#aqb100stylechallenge with A Quirky Bird

Over at A Quirky Bird, Zoe is running a cool worldwide style challenge, inviting readers to submit an outfit edit costing $100 or under to be in the running for a $100 Coles Myer gift card.

Now, for me, this would normally be no trouble. The catch was that all items needed to be current - so op-shopped or vintage pieces that usually get me well under that kind of dollar limit were out.

I spent some time digging around some of my favourite online shopping sites, which was incredibly difficult for me, given my No-Buy July status, so I hope you all appreciate the torture and torment I've put myself through to get this collection together.

Let's all agree not to mention the wavy red underline from my PowerPoint screenshot, shall we? Many thanks

I settled on this embroidered Lee Cooper tie-waist dress from Big W to build my look around, in the on-trend Marsala shade. 

From there, I snagged a bargainic pair of basic black leggings at Best & Less, then sussed out jackets at Crossroads, where this biker one caught my eye. 

A well-placed targeted advertisement lead me to find this peacock Boohoo scarf and I hit up the Cotton On online empire to snag a well-priced pair of boots and some fun shades. 

Sitting at $93.95, I knew I could squeeze a cute pair of earrings in under budget, and a quick look at Colette Hayman proved me right.

All prices were current as at 10 July, 2015.

#findingmystyle with Agent Mystery Case and The Fashionable Mum

I've also entered into the Outfit Under $50 #findingmystylechallenge hosted by The Fashionable Mum and Agent Mystery Case in the hope of also winning $50 towards the inevitable August binge.

This one was easier for me to pull out of my own wardrobe because I could include vintage and op-shopped pieces:



Having said that, the dress is actually current at Kmart for $20. I bought it in another colourway first, then loved it so much I went back and got this one.

Sunglasses were also from Kmart a little while ago for a hefty $8.

(As an aside, can we all agree Kmart need to get with the online shopping program? I easily could have completed the first challenge in five minutes if I could have accessed their stock online!)

The vintage brown PU bag with cool lucite handles picked up in this op shop trip for $4.

Tights are from a Myer dump bin years ago for $5.

Shoes are vintage leather Footrest brand, also snagged at the op shop for $2.

Oh, and I've just noticed/remembered the belt - it isn't the one that comes with the dress but I pulled it off another one so essentially, it's free. That brings this outfit to a total of $39, well under the limit.

Now, fingers crossed so I can properly celebrate at the end of No-Buy July!

Have you ever won a style challenge? Are you having a crack at either of these?

We had a lovely Christmas here at the Ghetteaux and were lucky enough to have my parents and mum-in-law with us to celebrate the day.

Available at Mimco for $39 - Schiaperelli Pink version

Converse All Star Dainty - $70 Image from footasylum.com

And to use the selfie stick again

Haters gonna hate on the selfie stick

This week, I've been participating in the What The Teacher Wears Style Challenge (#wttwstylechallenge)

It's not the reason I haven't made any posts this week, I don't really have an excuse for that. However, I have enjoyed the prompts which were all very accessible and quite easy to rustle up a conforming outfit for the day.

Day 1 - Midi-skirt Monday

I re-rocked the outfit I wore in this post.




The photos are better in that one. On this day I had very little time to myself to go out and get any photos so I was stuck with sneaking a mirror version after work.

I've got a Kmart white tee ($5!) tucked into a Khoko spotted midi skirt from Harris Scarfe and silver triangle necklace and earrings recently snagged from Sportsgirl

Day 2 - Tropical Tuesday

After identifying tropical as a gap in my wardrobe, I pulled out this navy bird print dress as the closest thing I had.



I bought it at Rivers when considerably pregnant and hadn't worn it for a while. Two people complimented me on it so I guess it will get more run time this summer!

I wore it with those ubiquitous white laser cut Rubi loafers and stuck a big white flower in my hair for that tropical feel. I've also got some pink frangipani earrings from Big W in.

Day 3 - "Midweek Monochrome"

I had a few options that I was tossing up between here and settled on this because I thought it would be a cooler day than it ended up being . . .




The spotty top is from Chicabooti. I like it because it has an elasticated waist that I wish I had pulled down a touch more for the photo but what can you do.

I wore it with those bargain Review pants from Savers, cuffed 'em up and threw on a pair of Joanne Mercer heels for a little height. I went with pearl accessories to go with my white dots and that Pink All Up In Your Face lipstick I got last week at Priceline.

Day 4 - "Floral Thursday"

I wanted something simple and easy to wear.



Bang. A scuba floral-print dress, also from Chicabooti and, in fact, bought the same day as the spotted top above, some black Fiorelli sunglasses and Kiss Of Life Rimmel lipstick. It's a bit light on accessories . . . I was in a rush!

I never thought I'd say it but I do dig this neoprene/scuba fabric. It's forgiving.

Day 5 - "Printed Pants Friday"





I started off wearing another pair of pants and another black top. Changed the top. Changed the pants. Changed the shoes. Changed the necklace. I ended up in another $5 Kmart tee, these printed pants from TEMT and those doggone Rubi flats again. I *really* need some new shoes. (My husband disagrees with this statement). I'm wearing Sportsgirl earrings and my Tiffany and Co necklace. I also added a coral cardi last minute, which this photo pointed out to me had some sort of yellow crust on the shoulder! EW.

Obvs, I looked this glamourous. Image from Huffington Post.

There are a lot of bees in this tree, hence my wary expression

Around my messy bun, I have wrapped a navy and floral bun twist.

I'm still working on my outfit photographing technique and haven't quite got to my desired level (being pinned by a stranger on Pinterest) but here is one I managed to snap last week early in the morning during the brief few minutes before finishing getting ready for work and waking the toddler up to prepare her for day care.

Morning has broken

It's really hard to find somewhere to balance your iPhone such that you can get a full body shot in decent light with a non-heinous background. This was taken by leaning the phone against the stubby aerial of my Suzuki Swift, activating my camera timer app then trotting up the driveway a bit, striking a pose and hoping not to be busted by any work-bound neighbours . . . unfortunately because our house faces east, the morning sun is behind me and it was a bit overcast so it's got kind of a dreamy filtered look to it.

I combated the lack of visible detail by taking a few different angles.




Now, the point of this post is to illustrate the bargaintastic nature of this entire outfit, as follows:

KMart basic black tee - $5
Cotton On print pants - $15 on special
Rubi wedge sandals - $5 on special a few years ago
Diva chevron necklace - $3 (from Savers)

Outfit total = $28

The most expensive thing pictured is my pedicure which was an astonishingly overpriced $35.

This look is a bit of a departure for me - being short and having a bit of a fuller figure at the moment, I've been a bit wary of any non-fitted pants, especially lightweight patterned ones. I'm happy to say that after road-testing the outfit for the [fairly warm] day, I felt cool in all senses of the word!