Sydney With Two Toddlers: What We Did and What I Wore

In October we took the boys on their first flight down to Sydney for a few days. I'm sharing what we did and things to see in Sydney if you're travelling with toddlers. If you want to skip that, I've included my regular outfits too.

Toddler T is 3, and Baby Boy is 19 months. Both are good walkers. We took a travel stroller and I had my Ergobaby carrier. The stroller was great for carrying the baby bag, layers to wear and food and snacks for the boys but we didn't think Sydney was very stroller friendly. Sydney had daylight savings time but it was only an hour different from Brisbane so we stuck to Brisbane time as normal.

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Dana drape knit cardi in boysenberry
Necklace: Nibbly Bits Abacus teething necklace in pop
Tank: French Connection feather foil singlet
Skirt: Target grey marle maxi skirt
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in black
Bag: Balenciaga Day bag in 2005 magenta (20% off with code 'REAL')

Why I wore it:

I was looking forward to this day the most! I didn't have a lot of space as we packed light, mostly taking extra clothes for the boys. I still prioritised so while I wore the same Converse every day, I had room for a change of bag and instead of my Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere I swapped out to this magenta Balenciaga day bag for our morning at the aquarium and spending the afternoon with my bestie. She has a magenta Balenciaga bag too so I had to wear this for the occasion!

Did wish I'd packed another jacket, as it was an overcast and colder day and this purple cardigan was the warmest piece I'd packed.


Last worn: purple cardigan, black tank, grey jersey maxi skirt, Converse, Balenciaga magenta day bag.

Other ways to wear: purple cardigan and chambray dress, black tank and printed shorts, grey jersey maxi skirt in monochrome outfit, Converse and printed dresses, Balenciaga magenta day bag with button up breastfeeding dresses.

Perfect for pregnancy: black tank in first trimester, maxi skirt for second trimester travel, magenta Balenciaga and maternity denim.

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4 Days in Sydney With Toddlers: Itinerary

Day One

We landed in Sydney in the afternoon, and it was off to where we were staying for nap time. I will not be sharing the name of the place we stayed as it was the worst place I have ever stayed and if there had been other options available I would have demanded a refund and moved out.

After failed nap time for Toddler T, I took him with me on my bloggy date with Rachel from a Nesting Nomad. It was great to catch up with her again, after meeting her in Brisbane a while back. I followed Google Maps but failed to realise the route resulted in walking up a very long hill to get to the meeting point. Only slightly late. Sorry again Rachel!

We walked through Hyde Park to let Toddler T run around a bit, then met up with Hubby and Baby Boy once he'd woken up. We went for a walk around Paddy's markets and through Chinatown before going to Darling Harbour.

Tip: Darling Harbour playground is perfect for toddlers. 

The boys had the chance to run around and play to expend some energy after sitting still on the flight. Lots of lovely restaurants nearby for dinner options too, although we went back to where we were staying and ordered takeout!

Day Two 

A cold and dull day, it was supposed to rain so we headed to the aquarium as we suspected we might. We hadn't bought our tickets in advance, not wanting to tie ourselves down to anything much with two toddlers.

Tip: Buy your aquarium ticket in advance. The line to purchase was extremely slow.

The aquarium was worth the wait though, the boys loved it. Despite it being perfect indoors weather and a weekend, there was plenty of space for the boys to run around from exhibit to exhibit as it wasn't too crowded. There were roving staff members in a few rooms presenting and talking about things to see, as well as lots of helpful educational information near each tank. Made it easy to explain to the boys what they were seeing, even though they were a little young to read for themselves.

Tip: Take toddlers to the bathroom before you enter. The bathrooms are at the end of the aquarium which is not what you want to discover halfway round.

After the aquarium, we attempted to head over the Pyrmont bridge to get to the shopping centre for lunch. I have fond memories of walking along the bridge on holiday as a kid, back when the monorail was still there! So difficult to do with a stroller though. We'd walked past the lift a few times before we found it, and then getting the lift down into the shopping centre on the other side of the harbour involved getting out on the top floor, walking through the shopping centre, getting another lift down then walking back to go to where we wanted to eat for lunch. On our way back we just walked around the harbour in the cold rather than attempt the silly lift system again.

As the boys napped, my bestie arrived and I snuck out leaving hubby and the boys to rest as we went to the Lindt Cafe for some chocolate and a catch up. It might have just been the company, but it was easily one of my favourite meals in Sydney, as we shared the 'dome of decadence' between 3 of us.




