Corporate Style: Printed Shirts and Pencil Skirts. Balenciaga Day Bag

Sharing two more of my recent office outfits, going with a simple 'formula' of a printed shirt and a pencil skirt. I'm still wearing my trench coats as although it's Spring in Brisbane it can still be a bit chilly in the morning, especially if you have to go bare-legged.

What I wore:

Jacket: Temt black trench coat 

Necklace: Tai gold alphabet necklace
Shirt: Choies pink chiffon shirt with strawberry print (C/O Choies)
Skirt: Asos black tailored tab front pencil skirt
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs metallic mouse flats
Bag: Balenciaga truffle brown RH classic day bag

Why I wore it:

Adding a bit of colour to an otherwise overly black outfit with my strawberry print shirt. While the other shirt I ordered from Choies tore on the first wear, I'm pleased to see this one is still going strong.


Last worn: black trench coat, strawberry print shirt, black pencil skirt, metallic mouse flats, Balenciaga day bag.

Other ways to wear: trench and a printed dress, printed short and denim shorts, black pencil skirt and purple cardi, gold mouse flats and skinny jeans, Balenciaga day bag and a shift dress.

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More printed shirts for the office under $60:

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What I wore:

Jacket: Barkins beige trench coat 

Scarf: red tartan scarf
Necklace: custom Cooper charm by Silhoupette
Shirt: Jeanswest 'Ruby' mixed print shirt
Skirt: Jeanswest black ponte pencil skirt
Shoes: Walnut Melbourne 'Ava' black lizard ballet flats
Bag: Balenciaga truffle brown RH classic day bag

Why I wore it:

Wanted to add some more colour to this outfit, so after trying on a few different scarves before running out the door, I settled on this brightly coloured tartan scarf. I really liked the print mixing, even thought the shirt has print mixing inbuilt already too. Ended up keeping the scarf on in the office as I liked the look so much.


Last worn: camel trench, tartan scarf, mixed print shirt, black pencil skirt, ballet flats, Balenciaga day bag (above).

Other ways to wear: camel trench and a printed dress, tartan scarf and winter layers, printed shirt and shorts, black pencil skirt and a black blazer, ballet flats and a maxi skirt, Balenciaga day bag and stripes.


Last year, my church did a series called Struggles. I really enjoyed it. This past weekend I decided to participate in the #strugglesFast with some others. It was no computers, no smartphone and no TV. While I was allowed to use a computer for work purposes, I only used it to work at my usual Sunday evening Church Online events. I failed the fast 3 times: when I had to google the address of the emergency vets on my phone (Cooper had a minor injury but our usual vet was closed), when I turned on the computer to go to church online and my email opened up and I couldn't resist scanning through a few subject lines, and when a friend at Church Online gave me a website to checkout in response to my question, and I went and opened it without thinking. I closed it as soon as I realised, but it still counts as a fail.

What I learnt from the #strugglesFast:

• For someone as addicted to the internet (especially instagram) as I am, I expected it to be a lot more difficult to stick to the fast, but I'm quite pleased with how I did. 
• I'm also rather amazed by just how often I'd still go to check my phone before I remembered I was on the tech fast. I ended up leaving it on a table, but the reflex was still there to grab it now and then.
• I did find it a little frustrating not being able to just look things up online - I'd planned to cook a recipe for toddler T that I'd not printed out yet, but couldn't. I used a cookbook and made something different instead, luckily it was still a hit with him.
• For all my fear of missing out, I caught up with everything I missed over the weekend within an hour on Monday morning - there really wasn't anything important!

If you ever think about taking a break from social media/the internet/technology for the weekend, I'd encourage you to give it a go. It's not as difficult as you might first think.


Linking up with Mix it Monday, Modest Monday, Turning Heads, Style Sessions, On Trend Tuesday, Reasons to Dress today.

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Jeanswest Spring 2015 Collection: The Hamptons | Chambray Dress, Navy Striped Shirt, Lux Print Scarf

A while back, I was contacted by Jeanswest who wanted to let me know a little more about their latest spring collection, and they very kindly let me pick a few pieces from the collection to share with you. The spring 2015 collection is beautiful, lots of blue (which I love!) and it's all very easy to mix and match together. Blue, stripes, lovely soft fabrics and the usual affordable Jeanswest prices, so much to like! Thought I'd jump ahead from my winter outfit posts I have waiting and show you the two spring looks I wore last weekend.

