March Update and What I Learnt From a Wardrobe Detox

Thought I'd break with the standard outfit posts template to share my March wardrobe update. I made some purchases this month, and I got rid of a lot of things from my wardrobe. I even listed some on ebay! Also had my first session with a personal stylist, so I wanted to share what that was like with you all.

What I bought in March:

Emerson red skinny jeans (already worn here)
Jeanswest Bindi skinny 7/8 jeans in indigo luxe

Jeanswest 'Sierra' embellished black maxi dress (already worn here)
Jeanswest Elise longline emroidered shirt coconut blue
Jeanswest Nadine 3/4 Sleeve dusky pink blazer
Jeanswest Cassandra jacquard jacket

Not bad considering the last time I bought clothes for myself was in December! You can tell I had a few Jeanswest gift cards to spend ;)

March was the month I returned to the office after maternity leave. As I did so, I got all of my old office clothes out of the 'for after baby' box they had been hiding in and - honestly - started to get quite frustrated that I didn't really have any space for those things in my wardrobe. The slow and steady wardrobe clear-out process got a bit more focused and ruthless over the month. There are so many considerations and emotions around going back to work, and tackling my wardrobe at such a time was probably not the best idea in hindsight. I was just getting more frustrated trying to turn my wardrobe into something that would work for my new lifestyle. So I called in the professionals! One of my instagram friends (@sophisticatedmumma) recommended a personal stylist who lived near me (@istyl). I've been thinking about having someone help me with my wardrobe for a while, and facing a big lifestyle change with returning to work after maternity leave seemed like an ideal time to get an expert!

If you are thinking about getting a personal stylist to come help you with your wardrobe, do it! If you're wondering, I always disclose my sponsored posts. This is not one of them. This is all my own words and I paid for the services with my own money. I didn't even mention that I was going to blog about it. The wardrobe detox was not as stressful as I expected, and was actually really fun. It helped that baby T and Cooper were on their best behaviour and that Maudie was happy working around baby and his needs through the day. She was a superstar.

What I learnt from my wardrobe detox:

• Babies never nap as long as you expect them too!
• You will be trying on lots of clothes so you want to dress appropriately (maybe matching undies) or set up a little hidden spot to change if you're feeling modest. Dancing around the room half naked asking for a little help struggling to pull off a pair of stubborn skinny jeans / needing to fix a zipper caught halfway up a dress might happen more than once.

• There are certain colours you can wear that can make you look incredible, and some that wash you out.

• If your wardrobe is full of colours that don't make you look your best, there are a few tricks you can employ to get around this. It isn't about buying a whole new wardrobe, but learning how to make what you have work for you.

• You'll never really comprehend how much stuff is in your wardrobe until you start going through it all.
• It is extremely frustrating realising just how many 'perfect for nursing' tops you had hidden in your wardrobe, after you've stopped breastfeeding.

• You will come up with the craziest justifications to explain oddities in your wardrobe. (Like why each and every one of your 14 grey tees is a complete essential and different from all the rest.) Thanks for humouring me Maudie!

• A wardrobe detox is very emotional. Saying goodbye to old pieces, and re-discovering old favourites. You might feel compelled to tell stories of when, where, and why you bought things. It's a trip down memory lane.

• Even you will be surprised with how stubborn you can be on keeping some pieces....and how happy you will be to toss others.

• If there are things you just have to have despite the expert opinion saying it doesn't work for you, you can get ideas of different ways to style the items to make them work a little better.

• Even an overflowing wardrobe can have 'gaps' in it.  It is really helpful to know what things you should look for next time you are shopping, and what you should avoid buying more of. (Like jeans!)

• Sorting things into piles of 'keep', 'tailor' and 'toss' is so much easier with an impartial third party helping.

• It's never about you. You look amazing. Your clothes might not be working to show off your best self. And that can be easily fixed.

• Hearing sincere and flattering compliments is always a good boost, especially after having a baby.
• Some things you might be considering getting rid of can stay and become stand out pieces in your wardrobe very quickly when you know how to wear them.
• Finding out why things make you look and feel good will help guide your shopping for the better.
• A few hours, a bin bag full of cast-offs and a little bit of wardrobe reorganisation can make such a positive difference.

