2 Ways to Add Colourful Accessories to Dresses in Winter

When I have a rare child-free day to myself I like to wear a dress. While I've worn dresses in the past with the boys, they aren't always a practical choice when chasing after two toddlers. It was good to have a reason to get these dresses out again. It's been a long time (almost 2 years!) since I've worn both of them as they aren't breastfeeding friendly.

Winter weather doesn't put me off of wearing dresses - fleece lined tights, ankle boots and a cosy cardigan or leather jacket keep me warm. While winter outfits can look a little monochromatic with all the neutral layers together, I've added a different colourful accessory to each outfit.

What I wore:

Jacket: Cotton On black knit wrap cardigan

Scarf: Marc by Marc Jacobs bright blue stole
Dress: Asos grey skater dress
Shoes: RMK Chester black ankle boots
Bag: Balenciaga part time in black 2010 with SGH

Why I wore it:

I loved this outfit. The cobalt blue scarf was the perfect pop of colour with the monochrome outfit. Kept me warm on the cold morning too.

I had a physio appointment, and I find wearing a dress with leggings under it works best for all the exercises. (I just swapped the fleecy tights for leggings when I got there). I wasn't sure how I was going to meet the 'tied at waist' style challenge on Instagram and figured I could wear this dress with a belt. After almost 2 years since it was last worn, it was time to get it out my wardrobe! Changed my mind when I remembered I had this cosy cardigan with a belt, perfect for the challenge. It kept me warm as I rushed around between appointments while my mother in law stayed home with the boys.

I had to have a procedure at the dentist so was feeling a bit sore in the afternoon, it was nice to stay snuggled up in this cardigan.


Last worn: black belted cardigan, cobalt blue scarf, grey skater dress, black ankle boots, Balenciaga Part Time bag.

Other ways to wear: black belted cardigan and skinny jeans, cobalt blue scarf and stripes, grey skater dress in summer, black ankle boots and jeans, Balenciaga Part Time bag with pink tank.

Perfect for pregnancy: cardigan in first trimester, skater dress in second trimester, ankle boots for pregnancy reveal, part time bag and maternity pencil skirt.

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What I wore:

Jacket: Asos Black by Markus Lupfer printed leather jacket

Necklace: Uniquely Made with Love Sea Change necklace
Dress: Atmos&Here navy stripe tee dress
Shoes: Asos Cleo leather boots in tan
Bag: Balenciaga Day bag in 2005 magenta (20% off with code 'REAL')

Why I wore it:

Although I was feeling under the weather, I still had to get up and get dressed for an appointment so I pulled on one of my old favourite dresses. I wore this so much the year I got it, but pregnancies and breastfeeding has stopped it being worn recently. Like I mentioned on Instagram, I was so happy to unbox this when I got all my winter clothes out of storage.

Even though I wasn't feeling the best, I did love wearing this dress again. Always good to get old favourites out! The magenta Balenciaga day bag was a great cheerful and colourful pop against the navy and black too.


Last worn: printed leather jacket, striped tee dress, tan boots, Balenciaga magenta day bag.

Other ways to wear: printed leather jacket worn 30 ways, striped tee dress and Converse, tan boots and skinny jeans, Balenciaga magenta day bag and denim shorts.

Perfect for pregnancy: striped dress and small second trimester bump, magenta Balenciaga bag and maternity shorts.

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How You Can Wear It:

You can add a little colour to a monochromatic outfit with a bright accessory. Winter is a good time to experiment with this - you can swap out any one of your neutral layers for a pop of colour. In the first outfit I added colour to a monochrome outfit with a bright cobalt scarf. In the second outfit, I was scarf-less but the bright magenta bag was the perfect pop against all of the black and navy.

Layer up your dresses and wear them all year! A cosy cardigan, scarf or leather jacket with boots and tights makes dresses work even in winter.



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Layering to Wear Clothes Year-Round, With Balenciaga Bags

I've mentioned a few times that I try to wear most of my clothes year-round. While winter knits and cardigans and boots don't stay in my wardrobe long before I box them away during warmer weather, there are just a few summer pieces that I store away during winter. Aside from my shorts, I keep my spring and summer items in my wardrobe year-round and try to wear them when it's colder.

The below outfits show how I layer two summery tops.