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Dana drape knit cardi in boysenberry

Scarf: Jeanswest Lux paisley print scarf (C/O)
Dress: Jeanswest Rachel Lyocell chambray dress (C/O)
Shoes: Asos airtime leather Chelsea boots in tan
Bag: Balenciaga truffle brown RH classic day bag

Why I wore it:

If you follow me on instagram, you'll know that Jeanswest had an olive shirt dress similar to this in their winter collection, and I promptly fell in love but couldn't buy it as I was doing #NoBuyJuly15 at the time. When I did get a chance to try it on in August, I was a little underwhelmed. I liked the neutral colour, and I loved the soft lyocell fabric, but wasn't as perfect as I had imagined, so I didn't buy it.

When I saw this chambray sleeveless dress in the new collection, I knew it would be perfect. I much prefer this to the olive shirt dress. The fabric is nice and soft, the sleeveless style will be great for the heat of spring and summer, and of course, it's blue! The drawstring waist can be pulled tight so it gives a little 'blouson' effect on the top half, or worn looser. Plus, it has pockets, which is always a bonus in a dress!

I have a chambray shift dress that I'd struggled to find ways to wear, preferring just to save it for a warm day when I could wear it by itself. I got this dress and instantly started putting outfits together around it. It's taken a while, but I've finally found the perfect chambray dress! (And the old shift one will be donated). Based on the rate that the dress (and even the maternity version) is selling out, I'm not the only one who thinks it's perfect.


Last worn: purple drape cardigan, Asos Chelsea ankle boots, Balenciaga day bag. First time I've worn the scarf and dress.

Other ways to wear: purple cardigan belted over a maxi dress, ankle boots and printed pants, Balenciaga day bag and a printed shift dress.

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More amazing pieces from the Jeanswest Spring 2015 Hamptons collection:

Jeanswest ship internationally too...

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What I wore:

Jacket:  Jeanswest Nadine 3/4 Sleeve dusky pink blazer

Necklace: Tai gold alphabet necklace
Shirt: Jeanswest Louisa stripe sleeveless shirt (C/O)
Jeans: Jeanswest Bindi skinny 7/8 jeans in indigo luxe
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs metallic mouse flats
Bracelets: the usual
Bag: Balenciaga truffle brown RH classic day bag

Why I wore it:

Feels like it's been a long time since I've worn these skinny jeans! The big bulky knee bandage you see above that I have to wear daily doesn't fit under these jeans, so they've been passed over in favour of my maxi skirts. I'm working up to not wearing the bandage every day. As we were going out in the afternoon to visit the in-laws for Father's Day I decided to leave the bandage off and see how my knee coped. It did well!

I really like this navy striped shirt from the Jeanswest collection. I have a similar sleeveless shirt in pink I bought a while ago, and love. It's one of those pieces that can be worn in the office or for stay at home mum or weekend wear, very versatile. At first, I was going to wear a purple cardi with this again, but then I saw this blush pink blazer hanging up and decided to go with that instead. I really like the pink and navy together.


Last worn: pastel blazer, skinny jeans, gold mouse flats, Balenciaga truffle day bag (above). First time I've worn the shirt.

Other ways to wear: pastel blazer and shorts, skinny jeans and a printed kimono, gold mouse flats and a maxi skirt, blue Balenciaga day bag and a summer tee dress.



The Jeanswest Spring 2015 collection is available online and in store.

This post, as always, has been written by me and includes all my own thoughts and opinions and styling. Some clothing was very generously provided by Jeanswest.



Linking up with Passion For Fashion, Friday Favourites, Flashback Fashion, Favourite Fashion, Fashion Friday, Shoe and Tell, Let It Shine, Hello Monday (also here), Modest Monday, Wardrobe Wednesday today.

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Different Ways to Wear Too Short Shift Dresses - When Online Orders Are Shorter Than Expected!

First wearing of my new Balenciaga bag! As expected, I love it just as much as my blue one. Also my first attempts at wearing some too-short dresses.