If you're in Brisbane or the Sunshine Coast I'd recommend Maudie as an awesome personal stylist. If a wardrobe detox isn't in your budget, try inviting a friend over and getting an honest opinion on some of the things you own. It's so helpful getting another view. I know some bloggers have check lists or flowcharts or things to help you do your own wardrobe detox too. Please feel free to link up any great advice you have or have come across in the comments.

As a result of my little spring-cleaning before my wardrobe session and a very productive couple of hours during it...there are a bunch of things that have left my wardrobe this month. I've included pictures of just some of them below, as they didn't all have a 'last wear' outside. You can find a few things on ebay. I'll be listing more as I find the time, and the rest will be donated to the Animal Welfare League shelter to end up in their op-shops.

More Wardrobe Edits, Shop My Closet and Embellished Maxi Dress and Tank Outfits

First up, I've hit that point in my wardrobe clear-out process where I've listed some things on ebay. Check it out if you want to see what has happened to some of the things that have been leaving my wardrobe lately, or if you're after a designer bag for a bargain price. I've been clearing out my handbag collection too.

Secondly, this is a bit of a delayed post. I usually post 3 times a week but I missed Wednesday. I have photos ready and waiting, just no time to actually write a blog post. Baby T has been a bit out of sorts lately and if your baby is having a tough time and needs extra cuddles, you give them extra cuddles and everything else can wait. I'll happily divert my attention from blogging to baby grizzles :) Hopefully I can get back into the blog groove now and type up a few posts. I'd been relying on the little stockpile of scheduled posts I had for a while. On with the outfits.

What I wore:

Dress: Jeanswest 'Sierra' embellished black maxi dress (new purchase)
Shoes: Balenciaga studded sandals in sorbet RGGH
Bracelets: the usual plus Nicole by Nicole Miller bracelet
Bag: Miu Miu cammeo studded clutch bag

Why I wore it:

I was looking forward to the first wearing of my new black maxi dress! We had a BBQ dinner with family so this seemed like a nice dress to wear. The neckline has some beautiful beaded embellishment, so I didn't wear a necklace with it. I did add a bit of bling with my bracelet and the studded bag and sandals. I really like wearing the bag and sandals together, I do it often! I think the studded shoes and studded bag is a cute combination.

This bag isn't hanging around in my wardrobe though - while it is a cross body bag it's not ideal for using with baby as the clasp on the front can be a little fiddly while you're trying to close the bag with one hand and prevent baby crawling into danger with the other. It drove me a little crazy through the day. It's not listed on ebay, I'm consigning it with a local store instead. They know more about Miu Miu than I do!

Leaving my wardrobe: Miu Miu studded clutch

Last worn: Balenciaga studded sandals, Miu Miu studded bag. First time I've worn the dress as it was a recent purchase.

Other ways to wear: a simple black maxi dress and a snood, pink sandals and a blue dress, Miu Miu bag worn as a clutch.

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What I wore:

Sunglasses: Rayban new Wayfarers
Necklace: House of Harlow sunburst necklace in silver and grey
Dress: French Connection Moon Moire printed top
Jeans: Emerson red skinny jeans (new purchase)
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bracelets: the usual plus Hermes Kelly double tour bracelet in rubis
Bag: Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere (with Coach feather bag charm)

Why I wore it:

Last time I wore this top I was in the third trimester of pregnancy, and pleased to find a regular non-maternity top I could wear. I wasn't too impressed with how it looked though. I wasn't really enjoying wearing it this time around either. I think it's time for it to leave my wardrobe.

This outfit was really a fail all around though! As hubby had gone off to work, he commented on how odd the weather was. It was cloudy and overcast, definitely not looking like the hot day they had predicted. I took advantage of the cold weather and wore my newly purchased skinny jeans, a $5 op-shop (thrift shop) bargain. I had some errands to run with baby T, so we headed to the local Westfield. By the time we re-emerged from the air-conditioned environment in the afternoon, I realised my mistake. The clouds had cleared up and it had warmed up a lot. I changed into shorts as soon as I got home!

Leaving my wardrobe: French Connection Printed Top

Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarers, French Connection printed top, Havaianas, Louis Vuitton speedy B. First time I've worn the jeans as they are a new purchase.

Other ways to wear: printed top in the second trimester, red skinny jeans with a blue top, Louis Vuitton Bandouliere speedy with a dress.

