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!


Linking up with Friday Faves, Shoe & Tell, Mummy Monday, Mix It Monday, Modest Monday, Hello Monday, On Mondays We Link Up, Style Sessions, Confident Twosday.

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Layering to Wear Clothes Year-Round, With Balenciaga Bags

I've mentioned a few times that I try to wear most of my clothes year-round. While winter knits and cardigans and boots don't stay in my wardrobe long before I box them away during warmer weather, there are just a few summer pieces that I store away during winter. Aside from my shorts, I keep my spring and summer items in my wardrobe year-round and try to wear them when it's colder.

The below outfits show how I layer two summery tops.

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Dana drape knit cardi in boysenberry (25% off sale on knitwear!)
Necklace: For King & Country Priceless Australian coin and crest necklace
Tunic: Caroline Morgan navy embroidered tunic
Jeans: Jeanswest 'shale' super skinny jeans
Shoes: Asos leather Chelsea boots in tan
Bag: Balenciaga truffle brown RH classic day bag

Why I wore it:

I love this tunic so much! A gift from my mum, it didn't get worn much over summer as it turned out to be pretty impossible to breastfeed in. Now that Baby Boy doesn't need breastfeeds during the day, it was a good reason to get this top out again. While it was too cold to wear on it's own, I made it winter appropriate with the jeans, cosy purple cardigan and ankle boots. A very different outfit from when I previously wore it as a bikini coverup!

With the navy tunic, purple-ish jeans and purple cardigan, I wasn't sure what bag to wear with this when I remembered my Balenciaga day bag. It's been a while since I've worn it so it was good to get it out again, and I think it went quite nicely with the tan ankle boots and colours in my outfit.

Wore this to go out shopping with my mum and the boys - with Toddler T's upcoming third birthday my mum wanted to get him a bike so we went around a few stores looking at all the options and trying them out. Was a really fun day, topped off with making cookies in the afternoon after we picked the perfect bike.


Last worn: purple cardigan, embroidered tunic, slate skinny jeans, tan ankle boots, Balenciaga truffle Day bag.

Other ways to wear: purple cardigan and shirt dress, embroidered tunic and shorts, slate skinny jeans and purple accessories, tan ankle boots and chambray dress, Balenciaga truffle Day bag.

Perfect for pregnancy: cardigan in the first trimester, skinny jeans in the first trimester, ankle boots and printed dress in second trimester, Balenciaga day bag for second trimester travel.

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More Balenciaga Day Bags

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What I wore:

Jacket: Atmos&Here Nigella collarless shirt dress (worn as kimono)

Necklace: Roie Designs long freshwater pearl necklace with tassel
Tank: Jeanswest round neck lace detail top
Jeans: Emerson red skinny jeans
Shoes: Walnut Melbourne 'Ava' black lizard ballet flats (also available in silver)
Bag: Balenciaga part time in black 2010 with SGH

Why I wore it:

If you've been reading my blog a while you'll know I love my kimonos. Sadly there are a few months in the year where it's just too cold for short sleeves and they don't get worn. This shirt dress made an awesome long sleeved kimono though, and was just the right layer over my black tank.

I'd been wanting to wear this dress as a kimono after seeing Shea wear hers that way. Over 8 months ago, oops! It was too warm then. It was only when I saw another instagrammer wearing her shirt dress as a kimono that I remembered the outfit inspiration and realised it was the perfect temperature to try it! The red skinny jeans were a good choice with the red in the print of the dress. I really liked wearing this, it was fun to give a new outfit idea a try.

Had a less than fun day while wearing it though! Had to go to the dentist, which is never pleasant, no matter how sweet the dentist and lovely receptionist are.

It's been a while since I've worn this Balenciaga bag too! Such a good bag, but I've been favouring my smaller Rebecca Minkoff cross body bags a lot lately as they are easier to juggle with two toddlers. Also less expensive leather for sticky toddler fingers to be around!


Last worn: shirt dress, lace detail tank, red skinny jeans, black ballet flats, Balenciaga part time bag.

Other ways to wear: shirt dress in winter, lace detail tank and pleated skirt, red skinny jeans and printed cami, black ballet flats and printed skirt, Balenciaga part time bag in the office.