Choies gave me the chance to order this striped dress for free, and they also threw in another dress as a gift. I was between sizes so went with my usual 'order a size larger to be safe', and also because I thought the extra length would be good. Being petite, I find that sometimes things that look short on the models are actually an okay length on me, but there is no harm in having an extra centimetre or two.

Both dresses arrived, and are lovely, but as I shared on instagram, they are much too short! So I've had to come up with other ways to wear them. Thought this post might be helpful for others who have received too-short dresses they can't return or that aren't worth the cost of returning. It's also a good reminder to check the length measurements before ordering something and not just the bust and waist!

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest brown marle waterfall cardigan
Dress: Choies white tile print shift dress (C/O)
Shoes: Asos airtime leather Chelsea boots in tan
Bracelets: the usual
Bag: Balenciaga truffle RH classic day bag (new purchase)

Why I wore it:

I thought I'd try wear tights with this to make myself a little more comfortable with the short length, but I really wasn't comfortable in this at all! I think I should have picked a longer cardigan, that had the length in the back I felt the dress was missing whenever I bent down to pick up toddler T.

I've also mentioned in the past that I can't wear tights with the compression bandage I have for my injured knee. It's designed to keep the muscles warm, so I have to wear it under clothing so it's right next to my skin and it gets a bit warm through the day. When I add tights, it's just much too hot. I thought this day would be okay though as it was cold and rainy....nope. My knee got so hot so quickly. I couldn't wait to take this off! A bit of an outfit fail all round.

How would you wear this dress differently? I was thinking maybe as a bikini cover up for the beach...


Last worn: brown cardi, tan ankle boots. First time I've worn the bag and the dress.

Other ways to wear: brown cardi and skinny jeans, ankle boots and skinny jeans, blue Balenciga day bag and a summer dress.

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More shift dresses under $50:

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What I wore:

Cardigan: Jeanswest Dana drape knit cardi in boysenberry

Necklace: Happiness Boutique turquoise and coral pendant necklace (C/O)
Dress (worn as top): Choies monochrome stripe shift dress (C/O)
Jeans: Jeanswest 'spoylt' flared jeans
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs logo plaque flats in camel
Bag: Balenciaga truffle RH classic day bag

Why I wore it:

After the outfit fail the day before, I knew I'd need a bit more coverage with this dress! While it does have the right length in the back and even in the front, it has curved hems so it comes up short on the hips. I belted it like a tunic over jeans. It would look better with skinny jeans, but I can't squeeze the knee bandage under them.

I really liked this outfit though! I felt happy and comfortable all day. I really like the way the dress looks belted, and I wasn't worrying about what it looked like from behind every time I bent down as I had jeans on underneath. It's a really comfortable cotton, which helps as it feels good to wear. I'm thinking this would look nice worn as a top and tucked under a skirt too...I can see lots of other ways to wear this dress. Definitely a winner, even if I don't wear it as a dress as it was intended!


Last worn: purple cardi, flared jeans, ballet flats, Balenciaga day bag (above). First time I've worn the dress.

Other ways to wear: purple cardi and a maxi dress, flared jeans and heels, ballet flats and a wrap dress, blue Balenciaga day bag and stripes.


One last thing before I finish today's post: this Sunday is Father's Day in Australia, so I hope everyone has a lovely weekend with their family. Jeanswest were kind enough to send me this beautiful Malrvern check shirt for DH, and as baby T has a cute little shirt from Jeanswest to wear also, I know there will be one very fashionable and adorable duo this Sunday! I'll try get a photo of them together and share it on instagram, @awayfromblue.

The 30% off Jeanswest sale that I mentioned in my last post has been extended this weekend! So if you're looking for something for yourself or even a last minute gift for Father's Day, the sale is now on in store too as well as online.


Linking up with Fab Favourites, Friday Favourites, Passion For Fashion, Flashback Fashion, Favourite Fashion, Fashion Friday, The Ultimate Rabbit Hole, Hello Monday today.

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Corporate Style: Trench Coat, Camel Flats and Blue Tops

More office wear, with a very unimaginative repeat of the trench coat and ballet flats combination. Definitely a necessity for both days in the office though!

