Shein White Crochet Trim Kimono, Monochrome Printed Shorts Outfits

A while back Shein asked me to pick a few pieces for another collaboration. I picked out a navy swing dress as well as this white crochet trim kimono. I love my printed kimono collection, but wanted something a little more plain to pair with some of my printed shorts for summer.

What I wore:

Jacket: Shein lace trimmed crochet inset white kimono C/O

Necklace: Lovisa gold filigree heart pendant
Tank: Cotton On 'eternity' tank in charcoal marle
Shorts: Jeanswest Parker printed shirred short
Shoes: Wittner 'Jasmarie' studded sandals
Bracelets: the usual Lovisa rose gold beaded bracelet stack
Bag: Louis Vuitton MM damier azur neverfull

Why I wore it:

This was supposed to be a quiet day at home with the boys, but ended up with us getting their grandparents to babysit at the last moment as I had to go into the city with hubby in the morning. I am so very thankful that we live nearby to our parents, they help us so much.

I took the chance to wear a proper necklace instead of a teething one for a change! The rose gold heart matches nicely to my rose gold bracelet stack. The first time I wore these shorts I paired them with a bright tank, but when I bought them I was thinking about wearing them with greys for a monochromatic kind of outfit. I've worn the shorts with grey tees before, but I really liked this fitted grey tank. Even if it took me a while to accept my post baby bulge in tight clothes at first!

First time I've worn this kimono, so I thought I'd share my thoughts on it. As mentioned above, it came free from Shein. It actually arrived super quickly via courier, which I wasn't expecting. It did however arrive completely crushed, as expected! Nothing a quick wash and couldn't sort out. This kimono is an air-dry only one, no ironing needed, which is a bonus. Threw it in the washing machine and left it to air dry.

In terms of quality, it had a couple of loose threads I had to cut before I wore it, but no more have appeared since, even after the wash. I like the crochet detail, it was quite popular on Instagram too. The pretty detail on the back is definitely the best thing about it, I don't have any kimonos like that. Even with the detail on the back and the crochet trim, it's so easy to wear as it's a neutral white that goes with everything. Great if you have printed shorts like these that might be tricky to pair with printed kimonos. Pleased to have added it to my summer wardrobe.


Last worn: grey tank, Parker printed shorts, studded sandals, Louis Vuitton neverfull. First time I've worn the kimono as it's a new arrival.

Other ways to wear: grey tank and Paisley skirt, Parker printed shorts and turquoise tank, studded sandals and little black dress, Louis Vuitton neverfull at the beach.

Perfect for pregnancy: grey tank in third trimester, studded sandals in second trimester, Louis Vuitton neverfull at 38 weeks.

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Printed Shorts Under $50:

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What I wore:

Jacket: Shein lace trimmed crochet inset white kimono C/O
Necklace: Nibbly Bits Abacus teething necklace in pop
Tank: Kmart navy ribbed tank
Shorts: Jeanswest 'Scarlette' printed shorts
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bracelets: the usual plus Roie Designs black leather Swarovski beaded wrap bracelet
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Love cross body bag in grey with Rebecca Minkoff Crystal Star Shoulder Guitar strap

Why I wore it:

Squinting like crazy in these pics! I'd gotten excited when the sun was behind a cloud, setup the camera and tripod and then just as I went to take the pics the sun popped out again, ha!

As the previous day (above) hadn't gone according to plan, we fitted more Christmas fun into this day. We spend the morning in the pool as it was so hot, and then baked some Christmas tree brownies in the afternoon, before taking a walk around the local Christmas lights in the evening. It feels strange to be writing about Christmas so close to the end of January, but I've been so behind with blogging pics!

I've worn the navy tank and printed shorts together before, it's a combination I really like. With the white in the print on the shorts I thought the white kimono was a good layer to tie it all together really nicely.


Last worn: crochet trim kimono (above), navy tank, printed shorts, Havaianas, Rebecca Minkoff guitar strap, Rebecca Minkoff Love bag.

Other ways to wear: navy tank and yellow accessories, printed shorts and floral kimono, Rebecca Minkoff guitar strap and red and Green Christmas outfit, Rebecca Minkoff Love bag and maxi dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: Rebecca Minkoff Love bag in second trimester.