Linking up with Casual Friday, Favourite Fashion Friday, Fab Favourites, Passion for Fashion, Mix It Up Friday, The Ultimate Rabbit Hole, Modest Monday today.

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Marc By Marc Jacobs Little Ukita Bag in Rock Lobster With Boho Dress and Maxi Skirt

Like every other mum, I've been using my cross body bags more and more often now that baby T is crawling around the place. I have a little hook on the stroller I use to clip my handbags to, but I'm finding it easier to have a bag I can just throw over my shoulder when we are out. I bought my Marc by Marc Jacobs Ukita bag while I was pregnant as a replacement for my Balenciaga Velo that I'd feel more comfortable wearing and using with a little baby in tow, and I've been enjoying wearing it lately.

What I wore:

Sunglasses: Rayban new Wayfarers
Dress: Jeanswest 'Chelsea' printed dress (on sale, with extra 30% off!)
Shoes: Asos 'five star' leather sandals
Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs Little Ukita bag in Rock Lobster

Why I wore it:

Took advantage of a day I didn't have to go into the office by travelling into the city with baby to met hubby for a lunch date. It was a really warm day, so a simple dress seemed like the best option to wear. I've worn this dress and these sandals together before. It's a good combination for a hot day. I wasn't sure about the pink sandals and the red bag at first, but I think they were far enough apart that it worked okay. My little Ukita bag is 'rock lobster' which isn't really a true red, but not a true pink either, it's kind of in-between. It pretty much looks a different colour in every picture!


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarers, Jeanswest printed dress, Asos leather sandals, Marc by Marc Jacobs Ukita.

Other ways to wear: boho printed dress with ankle boots, pink leather sandals with more blue outfits, Marc by Marc Jacobs Ukita with stripes and a third trimester baby bump.

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What I wore:

Sunglasses: Rayban new Wayfarers
Necklace: House of Harlow sunburst necklace in silver and grey
Dress: Jeanswest 'Mia' cami in black
Skirt: Asos colour block maxi skirt in red (on sale!)
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bracelets: the usual plus Hermes Kelly double tour bracelet in rubis
Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs Little Ukita bag in Rock Lobster

Why I wore it:

Wore this out for a girly day of shopping (with baby T). Last time I wore this cami I wore it with the same bag! I do like wearing this top with red. This outfit was something a little different from my usual. I've worn this skirt with voluminous tops before, although most times I do I wish I had worn a simpler top. I think it was a bit much volume with the ruffle on the cami. After wearing my bag with pink sandals the day before, I wanted to try pair it with something else I wouldn't normally, and thought this maxi skirt would be interesting. I actually liked this combination, I think the bright bag went well with the different red shades in the skirt.

We had a really productive day of shopping! I spent a couple of gift cards in the Jeanswest outlet. I'll have my usual monthly purchase video up at the end of the month, but if you can't wait you can see what I bought through LikeToKnow.It.
If you sign up to LikeToKnow.It once, you can get the details of the products I feature in my instagram posts right in your email inbox! You only have to sign up once, and then you can get an email for every picture you like from any blogger you follow that uses the #liketkit hashtag.


Last worn:Wayfarers (above), polka dot cami, colour block maxi skirt, Havaianas, MbMJ Ukita bag (above).

Other ways to wear: polka dot cami hiding a 21 week baby bump in the office, red maxi skirt with scarf and plain tank, red Ukita bag with blue outfits.

Linking up with Style to Inspire, Mix It Mondays, Real Mom Style, Confident Twosday, Wardrobe Wednesday, What I Wore, Whatcha Wearing Wednesday, What I Wore Wednesday, Style Me Wednesday, Spotlight Weekly, Throwback Thursday, Fun Fashion Friday today.

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Corporate Style: Pencil Skirts and a Bit of Blue

Sharing more of my office wear. The return to work has been tricky, but baby T and I are handling it well I think. From an outfit perspective, I've been enjoying wearing my pencil skirts and 'dressing up' in corporate wear for a change.