Perfect for pregnancy: tank hiding an early baby bump, jeans in the first trimester, black flats and maternity jeans, Balenciaga Part Time bag and striped dress in second trimester.

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More Balenciaga Part Time Bags

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How You Can Wear It:

You don't have to bid farewell to all your favourite warm weather pieces when autumn arrives. With the right layers, you can wear the most summery of pieces year-round. Jeans, boots and cosy cardigans are good ways to wear a lighter piece in the cold weather. You can have fun with your layering too - try something colourful like blue and purple, or something unexpected like a long sleeve dress worn unbuttoned as an extra layer.


Linking up with Shoe & Tell, Hello Monday, Mix It Monday, Modest Monday.

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Ways to Wear JORD Wood Watches and a Giveaway

If you've read my blog for a while you might remember last year when I was given my first JORD wood watch. It became a firm favourite to wear to the office as glancing at your watch in a long meeting is a lot politer than pulling out your phone to check the time!

JORD kindly gifted me another beautiful watch. I was excited to start wearing a watch again, hoping it would help keep me on time for things. Really it's just become another way for me to see how late we are running! Typical of life with two under 3 I think. As well as a review, I wanted to show you some of the different ways I've worn the women's wood watches I'm lucky enough to own.

I picked the Cora watch as it's a little more dainty than the unisex Fieldcrest watch I have. I was also really intrigued by the purpleheart wood, which looks lovely with the mother of pearl face. As well as the little cut-out detail on the face to see the inner workings of the watch, the back of the face is clear so you can see all the cogs moving around inside which is fascinating - especially to a toddler!

Being a wood watch, it's splash-proof but not waterproof. It means I can wear it through all the constant hand washing that comes along with two boys still in nappies, although I do have to take it off when washing the dishes or showering. It handles stay at home mum duties perfectly. My Fieldcrest watch has held up to a year and a half of use and over 30 wears. It's also been tough enough to cope with being pulled off the bedside table and worn by the toddler more times than I can count, so I'm confident this Cora watch will last as well.

The ordering process was a little different this time around than last time. When you pick your wood watch, you can specify the size of your wrist and get it custom sized for you right out of the box. I used this feature, it's cheaper than getting the band changed at my local watch repair place and it fits perfectly. Being petite with tiny wrists and not always being able to find things to fit me properly, I appreciated this extra service.

The only downside I can find with this watch is that it's an automatic one, so it doesn't use a battery. This means if you get over excited and don't read the manual (guilty!) you won't wind the watch enough when you first set the time and you'll be confused the next day when it stops ticking. Once you read the manual and follow the instructions to properly setup the watch, you won't have any problems and the watch will keep the right time.

Just like my first experience with JORD watches, I was impressed with the speedy shipping time from the US to Australia and the absolutely beautiful presentation. I shared my delight at opening the box on my insta story. These wood watches make great gifts! They are so unique.

If you are inspired by the different ways I've worn my watches or have someone in mind to gift one to, you'll love this generous giveaway! Just by entering you'll get a little something and one lucky winner will get a $100 e-gift voucher. As this is my second wood watch from JORD, I'd be happy to help answer any questions you have about them in the comments too.


Click here for a $20 off code for JORD wood watches and a chance to win a $100 e-gift voucher!



Note: giveaway ends on 26th September. Giveaway is administrated by JORD for Away From Blue readers. I am simply promoting it through my blog. E-gift codes are automatically emailed to entrants. It is open world wide as JORD ships internationally and everyone who is reading here can enter.

This post was sponsored by JORD wood watches. As always, opinions and views expressed on this blog are my own.


Linking up with The Ultimate Rabbit Hole, Shoe & Tell, Let It Shine, Hello Monday, Mix It Monday, Grace & Lace, Red Carpet Fashion.

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Shopbop Buy More, Save More Sale! Second Trimester Office Wear: Maternity Pencil Skirts

First up, there's another big Shopbop sale on right now! It's the buy more, save more sale.

Use code 'GOBIG15' at Shopbop to get:

15% off orders over $250

20% off orders over $500

25% off orders over $1000

Having a bit of trouble filling up your cart enough to get the bigger discount you want?