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White Kimonos Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

A kimono is a fun light layer to add to summer outfits, to get the benefits of a complete piece on your outfit without overheating. If you have a lot of printed pieces in your wardrobe, consider a block colour kimono in a neutral shade like this white one. It doesn't have to be boring though, even with a neutral colour you can get fun details like lace, crochet or tseels to add a little more interest to your kimono and outfit.



Did You Know: I have a YouTube Channel! Full of pregnancy style ideas, handbag reviews and ways to wear inspo, along with a lot of what's in my bag videos: Away From The Blue YouTube.


Linking up with Oh Hey Girl, Style on the Daily, What I Wore, Fashion Files, Fun Fashion, Weekend Wear, Flashback Fashion, Fabulous Friday, Passion for Fashion.

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Monochrome Printed Shorts Outfits for Summer

I love my soft printed shorts. They make summer dressing easy, particularly for a summer that's as hot as this one is. Take a pair of printed shorts, a similarly coloured top and you have an easy monochrome outfit that's perfect for beating the summer heat.

Even though I ended up 'redoing' one of the outfits a few days later as I didn't like the accessories!

What I wore:

Necklace: Nibbly Bits Abacus teething necklace in pop
Singlet: MEV Britney bubble tank in mood indigo C/O Zibibo
Shorts: Jeanswest 'Scarlette' printed shorts
Shoes: slim gold Havaianas
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Regan Satchel Tote in moon

Why I wore it:

Wore this for the longest drive I've ever done, a roadtrip to see my friend who had recently moved to Kilcoy. It's about an hour and a half from Brisbane, and there was roadworks so it took longer than expected. She told me it was an hour and a half and yet google suggested it had a shorter route, so I wasn't too worried when we set off slightly later than intended. I quickly realised Google was wrong when we hit our first patch of traffic! Thankfully my sweet friend let me stay a little longer so that the whole day wasn't taken up by driving, and our kids got some time to play together.

With the navy tank, printed shorts and Regan satchel bag I added the purple teething necklace to add just a little extra colour and stop my outfit being too monochromatic. While the tank and printed shorts are different shades of blue, I really liked this outfit. It was wonderful catching up with my friend too. The kids had a great time together, and it was nice to see them all before their sibling arrived (her due date was the very next day, but baby stayed in a little longer!).

Last worn: navy tank, printed shorts, gold Havaianas, Rebecca Minkoff Regan satchel.

Other ways to wear: navy tank and purple jeans, printed shorts and ankle boots, Rebecca Minkoff Regan satchel worn 4 ways.

Perfect for pregnancy: navy tank in third trimester.

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Printed Shorts Under $50:

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What I wore:

Necklace: Roie Designs long freshwater pearl necklace with tassel (first outfit) Nibbly Bits Abacus teething necklace in pop (second outfit)

Dress: Jeanswest 'Lucy' colour block tee in grey marle/rosebud
Shorts: Jeanswest Parker printed shirred short
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs black logo plaque ballet flats (first outfit) Wittner 'Jasmarie' studded sandals (second outfit)
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Love cross body bag in grey

Why I wore it:

No, you're not seeing double. I really did wear the top and shorts together twice. The first time I wore it, I wasn't sure on the shoes. I picked the ballet flats because it was a wet day and these ones are closed in and have rubber soles, good for the rain. But when I looked at the photos after I took them, I hated the shoes with the outfit. I was only working from home that day, with the daycare pickup and drop off, so I resolved to try the tee and shorts together again on Friday, but with different accessories.

I much preferred the studded sandals with the shorts, and as it was my day off I spent the morning at my ABA mother's group before going out for lunch and some shopping with my sister. So I prefered the days activities too, much nicer than working, ha!

Thought I'd include both very similar outfits to show you that if you're not enjoying an outfit, maybe all you need to do is change up the accessories! I really liked the colourblock tee with these shorts, the pink panel on the back added such a nice touch with the black shorts and I'll probably wear this combination again, with different accessories again.


Last worn: grey colourblock tee, Parker printed shorts, black ballet flats, studded sandals, Rebecca Minkoff Love bag.

