Friday, 26 April 2019

30 Ways To Wear: Zara Navy Printed Shift Dress

I'm thrilled I've hit 30 wears with this dress so I can finally dedicate a post to it! An impulse buy from Zara during a trip to Sydney, before we had a Zara here in Brisbane. This dress is something I love wearing.


30 Ways To Wear: Navy Shift Dress


30 ways to wear #30wears challenge: Navy Zara printed tunic shift dress


Cost Per Wear

I can't calculate cost per wear with this dress sadly as I forget how much it cost. I did buy it back in September 2012! It's taken me around 6 and a half years to hit 30 wears with it, despite really wanting to hit 30 wears back in 2018, as it's not the best length for days with toddlers. If you're running around and bending over and picking things and children up the tunic style can feel a little short. Of course there are some ways I can work around that, that I've shown below.

Another factor affecting the cost per wear calculation is that I actually managed to tear this dress a few years ago. I had to have it repaired, so that cost would factor in as well. I can't remember how much that cost though either! 😂



30 Ways To Wear A Navy Shift Dress: Video Style







Navy Shift Dress With A Pop Of Colour


4 ways to wear a navy printed tunic dress with a pop of colour | awayfromblue

I'm all for adding a little extra colour to an outfit with accessories. And this navy dress is the perfect neutral piece to really let the bright accessories pop! A necklace, bag or jacket, all look great with the neutral navy backdrop. I like red with the navy, but green works well too.


Belting a Printed Shift Dress


3 outfit ideas with a printed shift dress belted | away from the blue

This is probably one of the simplest ways to change up a dress, just add a belt! It's a nice way to make an old favourite feel a little fresher, just by adding another accessory.


Tunic Dress Worn As A Top


5 ways to wear a navy printed shift dress as a top work and casual | away from blue

As mentioned above, this tunic length can feel a little short some days. The longer sleeves and modest neckline mean this top is great for the office, just too short to meet the dress code guidelines. Adding a pencil skirt over the top solves that problem and instantly creates a professional outfit from a casual dress. It works well for stay at home mum days by tucking the tunic into some shorts too!


Navy Printed Shift Dress With More Blue


3 ways to wear a navy printed shift dress with blue accessories monochromatic style | awayfromblue

It's no secret blue is my favourite colour - I love wearing every shade of it! A neutral navy shift dress is a great excuse for me to add more blue to my outfit - even if the shades don't match, the blue on blue colour combination is one I really enjoy wearing. Denim jackets, or blue bags, anything goes!


Shift Dress With Ankle Boots


outfit ideas navy shift dress and ankle boots awayfromtheblue

A dress and ankle boots is a great way to extend the life of your summer dresses into spring and Autumn - it's a classic combo and one that works so well with a shift dress like this.


Printed Tunic Dress With Converse


navy printed tunic dress and converse worn 3 ways | away from the blue

Of course if boots aren't your thing, a dress and Converse works well too! They are a really practical choice for mum life and like the boots above it's a combination I wear in spring and autumn quite  a bit.


Shift Dress In Winter


how to layer up a summer shift dress for winter 4 outfit ideas | awayfromtheblue

You can extend the life of your favourite summer dresses by wearing them in winter too! With a cosy pair of tights or leggings underneath, and a few more winter layers. This is a great option for running around with the kids too, you aren't as worried about the tunic length if you have a pair of leggings underneath.


Printed Shift Dress In Pregnancy


4 ways to wear a printed shift dress in pregnancy | away from the blue

This dress was the best in all trimesters! It was simple and fuss free and as you can see the print is great at hiding a baby bump for the early second trimester. It was nice and light to wear when pregnant in heatwaves. Although it did get a little short in the third trimester with the bump pulling it up, nothing a pair of leggings couldn't fix!




Where To Buy Navy Printed Shift Dresses Under $50:








Similar Posts In The 30 Wears Series:


You can see all the times I've worn this dress in my archives, or browse the 30 wears series too.


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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:




More Posts In the 30 Wears Series


If you're looking for more outfit inspiration with a lace pencil skirt, see all 37+ times I've worn it in my archives.

For even more ways to wear ideas, here are some related posts in the 30 wears series:



Linking up with Style Sessions, Lizzie In Lace, Fancy Friday, Mutton Style, On Mondays We Link Up, Modest Monday.


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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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