Tip: Lindt Cafe might be a little too chocolate filled to be a good option with a toddler, but they do takeaway!


After an amazing afternoon catching up, it was dinner time and we just headed to the nearest McDonalds for a fuss-free meal, perfect for toddlers!

Day Three

The day Toddler T was looking forward to most - a trip to the zoo and a ride on a Sydney Ferry!

After a slight detour into the Rocks, we eventually made our way to Circular Quay and had the chance to take photos with the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

Tip: The Rocks is NOT stroller friendly, don't even try it. Or you'll end up stuck looking down on the harbour realising the only way down is a very long flight of stairs with a stroller. Thanks again Google Maps!

I expected some excitement from the toddlers about the landmarks we'd been pointing out in books for weeks, but it was of course all about the boats! There was a big cruise liner docked while we were there which was exciting to see.

After buying our tickets we hopped on the ferry to go to Taronga Zoo. It's a short trip, just enough time for the toddlers to enjoy being on a boat and you to point out and take photos of all the landmarks before you arrive at the zoo.

Tip: You don't need to travel round all of Circular Quay to get landmark photos with toddlers - just hop on the Manly ferry and take photos from the boat!

When we arrived at the zoo, as we had bought our tickets in advance we were able to take the gondola up over the animals to the very top, with amazing views of the harbour. Of course it was the animals you fly over that the boys enjoyed more than the view!

Tip: buy your zoo ticket in advance, even if just at the ferry terminal. It gives you the ability to take a gondola up to the top of the hill and work your way down.

Starting at the top of the zoo made getting around with the stroller very easy, no need to push up any hills. While we didn't see all the animals (we skipped the aquatic section after the aquarium the day before, and the line for the tiger experience was too long for a toddler's attention span) the boys had a great time running around and getting up close with the animals we did see.

We had lunch at 'The Fish Stop' which does have non-seafood options, and was less busy than the central 'Food Market' although it does have less choices. It was so easy to get food and then sit in one of the many picnic areas right next to it, with incredible views of the Sydney city and the harbour.

Tip: Grab a bite to eat at 'The Fish Stop' or bring a picnic and sit back on the lawns for an amazing view out over the harbour!

While the monkeys were the favourite animal of the day (and it was incredible watching one of them mesmerised by my teething necklace!) there were so many to choose from. There was a lovely playground in the farm animal section. Although it was geared towards older kids the boys really enjoyed playing there for a break from animal-watching.

The walk back to the ferry was a really nice downhill stretch, and while you do have to go through a gift shop as you exit the big shark tank and presentation that was on around the sharks meant the boys were nicely distracted as we left, souvenir free. If only that had been the case at the aquarium, ha!


Once we got back to Sydney, we headed to Helm Bar for dinner. I'd looked up a few places online for food and Helm bar was highly recommended, but seemed like a noisy party bar every time we passed it before. Having no luck finding anywhere else open on a Sunday night in our price range, we went there as it was listed as wheelchair accessible. While there's no easy way to get a stroller up the stairs to the bar, there is a lovely beer garden you can sit in and order food and drinks. It was perfect for families.

Food was so well priced, especially for Sydney, and the boys loved their kids meal. I'm still sad we tried it on the last night so I couldn't go back for another schnitzel burger - definitely will be next time I'm in Sydney!

Day Four

This was our travel day, we didn't do much other than pack up, prepare another lunchbox full of snacks for the plane trip home, and make our way to the airport.

Top Tips for Travelling With Toddlers

Have transport options
The toddlers can walk, and we had the stroller and Ergo Baby carrier for babywearing so there were options when the boys didn't want to walk any more.

Be flexible
We had a general list of the sights we wanted to see but didn't buy any tickets in advance so that our days could change if necessary, and we weren't feeling rushed as we didn't try to do too much each day. One activity or outing is fine, and just wing it for the rest of the day.

Pack snacks
This works for the plane flight too, but when you're in a new place you might not know how far away the next kid-friendly place to eat is, so having snacks with you for the toddlers and yourself comes in helpful.

Take lots of photos
The only regret I had in Sydney was that I didn't take a lot of photos (a few hundred over the 4 days instead of my usual couple of hundred I take a day when something exciting is going on!).


