Friday 4 January 2019

30 Ways To Wear: Chloe Marcie Hobo Bag & 2018 Shopping Review & 2019 Budget

A new 30 ways to wear post, as well as a review of what I bought last year and my fashion budget for 2019!


I love handbags, and I have a lot of them! But I frequently sell some to have funds towards something else I want more. This Chloe Marcie hobo bag was a bag I loved, but rationalised I didn't wear as much as my Balenciaga day hobo bag, so I decided to let it go. I did hit 30 wears before I sold it, so I've dug through the blog archives for some older photos of my wearing it. I wonder if I'll cringe as much looking back at outfit pics now in a few years as much as I am looking back on these pics now? 😂


30 Ways To Wear: Chloe Marcie Hobo Bag In Nut



30 ways to wear the medium Chloe Marcie Hobo Bag in nut brown | awayfromtheblue  30wears challenge


Like many of my bags that I've now sold, I find this tricky to calculate cost per wear on! I bought it at a Reebonz offline sale, after wanting it for a while. I got a really good deal on it, so much so that I managed to sell it for almost what I paid for it. So you could calculate cost per wear based on the price I paid, or take that price minus the amount I got when I sold it and calculate it on around the $100 difference. I'm never sure what to do in these cases.

Inability to calculate cost per wear aside, I'm happy with the use I got from this bag. It held up really well, still looking like new when it eventually left my wardrobe, and I was pleased to look back at these old pics and see that I had hit 30 wears with it. I do sometimes regret selling it, but I know it wouldn't have gotten much more wear if it stayed in my wardrobe longer!


Chloe Marcie Hobo Bag In Summer


Chloe Marcie bag with summer outfits 5 ideas | awayfromblue

The handle drop on this bag is quite large, especially as the leather of the bag sags down a bit when the bag is full. It makes it an easy bag to throw over your shoulder in summer as it doesn't feel too tight or irritating to wear. The neutral colour works with all kinds of summer brights too!



Chloe Marcie Hobo Bag With Winter Layers


5 ways to wear Chloe Marcie hobo bag in winter layers | awayfromtheblue

Being a neutral brown, this 'nut' shade is perfect for adding to winter outfits. I've picked similarly coloured scarves to wear with the bag in each of these layered outfits, but you can see it would work well without any matching as it looks great with black winter layers!


Chloe Marcie Hobo In The Office


hobo bag in the office worn 6 ways: Chloe marcie in nut | awayfromblue

Printed dresses or pencil skirts, I found this Chloe Marcie bag worked so well for the office. Again making the most of the neutral shade I could wear it with brightly coloured or printed pieces, or just let it compliment a neutral outfit. It's a rather structured hobo shape so doesn't feel too casual for work.



Chloe Marcie Hobo Bag With Jeans


5 ways to wear a chloe marcie shoulder bag with jeans  | away from blue blog

As you can see in these photos, before I gave up my blue jeans I used to wear them a lot! The Chloe Marcie bag just works so well with denim, it's an easy choice when wearing jeans. I wore it a lot with skirts and dresses as you've seen in the earlier photos, but it was still a go-to with jeans too. Really versatile bag.


Chloe Marcie Hobo With Printed Outfits


Chloe neutral brown hobo handbag worn with prints 5 ways | away from the blue

Because this 'nut' shade is a nice neutral colour, it made the bag my default neutral piece to wear with prints. Something like a printed dress, or just a little print like a skirt or top, the hobo bag works nicely with all different prints and colours.


Chloe Marcie Hobo Bag In Pregnancy


4 outfit ideas wearing the chloe marcie hobo bag in pregnancy | awayfromblue

Despite only having this bag during my pregnancy with my eldest boy, it was worn enough times for me to be able to include it as a category here in my wrap up. You know I love looking back at my bump pics when doing these posts! I wore the bag a few times in the second and third trimester as you can see. It isn't a heavy bag so was nice to wear during pregnancy, the braided strap is really comfortable on the shoulder.



What's In My Bag: Chloe Marcie Medium Hobo Bag In Nut





Where To Buy:



This hobo style of Marcie has been discontinued, but there are still some places you can buy second hand! All the bags above come with authenticity guarantees even though they are preloved.



More Posts in The #30 Wears Handbag Series:

If you're looking for more outfit inspiration with this bag, you can see all 30+ ways I've worn it in my blog archives. I've included some links to other handbag related 30 wears posts below too. You can find the full post series by clicking here.


2018 Spend And Goals For 2019


My last shopping haul for the year!



My Total Spend in 2018


I totalled it up, I bought 30 fashion items (clothing and accessories) in 2018. In 2017 I spent $1,696.53, my goal in 2018 was to spend less than that. I achieved that as I spent $1,014.44 if you include gift cards, which works out to $84.54 a month. If you don't include gift card spend, I only spent $664.44. I'm really pleased with the figures and that I met my goal!


How Do I Do It?


