Wednesday 31 May 2017

30 Wears: Rebecca Minkoff Grey MAB Satchel Bag

Another 30 ways to wear, with an update on #6monthsWithoutShopping.

6 Months Without Shopping: Month 5 Update


You might find it hard to believe but that's the 5th month of my no shopping challenge completed with no shopping! Of course now I've shared the secret for how I've been distracting myself from shopping for these 5 months - I was working on an eBook in any spare time I had. Not that you get spare time often with two boys under 3!

This month I think I've been more tempted by things, there have been so many sales. I'd usually use a sale as an excuse to jump online to 'just take a look', but I've distracted myself with doing something for the book instead so I've never had the time to think about purchases for too long. It's also easy to talk myself out of wanting things when I realise I've nearly done 6 months without shopping and I'd hate to go and spoil it so close to the end by buying something!


And now, 30 wears. Still finding it difficult to identify clothing that I've worn 30 times, I'm featuring another accessory. The Rebecca Minkoff MAB mini that I've worn over 60 times in the 4 years since I bought it. A surprisingly low number given that when I get it out of its dustbag I tend to wear it for a few days in a row. It's such a good bag I usually wear it for a while before thinking I need to enjoy some of my other bags again.


30 Ways to Wear Rebecca Minkoff MAB Satchel Bag | Away From Blue Blog


#30Wears: Rebecca Minkoff Grey MAB Mini (MAM) Bag


I bought this Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB bag back in 2013, before the boys were born. At the time I liked the flexibility of the bag as you could wear it so many different ways: over the shoulder, handheld, and cross body. It's only now I'm chasing toddlers that I'm really appreciating the cross body feature for more than just a different look, it's a very practical choice for a mum bag! The neutral grey mini MAB goes with so many different outfits and I've worn the bag for many occasions too, as you can see in the 30 ways I've worn it below.


Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAB in the Office

The classic shape and neutral colour make the MAB satchel a great choice for the office! It's just large enough to fit in all of the usual things I carry as well as a small notebook, water bottle and snack - essentials for meetings across the city. While my workplace has a business casual dress code, I think this is the kind of bag you could easily wear in a more formal office too.

Rebecca Minkoff grey MAM bag office Corporate Style | Away From Blue Blog


Mini MAB and Maxi Skirts and Dresses

The beauty of the Rebecca Minkoff MAB satchel is that while it works in a more formal office environment with a pencil skirt, you can dress it down nicely with a maxi skirt or maxi dress for the weekend or stay at home mum style. The rectangular satchel shape of the bag slouches down nicely so it's just as suitable for a casual outfit too.

Rebecca Minkoff MAM Bag and Maxi Skirts and Dresses | Away From Blue Blog



Grey Mini MAB and Print Mixing

The benefit of neutral grey bag is that it goes with anything, so you can be a little more adventurous with your outfit. You can easily try some print mixing and pair different clothes together, as the bag won't clash with whatever you're wearing. Stripes and skulls, stripes and Aztec print, stripes and stars and even polka dots and skulls. I love my colourful handbags, but you can't beat a nice neutral sometimes!

grey satchel handbag with print mixing outfits | Away From The Blue Blog






Grey MAB Bag and Colourful Outfits

Just as a grey bag works in the outfits above when you are wearing different prints, it's the perfect neutral for a more colourful outfit where you're trying a new colour combination. I'm trying to add more colour to my outfits so when I'm wearing two colours I like to opt for a neutral bag. Blue and grey work so nicely together, and continue to do so even when you add in other colours like purple, yellow, pink and red.

bold colourful outfits with grey neutral handbag | Away From Blue Blog


MAB Satchel and Printed Dresses

Of course you don't have to be paring different prints or colours together to wear a neutral bag. A fail-safe grey bas is a good accessory with a bright printed dress too. 'Pick a colour from the pattern on the dress to accessorise with' is wise advice, but you can never go wrong wearing a colourful printed dress and a classic neutral bag.

