30 Ways To Wear: Navy Printed Kimono | #30wears Challenge

Another kimono for this months 30 wears post! Surprisingly it's only the second time I've featured a kimono for one of these posts, despite wearing kimonos frequently. I think it's because I have so many it takes me a while to build up 30 wears on one of them.

Every month I look back through my blog archives and find something I've worn 30 times or more to create these posts. One of the benefits of photographing and blogging what I wear each day for over 8 years, it's easy to see how often things are worn!

30 Ways To Wear: Navy Printed Kimono

I bought this kimono from ASOS, on sale when I was pregnant with my youngest boy at the end of 2015. It has been worn a lot, which surprises me to see that it's taken a little over 4 years to get to 30 wears with it. I think it's just because I have so many kimonos as I said above.

Cost Per Wear

I paid $22 for this kimono on sale, so at 30 wears that's 73 cents a wear, which is really good! This kimono still looks new too, it hasn't faded or worn. I'm really happy with it, and it will of course be staying in my wardrobe to be worn even more.

So here are the ways I've worn it, and some outfit ideas and colour combinations you can try.

Navy Kimono With Denim

Of course the outfit formula you'll see me wearing the most is a kimono and denim. There's something about a casual kimono that makes it the best topper for a denim outfit - whether it's skinny jeans or denim shorts! I like adding a kimono when I've got some denim in my outfit.

Printed Kimono With Dresses

There are other things that look great with kimonos! I like adding them to dresses - from a shorter chambray dress in the middle there to the two black maxi dresses, I think kimonos are perfect with any length of dress. They are a nice way to cover up your shoulders as well when wearing a sleeveless dress, for sun protection or a little extra warmth.

Navy Kimono With Skirts

Just like the dresses above, you'll find that a kimono works well with any length of skirt! I like the slouchy relaxed look it gives when worn with a maxi skirt, and it's a nice way to dress down a pencil skirt a little more too when you are wearing it outside of the office as I am in the first and third outfits here.

Some Colour Combinations To Try With a Navy Kimono:

Blue Kimono Worn With Black

I really like black and blue together! With the addition of the navy printed kimono, these basic black tank and denim outfits are a little bit more colourful and interesting.

Navy Kimono With Red

Red and blue are a fun and colourful combination - you can try a basic red tee under a kimono, or a bolder outfit with a pair of red skinny jeans like I have in the middle there. Any amount of red looks good with navy.

Blue Printed Kimono With Pink Accessories

Pink and blue are so good together! This set of outfit ideas shows you a great way to try a new colour combo - you can take it small and simple by wearing a pink accessory with a blue kimono. Could be a statement necklace like in the middle, or a bit bigger and bolder with a pink bag. You can see I really like wearing my neon pink mini MAC with this kimono!

Navy Kimono Worn With Green

While I used to avoid wearing blue and green together, when I tried the combo I realised that blue and green really should be seen! No matter what the old fashion "rule" says. This neutral navy kimono works well with every shade of green.

Blue Printed Kimono In Pregnancy

Much like accessories, kimonos are the best as they work in all trimesters of pregnancy! I loved being able to feel like myself by wearing a favourite kimono no matter how big my belly grew. It's always fun looking back at the bump pics when I'm putting these posts together too. You don't need to splurge on a maternity kimono - as you never button it up any kimono works well with a baby belly!

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Where To Buy a Navy Printed Kimono Under $50:

I packed up this New Look petite navy printed kimono at ASOS in the sales, but there are a lot of cute options in other stores too:

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More Outfit Ideas:

For more outfit inspiration and ideas, you can view all the 30+ ways I've worn this navy printed kimono in my blog archives, or browse the complete 30 wears series.

Similar Posts In The 30 Wears Series:

• 30 ways to wear a printed leather jacket
• 30 ways to wear a classic denim jacket
• 30 ways to wear a floral kimono
• 30 ways to wear a purple cardigan
• 30 ways to wear a cream jersey blazer
• 30 ways to wear a camel trench coat
• 30 ways to wear a grey maxi cardigan

Linking up with Chic and Stylish, Fashion Files, Weekend Wear, Fancy Friday, Lizzie In Lace.