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Dana drape knit cardi in boysenberry (25% off sale on knitwear!)
Necklace: For King & Country Priceless Australian coin and crest necklace
Tunic: Caroline Morgan navy embroidered tunic
Jeans: Jeanswest 'shale' super skinny jeans
Shoes: Asos leather Chelsea boots in tan
Bag: Balenciaga truffle brown RH classic day bag

Why I wore it:

I love this tunic so much! A gift from my mum, it didn't get worn much over summer as it turned out to be pretty impossible to breastfeed in. Now that Baby Boy doesn't need breastfeeds during the day, it was a good reason to get this top out again. While it was too cold to wear on it's own, I made it winter appropriate with the jeans, cosy purple cardigan and ankle boots. A very different outfit from when I previously wore it as a bikini coverup!

With the navy tunic, purple-ish jeans and purple cardigan, I wasn't sure what bag to wear with this when I remembered my Balenciaga day bag. It's been a while since I've worn it so it was good to get it out again, and I think it went quite nicely with the tan ankle boots and colours in my outfit.

Wore this to go out shopping with my mum and the boys - with Toddler T's upcoming third birthday my mum wanted to get him a bike so we went around a few stores looking at all the options and trying them out. Was a really fun day, topped off with making cookies in the afternoon after we picked the perfect bike.


Last worn: purple cardigan, embroidered tunic, slate skinny jeans, tan ankle boots, Balenciaga truffle Day bag.

Other ways to wear: purple cardigan and shirt dress, embroidered tunic and shorts, slate skinny jeans and purple accessories, tan ankle boots and chambray dress, Balenciaga truffle Day bag.

Perfect for pregnancy: cardigan in the first trimester, skinny jeans in the first trimester, ankle boots and printed dress in second trimester, Balenciaga day bag for second trimester travel.

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More Balenciaga Day Bags

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What I wore:

Jacket: Atmos&Here Nigella collarless shirt dress (worn as kimono)

Necklace: Roie Designs long freshwater pearl necklace with tassel
Tank: Jeanswest round neck lace detail top
Jeans: Emerson red skinny jeans
Shoes: Walnut Melbourne 'Ava' black lizard ballet flats (also available in silver)
Bag: Balenciaga part time in black 2010 with SGH

Why I wore it:

If you've been reading my blog a while you'll know I love my kimonos. Sadly there are a few months in the year where it's just too cold for short sleeves and they don't get worn. This shirt dress made an awesome long sleeved kimono though, and was just the right layer over my black tank.

I'd been wanting to wear this dress as a kimono after seeing Shea wear hers that way. Over 8 months ago, oops! It was too warm then. It was only when I saw another instagrammer wearing her shirt dress as a kimono that I remembered the outfit inspiration and realised it was the perfect temperature to try it! The red skinny jeans were a good choice with the red in the print of the dress. I really liked wearing this, it was fun to give a new outfit idea a try.

Had a less than fun day while wearing it though! Had to go to the dentist, which is never pleasant, no matter how sweet the dentist and lovely receptionist are.

It's been a while since I've worn this Balenciaga bag too! Such a good bag, but I've been favouring my smaller Rebecca Minkoff cross body bags a lot lately as they are easier to juggle with two toddlers. Also less expensive leather for sticky toddler fingers to be around!


Last worn: shirt dress, lace detail tank, red skinny jeans, black ballet flats, Balenciaga part time bag.

Other ways to wear: shirt dress in winter, lace detail tank and pleated skirt, red skinny jeans and printed cami, black ballet flats and printed skirt, Balenciaga part time bag in the office.

Perfect for pregnancy: tank hiding an early baby bump, jeans in the first trimester, black flats and maternity jeans, Balenciaga Part Time bag and striped dress in second trimester.

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More Balenciaga Part Time Bags

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How You Can Wear It:

You don't have to bid farewell to all your favourite warm weather pieces when autumn arrives. With the right layers, you can wear the most summery of pieces year-round. Jeans, boots and cosy cardigans are good ways to wear a lighter piece in the cold weather. You can have fun with your layering too - try something colourful like blue and purple, or something unexpected like a long sleeve dress worn unbuttoned as an extra layer.


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Bermuda Denim Shorts: Minimalist Vs Maximalist Outfits

Although I bought these bermuda denim shorts in November last year, I am consistently surprised when I go to create a new 30 wears series post and find out I haven't yet worn them 30 times. Over summer and our currently mild autumn I feel that I've been wearing them too much, and have to try and change it up a little and give some of my other shorts some love!

I'm wearing them below with a classic minimal combo with a simple top, and with an extra layer for a more maximalist outfit.