Rebecca Minkoff MAM Bag with printed dresses | AwayFromTheBlue Blog



Difference Between the MAB and Mini MAB Satchel Bag

I've used MAB and mini MAB (or MAM) interchangeably in this post. The bag I'm wearing is the mini MAB which I think is better for my petite self. The difference is that the mini MAB is 20% smaller than the MAB. It's the exact same style, just a tiny bit smaller. A mini MAB (or MAM) is 13" wide, 8" high and 5.75" deep. Anything bigger is the MAB. 👍


Grey Rebecca Minkoff MAB Satchel and Monochrome Outfits

A you've seen above, an outfit with prints or colours or combinations of them both can benefit from a neutral handbag. You can try different prints and colours together, or try something a little simpler and wear a monochrome outfit. Black, blue and even orange, a grey bag can compliment a monochrome outfit nicely.

4 ways to wear: monochrome outfits and Rebecca Minkoff MAB satchel | Away From Blue



Grey MAB Bag With Jeans and a Tee

Jeans and a tee will always be a go-to outfit for me. A grey tee and denim is a simple outfit, and the grey Rebecca Minkoff MAB works nicely with it too, simple and stress free dressing. I haven't had any denim transfer on the grey leather, even when the bag rubs against my jeans when I wear it cross body. I do spray all my bags with a waterproofer before I wear them though.

Grey tees and jeans with rebecca minkoff mini MAB Bag | away from the blue blog



Anything and Rebecca Minkoff MAB Satchel

As you've seen above, a neutral grey bag with multiple ways to wear it like this one really will go with everything. You can wear it with jeans, colourful outfits, prints, dresses...it works in so many different outfits. You can wear it year-round, and to multiple activities. It's one of those wear to work, wear on weekend pieces that I wish I had more clothing equivalents of in my wardrobe with my upcoming return to work after maternity leave.

4 ways to wear Rebecca Minkoff grey MAB satchel bag | AwayFromTheBlue blog




If you've been considering a Rebecca Minkoff bag and haven't been sure which one to get, I highly recommend snapping up the MAB on sale. It's on sale right now at Shopbop, in tan too. It's the first handbag Rebecca Minkoff sold back in 2005 and it really is one of those classic pieces. The video below shows just how much it can comfortably fit inside!





Where to Buy the Rebecca Minkoff MAB:





Where to Buy the Rebecca Minkoff MAB Second Hand:



(While the MAB style has recently been re-released, it was discontinued for a while. There are still a lot more colour options available second hand if you want to get one of the older bags like mine. Just remember to check sizes as mentioned above to make sure you're getting the MAB or MAM you want.)

Want more outfit inspiration? All 60+ ways I've worn the Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB on the blog.


30 ways to wear the Rebecca Minkoff MAB satchel! - Click to Tweet.
I hope you found this post useful. Don't forget to share or pin!


Linking up with What I Wore, Oh Hey Girl, Style On The Daily, Budget Bloggers, Thursday Moda, Fashion Files, Fun Fashion, Fabulous Friday, Passion for Fashion, Flashback Friday, Weekend Wear, Friday Favourites, Style Sessions, The Ultimate Rabbit Hole.


Follow Away From the Blue on:
Bloglovin : 
Twitter : Instagram Youtube : Facebook : Google Plus : LikeToKnow.It 

Monday 29 May 2017

Wearing Camis in Autumn with Layers, LV Speedy and Skinny Jeans

In month 5 of #6MonthsWithoutShopping, I'm trying to pick things I haven't worn when I'm feeling bored and uninspired with my wardrobe. Last time I picked band tees, this time around I'm giving my cami tops some love. It's been a mild autumn here in Brisbane, but some days have been cool enough to layer, and that's when I wore these tops. Spaghetti straps and thick breastfeeding bra straps aren't the prettiest combination, so the layers hide that nicely!