Would we do it again?
Not until the boys are bigger and the stroller isn't needed - it was a real pain trying to fit the stroller in places - even though we packed a small umbrella travel stroller instead of our usual big one. Sydney definitely felt a lot more cramped and less stroller friendly than Brisbane.


What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Dana drape knit cardi in boysenberry
Necklace: Nibbly Bits Abacus teething necklace in pop
Tee: Jeanswest Flavia foil printed polka dot tee deep iris
Skirt: Target grey marle maxi skirt
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in black
Bracelets: the usual plus Cora purpleheart and mother of pearl watch C/O JORD
Bag: Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere

Why I wore it:

Unlike the outfit above, I actually found it too warm to wear the cardigan on this day and wished I hadn't brought it! We took the boys to see the Harbour Bridge and Opera House at last (our third day in Sydney...) and hopped on the Manly Ferry over to Taronga Zoo.

The benefit of wearing the Ergo Baby carrier in the back carry position (you can just see Baby Boy's little foot peeking out in the pic!) is that it's easy to wear a cross body bag, and my Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere was perfect for keeping my camera close by for walking around the zoo.


Last worn: purple cardigan (above), polka dot tee, jersey maxi skirt (above), Converse (above), Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere bag.

Other ways to wear: purple cardigan and button down tank, polka dot tee and mustard cardi, jersey maxi skirt and graphic tee, Converse and colourful jeans, Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere bag and skinny jeans.

Perfect for pregnancy: maxi skirt in third trimester, Converse in the second trimester, Louis Vuitton speedy Bandouliere and maternity denim.


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First Flight With Two Toddlers: Travel Style Brisbane to Sydney

Mid-October we took the boys on their first ever flight, a short trip for a few days down to Sydney. When I was planning our trip I was curious about how I'd keep the boys entertained on the flights and what our first flight experience would be like. I've had a few questions about that too so I thought I'd share more about what the flights were like as well as what I was wearing. Feel free to skip the flight-related stuff if you're not interested and just focus on the outfits, it's a bit of a long post otherwise.

Background to Our Trip:

Toddler T is 3, and Baby Boy is 19 months. Both are good walkers. We took a travel stroller but checked it at the gate along with a suitcase and I had my Ergobaby carrier (which couldn't be used during takeoff and landing or to go through airport security, but can be used at all other times). Baby Boy was on an infant ticket and had to sit in my lap, Toddler T had his own seat.

For luggage, we had my Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere, the baby bag, hubby's backpack and a carry on 'pull along' suitcase as hand luggage.

We flew Qantas both ways. Both flights were mid-morning flights, when the boys are most relaxed. Toddler T was enthusiastically greeted and given a small activity pack gift on boarding and the flight attendants were polite, friendly, and reminded us we could ask them for anything if we needed help.

What I wore:

Jacket: Kmart striped maxi cardigan
Necklace: Nibbly Bits Abacus teething necklace in pop
Tank: Target embroidered khaki tank
Jeans: Jeanswest Cecile dove grey skinny jeans
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in black
Bag: Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere

Why I wore it:

Simple comfortable outfit for our first flight. While it was a warm day in Brisbane, I suspected I might need the light duster on the plane and in cooler Sydney. This duster washes well, dries quickly and the print disguises any creases so it's perfect for travel.

While I had multiple outfit choices for the boys, I limited what I brought along to just one pair of shoes (my trusty Converse) and these jeans and a maxi skirt. I usually wear jeans when flying, they are comfortable and it also means that the the heaviest item of clothing is outside your bag in case you're getting near the baggage weight limit!


Last worn: stripe duster, khaki embroidered tank, grey skinny jeans, Converse, Louis Vuitton Speedy Bandouliere.

Other ways to wear: stripe duster and chambray dress, khaki embroidered tank and denim shorts, grey skinny jeans and colourful cardis, Converse and a shift dress, Louis Vuitton Speedy Bandouliere and maxi dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: stripe duster and maternity shorts, Converse for second trimester travel, wrap dresses and speedy bandouliere in second trimester.

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How To Keep Two Toddlers Amused on a Flight

Take a Short Flight

The flight from Brisbane to Sydney is only around an hour and a half, so we didn't have to keep the boys amused for too long. We also luckily didn't have to attempt using the airplane bathroom with either of them. Not always possible, but definitely helpful for us to have a small flight as our first one, and it's one of the reasons we picked Sydney to travel to.