What I wore:

Jacket: Somedays Lovin' Yakuza print kimono
Necklace: Nibbly Bits Wilma teething necklace in pale daffodil
Top: thrifted Dotti blue tee
Shorts: Jeanswest Trinity Bermuda denim shorts (on sale!)
Shoes: Rebecca Minkoff Georgina studded gladiator sandals in blush (on sale, 44% off!)
Bag:  Rebecca Minkoff MAB mini in soft grey

Why I wore it:

Wore this for Baby Boy's weekly weigh and spending some time with my mum in the afternoon. 4 months into 6 months without shopping and I'm still uncovering things in my wardrobe that haven't been worn in a while. Last time I wore this cobalt blouson top I wasn't impressed with the way it fitted while breastfeeding, but decided to hold onto it a little longer. Since I'm breastfeeding less often I'm finding things are fitting a little more like they used to pre-baby. I am glad I kept this top, I enjoyed wearing it.

Despite the top having an embellished neckline, I wanted to add a little more to the outfit so went with a colourful printed kimono. I've worn this top and necklace together before, but felt the kimono added a little something extra. The grey Rebecca Minkoff MAM bag was the perfect accessory and has recently been re-released, so it's in stock now!


Last worn: Somedays Lovin' kimono, blouson tee, bermuda denim shorts, studded gladiator sandals, Rebecca Minkoff MAM bag.

Other ways to wear: kimono and print mixing, blouson tee in the office, bermuda denim shorts and pink vest, studded gladiator sandals worn 30 ways, Rebecca Minkoff MAM bag and skinny jeans.

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Bermuda Denim Shorts Under $50:

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What I wore:

Sunglasses: Ray-Ban new Wayfarers

Necklace: Nibbly Bits Abacus teething necklace in pop
Top: Atmos & Here Arlene wrap top in navy
Shorts: Jeanswest Trinity Bermuda denim shorts (on sale!)
Shoes: Balenciaga studded sandals in sorbet RGGH
Bag: Balenciaga giant hardware Day bag in 2009 tempete

Why I wore it:

I picked colourful accessories to wear with this outfit too, but it's more minimal with just the teething necklace and sandals adding colour to a basic top and shorts combo. The blue Balenciaga bag goes perfectly with the navy wrap top. Wanted something easy and breastfeeding friendly to wear for Baby Boy's vaccinations.

Unlike the outfit above, I didn't add an extra layer to the outfit and kept it basic. Had anticipated a tough day with a cranky baby so simple was best.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer, navy wrap top, Bermuda denim shorts (above), Balenciaga studded sandals, Balenciaga tempete day bag.

Other ways to wear: navy wrap top and maxi skirt, Bermuda denim shorts and slouchy tee, Balenciaga studded sandals and florals, Balenciaga tempete day bag and embroidered blouse.

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More Bermuda Denim Shorts Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

Sometimes a simple outfit is just what you need for the day's activities, other days you might want to be more maximalist and add prints and colour with a piece like a kimono or printed cardigan. It's helpful to have a good go-to base like denim shorts that will work with whatever kind of outfit you have in mind.


Linking up with What I Wore, Fashion Frenzy, Oh Hey Girl, Blended Blog, Fashion Files, Fun Fashion, Fabulous Friday, Weekend Wear, Flashback Friday, Friday Faves.

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Maxi Dresses and Matching Bags

I've been wearing my maxi dresses often as they are the simplest outfit - grab and go! Accessorising is easy too. When in doubt you can always go monochrome with a bag that's a similar colour to your dress.

What I wore:

Necklace: Ruby Olive Softies Ava elephant pendant teething necklace

Dress: Jeanswest 'Chantelle' crochet detail blue printed maxi dress
Shoes: Rebecca Minkoff Georgina studded gladiator sandals in blush (on sale, 44% off!)
Bag:  Balenciaga giant hardware Day bag in 2009 tempete

Why I wore it:

I've worn almost the exact same outfit recently, I just wore Rebecca Minkoff gladiator sandals this time instead of my two-tone Wittner sandals. The Balenciaga day bag is a frequently repeated accessory with this dress too. While the navy blue of the dress isn't an identical match to the grey-blue of the Balenciaga bag, it's a combination I like to wear. Blue dress, blue bag and in this case a blue necklace just makes me happy because of all of the blue.

This blue maxi dress is the one I wore to Toddler T's first birthday party, so I had considered wearing it to Baby Boy's first birthday party too. Decided to wear another dress instead, and wore this to Baby Boy's birthday celebration at playgroup.


Last worn: blue printed maxi dress, Rebecca Minkoff gladiator sandals, Balenciaga tempete day bag.

Other ways to wear: blue printed maxi dress and a baby bump, Rebecca Minkoff gladiator sandals and denim shorts, blue Balenciaga day bag with pink and purple.