What I wore:

Jacket: Barkins beige trench coat 

Scarf: Alexander McQueen modal and cashmere skull scarf
Shirt: Target blue abstract floral print shirt
Pants: Jeanswest 'Fiona' skinny leg pant in shiraz
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs logo plaque flats in camel
Bag: Balenciaga giant hardware Day bag in 2009 tempete

Why I wore it:

This is the outfit I wore when I was involved in a little incident on the way to work and smashed my knee. I had considered wearing heels that day, as I felt I hadn't worn them in a while, but decided at the last moment before I went out the door to wear flats instead. I'm so glad I did as it was hard enough trying to hobble around the office in these flats, I couldn't imagine what it would have been like if I was wearing heels. The one good point to a not-so-good day!


I bought this shirt back when I was doing #noBuyJuly15, it was my only purchase that month but I still failed the challenge.

As it's the second time I've worn it, my purchase review: I reasoned that this top was such a bargain ($10) and would be perfect for office wear and SAHM wear so I'd be crazy not to buy it. I haven't worn it outside of the office yet, but I'm glad I got to wear it with these pants as it was one of the outfits I had in mind when I bought it. I'm really happy with this, and I have lots of ideas for more ways to wear it still.



Last worn: trench coat, skull print scarf, blue print shirt, burgundy pants, camel flats, Balenciaga tempete day.

Other ways to wear: trench and a printed dress, skull scarf and a navy dress, printed shirt and a pencil skirt, burgundy pants on the weekend, camel flats and gold jeans, Balenciaga tempete day and a maxi skirt.

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Shop more trench coats under $50:

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What I wore:

Jacket: Barkins beige trench coat 

Scarf: Marc by Marc Jacobs Stargazer scarf in aquamarine (on sale, and also on sale in black!)
Jumper: thrifted blue Mossman knit jumper
Skirt: Atmos&Here grey marle jersey pencil skirt
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs logo plaque flats in camel
Bag: Louis Vuitton MM damier azur neverfull

Why I wore it:

Again with the same trench and flats! And bare legs. It wasn't actually warm enough for bare legs, I just can't wear tights over the compression bandage on my knee. I knew I wanted to be warm to try cancel out the bare legs, so a long and cosy trench, a thick jumper, scarf and a couple layers under the jumper helped a little bit.

Picked the same flats as the last time I went into the office as they were so comfortable and easy to walk in, felt like a good repeat choice.


Last worn: trench coat (above), stargazer scarf, blue knit, jersey pencil skirt, Marc Jacobs flats (above), Louis Vuitton neverfull.

Other ways to wear: trench coat and heels, stargazer scarf with a polka dot dress, blue jumper and teal dress, pencil skirt in summer, camel flats and a printed dress, LV neverfull and a printed dress.


Linking up with Hello Monday, Let It Shine, Mix It Monday, Modest Monday, Turning Heads, Confident Twosday, Reasons to Dress, On Trend Tuesday, Wardrobe Wednesday, Whatcha Wearing today.

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Flats, Skinny Jeans, Flares and Blue Bags

Can't believe it's almost the end of August already, this month has really flown by! Already Brisbane is starting to warm up, I'm excited for spring. As it's almost the end of the month, time for another budgeting bloggers monthly purchase update.

After doing #noBuyJuly15, I thought I might go a little crazy shopping this month, but I only bought one thing! It was a bit of a splurge.....

Now, what I've been wearing. Sharing some different denim outfits. First, skinny jeans (pre-knee injury) and second; flares and flats. I can thankfully squeeze the knee bandage underneath my flares without too much difficulty. It gives me another option so it's not just maxi skirts all the time!

What I wore:

Cardigan: Jeanswest Dana drape knit cardi in boysenberry

Tank: Jeanswest 'Macy' ombre tank in 'very berry'
Jeans: Jeanswest Bindi skinny 7/8 jeans in indigo luxe
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs logo plaque flats in camel
Bag: Balenciaga giant hardware Day bag in 2009 tempete

Why I wore it:

This is one of my favourite outfits! I would happily wear this over and over again, I had no issues with any part of this through the day. Such a good outfit. I loved how well the colours worked together and how easy it was to wear and to come up with that morning.