• It's so close to Christmas - check out the gift section and grab a few things for the special people on your Christmas lists. 
• Try coordinating with a friend - you could consolidate an order to get bigger discounts for you both.
• Do what I do, check out the handbag section (Rebecca Minkoff bags are my favourite) and you'll be sure to find something you 'have' to have, to hit that top discount easily!

Hope you pick up some great gifts and bargains, or bargain gifts!


Back to the usual what I've been wearing. It was actually a little exciting to open up the big bag of maternity clothes I'd set aside post-baby, and rediscover pieces I'd loved in my last pregnancy. I was extremely happy to see these Asos maternity pencil skirts again, they were real workhorses before.

What I wore:

Scarf: Louis Vuitton "comete" bandeau scarf
Necklace: Lovisa silver love knitted heart pendant necklace
Cami: Jeanswest 'Maria' cami in cream
Skirt: Asos maternity panelled pencil skirt in tartan check (non-maternity version here)
Shoes: Walnut Melbourne 'Ava' black lizard ballet flats
Bracelets: the usual plus House of Harlow Aztec bangles in fuschia pink and silver, white and silver, Hermes pink clic clac
Bag: Balenciaga part time in black 2010 with SGH

Why I wore it:

Just like last time I wore this scarf as a headband to the office, I got a bunch of compliments, which is always nice! I had a scan to check baby's progress in the early morning, and then it was Melbourne cup day so we had a bunch of events in the afternoon in the office. As I had just recently finished up the Frocktober fundraising challenge, I didn't really want to wear my usual dress option for Melbourne cup.

I figured the ruffles on this cami made it a little more dressy than a standard pencil skirt outfit, and the scarf in my hair was a nod to the headpieces worn to our themed event that afternoon.


Last worn: Louis Vuitton bandeau, ruffle cami, tartan pencil skirt, black ballet flats, Balenciaga part time bag.

Other ways to wear: Louis Vuitton bandeau as a belt with a LBD, ruffle cami and a maix skirt, tartan pencil skirt in the third trimester, black ballet flats and skinny jeans, Balenciaga part time bag and a striped dress.

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Shopbop's buy more, save more sale is on right now! Check out the exclusions so you don't get any nasty surprises at the checkout.

(everything pictured above is from the Shopbop gift section and under $100 before discount)

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What I wore:

Top: Jeanswest 'Aubrey' pintuck yoke henley in deep teal

Necklace: Dogeared silver wishbone necklace (on sale!)
Skirt: Asos maternity graphic print pencil skirt (non-maternity version here)
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs studded mouse flats in grey
Bracelets: the usual plus JORD black Fieldcrest wood watch (C/O)
Bag: Balenciaga part time in black 2010 with SGH

Why I wore it:

Back when I was still hiding the baby bump on the blog and in the office, I'd gone through my wardrobe pulling out a few possible outfit ideas. This pretty teal top was one of them, so it had been hanging at the front of the wardrobe waiting for me to wear it. I didn't get around to wearing it before starting Frocktober, so it had been sitting there unworn.

Was wondering what to wear with this pencil skirt when I saw this top and figured I'd better wear it again before the spring weather heats up too much. It was a slightly cooler day when I wore this so it worked out perfectly. I wasn't too happy with the length of this top worn like this - I usually always partially tuck it in - but I liked the combination of the teal with the black and white.


Last worn: teal henley, Asos graphic pencil skirt, studded mouse flats, Balenciaga part time bag (above).

Other ways to wear: teal henley and a maxi skirt, graphic pencil skirt and burgundy tee, studded mouse flats and jeans, Balenciaga part time and skinny jeans.

Linking up with On Trend Tuesday, Style Sessions, Wardrobe Wednesday, Fresh Fashion, What I Wore, Oh Hey Girl, Weekend Link Up, Fun Fashion, Friday Favourites, Labour of Fashion, Fab Favourites, Flashback Fashion, Passion for Fashion.


This post was created in partnership with Shopbop. Occasionally, Away From The Blue blog may receive vendor or brand sponsorships for mentioning their products or services. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own.