What I wore:

skinny jeans, polka dot cami and red cardi knit LV speedy bandouliere autumn style | Away From Blue

Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere | Away From The Blue
SunniesRay-Ban new Wayfarers
JacketJeanswest long red drape cardigan
Necklace: Ruby Olive Softies Charlotte teething necklace
TopJeanswest 'Mia' cami in black
JeansJeanswest 'shale' super skinny jeans
ShoesMarc by Marc Jacobs black logo plaque ballet flats
BagLouis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere
Nails: OPI Rich and Brazilian

Why I wore it:

Some of the polka dots on this ruffle cami are red so the red cardigan seemed like a great layering piece. Had a busy morning rushing around running errands before getting back just in time for meeting the tradie to get some work done on the house. Long story short, some work we had done a couple of years back needed re-done. Not impressed. Anyway....

While I was sure about the pairing of the cami and the cardigan together, I wasn't too sure about the skinny jeans with it. The jeans are a purple-ish grey (you can see more of the purple in the last time I wore them here). I worried red and purple would look a little odd together but I think the jeans are subtle enough that it turned out nicely.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer, red drape cardigan, polka dot cami, skinny jeans, Marc Jacobs tuxedo ballet flats, Louis Vuitton Speedy Bandouliere.

Other ways to wearred cardigan tied in knot, polka dot cami for casual Friday, skinny jeans in the office, Marc Jacobs tuxedo ballet flats, Louis Vuitton Speedy Bandouliere and shirt dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: polka dot cami hiding a second trimester bump, skinny jeans in first trimesterred cardigan in second trimester, Speedy Bandouliere and maternity shorts.



More Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene Speedy Bags:







What I wore:

peach ruffle cami black skinny jeans floral kimono autumn colour outfit | AwayFromBlue

silver bracelet stack, hot stamped Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere | AwayFromTheBlue
Necklace: Ruby Olive Softies Charlotte teething necklace
TopJeanswest peach ruffle cami
JeansJeanswest prima denim super skinny jeans in absolute black
Shoesblack slim Havaianas thongs
BagLouis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere
Nails: OPI Rich and Brazilian

Why I wore it:

As much as I love this kimono, I was starting to feel it was getting a little repetitive each time I wore it and wanted to wear it with something completely different. I've never worn it with peach before so the cami was a way to try change it up a little.

I really don't think it worked though, with the ruffle on the cami giving it a bit of volume and then the voluminous kimono. I wasn't too sure that morning but decided to wear it anyway - as mentioned above I needed something over the straps and it wasn't quite cold enough for a thicker jacket.


Even though I wasn't loving my outfit, I did have a good day in this! We had some friends around and managed to actually talk a lot more than I expected too with two toddlers running around and interrupting. Keeping the boys occupied with snacks helped I think, ha!


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarers (above), Somedays Lovin' kimono, peach ruffle cami, black Prima skinny jeans, Havaianas, Louis Vuitton Speedy Bandouliere (above).

Other ways to wearSomedays Lovin' kimono and blue top, peach ruffle cami and tweed blazer, black Prima skinny jeans with pink and purple, Louis Vuitton Speedy Bandouliere and maxi skirt.


Perfect for pregnancy: black Prima jeans and belly band over a second trimester bumpspeedy bandouliere and maternity wrap dress.


*

More Ruffle Camis Under $50:








How You Can Wear It:

Most warm weather pieces can easily be worn year-round with a few extra layers. Show off a pretty printed cami in Autumn with a colourful and cosy cardigan, or add some print to a block colour top with a printed layer like a kimono. You don't need to pack your summer clothes away as soon as the weather changes. Trying to wear things year-round means you get more value for money too.

Linking up with On Trend, Turning Heads, Style File, Wardrobe Wednesday.

P.S. Congrats to Tricia who won a copy of my eBook, Stylish Pregnancy on a Budget. All the best for baby number 2!