Run Around the Airport

We got to the airport and the gate early. We picked window seats at the gate so that the boys could watch the planes and vehicles on the tarmac, while also giving them a large 'corridor' along the window to run up and down while staying in sight and out of the way of the rest of the waiting passengers. We encouraged them to run frequently while we waited for boarding. Did have to stop them from crawling under the seats and disturbing the other people waiting at one point though....

Boarding Tips

We didn't board right away, and waited until the line was shorter so they weren't standing in one spot too long. Toddler T had his boarding pass so he was responsible for getting it scanned and showing it to the flight attendants as we boarded which got him involved. We found it best to have Baby Boy and I on the window seat with Toddler T in the middle of hubby and I so there were two sets of hands if either boy needed anything. Boarding time is a good time to wipe down the tray tables and other surfaces with a disinfectant wipe too.

Breastfeeding

If you're breastfeeding remember that baby has to stay seated in your lap and sitting upright for takeoff and landing, so you'll need to wear something you can easily pull down or unbutton to breastfeed as your toddler sits up. Breastfeeding during takeoff and landing is a good way to help with the pressure on little ears.

Bring Snacks

The flights were around regular morning tea time for the boys so that they would be looking for something to eat. As they are so small, eating and drinking during takeoff and landing is the best way to relieve the pressure in their ears. In keeping with my usual over-packing style, I had a Bento lunchbox with two 'levels' of snacks, as well as two identical smaller snack-boxes.
This worked out well for our first flight, when baby Boy enthusiastically grabbed one of the smaller boxes and managed to open it and shower the gate area with food. I was relieved to still have the second backup box.
We opened out the second 'level' of the lunchbox for snacks for the descent. While they weren't as hungry at the end of the flight, having favourite foods and treats available like biscuits meant they were still happy to eat and help their ears on the descent.
One important point to note is that you have to check the customs requirements for food. There are interstate laws about taking fruit across state lines in Australia. This meant we picked strawberries, raisins and apple which could be freshly prepared, cut and washed the morning of the flight and completely consumed before landing. We left out bananas and mandarins as we didn't want to get in trouble for still having the peel, and just bought more fruit when we arrived in Sydney.

Bring Things to Do

As well as the activity pack Qantas provided, I brought a few books along, some colouring books and activity packs with stickers and pencils. We put the bento lunchbox in the seat pocket, along with their drinks and a book and kept the activity packs in the baby bag under the seat in front. With backups in the carry on case we put in the overhead compartment, but never needed to use.
We didn't bring toys as everything you bring will end up on the floor at least once. My teething necklace was the only 'toy' as it stayed around my neck, and Baby Boy gnawed on it a little when he got grizzly during the descent into Sydney.

Plan Your Flight Entertainment

On takeoff we sat the lunchbox in Toddler T's lap so both boys could easily reach it and pick what they wanted to eat. Once the plane was level, we packed it away and did some of the activity books together until the refreshments were served (we asked for a bottle of water at this point to refill the boys drinks). Once they got tired of picking at the bun provided for morning tea, as neither of them seemed to like it, we got out the books to read and did some more activity packs. We followed what the boys wanted to do and changed activities as they wanted until it was time to descend and pack up the tray tables and bring the snacks out again.

Explain Everything

For weeks leading up to the flight we were reading all the plane related books we had, explaining the check in process, take off and landing. Knowing that the plane would go fast, that the plane would be noisy and that eating and drinking will stop your ears feeling funny helped. Instead of trying to detail everything in the moment, we could quickly refer back to earlier conversations. With a toddler who doesn't like loud noises, explaining each and every noise and movement of the plane helped calm any fears. A tip I picked up from my Dad, who would always tell us what noises to look out for next on our flights as kids. It's a habit now!

What I wore:

Jacket: Kmart striped maxi cardigan
Necklace: Nibbly Bits Abacus teething necklace in pop
Dress: MEV Britney bubble tank in mood indigo C/O Zibibo
Jeans: Jeanswest Cecile dove grey skinny jeans
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in black
Bracelets: the usual plus Cora purpleheart and mother of pearl watch C/O JORD
Bag: Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere

Why I wore it:

This is what I wore for our flight home from Sydney to Brisbane. The same duster, jeans and shoes, just a different tank. I wore my Converse every day, there was no room to pack two pairs of shoes with all the extra clothes I had for the boys. I did manage to pack an extra handbag though, ha! I used my Speedy Bandouliere most days. It's so helpful having a cross body bag when you're navigating airports with toddlers in tow.

