Monday 20 July 2015

Corporate Style: Printed Pencil Skirts, Trench Coats and Scarves

It's starting to get really cold in the morning taking outfit pictures! Brisbane's winter has reached its single digit temperatures so it's at the coldest point. My trench coats have been getting a lot of wear, being the biggest jackets I have.

Around this time last year I wore a lot less as I wasn't commuting early in the morning and facing the cold temperatures. I had the luxury of being able to nap when baby did in the morning and only venture out with my tiny newborn in the heat of the day, or even staying inside all day and having people come visit us cosy at home. The middle of the night feeds were freezing, but walking around with a doona wrapped around your shoulders is acceptable when the only face you will see is a hungry baby. A trench coat is a poor alternative, although much more socially acceptable for a commute!

What I wore:

Away From Blue | Winter Office Wear pink polka dot skirt crochet jumper trench coat

Marc By Marc Jacobs Classic Q Fran bag with gold hardware in carob brown
Jacket: Barkins beige trench coat 
ScarfAlexander McQueen modal skull scarf in white/pink (on sale!)
TopAsos crochet shell top in cream
Skirt: Cotton On 'Mica' mesh spot skirt in dusty pink
ShoesWittner 'Bloomy' black heels
BagMarc By Marc Jacobs Classic Q Fran bag with gold hardware in carob brown

Why I wore it:

It's been such a long time since I last wore this jumper, almost 2 years ago! I used to wear it a lot in the early days of the blog (with all my headless blogging pics). I realised the other day I haven't worn my jumpers often this winter, so this one was the first one I picked out to try wear more. Although it hasn't been worn in a very long time, I'm keeping it as I liked it in this outfit and I have more ideas for other ways to wear it in future.


Last worn: beige trench, pink skull scarf, crochet knit jumper, polka dot pencil skirt, ankle strap heels, Marc by Marc Jacobs Fran bag.

Other ways to wear: trench with a printed dressskull scarf and shorts in summer, jumper layered over a dress, polka dot pencil skirt with polka dot top, ankle strap heels with a printed dress and bare legs, 40 weeks pregnant with Marc by Marc Jacobs Fran bag.







Trench coats and pencil skirts:





What I wore:

Turquoise pashmina navy white embroidered tunic lace pencil skirt officewear

Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote in moon navy  with blue office outfit
Jacket: Temt black trench coat 
Scarf: Cotton On turquoise pashmina
NecklaceTai gold alphabet necklace
TopJeanswest Elise longline emroidered shirt coconut blue
SkirtAsos blue textured lace pencil skirt
ShoesWalnut Melbourne 'Ava' black lizard ballet flats
BagRebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote in moon navy

Why I wore it:

I really liked this outfit, but hate the photos as I think the scarf looks silly! I looped it around like I normally do after the photos. I wore it this way just to try show off the detail on the top. I know this skirt looks better with heels than flats too, but my knee needed a bit of a break from heels as I knew I had a lot of walking to do that day.

Had been wanting to wear this shirt to the office with this skirt for a while, and I stumbled across a little week-long style challenge on instagram that called for a white shirt. I don't have a white shirt (hate ironing shirts and too clumsy for white) so I figured this white tunic was close enough. So even with the weird looking scarf placement and the stumpy legs the skirt and flats combination gave me, I was really happy in this all day.

That's one of the good things about sharing every outfit I have time to photograph - it means even if the photo is terrible, I still have a record of how great I felt in an outfit to help me on those 'I don't know what to wear' days. I search the blog every now and then when I'm staring at my wardrobe trying to think of what to wear! I'm never going to have perfect photos, and I'm never going to have perfect outfits. I'm happy with that, and I'm happy to have you reading along too. Life doesn't have to be perfectly posed and styled all the time - it never is behind the scenes.


Last worn: black trenchturquoise pashmina, embroidered tunic, blue lace pencil skirt, black ballet flatsRebecca Minkoff MAB tote.

Other ways to wearblack trench with skinny jeansturquoise scarf and purple jeans, embroidered tunic with flares, casual summer outfit with lace pencil skirt, black ballet flats with skinny jeansRebecca Minkoff MAB tote with more printed pencil skirts.






Linking up with Modest Monday, Mix It Monday, Style to Inspire, Manic Monday, Turning Heads, On Trend Tuesday, Style Sessions, Real Mom Style, Confident Twosday, Reasons To Dress, Wardrobe Wednesday, Trendy Wednesday today.



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66 comments:

  1. I like your corporate styles. My corporate colours are black and white which can be a bit restrictive but it does help reduce the time I take in deciding what to wear each morning!

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    1. We are lucky we can wear any colour we like - although it might be easier having a limited range to pick from! :)

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  2. I love your 1st outfit
    The touch of pink looks so feminine

    The Bandwagon Chic | Instagram | Bloglovin

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  3. I absolutely live the second outfit Mica. The tunic and printed skirt combo is fantastic and I wish you had taken a photo without the scarf because as pretty as the aqua blue is the actual outfit is beautiful!!! Love the RM bag with this! And I am a sucker for polka dots, so white top and pale pink polkas are right up my alley as well. I am dreading the winter this year. The last few days here have been really hot and I never want it to end! Have a fantastic week ahead!
    xoxo

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    Replies
    1. Thank you! :) I really liked the outfit too, maybe I will wear it again when it is warmer and I need less layers! :)

      I prefer the warmth over the cold too, although it can get terribly hot here in summer. I'm just not good at layering, so I prefer the heat, haha!