I'm a fashion blogger with a love for expensive things (handbags 😂) without a big budget and slight shopaholic tendencies! I did a 6 months without shopping in 2017 which I ended up stretching out to 7 months, and really made me evaluate what I was buying and why.

I also continued to work on this 30 wears challenge! Every month I have to find something in my wardrobe I've worn 30 times or more to make these posts. This makes me focus more on ways I can rewear things I already own and makes me less likely to turn to a store for inspiration when looking or something to wear. Looking through my blog archives for ways I've worn things before often gives me ideas of things to try from past outfits!



My Goals For 2019


Same as last year, my goal for this year will be to spend less than I did last year. To make things easy on myself, I'll include the gift card spend. So 2019 will be the year of spending less (again), rewearing more, and hoping I don't go over my $1,014.44 budget! Wish me luck!


Linking up with Style Sessions, Lizzie In Lace, Fancy Friday, Sunday Reflections, Weekday Wear, On Mondays We Link Up.



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Wednesday 2 January 2019

Summer Style: Shorts And Kimonos With Rebecca Minkoff MAM Bag

A pair of soft, loose shorts like the ones I'm wearing below and a nice lightweight kimono along with a simple tank is such a staple summer outfit for me! I find the kimonos provide sun protection, add a little extra colour and print, and are a great way to layer without overheating. These outfits were perfect for our December heat.

One of the kimonos I'm wearing isn't actually a kimono at all though!

What I wore:


pink floral scarf knotted and worn as kimono with olive shorts and black tank summer style | awayfromblue

olive shorts and rebecca minkoff soft grey MAM mini MAB bag | awayfromtheblue

awayfromtheblue instagram | floral scarf tied as kimono with olive embroidered shorts summer outfit
Kimono: Fashion Scarf Girl pretty pink floral scarf (c/o) worn as kimono
NecklaceJeanswest Taryn turquoise tassel bead necklace
TankFrench Connection feather foil singlet
ShortsJeanswest Tessa olive embroidered shorts
Shoesblack slim Havaianas thongs
BagRebecca Minkoff MAB mini in soft grey

Why I wore it:

I got this beautiful big scarf as part of my brand rep role for fashion scarf girl. Being a massive scarf (100 cm by 180 cm!) I instantly thought of wearing it as a sarong for the beach. With no beach trips in the immediate future, I decided to double it over and knot the ends together to create a kimono. Not the first time I've worn a scarf as a kimono, it's a good way to change up the way you wear something!

I picked the olive shorts as they kind of met the #DAREcember style challenge prompt of 'in the jungle', being an olive colour. And also because it was a hot day with a lot of running around to do and these are so light to wear. I ran a few errands with the boys, including buying a secret Santa gift for a Christmas dinner with friends.

With the olive shorts and all the colours in the scarf, I thought the neutral Rebecca Minkoff MAM was a good bag to compliment it. Holds a lot of things too!


Last worn: black shimmer tank, tassel necklace, olive embroidered shorts, HavaianasRebecca Minkoff MAM bag. First time I've worn the scarf as it is a recent addition to my wardrobe.

Other ways to wearblack shimmer tank and printed jeans, olive embroidered shorts in autumn, Rebecca Minkoff MAM bag in the office

Perfect for pregnancyblack shimmer tank in first trimester, Rebecca Minkoff MAM bag in third trimester



Wear And Tear: What The Rebecca Minkoff MAM Bag Looks Like After 5 Years







What I wore:

print mixing shorts and kimono and converse summer outfit | away from the blue

print mixing shorts outfit with Rebecca Minkoff grey MAM bag | away from the blue

awayfromblue instagram | monochromatic outfit with colourful beaded necklace print mixing shorts and kimono casual SAHM outfit
JacketSomedays Lovin' Yakuza print kimono
Necklace: Ruby Olive Art series long striped pod necklace (gift from my bestie)
TankJeanswest Maji metallic tank in soft green and silver (on sale!)
ShortsJeanswest Parker printed shirred short
ShoesConverse Chuck Taylor All Star low in white
BagRebecca Minkoff MAB mini in soft grey

Why I wore it:

This was such a hot day! We planned to put up out Christmas tree in the afternoon (I wore this back at the start of December). There was a new walking trail I wanted to try out first, so we set off early in the morning before the heat got to be too much. Since it was a sunny day, I added the kimono for a little sun protection as I wasn't sure how shaded the track would be. While the walk was short, it was worth it, beautiful views!
While it was a bit warm for closed in shoes, and I kicked them off as soon as I got home, the Converse were good for walking. I was glad the walk was short as it was so hot! Will definitely attempt it again later when it's a little cooler.

It's not the first time I've tried this floral kimono with another print, it's great for print mixing with. With the black shorts, grey kimono and silver tank I felt the outfit needed a little colour - this pretty Ruby Olive necklace that my bestie got me from Christmas was the perfect addition. Met the 'dotty' style challenge prompt nicely for that day too.