Other ways to wear: grey colourblock tee and skinny jeans, printed shorts and bright tank, black ballet flats and wrap dress, studded sandals and maxi dress, Rebecca Minkoff Love bag and guitar strap.

Perfect for pregnancy: grey colourblock tee in second trimester, studded sandals in second trimester, Rebecca Minkoff Love bag in third trimester.

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More Printed Shorts Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

Printed shorts are so easy to wear. Basics are a good pairing with any kind of print in your wardrobe. Neutrals is a good rule of thumb, greys and blacks work well with most prints no matter what colours are in the print. You can always go more colourful though, and wear a piece that matches a colour in the print for a simple monochromatic outfit.


Linking up with Flashback Fashion, Passion for Fashion, Weekend Wear, Style Wise, Fab Favourites, Weekend Linkup, Friday Favourites, Shoe & Tell, Mix It Monday.


Did You Know: I have a YouTube Channel! Full of pregnancy style ideas, handbag reviews and ways to wear inspo, along with a lot of what's in my bag videos: Away From The Blue YouTube.

One of my latest videos is sharing what my Louis Vuitton Christmas present was:

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Maxi Dresses and Quilted Bags

Continuing the feeling of being so behind with blogging, two more maxi dress outfits I wore before Christmas! I actually ended up wearing these both on the same day - one during the day for my local ABA Christmas party, and the other in the evening for my office Christmas party.

What I wore:

Earrings: A Little Bit of North blue mandala earrings (giveaway prize, close up photo)
Necklace: floral lei with Tiffany diamonds by the yard necklace layered with Tai gold alphabet necklaces, gifted frangipani necklace, and For King & Country Priceless Australian coin and crest necklace
Dress: MEV Havana maxi dress C/O Zibibo
Belt: Kmart thin gold glitter belt
Shoes: NineWest "Quicken" wedges in natural
Bracelets: the usual plus Roie Designs waxed leather cream howlite beaded wrap bracelet
Bag: Chanel vintage quilted lambskin flap (same in blue)

Why I wore it:

As you can tell, my office Christmas party had a theme, ha! I'd been looking forward to the party this year. Last December I was on maternity leave, and although my boss invited me to the Christmas party it was when I was in hospital with Baby Boy so I had to turn it down.

It was a bittersweet night. It was wonderful catching up with colleagues outside of work, especially those that have moved teams while was on leave and I no longer get to work closely with. I loved getting to have a good chat again! However it was so sad too as inevitably discussion turned to last year's party, which I missed because of the hospital stay. Made me really miss my boys, and I couldn't wait to get home to them.
There was one funny moment where a colleague said I should have come along to the party last year anyway, and I had to explain that as I was Baby Boy's food source (breastfeeding) I couldn't leave him. While this beautiful pink maxi dress is a nursing dress, we don't need that feature now. Worked perfectly with the floral lei to tie in with the party theme, and I even wore my frangipani necklace (and a few other ones).

This vintage Chanel bag is one of my treasured pieces, and the cross body strap came in handy to allow me to hold food and drinks. I even wore wedges for a bit of extra height (although I regretted it a little when I got home, so used to flats now!).


Last worn: MEV pink maxi dress, gold glitter belt, nude wedges, vintage Chanel bag.

Other ways to wear: pink maxi dress worn 30 ways, nude wedges and lace dress, vintage Chanel bag and jeans.

Perfect for pregnancy: MEV pink maxi dress at 39 weeks, vintage Chanel bag in second trimester.

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More Quilted Handbags:

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What I wore:

Necklace: Nibbly Bits BB plum silicone teething necklace (C/O)
Dress: Jeanswest 'Sierra' embellished black maxi dress (on sale!)
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bracelets: the usual plus Christmas bow bracelet (with bells!) and Roie Designs black leather Swarovski beaded wrap bracelet
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Love cross body bag in grey with Rebecca Minkoff Crystal Star Shoulder Guitar strap

Why I wore it:

This was what I wore during the day - we had our local Australian Breastfeeding Association Christmas party, where we play a sneaky secret santa. Everyone brings a gift under $10, we all draw a number, then the person with number 1 unwraps a gift. The next person can pick another gift to unwrap, or steal the first one. Lots of people involved their toddlers and asked their opinion so they got in on the game too, so much fun. Toddler T had a great time! We enjoyed making the brownies with the kit we won too.