I've been looking at all the tanks I have in my wardrobe lately. I always say I'll try wear them year-round but never do, so now it's starting to warm up a little as we come to the end of winter I'm trying to get a bit of wear out of them earlier than I usually would.

Wore this out for lunch at Ikea and a little bit of shopping (because I always end up shopping at Ikea!) with the family. Baby T got to taste his first Ikea meatballs too.


Last worn: purple cardi, pink ombre tank, skinny jeans, camel flats, Balenciaga tempete day bag.

Other ways to wear: purple cardi and a maxi dress, ombre tank and a maxi skirt, skinny jeans and stripes, camel flats and a burgundy dress, Balenciaga tempete day bag in summer.

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Shop more blue leather bags under $300:

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What I wore:

Jacket: Zara cream jersey blazer

Scarf: blue tartan scarf
Tank: Jeanswest 'Josie' striped back strap tank
Jeans: Jeanswest 'spoylt' flared jeans
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs two tone flats in blush and black
Bracelets: the usual
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC with python embossed leather in aquamarine

Why I wore it:

This was a few days after my knee injury. I really wanted to just stay home and rest it for a little longer, but we had more open houses to see. As I can't wear my skinny jeans with the thick knee bandage I'm wearing, I was looking for a maxi skirt to wear when I saw my flares and thought I'd give them a go. Was so happy to find out I could wear them over the knee brace.

Added the blazer to look a little more polished as we went around viewing all the houses. I think Beth summed it up nicely on my last post about house hunting, when you are walking around a stranger's house you want to look pulled-together and give off the impression "I can totes afford this house"!


Last worn: cream blazer, tartan scarf, striped tank, flared jeans, cap toe flats, Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC bag.

Other ways to wear: blazer and skinny jeans, tartan scarf and a printed dress, striped tank and orange, flared jeans and heels, cap toe flats in the office, Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC and a navy shirt dress.


Linking up with Passion for Fashion, Friday Favourites, Casual Friday, Flashback Fashion, Fab Favourites, Favourite Fashion, Fashion Friday, The Ultimate Rabbit Hole, Budget Bloggers.

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Corporate Style: Printed Dresses And Trench Coats For The Office

Easy corporate style for those 'I don't know what to wear' days, printed dresses! They are a great go-to outfit for any occasion, not just for office wear.

I picked these two dresses to wear as I felt it had been a while since I'd worn them.

What I wore:

Jacket: Temt black trench coat 

Cardi: Jeanswest Peggie kimono in purple mulberry marle
Scarf: Cotton On fuchsia pashmina
Dress: Jeanswest 'Melanie' paisley mixed print dress
Shoes: RMK Chester black ankle boots
Bag: Balenciaga giant hardware Day bag in 2009 tempete

Why I wore it:

It was little chilly in the morning, and this is quite a lightweight dress, so I added a purple cardi under my trench coat that you can kinda see peeking out in the first photo. Kept me warm at my desk too as the dress has short sleeves.

Hopefully I can re-create this look when the weather is warmer, without the trench coat as I really liked the cardigan and dress together. I thought the fuchsia pashmina complimented the purple well.


Last worn: black trench, pink pashmina, purple cardi, mixed print dress, ankle boots, Balenciaga tempete day bag.

Other ways to wear: trench coat and a pencil skirt, pashmina and a shift dress, purple cardi and jeans, dress in the third trimester, ankle boots and a maxi skirt, Balenciaga day bag and a maxi skirt.

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Shop more printed dresses at Shopbop:

Desk to drinks - printed dresses at Shopbop.

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What I wore:

Jacket: Barkins beige trench coat 

Dress: French Connection 'Fast Rhonda' dress in black/caramel
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs logo plaque flats in camel
Bag: Mulberry Bayswater in Oak NVT leather (previously owned bargain here)

Why I wore it:

A warmer day so less layers - just a trench over this dress. I didn't add a scarf, because I find this dress a little tricky to wear a scarf with. I don't have many plain scarves, most are printed! Could have done with a scarf to keep me warm in the early morning, but wasn't too bad without it.

It's been a while since I last wore this Mulberry Bayswater bag too! I wore it in March, on my first day back at work after maternity leave. Overall, I've only worn this bag 21 times in the past 3 and a half years (my blog archive is great for finding out info like this!). The leather is extremely sensitive to water, even after I've waterproofed it with the same product I use on all my bags. It tends to get worn mainly for the office. It's such a classic style that will never go out of date though, and some days you just want a formal bag like this for work, so that's why I've held onto it.