My jeans were covered with food crumbs after the first flight, but nothing that a baby wipe couldn't fix to make them presentable enough to travel home in a few days later. The ultimate mum essential: baby wipes clean everything!


Last worn: stripe duster (above), navy breastfeeding tank, grey skinny jeans (above), Converse (above), Louis Vuitton Speedy Bandouliere (above).

Other ways to wear: stripe duster and flares, navy breastfeeding tank and maxi skirt, grey skinny jeans and purple cardi, Converse and colourful jeans, Louis Vuitton Speedy Bandouliere and a dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: stripe duster and skater dress, bubble tank in second trimester, Converse in Third Trimester, speedy bandouliere and maternity pencil skirts.

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Style Essentials for Traveling with Toddlers:

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How You Can Wear It:

Comfort is key when flying with toddlers - you don't want to be fussing over your outfit. Make everything machine washable as it will get dirty! A cover-up like a cardigan or duster hides spills and stains and keeps you warm on a cold plane. Converse are comfortable and practical for running around in airports. Jeans are a good choice too as you can easily wipe food crumbs off with a baby wipe.


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Rainy Spring Style: Printed Layers, Colourful Pants and Neutral V-Neck Tees

Spring weather can be pretty varied in Brisbane, much like it can elsewhere in the world. You go from shorts one day to jeans and layers the next.

I took advantage of one of our spring cold snaps to layer up a little, wearing colourful pants with my neutral tees. One of which is leaving my wardrobe.

What I wore:

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

Necklace: Nibbly Bits Feather pendant in peach (C/O)
Tee: Atmos&Here rolled sleeve oversize tee in black (also in grey)
Pants: Jeanswest 'Fiona' skinny leg pant in shiraz
Shoes: Asos leather Chelsea boots in tan
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC in aquamarine with python embossed leather (on sale!)

Why I wore it:

It was a wet and windy day when I wore this. It wasn't very nice weather for the public holiday, or for the planned BBQ at the in-laws. Luckily BBQ's can still go on when it rains! Even if you do have to send someone out with an umbrella to do the cooking. 😂

Since I had been wanting to wear a dress, I decided to persist anyway and wear this printed shirt dress as a kimono. It was a nice extra layer against the wind. These burgundy pants are really good for work, but I like to wear them casually too - that's the main reason I bought them actually. They pass easily for skinny jeans, and look really nice cuffed over ankle boots.

Leaving my Wardrobe: Black V-Neck Tee

Unfortunately this is the last wearing of this black tee on the blog. I really like it but it's just not held up very well. It's normally soft and has the perfect drape, however to maintain that it needs a gentle wash and when you wear it around toddlers and babies...everything usually needs more than a gentle wash at the end of the day! It's been tossed in the washing machine for a serious wash too many times and has just stretched out and lost that softness. I was much too uncomfortable constantly pulling it back up and tugging it into place through the day. It's no longer fitting well and has stretched out so I really can't wear it. I usually plan to wear things one last time, and during the day as I constantly readjusted the tee I realised this was its last wear!

I'm sad it hasn't had a longer run in my wardrobe, but I know it was my own neglect that lead to it leaving. It was $17.47 and I wore it 15 times, $1.16 cost per wear. Not bad, but I really wish I could have hit 30 wears on it!

Last worn: shirt dress, black tee, burgundy pants, Chelsea ankle boots, Rebecca Minkoff aqua mini MAC.

Other ways to wear: shirt dress worn two ways, black tee and printed shorts, burgundy pants worn two ways, Chelsea ankle boots and maxi dresses, Rebecca Minkoff aqua mini MAC and printed shorts.

Perfect for pregnancy: black tee in third trimester, burgundy pants in second trimester with a belly band, Chelsea ankle boots in second trimester, mini MAC and maternity shorts.

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Colourful Pants Under $50:

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What I wore:

Jacket: Kmart striped maxi cardigan
Necklace: Jeanswest Taki necklace (C/O)
Tee: Atmos&Here grey v-neck tee with rolled sleeves (also in black)
Jeans: thrifted Emerson red skinny jeans
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in black
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Love cross body bag in grey

Why I wore it:

Since I liked the outfit above so much, I decided to wear a very similar one on the next cooler spring day. These red jeans are perfect with all of the neutrals, such a nice pop of colour. This striped duster is a good layer for spring - nice and light, not too heavy but keeps the wind at bay. Very comfortable to work from home and do the daycare drop off / pick up.