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What I Bought in December And January, And How I've Worn It

Well 2020 has been off to a strange start! And not just because of all the wild events recently, I'm talking specifically about my shopping. This is a personal style blog after all!

I started the new year with my intention, the same as last year, to spend less than I did the previous year. Yet at the end of January, I've bought a lot more than expected! I actually only have 1 Christmas gift card left! A few impulse buys and a few fear-driven purchases. I covered it all in the video below with a quick summary you can read through too.

What I Bought:

• Jeanswest essential v-neck tee in elfin yellow 
• Jeanswest Melanie floral kimono 
• Jeasnwest Kensley tie dye summer poncho kimono 
• thrifted Supre black sheer floral kimono
• thrifted black Emerson drawstring waist utility jacket
• Jeanswest harper skinny pant in Russet
• Jeanswest Vickie button back tank in enamel blue 
• Jeanswest Sophie navy v-neck tee

Why I Bought It:

Now my favourite store (Jeanswest) is in administration and closing stores I wanted to spend the last of my Christmas gift cards ASAP. They can change the terms and conditions with the gift cards when a chain is in administration and that has happened with other stores that have closed here in Australia, from requiring you to spend a set amount before you can use a gift card to just refusing to accept them. 

I tried to shop sensibly and buy basics I can wear over and over, and I'm pleased with what I got but also it wasn't anything I really felt I needed. Although to be honest with a wardrobe the size of mine, there's nothing that's really a need! So pleased I got some cute things with the Christmas gifts I was given, and that I got to spend them before the rules around using gift cards possibly changes. Really hoping that Jeanswest doesn't shut down completely though - where else would I do the majority of my clothes shopping!?

How I've Worn It:

I have a rule that every time I want to buy something I have to think of two different ways I will immediately wear it that month. I didn't do too badly with this goal this month at all....the opshopped jacket doesn't suit the weather at all and so hasn't been worn, but I wasn't going to pass on a jacket for just $1! I bought more than I needed to this month for sure, usually I spread my gifts cards through the year but I was focused on spending all my Jeanswest ones this month. I did enjoy wearing everything and did quite well with the goal, but also didn't get to my twice a wear figure with the jeans and the jacket as they aren't suited for summer temps.

For the upcoming months...I'm either going to spend a fortune at the Jeanswest closing down sales or the closure of one of the stores I frequently shop in will help me meet my spend less target this year!


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

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30 Ways To Wear: Gold Marc By Marc Jacobs Mouse Flats & 2019 Shopping Review, 2020 Budget

For this month's 30 ways to wear post I'm also sharing how my "spend less on fashion" year went in 2019, and my spending goals for 2020!


These little metallic Marc by Marc Jacobs mouse flats definitely deserve their own 30 wears post. It's not a style that's made any more, you can find some on eBay and other resale sites though. I bought them on sale back in 2013 for $166, and they've been worn 92 times since then. (So currently $1.80 per wear). I think I'm definitely getting my money's worth from them! While they are showing a little wear they are still very comfortable and wearable and I expect them to be around for a while yet. Even if they could do with a bit of a polish!

It's such a talking point when people realise I'm wearing little mouse shoes, they are too fun for me to ever think of giving them up, even if they are discontinued and the Marc by Marc Jacobs brand isn't around any more. I like to wear them whenever I know I'll be meeting new people as they are a cute conversation starter. The metallic gold goes with absolutely everything too, I had a hard time putting this 30 wears post together as I wear them with so many colours!

I decided to show you 34 outfits, with different styles of clothing I've worn these flats with rather than focusing on colour combinations to try. I hope it inspires you to try something different with a similar pair of flats you own - I find bold bright shoes tricky to wear but these fun novelty metallic gold ones are very versatile! Much more versatile that you'd expect from a pair of shoes with mouse ears and whiskers!

