Friday 29 November 2019

Handbag Lover Gift Guide 2019 - For Any Budget!

My fifth annual handbag lover gift guide! I love bags so really enjoy putting this post together to share some gift ideas with you. No matter your budget, you're sure to find something special for that bag loving friend or family member in your life. Or maybe a little splurge for yourself! Christmas is a time for special surprises after all 😉 With the Black Friday sales on everywhere, now is the perfect time to buy.


ultimate handbag lover gift guide purses for any budget! | away from blue



Budget Bag Related Finds Under $50





These are perfect stocking fillers or last minute gift ideas that won't break the budget! Looking out for sales or discount codes can help bring the cost down more too. I've included some Black Friday sales at the bottom of the post for you to help. While you might not be able to get a designer handbag for this price, you can get little accessories to adorn the inside or outside of bags they already own. Think pouches, card holders, clutches, travel pouches and bag charms! Or even a straw bag.



Contemporary Bags $50- $150





Extending your budget a little lets you pick up a cute bag from a mid-range designer, or a small leather good from a higher end brand. Rebecca Minkoff is my current favourite contemporary brand and you'll find a lot of bags in this price range there! Think also Kate Spade, Coach, Ted Baker, etc.



Splurge Worthy Bags $200+





This category is idea for someone special in your life, where you have a bigger budget. You could even get a wallet from a high end designer for under $400. It's good to look for hints for the brand, style or colour someone would be interested in before splurging in this category. If you're not sure, a neutral coloured classically shaped handbag would be a safe bet, or you could always just get them a giftcard for their fave store instead to let them pick out the bag of their dreams!



Second Hand Shopping


You can find some real bargains second hand. If you're shopping for yourself this is a good way to go, or buy early from a store with a good return policy so you have time to return in case you've bought the bag as a gift and it's a little more pre-loved than you expected!

Buying from sites like Vestaire Collective (who are having a 30% off sale for Black Friday) and Fashionphile that guarantee authenticity takes a lot of the stress out of purchasing a designer bag second hand. Bag Mad Boutique is UK based but ships worldwide and there is a 10% off black Friday sale on at the moment (and full disclosure, the owner is a wonderful friend of mine!).


Some Handbag Related Sales to Check Out:


The sales can mean something that was out of our budget before becomes a little more attainable, and a handbag will have a lot of staying power in your wardrobe!

Shopbop - use code "MORE19" to get 15% off orders over $200 to up to $25% off orders over $800 - and you can use it on sale items too for an even bigger discount!

Rebecca Minkoff - use code "THANKS25" to get 25% of orders over $100, and "THANKS30" to get 30% off orders over $250.

David Jones - up to 60% off in the Black Friday sale.

The Outnet - get up to 85% off in the clearance sale!

Net A Porter - get an extra 15% off selected sale items!


I hope you enjoyed browsing some of my top handbag related gift ideas this year! Are you wishing for a bag shaped present under the tree this Christmas? I may have already given hubby a direct link to the bag I want...leaving nothing up to chance! 😂



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Wednesday 27 November 2019

V-Neck Tees Knotted Over Tiered Sundresses With Rebecca Minkoff Love Bag

I'm a little sad that Kmart hasn't brought these strappy tiered sundresses back again this year, I was so hoping they would! They are such a staple in my wardrobe and they aren't just worn in the summer months. Today I'm sharing two spring outfits I made with them by knotting some tees over the top. I did this in winter too with knits.

What I wore:

orange tee knotted over black printed tiered sundress with colourful accessories | awayfromblue

little black dress with Rebecca Minkoff Love cross body bag in grey | awayfromtheblue

awayfromtheblue Instagram | marigold orange tee with black sundresses knotted spring layer bright necklace love bag
NecklaceRuby Olive Art series long striped pod necklace
TeeJeanswest essential v-neck tee in marigold
Dress: Kmart Aztec print tiered little black dress
ShoesRebecca Minkoff Georgina studded gladiator sandals in blush
Bracelets: the usual plus mixed metal bracelet stack
BagRebecca Minkoff Love cross body bag in grey

Why I wore it:

I wore this a little bit too late for Halloween! But I did like the black and orange combo. This v-neck tee is a recent purchase from the Jeanswest sale. I picked it up as I loved the orange, and went to try it on. Then it looked so mustard in the change room. I asked the SA as I was buying it, it's definitely not mustard right?! ha! I do love mustard but I already have a mustard tee.