Here's what I wore to work:

Necklace: Dogeared 3 Wishes stardust bead necklace layered with Chanel necklace
Shirt: Target mint stripe shirt
Skirt: Asos blue textured lace pencil skirt
Shoes: Wittner 'Lumen' heel in patent leather
Bracelets: the usual plus JORD black Fieldcrest wood watch (C/O)
Bag: Louis Vuitton MM damier azur neverfull


A lot has changed since I was away on maternity leave, and the team I'm working with day to day has changed quite a bit. I'm still doing the same role as I was before, just working with different people. There was a big department meeting where everyone from all our locations got together and the newbies and myself had the chance to introduce ourselves to over 100 people. I've mentioned it before on the blog, but public speaking is one of my great fears. I've done a few things to try and get over it (like recording youtube videos to get used to speaking to an 'audience', and taking part in a presentation skills group), but I don't think I'll never get rid of those nerves entirely.

As I was incredibly nervous, I dressed in my comfort colour - blue! This blue lace pencil skirt has to be one of my favourites, it always gets compliments on the blog and instagram too, the best sale buy. I've linked up some similar ones below. I thought the striped shirt worked nicely with it, you can't really see the stripes unless you're up-close, but stripes are always good for pattern mixing anyway. I felt as comfortable and confident as you can be when presenting I guess.

I went with heels for that extra confidence boost, and I picked these nude patent ones as I don't remember them being the most comfortable last time I wore them. I was expecting this to be their last wear, but I was really happy in them through the day so they are staying in my wardrobe. I need to ease myself back into wearing heels with my dodgy knee! They will never be as comfortable as flats of course!


Last worn: striped shirt, blue lace pencil skirt, nude patent heels, Louis Vuitton Neverfull.

Other ways to wear: shopping with a Neverfull, casual pencil skirt outfit, hiding a second trimester baby bump with a button down shirt.

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Here's what I wore to work:

Necklace: Diva red stone necklace
Top: Jeanswest 'Ricky' ruffle front top in midnight
Skirt: Jeanswest zip detail ponte pencil skirt
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs suede flats in red
Bracelets: the usual plus JORD black Fieldcrest wood watch (C/O)
Bag: Balenciaga part time in black 2010 with SGH


I put this outfit together around the red flats. I was inspired by something Audrey posted about how to wear bright shoes, and realised I don't really wear these red flats a lot, considering how comfortable they are. I've worn the top and the shoes together before, (even with the same skirt!!) but not with a red necklace. One of Audrey's ideas was to wear a necklace and shoes that compliment or contrast a colourful top. Although I don't like the way the necklace looks with the neckline on the top, I was happy with the outfit overall. And very comfortable not wearing heels all day, hehe!


Last worn: polka dot blouse, black pencil skirt, red flats, Balenciaga Part Time bag.

Other ways to wear: polka dot top with denim, pencil skirt over a dress, red shoes with a red dress, black bag with neutral outfits (and a giant baby bump!).

Linking up with Fab Favourites, Casual Friday, Skirtista Diaries, Fashion Friday, Mix It Up Friday, The Ultimate Rabbit Hole, Modest Monday, Let It Shine, Styled Up, What I Wore to Work today.

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Two Ways To Wear Bright Tanks: Denim Shorts and Kimono, Black Jersey Maxi Skirt

Wearing some of my bright tanks! Blue and green today. I'll often pick up some of the Jeanswest tanks if they go on sale - they frequently have new colours and I like to have a little collection of bright tops I can layer with or wear on their own. I think a good collection of basic tanks is essential for someone who dresses so casually like I do. I need to actually use them and wear them though! I've been pushing myself to wear them more often, and not just have them as colourful 'decorations' in my wardrobe.


Here's what I wore to go shopping with DH and baby:

Sunglasses: Rayban new Wayfarers
Jacket: Choies red vintage pattern kimono
Necklace: Roie Designs long freshwater pearl necklace with tassel
Tank: Jeanswest 'Jenni' singlet in indigo blue (on sale here!)
Shorts: Jeanswest denim cuff shorts
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bracelets: the usual plus JORD black Fieldcrest wood watch (C/O)
Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs Little Ukita bag in Rock Lobster


Casual weekend outfit, enjoying the the summer heat that's sticking around well into autumn in Brisbane. I actually wondered if the kimono might make me too warm for a while, it did get quite hot. I originally was going to wear a grey tank with this, and then I thought I'd try be a little different and pick a colourful one instead. I thought the blue tank worked nicely as there is blue in the print on the kimono. Worked well with the red bag too.