Unlike the black tee above, this grey tee is faring much better in my wardrobe and will be hanging around for a while. I have 7 grey tees in my wardrobe, a grey tee is a wardrobe must-have for me.


Last worn: stripe duster, slouchy grey tee, red skinny jeans, Converse, Rebecca Minkoff Love bag.

Other ways to wear: stripe duster and chambray dress, slouchy grey tee and maxi skirt, red skinny jeans and graphic tee, Converse and maxi skirt, Rebecca Minkoff Love and floral dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: stripe duster in second trimester, grey tee for second trimester travel, Converse in second trimester, Love bag in third trimester

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Printed Dusters Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

Colourful jeans or pants are a fun way to add some colour to neutral layers. A printed kimono or duster is another way to add interest to your outfit, and perfect for fluctuating spring temperatures.

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Two Ways to Wear Grey Marle Jersey Pencil Skirt: Corporate and SAHM Style

While I was on maternity leave with toddler T, I bought this grey jersey pencil skirt. Reasoning I'd be glad I did when I returned to work months later. It's never been the perfect piece I've thought it would be when I bought it though.
It's pieces like this that make me stick to my 'wear it twice in the month I buy it rule' to stop buying things I think will be perfect for later, and just buy pieces that are perfect for my life right now.

With my return to work, it was an opportunity to see this pencil skirt again when I unboxed all my workwear and make the decision if it was a keeper or a mistake to buy. I wore it two different ways to really test it out.

What I wore: 

Jacket: Zara cream jersey blazer

Necklace: Diva red stone necklace
Top: River Island floral print sleeveless shirt
Skirt: Atmos&Here grey marle jersey pencil skirt (also available in black or stripes)
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs suede flats in red
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote in moon navy (on sale in pink, or in white)
Nails: OPI This Cost Me a Mint

Why I wore it:

First time I wore this skirt to the office I worried at one point that the jersey fabric was too casual. Since then, I've tried to make it a little formal each time I've worn it. The style challenge for the day was 'Starts With B' so a big blue bag, a button up tank and a blazer made this jersey pencil skirt perfectly formal enough for my business casual office. I didn't worry at all about this looking too casual. Not sure if it was the collared top and blazer or the fact that I'm in a new area after returning from leave where my customers are located off-site and I no longer interact with them in person, so I can be more casual.

I added the red necklace at the last moment. I'd tried on a longer blue one that morning too but I think the red necklace just makes the outfit. The red suede shoes were fun to wear too. I find bright shoes harder to wear than bright bags so these don't get worn often. They are so cute though, I keep them around.

I really liked this outfit. I did have hard time getting a photo that morning without the sun in my eye, that was the only mild annoyance!


Last worn: cream blazer, floral button up tank, grey pencil skirt, red suede ballet flats, Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote.

Other ways to wear: cream blazer and printed dress, floral button up tank and maxi skirt, grey pencil skirt over a dress, red suede ballet flats and a little black dress, Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote and fit and flare dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: cream blazer in the first trimester, skirt in third trimester, red ballet flats and hidden second trimester bump, MAB Tote and wrap dress in third trimester.

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Jersey Pencil Skirts Under $50:

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What I wore:

Jacket: New Look Petite print kimono
Necklace: Nibbly Bits Abacus teething necklace in pop
Top: Jeanswest 'Josie' striped back strap tank
Skirt: Atmos&Here grey marle jersey pencil skirt (also available in black or stripes)
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in white
Bracelets: the usual plus Roie Designs waxed leather cream howlite beaded wrap bracelet
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC in aquamarine with python embossed leather (on sale!)
Nails: OPI This Cost Me a Mint

Why I wore it:

The very first time I wore this skirt I attempted to wear it casually and I didn't really feel comfortable with the resulting outfit. This time around, I wore it again for a style challenge but I actually really loved the resulting outfit. It was just perfect for my day off. I spent it taking Baby Boy to a few appointments that sadly didn't go as well as I expected but at least I liked my outfit.

The style challenge for the day was 'Starts With D', so I tried to dress down this skirt. By leaving the tank untucked, wearing Converse and adding the kimono, I think I made the pencil skirt perfectly casual. It was cool and comfortable for an extremely hot day too.