Follow Away From the Blue on:
Bloglovin
Twitter : Instagram Youtube : Facebook : Google Plus : LikeToKnow.It 

Friday 26 May 2017

White Band Tees, Blue Maxi Skirts and Purple Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAB Tote

Thank you all for your support and encouragement when I launched my first ebook on Monday! An extra big thank you to those who supported me by sharing the post or buying a copy even though they aren't pregnant. I really appreciate it, the book took me a while to write and edit and I was so excited to share with you. Shea was kind enough to say some lovely things about it in her latest post too!


Now, part two of the post I made last week, showing another two ways to wear graphic tees. This time around I'm wearing two of my Kisschasy band tees with maxi skirts. Something different from the usual graphic tee and jeans outfit, but just as easy to wear.

What I wore:

Kisschasy band tee chambray maxi skirt easy outfit purple mini MAB bag | Away From Blue

Rebecca Minkoff purple mini MAB tote bag cross body | Away From The Blue
Tee: band tee from KissChasy "Bones and skin" tour
SkirtNoisy May long denim maxi skirt
Shoesslim gold Havaianas
BagRebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote in plum (on sale in pink!)

Why I wore it:

Of all the Kisschasy band tees I have, this one has to be my favourite. Which is kind of funny as I missed most of the show on the Bones & Skin tour. The scary at the time (but funny afterwards) story of how we ended up spending most of the gig in a hospital waiting room will mean it's one of the more memorable shows despite only seeing a little part of it.

Wore this for a quiet Saturday running a few errands. The chambray maxi skirt is only slightly different from wearing this band tee with jeans, but I feel it's a very different look. Comfortable and perfect for a day running around with the boys. Also pleased how perfectly the graphic print lined up with the elasticated waist on the maxi skirt!


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer, Kisschasy band tee, chambray maxi skirt, gold Havaianas, plum Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote.

Other ways to wearKisschasy band tee and leopard print jeans, chambray maxi skirt and stripes, plum Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote and denim shorts.

Perfect for pregnancyRebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote and maternity denim.



White Graphic Tees Under $50:








What I wore:

Kisschasy Final Roar band tee striped maxi skirt SAHM Style | AwayFromBlue

Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote in plum faux fur bag charm | AwayFromTheBlue
Tee: Kisschasy The Final Roar band tee
Skirt: Target navy side split maxi skirt
Shoesslim gold Havaianas
BagRebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote in plum (on sale in pink!)

Why I wore it:

Another day, another Kisschasy band tee. This was actually the first graphic tee I got out of my wardrobe to wear after being inspired by Sheila's graphic tee outfit. I have only worn this tee a few times, as I got it when I went to the final Brisbane show before Kisschasy disbanded.

While this tee does look great with jeans (and I've worn in that way in the past) for something different I went with a trusty wardrobe staple, a maxi skirt. I wanted to be comfortable for a trip down the coast to spend some time with my parents, and this was the perfect outfit for that.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer (above), Kisschasy Final Roar concert tee, stripe maxi skirt, gold Havaianas (above), Rebecca Minkoff purple mini MAB Tote bag (above).

Other ways to wearKisschasy Final Roar concert tee and jeans, navy maxi skirt and yellow bag, gold Havaianas (above), Rebecca Minkoff purple mini MAB Tote bag and skinny jeans.

Perfect for pregnancyKisschasy Final Roar concert tee in second trimester, purple mini MAB tote bag with pink dress in second trimester.




Blue Maxi Skirts Under $50:








How You Can Wear It:


You don't need to leave all your old concert or band tees to gather dust in your wardrobe! Try pairing them with a maxi skirt for a different look. This works well with any graphic tee you'd usually just pair with jeans, but is just as easy and comfortable to wear.


Linking up with Hello Monday, On Monday We Link Up, Shoe & Tell, How I Summer, Monday Mode.




Follow Away From the Blue on:
Bloglovin
Twitter : Instagram Youtube : Facebook : Google Plus : LikeToKnow.It