After going shopping in the morning, we ended going for a swim in the afternoon to cool down. Our pool is outdoors, so I tend to wait for really hot days to take baby T for a swim as he gets grouchy if the water is too cold! He's starting to get more enjoyment out of being in the water though, it's so good to see.


Last worn: Rayban Wayfarers, red kimono, blue tank, denim shorts, Havaianas, Marc By Marc Jacobs Ukita bag.

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Here's what I wore to go to playgroup with baby T today:

Necklace: Roie Designs pearl and antique gold long necklace
Tank: Jeanswest Jenni basic singlet in Emerald green
Skirt: Jeanswest plain jersey black maxi skirt
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bracelets: the usual plus JORD black Fieldcrest wood watch (C/O)
Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs pretty nylon Eliz-A-Baby bag


Although I posted it a day late, this totally counts as a green outfit for St Patrick's day right? ha! I don't really have a lot of green in my wardrobe, it isn't one of my favourite colours and I don't really know what to wear it with (I tend to just wear it with black). I decided to give this green tank a wear as it's been a long time since I last wore it, I was (hugely!) pregnant last time. Although I don't reach for this green tank as much as the other ones that I own, it's still staying in my wardrobe because it's good to have another colour to wear now and then.

Really casual outfit as I was just going out to playgroup with baby. I didn't take the stroller this time, just the baby carrier, so I put all of my things in the baby bag again.


Last worn: green tank, black maxi skirt, Havaianas (above), Marc by Marc Jacobs baby bag.

Linking up with What I Wore, I feel pretty, Because Shana Said So, Whatcha Wearing Wednesday, Style Me Weekly, What I Wore, Style Me Wednesday, Trendy Wednesday, Throwback Thursday, A Labour of Fashion, Fun Fashion Friday, Fab Favourites today.

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Prints! Grey Tee, Printed Shorts. Floral Tank, Striped Skirt.

I've caught up a little with blogging and I'm sharing what I wore in March now. You might notice that even though it's autumn, I'm still wearing summer outfits. The summer heat has been sticking around here in Brisbane. Although it is starting to get a little cooler in the early mornings and evenings, it's still hitting summer temps through the day so I can't start autumn layering quite yet.


Here's what I wore to spend the day with my sister:

Sunglasses: Rayban new Wayfarers
Necklace: custom Cooper charm by Silhoupette
Top: Kmart light grey round neck tee
Shorts: Jeanswest 'Scarlette' printed shorts (on sale, with extra 30% off sale price!)
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bracelets: the usual plus Balenciaga coated stud wrap bracelet in icy blue
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Love cross body bag in grey


For further proof that I have too many tops in my wardrobe, the last time I wore this grey tee I was pregnant, in the third trimester! It was really being stretched there! It has taken it a while to come up again in the rotation. Another reason I'm trying to reduce the size of my wardrobe, I go too long in between wears for those pieces I really love, as I have so many 'just okay' things in there crowding out all the loved pieces.

Wore this to spend day shopping with my sister and baby T. We ended up in Jeanswest of course, where I bought the most incredible pair of jeans. Seriously! I know I love my Jeanswest jeans usually and have quite a denim collection, but these are incredible. They are selling out quickly too. I was good and only bought the indigo pair, but they have them in black and a lighter wash too...still wondering if I should go back for them, haha!


Last worn: Ray-ban wayfarers, grey tee, printed shorts, Havaianas, Rebecca Minkoff Love bag.

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Here's what I wore to visit a friend:

Sunglasses: Rayban new Wayfarers
Tank: Jeanswest floral print brown ribbed tank
Skirt: Cheap Monday interrupted stripe skirt in grey
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bracelets: the usual plus JORD black Fieldcrest wood watch (C/O)
Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs pretty nylon Eliz-A-Baby bag


I don't like this outfit. I thought I'd pair something I love (this tank) with something I was unsure about (this skirt), but looking at the photos I'm wondering why I thought the pieces worked well enough together to leave the house, haha! As I blog every outfit, some boring ones and some terrible ones get shared too. Baby T and I had a catch-up with a friend so I wasn't out in public for long at least. I just carried all of my things (wallet, phone, keys) in the baby bag as I was babywearing and I didn't have the stroller.