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More Blue Printed Maxi Dresses Under $50:

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What I wore:

Sunglasses: Ray-Ban new Wayfarers

Necklace: Nibbly Bits Wilma teething necklace in pale daffodil
Dress: Jeanswest 'Elodie' tie dye grey jersey maxi dress
Shoes: Rebecca Minkoff Georgina studded gladiator sandals in blush (on sale, 44% off!)
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Love cross body bag in grey

Why I wore it:

Another playgroup outfit! I'd picked this maxi dress to wear as I'd been participating in the #AutumnStyleFile instagram style challenge and the theme for the day was a jumpsuit. Being petite, I don't have any jumpsuits or playsuits so this maxi dress as an all-in-one outfit seemed like a good alternative. Nice and easy for a morning running around with the boys too.

I added the yellow teething necklace as I felt the grey Love bag and tie dye dress together needed a little extra colour.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer, tie dye maxi dress, Rebecca Minkoff Georgina studded sandals (above), Rebecca Minkoff quilted Love cross body bag.

Other ways to wear: tie dye maxi dress and baby bump, Rebecca Minkoff Georgina studded sandals and printed shorts, Rebecca Minkoff Love cross body bag and summer layers.

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More Tie Dye Maxi Dresses Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

A printed maxi dress means there's a lot of print in your outfit, but it doesn't mean it's hard to accessorise. You can wear a bag in a similar colour for a monochrome outfit without a lot of effort. You can keep the rest of your accessories coordinating or add a pop of colour through a statement necklace.


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Embroidery Trend and Shopping Your Wardrobe

While I'm attempting #6MonthsWithoutShopping, I've come across a few things I wished I could buy. I'm trying to just share the things on Twitter instead of buying!

Embroidery is a big trend at the moment, so a lot of the pieces I've wanted have been embroidered. Since I can't buy any new pieces of the trend, I've pulled the embroidered pieces I already have in my wardrobe out instead to shop my own wardrobe. Trends come and go. The tank was a sale buy from last autumn, and the blouse was from the year before that!

What I wore:

Necklace: Uniquely Made with Love Sea Change necklace (won in a giveaway)

Shirt: Jeanswest Elise longline embroidered shirt in coconut blue
Shorts: Jeanswest denim cuff shorts
Shoes: Rebecca Minkoff Georgina studded gladiator sandals in blush (on sale, 44% off!)
Bag: Balenciaga giant hardware Day bag in 2009 tempete

Why I wore it:

First day trying my new hair curler, and also a day full of errands. I put Baby Boy in his stroller instead of the baby carrier which left me free to wear white and something other than a teething necklace. I won this pretty blue necklace in an Instagram giveaway from Uniquely Made with Love. It's a similar design to the teething necklace I love so much but it's smaller and not baby friendly. I really enjoyed wearing it, even if I did take it off as soon as we returned home to stop Baby Boy chewing on it!

I was commenting on a blog about how much I admired one of the embroidered blouses in their wishlist when I remembered this little-worn piece was tucked in the back of my wardrobe. It was nice to get it out again. White isn't a colour I wear often, with two toddlers and being a little clumsy myself I can't always keep it clean! This blouse was too pretty not to buy though. I love the way it looks with denim, and I've worn it very similarly before.


Last worn: embroidered tunic, denim shorts, Rebecca Minkoff gladiator sandals, Balenciaga tempete day bag.

Other ways to wear: embroidered blouse and flares, denim shorts and summer layers, gladiator sandals worn 30 ways, Balenciaga tempete day bag in the office.

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Embroidered Blouses Under $50:

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What I wore:

Sunglasses: Ray-Ban new Wayfarers

Tank: Target embroidered khaki tank
Shorts: OneTeaspoon Hawks shorts in Fox black (C/O, on sale!)
Shoes: Wittner 'Jasmarie' studded sandals
Bag: Balenciaga giant hardware Day bag in 2009 tempete

Why I wore it:

This was the day before Baby Boy's first birthday party, so another busy day! Also another chance to wear one of the embroidered pieces from my wardrobe. This embroidered tunic was a $10 impulse sale buy in Target when I was out shopping with Beth. Although I've only worn it 8 times so far I'm sure I'll get my money's worth from it! No teething necklace with this outfit either, the tassels on the top are fun enough for Baby Boy.

I needed a big bag to hold everything I had to carry during the day, so kept on wearing this Balenciaga day bag. I wasn't too sure how it would look with the olive tank and black shorts but I love the muted colour scheme of the resulting outfit.  It was a cooler day and I'd considered adding another layer in the morning, but I was rushing around a lot picking up last minute food, decorations and a LOT of balloons for the party (I went a little overboard) so I wasn't too cold.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer, khaki embroidered tank, OneTeaspoon Hawks shorts, studded sandals, Balenciaga tempete day bag (above).