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  4. Totally agree with the keeping it real attitude! Love that you have a skirt with the same name, that's so cool - and a cute skirt too! I once googled shoes plus my name and they were so ugly I nearly died.

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    1. haha I'm sure you'd find some pretty shoes with such a pretty name! :) I saw the skirt in a magazine and when I saw it had the same name, I went from 'that looks nice' to 'I HAVE to have this!' haha! It's quite a nice skirt too :)

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  5. Great pictures +_+

    Have a great day!

    Nicoleta ~ http://reinventyourself.guide

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  6. I love that first pencil skirt! The dusty pink color with the small polka dots is so great. Perfect for with and paired with your cream top!

    Amy Ann
    Straight A Style

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  7. I always wanted one of those Alexander McQueen scarves, not sure why since I NEVER wear scarves, ha ha. I'm glad I never bought one for that reason, but I still love them. So fun!
    http://www.closet-fashionista.com

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    Replies
    1. The bag is a few years old, I don't use it too much just because I don't want to ruin it, he he.

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    2. Oh that might be why I haven't seen it! I do the same with mine, it's special occasions only. It survived 30 years looking pristine then I scratched it on it's second outing or something, so special times only now haha!

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  8. I love these layered outfits featuring pencil skirts, especially the first look. Mixing patterns work in both outfits. You look great, Mica. =)

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  9. i love that work horse bag! and great style!!

    xo,
    Sandy
    Sandy a la Mode

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  10. Printed pencil skirts, or just any skirt in general, is a corporate must have!
    www.amemoryofus.com

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  11. Such an inspiring corporate outfit for cold weather!
    And again, Mica, bags.. your bags are always great and inspiring!
    Perhaps I'm discovering that I have bag addictions because I always look at your bags hihi..

    Have a great day!

    xoxo,
    Jhem | JhemSays.com

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    Replies
    1. Haha I understand a bag addiction, I'm always drooling over bags! :)

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  12. Glad to hear you rediscovered a garment in your closet that even though it has not been worn in a while.. you DID wear it only to fall in love with it again…

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    Replies
    1. Yes, it's good to rediscover something and find you really enjoy wearing it! :)

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  13. Love the turquoise pashmina, one of my favourite colours. You can't beat a trench coat, they're so versatile. My photos are never going to be perfect either, or my outfits. Whenever I take photos there usually is an imperfection somewhere. Great read.

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  14. You look so cute in both outfits, both of which are perfect for any work setting!

    And that's the beauty about documenting your style isn't it? It will always be a record of great (and maybe not so great) outfits that you can refer back to :)

    be the plebeian

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    Replies
    1. It is amazing just how much of a reference I've built up over the years I've been blogging! :) Even if I didn't like all the outfits!

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  15. I never knew it got so cold in QLD! Here it's the coldest weather I can remember and its absolutely freezing on the commute to work so I can definitely relate. It was six degrees last week! Both the skirts are my favourites of yours each time you wear them. The prints are just beautiful. I love the mix of blues in the second look as its so classy... I also love how blogs can be a record of what we wore and assist when we have no idea what to wear.

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    1. It's been single digits here, that's way too cold in my book, haha! We dropped below 6, that's just not normal. I'm looking forward to it warming up again, I'm not the best at layering to beat the cold!

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  16. such sophisticated bags!!

    Have a great week!
    Animated Confessions

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  17. such beautiful printed skirt!
    you always make business outfit look fun
    xoxo
    style frontier

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  18. Loving the pop of pink in your McQueen scarf!

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  19. Oh, agreed - so many of my outfits I just love, but they photograph poorly or just look awkward. You see 99% of what I wear! (no "around the house" clothes!).

    Love both of these skirts on you, and good on you for going for flats! I would encourage a kitten heel - it's the best of both worlds. Comfy as a flat, but can really give a pencil skirt the illusion of height that it needs.

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    1. Yes, it's interesting how poorly an outfit can photograph sometimes! I do enjoy getting to see everything you share, you have such a wonderful sense of style and have always been one of my favourite bloggers :)
      I will need to look for a kitten heel! I used to have two pairs - brown and black - but they weren't leather so they didn't last long, and I've just never replaced them> Would be interesting to see how my knee would cope with them!

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  20. I like your philosophy about why you photograph and share your outfits, and I really like seeing how other people do workwear. You've got some lovely outfits - I particularly like the pink spotty skirt! Also re wearing doonas - I want one of those coats that's like a puffy doona made into coat shape. You know the ones? They're often down filled. I think that would really help an English winter go by!

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    1. Thank you :) Oh yes I know those coats! I'd love something like that for our coldest winter days, although I know it doesn't get as cold as England!