Now that I have returned to work, I finally emptied the big storage box I'd been putting my office wear and some other things in when I outgrew them in pregnancy. I have a LOT of pencil skirts I have to make space in my wardrobe for, so I'm trying to really look at my skirts and see if I should keep each of them in my wardrobe. I've tried to be really strict about it, but I am not having a lot of luck letting things go. This skirt is definitely leaving my wardrobe though. It's a nice skirt, although I hated it in this outfit. it even has pockets! And if you have a skirt that can hide a 20 week pregnancy belly, it's a good find! But it's just nice, not something I have to have, so I'm going to get rid of it.

Leaving my wardrobe: cheap Monday Interrupted Stripe Skirt

Links to previous outfits: with grey tee, with lilac tee, with red tee, with pink singlet, with brown singlet(and 20 weeks pregnant!), with dress, with black tank.



Last worn: floral graphic tank, striped skirt, Havaianas(above), Marc By Marc Jacobs baby bag (carried every day, just last shown on the blog here).

I've linked up a few similar striped skirts below:

Linking up with Styled Up, Shoe and Tell, Mix It Mondays, Manic Mondays, Real Mom Style, Style Sessions, Confident Twosday, Wardrobe Wednesday, What I Wore, Spotlight Weekly today.

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Casual Striped Outfits. Tank and Maxi Skirt, Drop Waist Tee Dress

While I am back in the office, I don't have to go into work every day and still have a couple of days a week just for baby. I'll continue to share my casual stay at home mum style when I'm not at work. Here are two more life with baby outfits. Both featuring stripes of course! I'm sure I have more stripes than blue in my wardrobe now...


Here's what I wore to take baby T to playgroup:

Sunglasses: Rayban new Wayfarers
Necklace: Nibbly Bits Abacus necklace in pop
Tank: Jeanswest Jenni basic singlet in Royal Lilac purple
Skirt: thrifted black and white pleated striped maxi skirt from AWLQ jumble sale
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bag: Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere (with Coach feather bag charm)


For a while now I've been thinking about taking baby T to a playgroup. Now he's mobile he's sure to get some enjoyment out of interacting with other babies often. After some encouragement from a friend, I finally found a local one and signed up. I was pleased I did. The hall we meet in is air conditioned and absolutely stuffed full of toys.

The only thing they don't have is highchairs, which is where maxi skirts come in handy! The group is on right near baby T's lunch time. Now he's bigger, he just has solids for lunch and he can make quite a bit of mess. I ended up sitting down on the floor and spreading my skirt out like a little blanket for him so that all the crumbs were caught and not smooshed into the carpet. I've mentioned doing this before when I wore a maxi dress, but I still think it's a clever little 'function' of a maxi skirt or dress, to create a little play mat for baby.

I wore the bright tank as I like pairing this maxi skirt with bright tops, and the teething necklace in case baby T got grouchy when we were at playgroup. Of course I didn't need to worry, there were so many toys to capture his attention.


Last worn: Ray-ban wayfarers, purple tank, striped skirt, Havaianas, Louis Vuitton Speedy Bandouliere.

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Here's what I wore for day care pickup and drop off:

Sunglasses: Rayban new Wayfarers
Dress: Atmos&Here 'California' drop waist tee dress (on sale in a cute pastel blue)
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Love cross body bag in grey


Another casual day care pick up/drop off outfit. Usually I'd at least think of my outfits the evening before, but I had no idea what to wear when I woke up in the morning. I went with the easy option of a dress! It's been a couple months since I last wore this one, so it was due another wear.

Had the opportunity to work from home, which was wonderful. I thought the dress was casual and comfortable for working from home in the heat, but still professional enough for all of the virtual meetings I attended through the day and for doing the day care run. I am very lucky to be able to work from home, it is perfect for getting to day care early to maximise cuddle time with baby T.


Last worn: wayfarers (above). striped drop waist dress, Havaianas (above), Rebecca Minkoff Love bag.

Linking up with Passion For Fashion, Casual Friday, That Friday Blog Hop, Favourite Fashion Friday, Fab Favourites, Skirtista Diaries, Mix It Up Friday, Fashion Friday, Fashion Cache, Let It Shine today.

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Outfits for Returning to the Office After Maternity Leave - Pencil Skirts and Mulberry Bayswater Tote

My first office wear of the year, as I'm now back at work! I've returned earlier than planned, partly due to getting a place at our ideal child care centre a little sooner than needed. When a place comes up, you take it! Some people are on waiting lists for day care before their babies are even born. In Australia, you are legally entitled to 12 months maternity leave, and my company allows 2 years.

