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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