Monochrome Winter Outfits With Colourful Touches and Silver Mini MAC Bag

It's the middle of winter here in Brisbane and I tend to go for darker neutrals more when it gets cold as it makes layering easy! A completely monochrome black or grey outfit, while easy to put together, doesn't seem very cheerful, so I usually add in a little touch of colour with my accessories.

I'm wearing my neutral metallic silver mini MAC bag in both of these outfits, so added some colour in other ways.

What I wore:

Jacket: Kmart striped maxi cardigan
Necklace: Nibbly Bits Abacus teething necklace in pop
Tee: Atmos&Here charcoal grey v neck tee
Jeans: Nobody Denim Siren skinny super high-rise jeans in power black denim (C/O, on sale!)
Shoes: RMK Chester black ankle boots
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff metallic silver mini MAC (on sale, 20% off!)
Nail Polish: OPI Fire Escape Rendezvous

Why I wore it:

An easy playgroup outfit! The style challenge for #witnerStyleFile on Instagram was 'monochrome Monday' which I thought would be easy enough to do, but the outfit looked a little dull before I added in the teething necklace for just a little pop of colour!

With the red nail polish and the pink and purple necklace, I felt I met the monochrome challenge while still being happy and having just a touch of colour.

This striped duster swishes around beautifully as I walk so I messed around a little in front of the tripod in the morning to catch a photo of it in all it's twirly beauty. Worked out quite well I thought!

A post shared by Mica (@awayfromblue) on Jun 4, 2017 at 11:19pm PDT

Last worn: striped duster, grey v-neck tee, black Nobody Denim jeans, ankle boots, metallic silver mini MAC.

Other ways to wear: striped duster and flares, grey v-neck tee and leopard print jeans, black Nobody Denim jeans with denim jacket, ankle boots and printed dress, metallic silver mini MAC and denim shorts.

Perfect for pregnancy: striped duster and maternity denim, grey tee to announce a pregnancy, ankle boots in second trimester, mini MAC worn as a clutch in third trimester.

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More Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAC Bags:

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What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Alice longline Australian wool cardigan

Scarf: red tartan scarf
Tee: Atmos&Here rolled sleeve oversize tee in black (also in grey)
Jeans: Sass and Bide pale grey skinny jeans
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in white
Bracelets: the usual
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff metallic silver mini MAC (on sale, 20% off!)
Nails: OPI Russian Navy

Why I wore it:

Another easy outfit. We had playgroup again in the morning and then a doctor's appointment and a trip to the chemist in the afternoon. You get exposed to so many bugs in winter when you have kids!

This is incredibly similar to the outfit above, but with a black tee and grey jeans and jacket, reversing the black jeans and jacket and grey tee before. The style challenge for the day was 'scarf out loud', and the monochromatic outfit was the perfect backdrop for this bright and colourful tartan scarf. A tartan scarf might seem a little loud, but I love the colours in this one and find it really wearable - especially when the rest of my outfit is full of neutrals like this.


Last worn: Jeanswest wool cardigan, red tartan scarf, black v-neck tee, grey Sass & Bide jeans, Converse, Rebecca Minkoff metallic mini MAC (above).

Other ways to wear: Jeanswest wool cardigan and maxi skirt, red tartan scarf and stripes, black tee and printed shorts in summer, grey Sass & Bide jeans with pink and purple, Converse and chambray skirt, Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC and maxi dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: print mixing with red scarf to disguise first trimester bump, black tee and maternity pencil skirt, Converse in the second trimester, mini MAC and maternity denim shorts.

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More Tartan Scarves Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

Monochrome jeans and tee outfits are easy to pull together, perfect for a busy morning. You can add texture with a wool cardigan or more interest with a print like stripes. If you still feel the outfit is a little flat, you can add a colourful accessory. A bright necklace is good for any season, and a statement scarf works well in winter. A neutral outfit makes a colourful accessory really pop.