When I unpacked this skirt at the end of my maternity leave I had planned to give it the 'one last wear' test before I got rid of it, but it's definitely staying in my wardrobe, as I felt so happy in it in both these outfits.


Last worn: navy kimono, stripe tank, grey marle pencil skirt (above), Converse, Rebecca Minkoff aqua mini MAC bag.

Other ways to wear: navy kimono and denim shorts, stripe tank and leopard print, grey pencil skirt and winter layers, Converse and colourful jeans, Rebecca Minkoff aqua mini MAC bag and maxi dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: stripe tank in second trimester, grey pencil skirt and hidden early baby bump, Converse and maternity shorts, mini MAC in second trimester. 

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Grey Marle Pencil Skirts Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

A jersey pencil skirt is extremely comfortable, and can be dressed up or down depending on what you wear it with. Button ups and blazers are good way to make it more formal for work, and you can dress it down with untucked loose layers and Converse for the weekend or your day off.


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Maxi Skirts and Graphic Tees with Aqua Mini MAC Bag

I like wearing graphic tees and maxi skirts together. It's an outfit combination I've always enjoyed wearing, even when pregnant. It's easy stay at home mum style.

I was taking part in the #SpringFlingStyle challenge on Instagram, and was hunting through the hashtag to see what others were wearing when I stumbled across someone with a cute jumper with little graphic details down the sleeves. While I don't have anything similar, it was seeing this that made me realise I hadn't worn my graphic tees in a while, and I picked out two of my favourites to wear.

What I wore:

Necklace: Nibbly Bits BB plum silicone teething necklace (C/O)

Tee: Monsterthreads star print graphic tee
Skirt: AT by Atmos&Here Mars striped maxi skirt
Shoes: Rebecca Minkoff Georgina studded gladiator sandals in blush
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC in aquamarine with python embossed leather (on sale!)

Why I wore it:

This was the first outfit that came to mind when I decided to get some of my graphic tees out after being inspired by @teepeestyle. I was surprised to see that I hadn't worn this tee and skirt together before! I think the navy graphic tee works so well with the navy stripes in the maxi skirt.

The style challenge for the day was 'A for...' so of course I went with accessories, picking my aqua mini MAC bag which was due another wear.

This maxi skirt hasn't been worn for a while. I do try wear my maxi skirts year round, but this one with a split up the side isn't the best in winter. On this cool spring day it was just perfect though. Great for running errands with the toddlers.


Last worn: navy moon tee, stripe maxi skirt, studded sandals, Rebecca Minkoff aqua mini MAC.

Other ways to wear: navy moon tee and purple skinny jeans, stripe maxi skirt postpartum, studded sandals, Rebecca Minkoff aqua mini MAC and printed shorts.

Perfect for pregnancy: graphic tee in the third trimester, maxi skirt and maternity tank, mini MAC and maternity shorts.

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Maxi Skirts Under $50:

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What I wore:

Necklace: pink beaded disc necklace

Tee: Oscar's Law 'Break the puppy trade' tee
Skirt: Noisy May long denim maxi skirt
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in white
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC in aquamarine with python embossed leather (on sale!)

Why I wore it:

The style challenge for the day was 'C for...' and I was initially stumped. I decided to go with colourful accessories and a striped maxi skirt, then at the last moment changed my mind and picked this chambray maxi skirt instead of the other one I had planned. I actually ended up loving this outfit more than the one I'd planned the night before, I really like this graphic tee and maxi skirt together. Plus the chambray and Converse met the style challenge prompt for the day perfectly.

Nice easy outfit to work from home and do the daycare drop off and pick up. I liked this so much I continued to wear it even after an entire glass of water was spilled on the hem of my skirt - luckily chambray dries out quickly!


Last worn: Oscar's Law tee, chambray maxi skirt, Converse, Rebecca Minkoff aquamarine mini MAC bag (above).

Other ways to wear: Oscar's Law tee and winter layers, chambray maxi skirt worn two ways, Converse and a dress, Rebecca Minkoff aquamarine mini MAC bag and floral kimono.

Perfect for pregnancy: Oscar's Law tee in second trimester, Converse and maternity shorts, mini MAC bag in second trimester.

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Graphic Tees Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

Graphic tees look great with jeans and shorts, but you don't have to stick to pairing them with denim. They look just as good with maxi skirts.

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