Like you do with a new purchase, I wanted to wear this shortly after I bought it and realised it would be a great pop of colour with this little black tiered sundress. With the nude studded gladiator sandals and the grey Rebecca Minkoff love bag, I wanted to add a little more colour to the outfit and this Ruby Olive necklace was perfect! It was a Christmas gift from my bestie last year.

I liked the slight extra warmth this tee gave layered over the sundress for church too - always so cold in church with the aircon!


Last worn: black Aztec print dress, statement necklace, studded gladiator sandals, Rebecca Minkoff Love bag. First time I've worn the tee as it was a recent purchase.

Other ways to wearblack Aztec print dress and denim jacketstudded gladiator sandals worn 30 ways, Rebecca Minkoff Love bag and jeans.

Perfect for pregnancyRebecca Minkoff Love bag in second trimester.


30 Ways To Wear: Rebecca Minkoff Love Cross Body Bag










What I wore:

grey v neck tee knotted over printed tiered sundress with ankle boots love bag | away from blue

blush printed sundress with Rebecca Minkoff Love cross body bag in grey | away from the blue

awayfromblue Instagram | mum style church outfit knotted grey tee over tiered printed sundress with rebecca minkoff love bag
NecklaceZuriCollections blue polymer clay necklace
Tee: Spectrum basic v-neck tee in grey marl
Dress: Kmart strappy tiered sundress in watercolour blue and blush print
Shoes: RMK Chester black ankle boots
BagRebecca Minkoff Love cross body bag in grey

Why I wore it:

Another outfit I wore to church, another tee knotted over a sundress! Unlike the first outfit, I let the dress be the colour with the blue and pink print and went with a neutral grey tee to match the Rebecca Minkoff Love bag. Picked the black ankle boots as I wore this a few weeks before the first outfit, where I wanted a little extra warmth for the cooler spring morning. It turned into a beautifully warm day by the afternoon though.

This grey tee is such a wardrobe staple - I have a 30 ways to wear post coming up with it soon because I've finally achieved over 30 wears with it. It was one of the pieces I searched through my blog archives for first when I heard about the 30 wears challenge, so sure that I'd have already hit 30 wears with it! I have finally got over 30 wears with it now, and I've been putting a 30 wears post together every month for almost 2 years, haha!

I knotted this tee to the side but I preferred the way I knotted the tee in the first outfit, making the knot more of a statement.

Last worn: grey v-neck tee, blush and blue sundress, beaded necklace, black ankle boots, Rebecca Minkoff love bag (above).

Other ways to weargrey v-neck tee and maxi skirt, blush and blue sundress and pink bag, black ankle boots worn 30 ways, Rebecca Minkoff love bag worn 30 ways.

Perfect for pregnancygrey v-neck tee in second trimesterblack ankle boots in second trimester, Rebecca Minkoff love bag in third trimester.



V-Neck Tees Under $50:




How You Can Wear It

A v-neck tee is a wardrobe staple and pairs so nicely with denim - jeans or shorts! For something a little different and for a cooler spring or autumn day, try layering a tee over one of your fave summer dresses to create a whole new look!





What I Bought In November:


I'd usually do an extra post for this with a video but I've been a bit unwell this month and lost my voice for over a week so I'm just adding a little note onto this post. I also only bought three things:


I used up the last of my Christmas gift cards in the Jeanswest 40% off sale to pickup some colourful pieces for summer, and as I was hunting the opshops for books for our Christmas book advent calendar I couldn't resist this cute necklace for just $3!

Here's how I've worn it all:




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


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Monday 25 November 2019

Weekday Wear Linkup! Belted Fit and Flare Dresses With Tees Underneath and Balenciaga Day Bags

For today's Weekday Wear Linkup I'm layering some 3/4 sleeve tees under classic fit and flare dresses. And adding all the accessories! The last of our stuff is out of storage and my uncle helped me finish the rest of my wardrobe room so I finally have all of my clothes and accessories in one wardrobe room in our new house, making me very happy indeed!