As expected though, all the time with toddlers and yummy morning tea and presents everywhere, my dress looked a little worse for wear so I was glad I'd planned a different dress to wear in the evening!

This was the perfect Christmas party outfit though, dressy but casual at the same time. Maxi dresses work for so many dress codes! Last year I went in shorts and tee, anything goes really. I did feel a little over dressed for my afternoon dentist appointment, with the embellished dress and bag strap, but my dentist ended up complimenting me on it so at least it made her smile! :)


Last worn: embellished maxi dress, black Havaianas, Rebecca Minkoff crystal guitar strap, Rebecca Minkoff quilted love bag.

Other ways to wear: embellished maxi dress with scarf as a belt, Rebecca Minkoff crystal guitar strap and printed shorts, Rebecca Minkoff quilted love bag and skinny jeans.

Perfect for pregnancy: embellished maxi dress at 39 weeks, Rebecca Minkoff quilted love bag in third trimester.

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Maxi Dresses Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

Maxi dresses are a great option for a busy mum - they are grab and go outfits! You can accessorise them with layers of delicate necklaces, or stick with a practical teething necklace for time with toddlers. Quilted bags look great with them, and a cross body option allows you to go hands free.  Maxi dresses work for many different dress codes as they can be as formal or casual as you want. Nice to wear in the summer heat too.


Linking up with Passion for Fashion, Fabulous Friday, Lizzie in Lace, Friday Faves, Shoe & Tell, Modest Monday.

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Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Outfits

Skipping a few outfits I still haven't shared from December to post my Christmas outfits before we get too far away from Christmas day! I've linked to a few of the Christmas day photos I shared too, in case you missed them on social media.

For Christmas Eve, we traditionally do crafts, make and decorate cookies, listen to Christmas songs, and just relax and enjoy spending time together while wearing our Christmas tees. Christmas day was a busy one, we had both sets of grandparents in Brisbane so we split the day between them both. Different activities means two different outfits.

What I wore:

Earrings: Jeanswest Evy dangly earring
Tee: festive glitter Santa tee
Skirt: thrifted Billabong red printed maxi skirt
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bracelets: the usual plus Christmas bow bracelet (with bells!)
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Love cross body bag in grey with Rebecca Minkoff Crystal Star Shoulder Guitar strap

Why I wore it:

As Christmas eve was on a Sunday, we took advantage of the special Christmas service at our local church in the morning, before heading down the coast in the afternoon to spend time with my family.

As you might have seen from my overshare on Insta stories, we all wore our Christmas tees, made and decorated cookies, did some craft, ate a lot of good food and watched Polar Express with the boys for the first time. They loved it!

I often wear this tee with shorts to beat the heat (even while pregnant!) but decided to be a little different this year and wear with a skirt instead. Thanks to everyone who voted on Instagram to help me pick, I went with this red skirt over the chambray one I was also considering. Red and green are perfect Christmas colours!


Last worn: santa glitter tee, red printed maxi skirt, Havaianas, Rebecca Minkoff love bag. First time I've shared the guitar strap on the blog.

Other ways to wear: santa glitter tee and denim shorts, red printed maxi skirt and leather jacket, Rebecca Minkoff love bag and gold jeans.

Perfect for pregnancy: santa glitter tee in second trimester, Rebecca Minkoff Love bag in third trimester.

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What I wore:

Earrings: Jeanswest Evy dangly earring
Necklaces: Tiffany diamonds by the yard necklace layered with Tai gold alphabet necklaces, Silhoupette gold plated Shih Tzu necklace and gifted Lovisa gold filigree heart pendant

Dress: Gypsy 05 orange ombre maxi dress
Shoes: slim gold Havaianas
Bracelets: the usual plus silver charm bracelet, gifted Lovisa rose gold beaded bracelet stack
Bag: Balenciaga envelope clutch in 2012 mangue with giant 12 RGGH
Nails: OPI Breakfast at Tiffany Collection Five and Ten

Why I wore it:

This is what I wore for our family filled Christmas day. We started earlier than expected of course when the boys woke up, and spent the morning exchanging and unwrapping gifts. After playing with the new toys a little and dressing the boys in the new clothes Santa brought them, we headed out to Christmas lunch at the in-laws. Another Christmas tree, more Christmas presents and some yummy food and drink.