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Frocktober: Balenciaga Bags and SAHM Casual Daytime and Evening Printed Dresses

Continuing on with the Frocktober outfits. I'm doing a #31Days31DifferentDresses challenge and wearing a different dress every day in October to raise funds for Ovarian Cancer Research.

Every donation helps! Thank you to everyone who is donating to this great cause.

What I wore:

Hat: white knitted beanie 

Scarf: Alexander McQueen modal skull scarf in white/pink
Dress: Atmos&Here navy stripe tee dress
Shoes: Asos airtime leather Chelsea boots in tan
Bracelets: the usual plus Edenborough Evans 'Ivy' silver cuff
Bag: Balenciaga part time in black 2010 with SGH

Why I wore it:

It was a little chilly, so perfect time to wear one of my warmest dresses. And since it was Hat Day too, I was able to meet the #myStyleOctober challenge of 'hattitude' by wearing a cosy beanie. Layered up with a scarf as well as it got quite cold with the wind and rain.

I was so grateful to be wearing this dress, and not just for the extra warmth. The dress has a longer hem in the back that comes in helpful for toddler wrangling. I spent the morning at the accountants getting my tax done, having had to take toddler T along with me. Although he did sit there quietly 'reading' a book most of the time, every now and then he'd try running around. He managed to drop down and crawl under the accountant's desk at one stage!


Last worn: knitted beanie, skull scarf, striped tee dress, Chelsea ankle boots, Balenciaga Part Time bag.

Other ways to wear: knitted beanie in the office, pink skull scarf with blue and teal, striped tee dress in winter, Chelsea ankle boots and jeans, Balenciaga Part Time bag and denim.

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Shop more Balenciaga bags:

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What I wore:

Sunglasses: Rayban new Wayfarers (classic style also on sale!)

Jacket: Bubblegum denim jacket
Necklace: Tai gold alphabet necklace
Dress: Jeanswest grey snake print maxi dress
Shoes: Ikwetta 'Circles of life' sandals (C/O)
Bracelets: the usual plus Roie Designs black leather Swarovski beaded wrap bracelet
Bag: Balenciaga RH classic city in 2010 sorbet

Why I wore it:

We went out for dinner in the evening with hubby's family, so I figured I'd wear one of my 'dressiest' dresses for the occasion. I'm trying to plan out the month so I'm not left with something completely inappropriate to wear near the end! Dinner out seemed like the best time to wear such a formal dress.

We weren't doing much earlier the day though, so I tried to dress this down a little, and settled on the denim jacket and casual bag. I've been wearing my Balenciaga bags a bit lately!

This dress hasn't been worn much - it's been almost 10 months since I last wore it! It's definitely staying in my wardrobe though. I just don't wear it much as I keep it for more formal occasions. I think it's perfectly okay to only wear a floor length formal dress a couple times a year. I expect my 'everyday' wardrobe to get worn a lot more though!


Last week I shared about the Shopbop sale, so I wanted to share with you all what I bought too. I picked up a couple things, after feeling like treating myself as I ended up doing #noSpenderSpetember!

What I bought:

• Love Quotes knotted tassel linen scarf in sunshine yellow
• Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote in plum

Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer, denim jacket, snake print maxi dress, Ikwetta sandals, Balenciaga sorbet city bag.

Other ways to wear: denim jacket and a maxi skirt, snake print maxi dress at 39 weeks pregnant, Ikwetta sandals and a maxi skirt, pink Balenciaga sorbet city bag in the office.


Linking up with Shoe & Tell, Mix It Monday, Trendy Tuesday, Turning Heads, Style Sessions, Confident Twosday, Wardrobe Wednesday.

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Frocktober and Comparing Yourself to Photos Online

Continuing with blogging my Frocktober outfits. I'm wearing a different dress every day in October (#31Days31DifferentDresses) to fundraise for Ovarian Cancer Research. I'm blogging the outfits as I wore them, instead of grouping the outfits together into 'themed' posts, so you get a bit of variety in every post! Today, a casual printed dress to work from home and a striped fit and flare dress for the office, as well as a little chat about comparison and perfectionism online.