What I wore:

sleeveless fit and flare dress lbd with pink accessories and tee layered underneath | awayfromblue

black fit and flare dress with Balenciaga Day bag in 2005 magenta | awayfromtheblue

awayfromtheblue Instagram spring office outfit long sleeve tee with black LBD fit and flare sleeveless dress pink accessories
NecklaceEye Candy LA 'Sasha' statement necklace
DressJeanswest tucked ponte black dress (with grey long sleeve tee underneath)
BeltAsos Metal Keeper super skinny belt in pink
ShoesWalnut Melbourne Ava white leopard ballet flats
Bracelets: the usual plus pearl and rose gold bracelet stack
BagBalenciaga Day bag in 2005 magenta

Why I wore it:

It's not the first time I've layered a neutral tee under this black fit and flare dress. It makes it the perfect base for some bright accessories, and this magenta Balenciaga day bag matches so nicely with this magenta skinny belt. Which I haven't worn for a few years as it's just recently been uncovered from storage after our move (I went into a little bit more detail about the return of the belts here). So happy to see it again, it's a great colour match to this Balenciaga day bag.

The pink crystals in the necklace don't match the magenta pink exactly, but I still liked the extra touch of colour it added to the outfit. Went a little further and added the printed shoes too, these leopard print ballet flats are so fun to wear with a monochromatic outfit.

They grey tee wasn't really needed underneath in the heat of the day but it was appreciated in the cold aircon at work, even if I did overheat a little when my friend and I went out for a walk at lunch time, where I posed in front of yet another jacaranda tree!


Last worn: statement necklace, black fit and flare dress, pink belt, leopard print flats, magenta Balenciaga day bag.

Other ways to wearblack fit and flare dress in winter, pink belt and maxi dress, leopard print flats with stripes, magenta Balenciaga day bag and maxi skirt.

Perfect for pregnancyblack fit and flare dress in second trimester, pink belt in second trimester, magenta Balenciaga day bag in third trimester.


What's In My Bag: Balenciaga Day










What I wore:

teal tee under striped fit and flare sleeveless dress with red accessories and balenciaga day bag | away from blue

bracelet stack, hermes kelly double tour with Balenciaga giant hardware Day bag in 2009 tempete | away from the blue

awayfromblue Instagram | teal tee under sleeveless striped fit and flare dress with Balenciaga day bag and red accessories
Necklace: thrifted black and grey floral crystal statement necklace
DressJeanswest 'Rita' stripe jersey dress (with Valleygirl blue 3/4 sleeve tee underneath)
Belt: thrifted (op-shop) find
ShoesMarc by Marc Jacobs suede flats in red
Bracelets: the usual plus Hermes Kelly double tour bracelet in rubis
BagBalenciaga giant hardware Day bag in 2009 tempete

Why I wore it:

Even more colourful this time, on my next day in the office I wore another fit and flare dress, this one in a classic black and white stripe. I added a teal tee underneath and then some red accessories - mostly because I felt these red suede ballet flats were overdue a wear and you know I can't resist a little matchy-matchy!

With the red belt, shoes and Hermes Kelly bracelet I felt a red necklace might have been a little too much so I picked this anchormen crystal statement necklace instead. The blue Balenciaga day bag isn't a great match to the teal tee, but I thought it complimented it nicely and this bag looks great with red!


Last worn: striped fit and flare dress, teal tee, statement necklace, Hermes bracelet, red belt, red suede flats, Balenciaga tempete day bag.

Other ways to wearstriped fit and flare dress and blazer, teal tee and pencil skirtred belt and little black dress, red suede flats and jeans, Balenciaga tempete day bag and shorts.

Perfect for pregnancystriped fit and flare dress in second trimester, teal tee in second trimester, red suede flats in second trimester, Balenciaga tempete day bag in third trimester.



Fit And Flare Dresses Under $50:




How You Can Wear It:

A fit and flare dress is such a staple, and with a sleeveless one like these two you can easily layer a tee underneath if the office aircon is a little chilly, bypassing the need for a blazer or cardigan on top. You can add some colour with bright accessories like statement necklaces or belts. A fit and flare dress looks great belted!



Weekday Wear Linkup #46


Welcome to the Weekday Wear linkup! A linkup for you to share your weekday outfits - whether that is office wear or stay at home mum wear - if you wore it on a weekday, you can link it up!

Guidelines:
1. Please link to a specific outfit post, not your blog homepage.
2. Link back to this post so others can find the link up.
3. Follow your host Away From The Blue on BloglovinInstagramTwitterFacebook or YouTube.
4. Add up to two posts and be sure to visit and comment on as many other posts as possible to get some weekday outfit inspiration!
Optional: tweet the post you linked up with the hashtag #weekdayWearLinkUp so I can retweet!


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Linking up with Style On The Daily, Fashion Frenzy.


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