Instead of putting the boys down for a now much needed and overdue nap, we hopped into the car to drive to my parents and thankfully they slept a little then.

Another Christmas tree, more presents to be exchanged and so much good food, we a delicious Christmas dinner there. A storm hit in the evening so when it briefly stopped we headed home, perfect timing as once we were home again we got hit with a second storm.

With traveling, unwrapping presents, playing with toys and lots of food, I went with a classic maxi dress. It's my go to for Christmas day as we all like to get dressed up for it in my family. Hubby's family is much more casual, but a maxi dress is perfect for both places. With 36 degree heat too (97 fahrenheit) this light dress was all I could stand to wear.

Although it's been a while since I've bought a new dress for Christmas, I was happy to shop my wardrobe and pick out an existing maxi dress. My bestie gave me this one, and it never fails to get compliments. Added lots of gold and rose gold accessories to compliment the peach ombre maxi dress and colourful yellow Balenciaga envelope clutch.


Last worn: Gypsy 05 ombre maxi dress, gold Havaianas, Balenciaga mangue envelope clutch.

Other ways to wear: Gypsy 05 ombre maxi dress and kimono, Balenciaga mangue envelope clutch and printed jeans.

Perfect for pregnancy: Balenciaga mangue envelope clutch in third trimester.

How You can Wear It

Formal or casual, however you dress to celebrate Christmas, comfort is key. With all of the good food you want something non-restrictive, so an empire waist maxi dress or elasticated maxi skirt is a good idea. Perfect for when the aircon gets too cold as it covers your legs, but loose enough to catch the breeze and keep you cool when it's a hot and humid day. You can wear a maxi in winter too, although snow might make it a little harder!

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas last week and you're having a great start to 2018!


Linking up with Lizzie in Lace, Style Wise, Friday Faves, Style Nudge, Hello Monday, Mix It Monday.

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Print Mixing: Floral Kimono With Stripes and Polka Dots Foil Print Tees

I love this floral kimono, and I've been wearing it a little more than usual lately to meet a challenge I set myself at the start of the year to wear more pieces in my wardrobe 30 times.

As I recently got two new foil print tees, I took the chance to wear it with them for a little bit of print mixing: floral with stripes and polka dots. It helped me hit 30 wears of the kimono too!

What I wore:

Jacket: Somedays Lovin' Yakuza print kimono
Tee: Jeanswest Anika foil stripe tee in white and silver
Shorts: Jeanswest Sara distressed hot short
Shoes: Wittner 'Jasmarie' studded sandals
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Love cross body bag in grey

Why I wore it:

I've worn this floral kimono with stripes before - stripes are my go-to for print mixing as they really go with everything! When I got this striped tee in the Jeanswest sale I knew I'd wear it with this kimono, i think the grey of the kimono and the silver foil stripes go together nicely. With the busy print mixing on top, I stuck with a neutral pair of shorts on the bottom - another Jeanswest sale purchase! I continued on the grey and silver theme with the grey Rebecca Minkoff love bag with silver hardware. I really liked how this outfit came together, perfect for a quiet Saturday running a few errands.


Last worn: floral kimono, black denim shorts, studded sandals, Rebecca Minkoff Love bag. First time I've worn the striped tee on the blog as it's a recent purchase.

Other ways to wear: floral kimono worn 30 ways, stripe tee, black denim shorts and burgundy tee, studded sandals and denim shorts, Rebecca Minkoff Love bag and boho dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: kimono and maxi skirt in second trimester, studded sandals in second trimester, Rebecca Minkoff Love bag in third trimester.