I've got a more detailed review of the Mulberry Bayswater on my youtube channel.

Last worn: beige trench, printed sheath dress, camel flats, Mulberry Bayswater tote.

Other ways to wear: trench with orange and burgundy, printed dress with a printed scarf, ballet flats with a boho dress, Bayswater and a baby bump.


Linking up with Let It Shine, Modest Monday, Style Sessions, Turning Heads, Confident Twosday, Wardrobe Wednesday, Whatcha Wearing, What I Wore today.



This post was created in partnership with Shopbop. Occasionally, Away From The Blue blog may receive vendor or brand sponsorships for mentioning their products or services. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own.

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Jeanswest Prima Denim Skinny Jeans and Colourful Prints and Bags

Wearing my Jeanswest Prima denim skinny jeans again, and adding some colour to my winter outfits with prints, as it starts to warm up a little here. Also my first wearing of my new Happiness Boutique necklace and a bit of a review.

What I wore:

Sunnies: Rayban new Wayfarers

Cardigan: Kmart striped maxi cardigan
Necklace: Happiness Boutique turquoise and coral pendant necklace (C/O)
Cami: Atmos&Here 'Isla' ruffle cami in floral print (get 40% off with code 'AUG40')
Jeans: Jeanswest prima denim super skinny jeans in absolute black
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs metallic mouse flats
Bracelets: the usual
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Swing bag in canary yellow

Why I wore it:

This was not the best outfit to showcase my new necklace, (this one on instagram is better) but I thought the colours paired nicely with the print in the top. I was looking for a tank to wear and saw this cami I hadn't worn in ages, so decided to wear this and have a little bit of print mixing with the striped cardi. Wore this out to take baby T for his first Sizzler meal...and quickly realised half way through lunch that skinny jeans are a bad choice for a buffet restaurant with all that food! Perfect place to take a hungry toddler though, he had so much food to taste and try.

You've probably read about Happiness Boutique on lots of other blogs already! I like their mission statement of 'being happy and spreading happiness every day'. I also like their range of accessories, they have lots of colourful and cheerful pieces with free worldwide shipping. They also have a reward program to help make loyal customers happy.

The necklace is nice, it's lightweight, stands up to a toddler tugging on it and it's adjustable so it's easy to wear. The only issue I have with the Happiness Boutique is the shipping. They sent the necklace to me on 17th July, and 2 weeks later were chasing me up asking if I had it yet. I didn't get it until the 10th August, so just over 3 weeks.
It's a little longer than their estimated time of 6-14 working days, but I wasn't expecting a free shipping service from Germany to Australia to be on the quick end of that estimate anyway! Just something to keep in mind if you are ordering for a special event, you might want to order early. My necklace is now sold out as it took a while to arrive, but it was called the 'turquoise and coral semi-precious stones pendant necklace'.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarers, striped maxi cardigan, botanical print cami, black skinny jeans, gold mouse flats, Rebecca Minkoff swing bag.

Other ways to wear: maxi cardigan with a dress, botanical print cami with a maxi skirt, skinny jeans and a plain shirt, mouse flats in the office, Rebecca Minkoff swing bag with a maxi skirt.

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More colourful printed camis and kimonos under $30:

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What I wore:

Jacket: Choies red vintage pattern kimono

Necklace: House of Harlow sunburst necklace in silver and grey
Tee:  Cotton On Denny boat neck long sleeved top in grey marle
Jeans: Jeanswest Bindi skinny 7/8 jeans in indigo luxe
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in black
Bag: Balenciaga giant hardware Day bag in 2009 tempete

Why I wore it:

My inspiration for layering up a kimono came from an instagram post that @beachstylemum did a while ago, near the start of winter. I thought the kimono over a long sleeved tee looked like a great idea, just took me a while to get around to wearing it as I wanted to wait until it warmed up a little more. My long sleeve tees are great, but they aren't the warmest. The weather was perfect for it on this day.