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Easy Way To Wear Colourful Jeans In Winter: Matching Scarves, Stripes and Converse

Bright and colourful denim is a nice way to step away from the blue jeans rut while still being just as easy and practical to wear. Stripes go with everything, and in winter it's fun to add a similarly colourful scarf with your bright jeans for easy accessorising.

Picking a scarf that matched the skinny jeans is the way I've worn both the outfits below, and while I liked both outfits I had very different days when I wore them.

What I wore:

Jacket: Bubblegum denim jacket

Scarf: Marc by Marc Jacobs mauve square scarf
Tee: Atmos&Here oversized stripe tee
Jeans: Jeanswest blackberry super skinny jeans
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in black
Bracelets: the usual plus Roie Designs pearl, howlite and hematite beaded bracelets
Bag: Balenciaga part time in black 2010 with SGH
Nails: Revlon 'Plum Seduction'

Why I wore it:

Having a couple of hours kid free to run some errands and go to appointments gave me the chance to get this lovely Balenciaga part time bag out again. I just love the slouch on this bag!

I tried a little double denim to meet an instagram style challenge when I wore this earlier in June, but even then it was a little cold and despite the big blanket scarf I wished I'd worn something a little cosier. This was such a nice outfit though, even with the less than ideal denim jacket not keeping me as warm as I'd like. Comfortable, easy to wear, and I had a very productive day when I wore it so it was a winner.


Last worn: denim jacket, striped tee, purple blanket scarf, purple skinny jeans, Converse, Balenciaga part time bag.

Other ways to wear: denim jacket and maxi dress, striped tee and printed shorts, purple blanket scarf and chambray, purple skinny jeans and graphic tee, Converse and flares, Balenciaga part time bag and striped dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: denim jacket and dress in second trimester, striped tee at 40 weeks pregnant, Converse for second trimester travel, Balenciaga part time and little baby bump.

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More Colourful Scarves Under $50:

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What I wore:

Jacket: Cotton On black knit wrap cardigan

Scarf: Alexander McQueen red skull-print modal and cashmere-blend scarf
Tank: Atmos & Here Oregon stripe tank
Jeans: Emerson red skinny jeans
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in black
Bag: Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere
Nails: OPI Russian Navy

Why I wore it:

I enjoyed the outfit combination above so much that when I was feeling uninspired and not sure what to wear a few weeks later I decided to wear a similar outfit with my red skinny jeans - but with a warmer cardigan this time instead of the denim jacket like in the outfit above.

This day started out perfectly with a little lie-in of 10 minutes. It doesn't sound like much, but when you have kids getting an extra 10 minutes to lie in bed before they wake up is amazing! We had a busy morning with a doctor's appointment for Baby Boy and a trip to the pharmacy. When we got home I wasn't feeling the best, and tried to take it easy for the rest of the day.

Taking it easy was a good idea as that evening Baby Boy got extremely unwell and we had to call an ambulance. Thankfully we were out of hospital in the early hours of the morning after a few tests, but it's hard to like this outfit as much as the one above when it was such a horrible day when I wore it! I often find I'm harsher on my outfits if I'm not having a good day, even if it would otherwise be something I like wearing.


Last worn: black cardigan, stripe tank, Alexander McQueen skull scarf, red skinny jeans, Converse (above), Louis Vuitton damier ebene speedy bandouliere.

Other ways to wear: black cardigan and maxi skirt, stripe tank and black skirt, Alexander McQueen skull scarf in summer, red skinny jeans and print mixing, Converse and navy outfit, Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere and dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: black cardigan in first trimester, Alexander McQueen skull scarf in second trimester, red jeans and hidden first trimester bump, Converse in first trimester, speedy bandouliere and maternity pencil skirts.

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More Colourful Jeans Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

If you're worried that a colourful pair of jeans would be too difficult to style, follow the easy outfit formula of pairing them with neutrals and then a similarly bright accessory. While in winter a scarf that's the same colour as your bright jeans is a good idea, you could make this work in other seasons with a necklace for a similar, more season-appropriate look. And when in doubt, stripes really do go with everything!