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Floral Kimonos Under $50:

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What I wore:

Jacket: Somedays Lovin' Yakuza print kimono
Necklace: Nibbly Bits Abacus teething necklace in pop
Tee: Jeanswest Flavia foil printed polka dot tee deep iris
Shorts: Jeanswest Sara distressed hot short
Shoes: slim gold Havaianas
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan satchel in Harvest Gold
Nails: OPI Fire Escape Rendezvous

Why I wore it:

Once again I'm realising I've worn this tee to my Australian Breastfeeding Association group - it gets worn there quite a lot, haha! I wore this to a topic I'd really been looking forward to - we had a first aid presentation from St John's ambulance. When Toddler T was little, I'd gone to a first aid course for babies and felt quite confident with everything baby first aid related.
A few months ago, when Baby Boy fell ill, everything went out the window and I panicked. I barely remembered what to do and had to ask the 000 operator to tell me each step to do as my mind was blank. Instinct kicked in and I did a few things but couldn't remember what to do next, it was scary. It wasn't until we were out of the ambulance and in the hospital when we were asked if we had done a first aid course that it all came flooding back to me, and I started remembering what we'd been taught.

I asked the presenter to cover the topic again for me and it was nice to know I'd done the right thing calling the ambulance. I picked up some other useful tips and advice from her too, that I hope I'll never have to put into practice!

Outfit-wise, I thought the polka dots and floral print was something very different for me. I don't have a lot of polka dot pieces in my wardrobe. Really liked this combo though - I think the gold foil polka dots on the tee work just as well with the floral kimono as the silver stripes on the tee above. And the mustard yellow micro Regan bag is a nice combination with the yellow on the kimono as well as the navy tee. I've worn this tee and bag together before.

I usually do a purchase review after wearing everything I buy twice. The goal is to learn what works and doesn't in my wardrobe, so I make wiser purchasing decisions in the future.

I love these shorts (even if this is the fourth wear, I forgot to do the review earlier). I already had a couple pairs of black shorts, but I got rid of them as I was worried they were too short. These are still short shorts, but slightly longer than the ones I had before, and still just as comfortable (perhaps even more so!). A classic pair of black shorts is essential for Brisbane summers, I'm really pleased I bought these, and thankful for the Christmas gift card I used to buy them!


Last worn: floral kimono (above), polka dot tee, black denim shorts (above), gold Havaianas, Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan bag.

Other ways to wear: floral kimono and chambray dress, polka dot tee and mustard cardigan, black denim shorts and a dress, gold Havaianas, Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan bag worn 30 ways.

Perfect for pregnancy: floral kimono and maternity shorts.

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Foil Print Tees Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

You don't have to stick with neutral basic pieces when wearing colourful printed kimonos. Stripes and polka dots are fun to try print mixing with. If you're unsure, picking similarly coloured pieces like the silver stripes and grey kimono is a good way to go, and keeping it simple with just two prints and having the rest of your outfit plain makes it easy. The benefit of having one of your pieces being a printed kimono is that if you are unsure when leaving the house and later change your mind, you can easily take that layer off!


Linking up with Fabulous Friday, Fab Favourites, Trend Spin.


I hope that you have a very merry Christmas and enjoy spending time with your friends and family on Monday as we reflect on the greatest gift of all, God sending Jesus.

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Maxi Dresses For Christmas Events (And Where To Get One Now For Christmas Day!)

It's no secret that I love maxi skirts and dresses. While I recently bought a lot of shorts for summer, you can't beat a classic maxi dress in December for all the Christmas related events. I almost always wear a maxi dress on Christmas day too, it's such a good choice. Comfortable for opening presents, running around with toddlers and nice and loose so you can indulge in all that yummy food!

The two jersey maxi dresses below are some of my fave wardrobe oldies. There's still plenty of time to order a maxi dress now and have it arrive before Christmas so you can wear it on Christmas day too!

What I wore:

Necklace: Uniquely Made with Love Sea Change necklace

Dress: Jeanswest 'Chantelle' crochet detail blue printed maxi dress
Shoes: Rebecca Minkoff Georgina studded gladiator sandals in blush
Bracelets: the usual plus silver charm bracelet
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Love cross body bag in grey

Why I wore it:

I wore this a little while ago! We had our family Christmas photo, and as usual I went with the easy maxi dress option. I picked this one specifically as I'd bought the boys little blue poloshirts for the photo, and with hubby in a blue shirt too we were all perfectly themed but not too matchy matchy!