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  21. I love the second one ! You don't look silly at all :)

    www.aishettina.blogspot.it

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  22. What a fantastic scarf! I might have to go check it out!

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  23. That scarf is amazing. I am drooling =) Great styling as always!

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  24. Love you scarf collection. So pretty.

    www.stylegonerogue.com

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  25. I like the pattern and color your scarves bring to these outfits. There are so many outfits I pick apart after I wear them, but then I take a step back and think they are much better than what I would have worn a few years ago! You always look so put together and classy!

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    1. Thank you Laura! that is a good point, we are always evolving our style and trying new things so there is lessons from every outfit! :)

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  26. Those are two of my favorite skirts Mica! I love how you styled them. Both scarves look awesome with your outfits. I love the blue. The contrast of different blues looks great together. Stay warm :) I was laughing about your headless pics. I don't think I followed you then. So many people did that at first.
    http://www.averysweetblog.com/

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    1. It was very early on in my blog days! But yes there was a gradual move towards no longer hiding faces, now everyone has their face online it seems!

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  27. Completely into that Alexander McQueen scarf girly! You got my eyes glazing over!

    XO K
    www.kellmenow.com

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  28. I love the skirts, the pale pink with polka dots looks great with the patterned scarf. it is always interesting to me, as I feel the sweat pour down my face, and see a few of you lovely ladies in layers of winter clothes.We could trade for a bit?

    Thank you for linking up with Turning Heads Tuesday
    jessxx
    www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com

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    Replies
    1. Oh yes feel free to send sum summer heat our way! :)

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  29. You have the best scarves. I love all of them!

    https://forsevenseasons.wordpress.com

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  30. Hah. You are right. It's never perfect behind the scences. Actually sometimes it would be enough to see just a little bit to the left of the "model". Or the faces in between two pics ;-) Love the way the white jumper is knitted. And the embroidery on the tunic.

    Alex - Funky Jungle

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    1. haha you are right Alex! I've thought about that sometimes, how funny it would be to see what is behind the camera. Sometimes when I take photos in the back yard my son is running about behind the tripod making a mess!

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  31. Loving that camel trench, it's divine. Oh what I would pair with it if it was mine. :) stay warm!

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  32. Both of these are such cute looks--I love those skirts! I hate venturing out in the cold--I have an early commute too so it's always killer in the winter!

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  33. Glad you broke out the jumper again - it's cute!
    And yes, give your feet a break for those days. I know it's a struggle when you know you're taking photos and you want the aesthetics to be right, but sometimes you gotta do you! :)

    The Dragonfruit Diaries
    Check out my YouTube channel too!

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    1. Very true Linda! You have to go with comfort first, it's the most important thing! :)

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  34. I had Winter babies too (three of them) and spent many a cold night feeding! It was a good time to bunker down though! Love these looks and am seriously crushing on your bag collection! x

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    1. Definitely a good time to cuddle in and enjoy those newborn days! :)

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  35. LOVE your blue lace pencil skirt!! It's divine. And yes those early morning commutes can be freezing can't they. I remember the maternity leave months when I didn't leave the house until 11am. Never had a need for a coat! xo

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    1. I really liked those days, it was nice just enjoying the heat of the day and getting to stay cosy in bed and not having to get up before the sun rise, haha!

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  36. Thank you all for your lovely comments :)

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  37. I think that pink and black polka dot skirt is one of my favorite looks of yours! Adorable!

    Chelsea
    Ginger Side of Life

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  38. I love that you're styling fun scarves with your work outfits. I feel like that's not done very often. Adds such a fun look to your outfits!

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  39. I love your work outfits, Mica! reminds me, I need to get my trench out too.

    And I agree with you about mat leave! How good was it to just get about in warm and cosy things around the house?

    Have a lovely weekend and thanks so much for all your great comments on my blog.

    SSG xxx

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  40. The first skirt is like a dream! Like it so much!

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  41. Your first outfit feels so Parisian! Love that polka dot skirt! Haha headless blogging pics, girl we've all been there. (; I love that you always bust out pieces that can sometimes be years old. Whether you keep them or not, it's the fact that you try to continue to use them. (:

    I don't think the scarf looks silly at all! I actually think it's at a perfect way to show case the pieces layered under it. I'm totally the same with all things white. haha. Like how does any mom wear white? I wore light pink the other day and in the matter of a few hours I had a cheesy hand print on my side. As much as I love when others where beautiful white pieces, I know I can't. Prints are where it's at. (;

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    1. haha you're right, I was never the best with white before baby, I was so clumsy! So white is great for work days where I have a scarf to cover up any spills I make on it ;) I tend not to wear white on days at home!

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  42. I love all the different textures in that first outfit. You are so amazing at making corporate wear so fun! I need to get my hands on some more fun patterened skirts because right now all my work wear bottoms are so plain!

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  43. you have a way of turning simple outfits into perfectly accessorized looks. Thank you so much for joining the #reasonstodress linkup and I totally laughed at your "headless photography days" ... .we've all been there!

    Angie from reasons to dress, fashion, travel and life as a mom in Italy.

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