Your Frocktober donation will raise funds and awareness for Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation. Please help me hit my fundraising goal!

What I wore:

Sunglasses: Rayban new Wayfarers

Dress: Atmos & Here Willow printed tee dress
Shoes: RMK Chester black ankle boots (on sale here!)
Bracelets: the usual plus Edenborough Evans 'Ivy' silver cuff
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff metallic silver mini MAC (Shop more Rebecca Minkoff bags here)

Why I wore it:

I'd been looking forward to wearing this dress as part of the Frocktober challenge! It was a heavy favourite last spring/summer, although it did feel a little short in the afternoon when playing with the toddler after picking him up from day care. Might need to wear shorts under it next time I wear it!

I shared this dress on instagram, with a side view as well. I've been reading so many articles and blogs about how everyone compares what they see online with their own lives. I've been reading the #strugglesbook as well which has been really challenging me lately.
My church did a series about online #struggles a while back which you can watch here and is really good viewing! While it does have a basis in Christianity, it talks about the general themes of social media burnout and how comparing can bring us down. A nice reminder to not compare your behind the scenes with someone else's highlight reel.

A picture tells 1000 words, but it can leave so many things unsaid. Never compare your behind the scenes with someone's highlight reel! An insta pic or feed is never the full story, it doesn't show everything. Even if all they've done is try pick a clever camera angle like me 😉 #behindTheScenes #keepingItReal #BloggerLife #yepThatsABabyBump #surprise! #gettingHarderToHideInPhotos #noMissingItInPerson #stylethebump #bumpstyle #babybelly

A photo posted by Mica (@awayfromblue) on Oct 7, 2015 at 2:20pm PDT

It's so easy to hide flaws or things you don't want people to see in photos, you don't have to show the full story. And if you can't use a flattering camera angle, there's always photoshop. The number of photoshopped blogs I see is just so sad. Why do that? I just want to give them a hug. Be yourself. You are perfect in every way, because you are you. Never put yourself down because of something you see online. You aren't seeing the full picture.

I try to keep this blog a frivolous, light-hearted and positive space, but that doesn't mean everything is perfect all the time. Nothing is ever perfect. People are more than what they share online, and you too are more than your instagram/twitter/facebook feed and the number of likes or followers you get.

"Your self-worth is not based on the Likes of others but on the love of God." #strugglesBook @craiggroeschel

— Mica (@AwayFromTheBlue) October 13, 2015

If this is something you've been struggling with lately, I'd highly recommend the #strugglesBook, it has lots of great advice. It's released on the 27th October, but you can pre-order now.
(I got an early e-book copy, but was not expected to or under any obligation to share the book with you. I just think it's that good, especially in light of all the posts I've seen lately from bloggers facing social media burnout).

Last worn: Ray-Ban wayfarers, botanical print tee dress, black leather ankle boots, Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC.

Other ways to wear: printed tee dress worn as a top, ankle boots and skinny jeans in winter, Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC and a plaid shirt.

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Shop more printed and striped dresses for under $50:

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What I wore:

Necklace: Dogeared silver wishbone necklace layered with Dogeared 3 Wishes stardust bead necklace (Shop more Dogeared here)

Dress: Jeanswest 'Rita' stripe jersey dress
Shoes: Novo Carmina fuschia suede flats
Bracelets: the usual plus Hermes pink clic clac and Roie Designs waxed leather cream howlite beaded wrap bracelet
Bag: Balenciaga part time in black 2010 with SGH (Shopbop sell Balenciaga bags now too!)

Why I wore it:

Not as fun as the outfit above, stripes instead of a colourful print, but I added some bright shoes to this outfit I wore to the office. No side pic of this one, but I felt the baby bump was showing quite a bit in it. :)


Last worn: striped fit and flare dress, pink suede flats, Balenciaga Part Time bag.

Other ways to wear: striped fit and flare dress for a dedication, pink suede flats and a polka dot dress, Balenciaga Part Time bag and denim.


Linking up with Fab Favourites, Friday Favourites, Flashback Fashion, Passion for Fashion, Weekend Linkup, Jaimie's Linkup, Fabulous Friday, Weekend Blog Hop, The Ultimate Rabbit Hole, Weekend Rewind, Let It Shine, More Pieces of Me, Hello Monday, Modest Monday today.