Loved the simplicity of this outfit - and it kept me comfortable all day with all the running around I did. All I had to do was run some errands in the morning and go to the post office to send a parcel to a friend. I got to the shops, got the stroller set up, went to put baby in it...and realised I'd brought every bag except the bag with the present in it! So had to drive all the way home and all the way back again, haha! At least it wasn't a long drive.


Last worn: printed kimono, grey tee, skinny jeans, Converse, Balenciaga tempete day bag.

Other ways to wear: printed kimono with gold jeans, grey tee with a lace skirt, skinny jeans and pattern mixing, Converse and a maxi skirt, Balenciaga tempete day bag in the office.

Linking up with Passion For Fashion, Friday Favourites, Casual Friday, Flashback Fashion, Fashion Friday, Fab Favourites, The Ultimate Rabbit Hole, Hello Monday also here today.

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SAHM Style: Maxi Skirts and Shopbop Skirts

It's no secret that I love maxi skirts! I challenge the 'rule' that short ladies can't wear maxi skirts too - I'm petite! I'd always liked wearing them occasionally, and once I discovered just how perfect they are in pregnancy they became a wardrobe staple. I do my best to wear them year-round.

It's easy enough to do in winter here in Queensland, as we don't have snow to contend with. A few extra layers, some ankle boots and maxi skirts are good to go. If it gets even colder where you live, you can always layer leggings or tights underneath ;)



Since I'm collaborating with Shopbop, (thank you for all your kind words on my last post about it) I thought I'd show you two recent winter maxi skirt outfits I've worn as it started warming up a little more here, and some of the maxi skirts available to purchase at Shopbop.

What I wore:

Scarf: Alexander McQueen magenta skull scarf in roses print

Tee: Glassons plain black long sleeve tee
Skirt: Izabel London Aztec print maxi skirt (C/O, shop similar skirts at Shopbop)
Shoes: RMK Chester black ankle boots
Bag: Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere

Why I wore it:

This layering tee was another one of those pieces I'd been looking at in my wardrobe for a while and figured I'd better get around to wearing before winter passes us by! With just a few weeks left, I'm feeling that I haven't given all my winter pieces enough wear before I have to pack them away again.

The plain black tee and the dark skirt seemed a little dull for a day out shopping with family while hubby was on baby duty, so I added the scarf for some colour.


Last worn: purple skull scarf, black long sleeve tee, Aztec print maxi skirt, black ankle boots, Louis Vuitton Speedy Bandouliere bag.

Other ways to wear: skull scarf in summer, black tee and a printed skirt, printed maxi skirt in a neutral outfit, ankle boots in the office, Speedy Bandouliere and skinny jeans.

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Shop a great range of maxi skirts at Shopbop right now:

See more maxi skirts here. Or even maxi dresses! 

If you're looking for something a little more work-appropriate, check out the pencil skirts.

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What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Peggie kimono in purple mulberry marle

Scarf: Alexander McQueen skull scarf in light blue
Tee: Spectrum basic v-neck tee in grey marl
Skirt: Target black and white striped maxi skirt (Shop similar maxi skirts here)
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in black
Bag: Balenciaga giant hardware Day bag in 2009 tempete

Why I wore it:

It's not the first time I've worn this tee and skirt together, although it was a bit warmer last time I did so. Layered it up slightly with the cardigan and scarf for a morning at playgroup.

It's not surprising I'd repeat combinations with this skirt. I like pairing it with grey tees, and I've worn it over 30 times in the year and a half since I bought it. Definitely a must-have in my wardrobe!


Last worn: blue Alexander McQueen skull scarf, purple kimono cardigan, grey tee, Target stripe maxi skirt, Converse, Balenciaga tempete day bag.

Other ways to wear: skull scarf and a striped dress, cardigan and skinny jeans, grey tee in the office, maxi skirt in the third trimester, Converse and skinny jeans, Balenciaga day bag and denim shorts.


Linking up with Friday Favourites, Fab Favourites, Passion For Fashion, Favourite Fashion, Flashback Fashion, Casual Friday, The Ultimate Rabbit Hole, Let It Shine, Hello Monday, Thursday Fashion Files.


This post was created in partnership with Shopbop. Occasionally, Away From The Blue blog may receive vendor or brand sponsorships for mentioning their products or services. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own.

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