Those who are parents will know first-hand that (like everything in parenthood) you get a lot of differing and very vocal views from everyone. I've had people constantly asking when I'm going back to work, why am I not back at work yet...and then on the other hand, people asking why I'm back at work a couple months early or why I'm returning back to work at all. Everyone does the right thing for them and their child (or children) at that point in time. Mums always know best. And that means for me, that I've returned to work. :)


Here's what I wore for my first day back after returning from maternity leave:

Necklace: custom Cooper charm by Silhoupette
Top: River Island floral print sleeveless shirt
Skirt: Review 'Ziggy' polka dot pencil skirt
Shoes: Wittner 'Mimi' heels in mushroom
Bracelets: the usual plus JORD black Fieldcrest wood watch C/O JORD Watches
Bag: Mulberry Bayswater in Oak NVT leather


I'd thought a lot about what I should wear for my first day back - and figured overdressing was the best way to go. So collared button up shirt (but sleeveless with no blazer because it's Queensland and summer), pencil skirt, heels, and structured, formal bag. I've mentioned before that my workplace is business casual, with a lot of emphasis on the casual side of things.

I felt suitably overdressed for tackling a mountain of emails! It was good to see people who I hadn't seen in a while, and there was a lot to catch up on. There was also a lot of technical issues to wrap my head around - lots of things to set-up and reactivate after being on extended leave. I think my biggest achievement of the day was not getting through all those emails, but managing not to cry when everyone asked how much I was missing baby T - I'd never spent so much time apart from him before.


Last worn: floral shirt, polka dot pencil skirt, brown heels, Mulberry Bayswater tote.

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Here's what I wore to go to work:

Necklace: House of Harlow Dynamic necklace in gold
Top: Target ruffle sleeve dog print blouse
Skirt: Atmos&Here grey marle jersey pencil skirt (same in navy)
Shoes: Wittner 'Bolla' black bow detail flats
Bracelets: the usual plus beaded neon and gold and black and gold bracelet set
Bag: Mulberry Bayswater in Oak NVT leather


After wearing heels all day on my first day back, I needed to go back to flats again! My knee just isn't used to heels for an extended period of time. I've noticed being back at work that everyone seems to be sticking to business causal wear now. It was a really hot day (over 36 Celsius, 97 Fahrenheit) and I was expecting to be overdressed again. But I didn't see any denim! It wasn't out of place to see people in denim shorts in the office on hot days before I went on leave. The clothing guidelines were very flexible... I was pulled into an important meeting with just 30 minutes notice though so I wonder if that happens a lot and so people are always dressed to impress now, hehe. I even wondered if maybe the grey marle pencil skirt was too casual of a fabric at one point. I bought it a few months back thinking it would be perfect for the office, now I'm thinking it will just get worn on quieter days. A lesson to myself to stop buying things for the future, and just buy things that will get use now.


I wore this cute dog print top as I've been looking at it in my wardrobe and wanting to wear it for a while - it's really good for work, not so much casual day-at-home-with-baby wear. You can't really layer a nursing tank underneath. It really is a candidate for leaving my wardrobe, as it's been worn so little. But there is a reason. When I first got this top, it had a little belt and belt loops stitched on it. That's limited the ways I could wear it. So based on something Sheila said on her blog a while back, I cut the belt loops off! Managed to do it without cutting into the shirt, I was very pleased it didn't all fall apart on me! Meant I could wear the shirt over the top of my skirt, without having to line the waistband up with the belt loops sticking out. Hopefully this blouse gets a lot more wear now, as 4 times in nearly 2 years wasn't a lot. While I am trying to downsize my wardrobe, if there is some minor change I can make that would mean something gets more wear, I'll give that a try first before I let it go.


Last worn: dog print top, grey marle pencil skirt, black flats, Mulberry Bayswater (above).

Linking up with What I Wore, Whatcha Wearing Wednesday, Get Your Pretty On, Because Shanna Said So, Style Me Wednesday, Trendy Wednesday, Oh, hey girl, What I Wore Wednesday, Style Me Weekly (and here and here), Spotlight Weekly, What I Wore to Work, Sydney Fashion Hunter, Fun Fashion Friday, Modest Monday today.

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