This post was created in partnership with Shopbop. Occasionally, Away From The Blue blog may receive vendor or brand sponsorships for mentioning their products or services. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own.

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Frocktober Unplanned and Planned Dress Outfits: Casual Tee and LBD For The Office

I'm currently participating in the Frocktober style challenge to raise funds and awareness for Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation. While I'm behind with blogging what I wore, you can follow along on instagram where I've been using the #31Days31DifferentDresses tag for my own challenge.

If you'd like to make a donation it would be greatly appreciated! 1 woman dies every hour from ovarian cancer, there is no early detection test. Your donation helps fund research.

What I wore:

Sunglasses: Rayban new Wayfarers (classic style also on sale!)

Necklace: Lovisa blue leaf long necklace
Dress: Choies monochrome stripe shift dress (C/O)
Shorts: Cotton On blue denim shorts (gifted)
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs (on sale!)
Bracelets: the usual
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff metallic silver mini MAC

Why I wore it:

This was not the dress I had planned to wear for the day! After we got home from lunch on Sunday, toddler T seemed a little more upset than usual, and his symptoms ramped up quite badly. He has a little viral bug and was not having a good time. We ended up getting the doctor out to check up on him. Instead of going out and enjoying the beautiful weather for a public holiday Monday, I stayed home and enjoyed cuddles with a little guy who just wanted to be held all the time.

I wasn't really sure what to wear after our plans had to be cancelled. I did contemplate not even getting changed out of my pyjamas...but knew I had the challenge and the fundraising goal to hit. So I hunted for a dress I could wear for a quick stop by the IGA (thank goodness for it being open on a public holiday!) to grab some essentials for dealing with sickness, and spending the rest of the day at home curled up on the sofa with an unwell toddler.

My sister had recently given me these shorts which she no longer wanted, so I figured they would be perfect to go under the too-short tee dress I've worn in the past as a tunic. Comfort-wise this turned out to be a great outfit, and I would happily wear this again! I'd been thinking this dress wouldn't be worn in the 31 days because it's so short, and that I'd end up getting rid of it at the end of the challenge. I'm happy I gave it a go and discovered a great outfit, and changed my mind about it leaving my wardrobe.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarers, striped tee dress, Havaianas, Rebecca Minkoff silver mini MAC. First time I've worn the shorts as they were just given to me.

Other ways to wear: striped tee dress worn as a tunic over jeans, Havaianas and skinny jeans, Rebecca Minkoff silver mini MAC with plaid and denim.

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More striped tee dresses under $50:

Red cardigans under $50:

Shopbop has a great range of red cardigans and tee dresses too!

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What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest long red drape cardigan

Necklace: Dogeared silver wishbone necklace
Dress:  Jeanswest tucked ponte black dress
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs suede flats in red
Bracelets: the usual plus Roie Designs black leather Swarovski beaded wrap bracelet
Bag: Balenciaga part time in black 2010 with SGH

Why I wore it:

In contrast to the outfit above, this was a little more planned! I knew I wanted to wear this fit and flare dress to the office. I've just worn it recently, but I like it so much I don't mind repeating it again so soon.

The red cardigan was something I added in the morning to keep me warm on the commute to work and in the cold air con of the office. I loved the way it looked in the mirror, not so impressed with it in the photos though. I did really like the colour coordination with the red flats and cardigan, a colleague complimented it too. Makes it look like the red cardi was planned and not a quick thing thrown on at the last minute.


Last worn: red cardigan, black fit and flare dress, red suede flats, Balenciaga part time bag.

Other ways to wear: red cardigan and a maxi skirt, black fit and flare dress and pink accessories, red suede flats and a pencil skirt, Balenciaga part time bag and a floral cami.


Linking up with What I Wore, Wednesday Linkup, Style Me Weekly, Oh Hey Girl, Thursday Fashion Files, Throwback Thursday.


This post was created in partnership with Shopbop. Occasionally, Away From The Blue blog may receive vendor or brand sponsorships for mentioning their products or services. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own.

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