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Rebecca Minkoff Saddle Bag with Black and Red Skinny Jeans Outfits

I love this little red Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag! I don't have any other crescent shaped bags so it's a nice addition to my wardrobe and it's just the right size for keeping all my essentials (keys, wallet phone) nearby when I'm out with the toddlers. The crossbody feature makes it a practical choice for a mum!

One way to wear such a bright red bag is a pop of colour with a neutral outfit. But for these outfits, I'm embracing the red and wearing red clothing as well for cheerful and colourful winter outfits.

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest long red drape cardigan

Scarf: Alexander McQueen modal and cashmere skull scarf
Tank:  French Connection feather foil singlet
Jeans: Sass & Bide Playman skinny jeans

Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs black logo plaque ballet flats

Bag: Rebecca Minkoff unlined saddle bag in cherry red (on sale in blue!)

Why I wore it:

Wore this for a busy morning, a few appointments to go to and taking Cooper for a very overdue grooming. While this red cardigan is only a light one, with all the running around I was warm enough, and even took the scarf off when it heated up.

This tank is starting to go from a metallic tank to a plain black tank pretty quickly! I think the more I wash it, the less sparkly it gets! It's definitely a keeper though, so soft and I like the way it's just a little oversized, perfect for partially tucking in. Even if it's not as colourful as it once was.

The skull print scarf is one I've worn with these printed jeans in the past - I wasn't too sure of it then but I loved it this time around with the addition of the red cardigan. Was really happy with this cheerful and bright outfit.


Last worn: red cardigan, taupe skull scarf, metallic tank, Sass & Bide printed jeans, bow ballet flats, Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag.

Other ways to wear: red cardigan and button down, taupe skull scarf and printed shirt dress, metallic tank and maxi skirt, Sass & Bide printed jeans and teal henley, bow ballet flats and maxi skirt, Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag and denim shorts.

Perfect for pregnancy: red cardigan and first trimester bump.

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Red Cross Body Bags Under $100:

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What I wore:

Jacket: Kmart striped maxi cardigan

Scarf: Jeanswest tri-colour dip dye scarf
Tee: Zalora Basics maroon stepped t-shirt
Jeans: Jeanswest prima denim super skinny jeans in absolute black
Shoes: Asos Cleo leather boots in tan
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff unlined saddle bag in cherry red (on sale in blue!)

Why I wore it:

Although the tee's a little more burgundy and the bag is more of a cherry red, I thought they looked nice together and it was just enough red to wear for World MS day!

I've worn orange and red together a handful of times - so I knew this lovely ombre scarf would work nicely with the tee. I had been wanting to wear the red tee with the striped duster but couldn't get the half tuck to look right. Added the scarf and I was instantly happier with how the tee looked untucked. I really really liked this outfit, which made it all the more frustrating when it was promptly ruined by a potty training toddler. Thankfully everything was machine washable, and it happened after Baby Boy's specialist appointment.

That's the best pieces of fashion advice I could ever give to a mum - make sure you can machine wash all your clothes! 😂


Last worn: striped duster, ombre scarf, red tee, Prima black skinny jeans, tan boots, Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag (above).

Other ways to wear: striped duster and flares, ombre scarf and striped tee, red tee with double denim, Prima skinny jeans and printed kimono, tan boots and printed dress, Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag and shorts.

Perfect for pregnancy: striped duster and maternity shorts, red tee in the first trimester, skinny jeans and a hidden belly band.

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More Rebecca Minkoff Saddle Bags:

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How You Can Wear It

A red bag is a fun pop of colour with a neutral outfit, but don't be afraid to wear some red in your outfit too! The red shades don't have to match exactly to look good together. You can make an outfit like this with any colourful bag, it doesn't have to just be a red one. 

Have fun creating easy and colourful outfits when you pick a piece of clothing to wear that's the same or a similar shade to the bag you're wearing.


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