Buy Nothing New

So you may remember back in January I pledged to Buy Nothing New for a whole year. Well, I’m half way there!! It’s officially six months of buying nothing new, and I’m pleased to say that except for one tiny slip up, I haven’t bought anything brand new for six whole months. So have I actually learnt anything? YES I HAVE...

1. I love to shop (duh) and even though I’m not buying new stuff, I’m still getting my retail fix through op shopping. Plus I get the same buzz out of shopping for other people as I do for myself. I JUST WANT TO BUY ALL OF THE STUFF (I’m a terrible consumer).

2. You can find almost anything you want second hand on eBay. Seriously, whenever I’ve suddenly decided I MUST OWN a certain piece of clothing or a particular accessory I’ve been able to track it down on eBay for a fraction of the price. That’s how I’ve managed to almost double my shoe collection this year… oops

3. If you don’t want to buy things then don’t look. This is an obvious one. A few weeks ago I found myself at Garden City looking for a birthday present for a friend. I was in Collette casually sifting through all of their sale jewellery and before I knew it I had bought myself a new necklace and a massive cocktail ring. It was only as I was walking out of the store that I realised I’m not meant to be buying anything. So the necklace and ring were gifted to my friend and I vowed to not go back to Garden City and tempt myself again.

4. This challenge isn’t about money. I thought I’d be saving heaps of coin, but I’m not really and that’s OK. This challenge is teaching me that I really don’t need to rely on shopping centres and department stores for anything. I can find everything I want second hand and I love that. In the past 6 months there has not been a moment were I’ve desperately wanted to hit up Kmart, Myer or Sportgirl. Salvos, Good Sammies and Vinnies maybe, but definitely not the high street chain stores.
 

5. Shopping from your own wardrobe is fun! This challenge has forced me to look at my existing wardrobe with fresh eyes and style pieces in different ways. I've been wearing items that haven't seen the light of day for ages, like this amazing vintage blouse that was nicked from my Aunt's fabulous collection. It's such a cool top, but also a bit crazy so I don't wear it much, but I'll never part with it. Seeing it sitting in my cupboard collecting dust was all the encouragement I needed to whip it out and wear it to work a few weeks ago!

So that’s my six month challenge up date. It’s never to late to join in the fun and pledge to Buy Nothing New. It’s not that hard, I promise!

Top: Vintage

Skirt: Claremont Vinnies $4

Shoes: Melissa x Karl Largerfeld

Sunnies: Ray Ban

 

Shop What You Got Wrap Up

I made it! Hurrah! The Shop What You Got challenge is over, and honestly I couldn’t be happier about it. Surviving with a wardrobe of 30 pieces for 30 days is definitely do-able, there were plenty of outfit combos I didn’t get time to try and many outfits I loved and could have easily worn again. Having only a small collection of clothes to choose from each day also made getting dressed for work so much quicker. Limited options is a blessing in disguise I guess.

All that being said the second half of challenge was really tough. I desperately missed my vast collection of clothes and I started getting sick of my mostly black and white capsule wardrobe. Strangely enough the things I missed most were my shoes, I included five pairs in my original 30 pieces, but I wanted more more more!

So in the last month I have blogged about 15 outfits all made up of the same 30 items. The only time I cheated in the whole 30 days was on Halloween, when I wore yellow pumps as part of my Minnie Mouse costume, pretty dam good I’d say! Overall I’ve learnt that if need be, I can survive quite stylishly with a small capsule wardrobe. BUT I’m much happier with lots of different options, so while I live in one place and have enough space, I’ll keep my large wardrobe thanks very much!

Do you want to try the Shop What You Got challenge?

Challenge Complete!

Seeing as I’ve been wearing the same clothes for the last four weeks I’ve run out of things to say about them! But today is the last day of my Shop What You Got challenge! Hooray!!

This is a super easy and comfy work outfit that I’ve worn a couple of times to the office. The top is actually a dress (this one!), and I love it layered with a skirt! The high neck and draping are so lovely and perfect for the office.

