photos in this post - I really like pairing blue and grey together, so I do that frequently with this navy lace skirt. I particularly like that darker charcoal grey tee with it!

Lace Pencil Skirt Belted

3 ways to belt a blue lace pencil skirt outfit ideas | away from the blue

Remember a few years ago when everyone belted everything?! I think it worked really nicely with this pencil skirt, I should probably try it again soon! I think belting this high waisted skirt really helped visually lengthen my petite frame.

Blue Pencil Skirt With Brights

bright pieces with a navy lace pencil skirt ways to wear | awayfromtheblue

From a bright handbag, bright scarf or just a bold brightly coloured tank, I love the way this blue lace skirt compliments other bright pieces in my outfit.

Lace Pencil Skirt With A Blazer

lace pencil skirt with 3 ways in the office with blazers | away from blue

This blue lace pencil skirt is a work staple, and of course a blazer is an office essential too. The cream jersey blazer is frequently paired with this lace skirt as it matches the beige base background the lace is overlaid on.

Blue Pencil Skirt In Monochromatic Outfit

5 monochormatic outfit ideas with a blue textured lace pencil skirt | awayfromtheblue

When you're not sure what to wear with something, pick another piece in a similar colour! While the lace on this pencil skirt is navy, it works so well with different shades of blue. And with blue being my favourite colour, monochromatic blue outfits make me happy!

Blue Lace Pencil Skirt With Purple

4 ways to wear purple with a lace pencil skirt | awayfromblue

Blue and purple is one of those colour combinations I frequently wear. I like how the colours work together. You can try a lot of purple like a purple tank, or a little bit of purple with an accessory like a purple scarf or bag.

Lace Pencil Skirt and Winter Layers

4 ways to layer a blue textured pencil skirt for winter with scarves jackets tights | awayfromblue

This blue lace pencil skirt is a great spring / summer piece, but it works nicely layered up for winter too, the blue lace really stands out with black layers or tights. It's definitely something I wear more in warmer weather, but being a thick material it's not too cold to wear in the cooler months.

Blue Pencil Skirt With White Tops

4 ways to wear a navy textured lace pencil skirt simple outfit ideas with white tops | awayfromtheblue

Like most mums, white isn't my go-to colour! I do like wearing it when I'm in the office though as it is a little easier to keep white clothes clean when I only have my clumsiness to worry about and not two adorable little toddlers that could leave stains! When I first got this skirt, white was a frequent go-to with it, before I tried more of the colour combinations you've seen above. Nothing wrong with having a classic go-to option for wearing a statement piece.

Where To Buy Lace Pencil Skirts Under $50:

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