Last worn: grey floral kimono, silver tank, black printed shorts, Converse, Rebecca Minkoff MAM bag (above).

Other ways to weargrey floral kimono worn 30 ways, silver tank worn two ways, black printed shorts in monochrome outfit, Converse and printed dress, Rebecca Minkoff MAM bag worn 30 ways.

Perfect for pregnancygrey floral kimono in third trimester, Converse in second trimester, Rebecca Minkoff MAM bag in third trimester.


Soft Shorts Under $50:





How You Can Wear It:


Soft shorts are ideal for a hot summer day, and a colourful kimono is a lovely extra layer that will add further interest to your outfit without over heating you. Neutral accessories like basic tanks and grey bags are good pieces to pair with a loud printed kimono too.




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Monday 31 December 2018

Pink Tanks, Denim Shorts and Printed Scarves With Rebecca Minkoff MAM Bag

A simple bright tank and denim shorts is an easy summer staple outfit. For something a little different, I like to add some extra colour or print with accessories. A kimono, printed bag, or as I've worn here a printed scarf, is a fun extra touch to your outfit. Both of these scarves are lightweight and perfect for a milder summer day.

What I wore:

blush pink scarf with magenta hot pink tank black denim shorts rebecca minkoff mam | awayfromblue

hermes pale pink clic clac and Rebecca Minkoff MAB mini in soft grey | awayfromtheblue

awayfromblue instagram pink tank and pastel leaf print scarf denim shorts SHAM style
ScarfFashion Scarf Girl leaf print scarf (c/o)
TankAsos satin singlet in pink
ShortsJeanswest Sara distressed hot short
Shoesblack slim Havaianas thongs
Bracelets: the usual plus Hermes pink clic clac
BagRebecca Minkoff MAB mini in soft grey

Why I wore it:

This was an absolutely crazy day. Usually on a crazy busy day I'd stick with a comfortable tried and true outfit, but I decided at the last minute to try something a little different and add this pale pink leaf print scarf to the hot pink tank. While it was a hot day, it was a very windy one so the scarf was a great accessory to have. Particularly when the dust picked up.

I had to drive into the city for an appointment and it was an interesting drive - some of the remnants of the dust storm had reached Brisbane and everything was very hazy. Which lead to a lot of questions from the kids in the back seat about why the city was so 'misty'. And a very dirty car -  although I wore this back in November - like everyone else in Brisbane my car stayed covered in red dust for a few weeks!

With the pink on pink, the neutral Rebecca Minkoff MAB bag seemed like a good choice, and it held a few things I needed for the appointment. Perfect for running errands after too.


Last worn: leaf print scarf, pink tank, black denim shorts, Hermes clic clacHavaianas, Rebecca Minkoff MAM bag.

Other ways to wearleaf print scarf worn as a kimono, pink tank and cobalt, black denim shorts and kimono, Rebecca Minkoff MAM bag and maxi dress.

Perfect for pregnancypink tank in second trimester, Rebecca Minkoff MAM bag in third trimester.


5 Different Ways To Wear the Rebecca Minkoff MAM Bag





What I wore:

chook print bird and egg scarf pink button up tank bermuda denim shorts summer SHAM style | away from blue

awayfromtheblue instagram | bird print scarf adding interest to pink button up tank and bermuda denim shorts outfit with rebecca minkoff mam bag
ScarfFashion Scarf Girl bird and egg print scarf (c/o)
TankJeanswest Helene sleeveless textured shirt in berry
ShortsJeanswest Trinity Bermuda denim shorts
Shoesblack slim Havaianas thongs
BagRebecca Minkoff MAB mini in soft grey

Why I wore it:

A  very similar outfit formula to the one above, again with a pink tank and denim shorts. I added this fun chicken and egg print scarf for a little extra interest with the otherwise plain outfit. Unlike the day above, this was a much more relaxed day with the boys. We headed out to the library for rhyme time and then stopped at a few stores on the way home to run some errands. Being in aircon for most of the day, the scarf was a good extra layer to stop it feeling too chilly in the shopping centre.


Last worn: bird print scarf, pink button up tank, Bermuda denim shorts, Havaianas (above), Rebecca Minkoff MAM bag (above).

Other ways to wearbird print scarf and pencil skirt, pink button up tank and flares, Bermuda denim shorts and embroidered blouse, Rebecca Minkoff MAM bag and dress.

Perfect for pregnancypink button up tank in first trimester, Rebecca Minkoff MAM bag in third trimester.



Pink Tanks Under $50:





How You Can Wear It:

A plain tank and denim shorts is such an easy summer staple outfit. If you want to change things up a little between wears, try throwing on a cute scarf for some extra interest to your outfit. If it's a cooler summer day or you're spending a lot of time in the aircon it will make you a little warmer too! Light fabrics like viscose are best for scarves you want to wear in summer.




Hope you have a very happy new year! I will be spending it as I usually do since having kids, exhausted and asleep in bed missing welcoming in the new year! 😂




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