I had a bit of a giggle when we got to the photo area though - it was a blue background! We really coordinated! We usually go to Westfield for our photo, Chermside do pet Santa photos. Unfortunately they had cut their pet santa photos down to just 2 hours over the month and they were of course almost immediately booked out as a result. We ended up booking in with the RSPCA Santa Paws photos for the first time and while it was more expensive, the resulting photo was much better quality. Santa was very understanding too and they took the time to help and suggest things so we managed to get a good photo of us all despite our terrified toddler, who never got anywhere near as close to any other Santas we saw! I recommend them if you're looking for a photo with the whole family, we can't imagine our annual photo without Cooper!


Last worn: blue maxi dress, Rebecca Minkoff Georgina studded sandals, Rebecca Minkoff Love bag.

Other ways to wear: blue maxi dress for first birthday, Rebecca Minkoff Georgina studded sandals worn 30 ways, Rebecca Minkoff Love bag and gold jeans.

Perfect for pregnancy: maxi dress at 39 weeks, Rebecca Minkoff Love bag in second trimester.

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Where to Get Maxi Dresses for Under $50 for Christmas Day!

There is still enough time to order yourself a beautiful maxi dress to wear on Christmas day, if you order now!

In Australia, use next day shipping for dresses at The Iconic:

Last Christmas delivery order date varies depending on your state but can be as late as early morning on the 22nd for same day delivery, or mid-morning on 21st December for next day delivery.

In the UK, shop for maxi dresses at ASOS:

Last Christmas order date is 22nd December for standard UK delivery, or 23rd for express.

In the US, shop maxi dresses at Amazon:

Last Christmas order date is 22nd December for 2 day shopping, or 24th December at 9am for same day delivery.

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What I wore: 

Necklace: Nibbly Bits Wilma teething necklace in pale daffodil
Dress: Jeanswest 'Elodie' tie dye grey jersey maxi dress
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bracelets: the usual plus Christmas bow bracelet (with bells!)
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan satchel in Harvest Gold

Why I wore it:

Another Christmas event, another maxi dress! It seemed the most obvious choice for a Christmas party with the boys.  I like grey and yellow together, so when I saw one of the style challenges in Instagram for the day was 'bold hue', I knew I'd pick yellow accessories with this dress. I've worn the dress and bag together before, it's a nice combination. The little Christmas bow on my wrist was a fun addition for the party, and met yet another Instagram style challenge for 'tied'.

This was such a fun party for me to attend. Last year, we had been looking forward to it. I was in hospital with Baby Boy but we had been confident that we wouldn't be in there long, just a few days at most, which would mean we would be out for the party. Instead, we stayed there much longer than expected and the party marked day 6 in hospital as I continued to room in with Baby Boy. Toddler T's grandparents took him to the party solo instead. It was just a kid's party, but was quite emotional for me reflecting back on where we were last year. I didn't have time to dwell on it for long though, there was a lot to do and see and then we had to dash to swim lessons, and celebrate putting the Christmas tree up in the afternoon.


Last worn: tie dye maxi dress, Havaianas, Rebecca Minkoff Micro Regan bag.

Other ways to wear: tie dye maxi dress knotted, Rebecca Minkoff Micro Regan bag worn 30 ways.

Perfect for pregnancy: tie dye maxi dress at 38 weeks pregnant.

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More Printed Jersey Maxi Dresses Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

For me a maxi dress will always be a go-to over December. It's the perfect mum outfit as it's quick and easy to wear with minimal accessorising required, although you can add bright accessories if you want a bit of a pop. Maxi dresses are comfortable and casual enough for running around with toddlers but dressed up enough for parties and family Christmas photoshoots.

There is still enough time to order a special dress in for Christmas too, with great options under $50 at ASOS, Amazon or The Iconic linked above. I love next day shipping at the Iconic for last minute gifts too.



Linking up with Style on the Daily, Oh Hey Girl, Fashion Files, Fabulous Friday, Passion for Fashion.

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