Marc by Marc Jacobs Mouse Flats with Dresses

Ballet flats and a dress is a staple outfit for a hot day - and add a blazer, a more structured bag maybe, and it's perfect for the office! I had a hard time picking my fave dress and mouse flats outfits to share here as I have worn this outfit combo a lot!

Metallic Gold Ballet Flats with Skirts

Of course just as I wear my mouse flats to the office with dresses, I like to wear them with pencil skirts too, another work staple for me! You can match the metallic flats to something else gold in our your outfit, like how I've matched the necklaces or gold hardware on the bags in most of these outfits. They can also be worn on their own, like in the first outfit, where the only gold touch is the ballet flats.

Marc by Marc Jacobs Mouse Flats with Jeans

Simple mum style for a busy day with the kids - ballet flats and jeans! I like how printed, flared or colourful jeans all work as well with these shoes as much as skinny jeans do. Being metallic, I also feel they dress up the stay at home mum outfits a little more thank classic black ballet flats. My kids love that the shoes have little ears and whiskers too!

Gold Mouse Flats in Pregnancy

While my pregnancies with the boys both ended with massive heatwaves and my feet swelled up massively with the heat and humidity, there were some days in pregnancy (second trimester and early third trimester) when I could still wear these shoes. I think the elasticated sections helped them stretch out a little, and they were still comfortable to wear.  It's not always possible to wear the same pair of shoes all 40 weeks of pregnancy, but I love looking back at my baby bump pics and seeing how I could still wear my pre-pregnancy pieces, even if they were just accessories!

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Where to Buy Marc By Marc Jacobs Mouse Flats:

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Similar Posts in the 30 Wears Series:

• 30 ways to wear black ankle boots
• 30 ways to wear gladiator sandals

2019 Fashion Spend and 2020 Budget

Last year I set a simple goal, I wanted to spend less on fashion than I had the year before. In 2017 I spent $1,696.53, in 2018 I met that goal and only spent $1,014.44.

For 2019, I also met that goal and only spent $633.18 on fashion over the year (this includes a $158.99 gift card spend). For 2018, I'd spent $664.44 without gift cards and so I'm pleased to see I spent less than that in 2019 even with gift card spend included.

I had an average spend of $52.27 a month which is pretty good (my average spend in 2018 was $84.54 a month). Despite spending less, I bought more in 2019, with 43 items for the year so average of $14.72 each. Most of my gift card spend went to house things which is why I don't have a nice round figure for gift card spend on fashion.

How I spent less:

• We had our big Europe trip at the start of the year as well as the move into our house when the build was finished.
• We had a few things in mind to buy for the new house which reduced my budget, and I used most of the gift cards I got for Christmas (stores like Kmart and David Jones) on things for our new house.
• I usually spend a lot in the January sales, but with the house build going on, studying for a big exam and saving for our Europe trip my mind was occupied with other things!
• I focused on the 30 wear series more and on rewearing what I had instead of frequently buying new.
• I shopped in the opshops more frequently and in high street stores less and although I couldn't resist all the sales I used my gift cards as much as possible when I did shop in the big shopping centres.
• I had the 2018 previous spend figure of $1,014.44 in mind when spending anything on fashion to keep me on track, and I noted down my spend each month to know where I stood.

2020 Budget:

For this new year, I'd love to spend less on fashion than I did in 2019. $633.18 is a pretty low figure for me and one I'm very impressed with, but I'm not sure I could meet that again! I'm going to try meet that figure, but give myself a $1,000 budget similar to what I had in 2019 and I'll see how I go with spending less than that this year. If I can get less than $633.18 I'll be really impressed, but under $1,000, similar to the budget I had last year, and I'll be happy.

What's your fashion budget for this year?

Note: This post, like all my posts, was written and scheduled in advance. I had to add this note in though given the horrible situation unfolding in Australia, especially with it looking bleaker every day. So soon after my last note, once again the country is consumed with bushfires. We are safe from the bushfires, as are our family and friends for now.

For ways to help those not as fortunate, see here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-01/bushfire-relief:-how-you-can-help-frontline-services/11835156 

Linking up with Fancy Friday, Mutton Style, On Mondays We Link Up.

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