Sandals and a bright necklace complete the look. I’ve been a bit naughty and have stopped wearing jackets to the office when the weather is really warm, I’m not sure how long I’ll get away with it, but I’m going to keep pushing my luck a bit longer!

Skirt: Op Shop

Top: Yttirum

Sandals: Melissa

Necklace: Lovisa

Come back tomorrow for a little Shop What You Got wrap up!

The Big 2-0-0

OH MY GOODNESS YOU GUYS this is my 200^th blog post! How crazy is that?! I can’t believe I’ve managed to wear 200 different outfits and blab on about them 200 times. This is definitely cause for celebration! Where is the champagne when you need it?!

This outfit isn't particularly celebratory, but seeing as I've been trapped in doors with tonsillitis all weekend, this was as good as I could manage. I'll whip out my cocktail dress and heels later in the week I promise!

Thank you so much for following along with my foray into blogging. Even 200 posts in my blog is still very small and I know the majority of my readers are friends and family (hi Mum!), but I really do appreciate every single comment, ‘like’, view and follower. So thanks guys! You’re awesome.  

T-Shirt: Op Shop

Skirt: Op Shop

Hat: Op Shop

Jacket: H&M

Brooch: Vintage (gift!)

Shoes: Converse

Sunglasses: Pared Eyeware

Want to have a bit of a giggle and check out my very first post? I’ve definitely come a long way with my photography and Photoshop skills.



Twice in Two Days

I wore this outfit twice this week. Even whilst in the middle of my Shop What You Got challenge that’s a bit much. So why did I wear this outfit twice in two days....

On Monday morning I was driving to work, minding my own business and sipping a take away coffee when some kid in a big Jeep ran into the back of my car. My sunglasses flew of my face, my packed lunch smooshed into the windscreen and my coffee exploded all over me. Thankfully I survived without any injuries, just a coffee stained white outfit and a busted bumper. It could have been worse.  

So this awesome outfit only saw the light of day for about an hour and a half before I had to go home and throw it in the wash. Which is why it got to make a second appearance in as many days, it’s a pretty great outfit, it deserves a second chance. You’ll also be happy (and hopefully impressed!) to know that I made it through the second day without dropping so much as a crumb on my crisp white outfit. Hooray!  

Vest: Save the Children op shop $6*

Top: H&M*

Skirt: Op Shop*

Shoes: Asos*

Flower pins: Op Shop

*All part of my Shop What You Got capsule wardrobe

A Gift from a Friend

I’ve been wanting to share this dress on the blog for a while. I’ve worn it to work so many times, I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to actually photograph it. But here she is…

One of my lovely colleagues wore this spotty dress to work a few months ago, I ranted and raved the whole day about how much I looooved what she was wearing. The next day she walked in to the office with a plastic bag and gave it to me saying that I clearly liked the dress more than she did so I should have it. I was thrilled and must remember to exclaim more about my friends pretty dresses in hope I might inherit them too!

But seriously, you can’t go wrong with a perfectly fitted spotty dress for the office. It’s the ultimate work outfit. Obviously I had to wear it with more spots, because one spotted item is never enough!

Thanks for the dress Lauren, I love it!

Dress: Gift*

Belt: Op Shop

Jacket: Op Shop*

Necklace: Random boutique

Shoes: Asos*

*Part of my Shop What You Got capsule wardrobe

Matchy Matchy

Oh mannnnn I love this outfit. It’s SO matchy matchy it hurts, but I don’t care. This is another one of the vintage dresses I picked up in Melbourne at the beginning of the month. The fabric feels like a plastic table cloth and I need to wash it after every wear because she does not breath at all, but boy is it pretty.

I included this dress in my Shop What You Got capsule wardrobe and planned to wear it in multiple ways, but I honestly have worn this exact outfit about 5 times now. The bright blue and white checks just call for a touch of red and nothing else. No doubt I’ll eventually get sick of this combo and mix it up a bit, but until then this is how I shall stay!

Dress: Vintage $30*

Belt: Op Shop $10

Shoes: Zara*

Sunglasses: Prada

Bangles: Op Shop

*Part of my Shop What You Got capsule wardrobe