Other ways to wear: khaki embroidered tank and maxi skirt, OneTeaspoon Hawks shorts worn two ways, studded sandals and a shirt dress, Balenciaga tempete day bag and maxi dress.

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Embroidered Tanks Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

I'm always grateful for you supporting my little blog when you click links and purchase anything I've shared, as I earn a small commission on the sale. But I'm even more thrilled when I get comments saying how I've inspired people to rewear something from their own wardrobe. As these outfits show, you don't always have to rush out and buy something new to enjoy a trend. Shop your wardrobe first and see if you have anything similar!


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Colourful Maxi Dresses, Blue Balenciaga Tempete Day Bag and ABA

I've been wearing my maxi dresses a lot lately! They've just been the easiest option as they are instant outfits. I have a few black ones but the bright and colourful ones definitely get more wear.

This Balenciaga tempete day bag is one of my favourites too. It looks great with pink or worn in a monochrome blue outfit. Sharing it with both below, and talking a little more about my experiences with the Australian Breastfeeding Association.

What I wore:

Sunglasses: Ray-Ban new Wayfarers

Necklace: Nibbly Bits Abacus teething necklace in pop
Dress: MEV Havana maxi dress C/O Zibibo
Belt: Kmart thin gold glitter belt
Shoes: Rebecca Minkoff Georgina studded gladiator sandals in blush (on sale, 44% off!)
Bag: Balenciaga giant hardware Day bag in 2009 tempete

Why I wore it:

If you follow my insta stories, you'll know it was a big day for me when I wore this! I had the chance to help out at the Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) stall at the baby expo. While I'm still on maternity leave from my office job, it was nice to have a little bit of 'work' for the day for something different, especially as I waited for my re-application for Church Online to be approved so I could get back to working there.

I'm not the best at public speaking (my youtube channel is a way for me to practice!) and I don't like talking in a group or crowd situation, but it was nice being able to talk one-on-one to the people at the expo who stopped by the stall and tell them a little more about the ABA.

It was bittersweet meeting so many people who had a similar experience that I did. So many people didn't breastfeed their eldest as much as they had wanted to (for various reasons) and so were looking for some support or information to reach their goals the second time around. One of the breastfeeding counselors I worked with on the day was the same lady who had answered that exact query for me a little over a year before when I was pregnant with Baby Boy! She was wonderful and it was good being able to refer people onto her when they had questions outside of membership that I couldn't answer.

Hubby and the boys came to the expo in the morning with me and then after lunch I went to help out at the stand when the boys went home. This nursing maxi dress was a pretty and practical outfit, with the added benefit of my teething necklace generating a lot of enquiries from people. Although I hadn't known it beforehand, we had a little shop within the stall with teething necklaces for sale for fundraising. I showed the selection to a few people. This Balenciaga day bag easily held my water bottle and things inside while sitting in a corner of the stall too.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer, pink maxi dress, gold glitter belt, gladiator sandals, Balenciaga tempete day bag.

Other ways to wear: pink maxi dress at 39 weeks, gold glitter belt and Aztec print, gladiator sandals worn 30 ways, Balenciaga tempete day bag and red skinny jeans.

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What I wore:

Sunglasses: Ray-Ban new Wayfarers

Necklace: Ruby Olive Softies Ava elephant pendant teething necklace
Dress: Jeanswest 'Chantelle' crochet detail blue printed maxi dress
Shoes: Wittner 'Jasmarie' studded sandals
Bag: Balenciaga giant hardware Day bag in 2009 tempete

Why I wore it:

This was another ABA-related outfit! Blue everything to meet the 'matchy matchy' style challenge on Intagram. Except the black and tan sandals. Sometimes I think I'd like blue sandals...I already have a few colourful flats I don't wear nearly enough though. I've worn this Balenciaga day bag together with the maxi dress before, it's a great combination.

Wore this to head out to the local ABA mother's group. The meeting topic wasn't one that was particularly relevant to me as I'm past the newborn stage, but it was good to get out and have some morning tea and a chat with the other mums.

In the afternoon we popped out to grab a few quick groceries too. While maxi dresses can feel a little more formal (and I wear them for evenings out), they are so comfortable and easy to wear that I wear them for everyday too, no special occasions needed.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer (above), blue printed maxi dress, studded sandals, Balenciaga tempete day bag (above).

Other ways to wear: blue printed maxi dress with pink and aqua, studded sandals and denim shorts, Balenciaga tempete day bag and blush pink.

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Colourful Maxi Dresses Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

Don't be afraid to wear bright accessories with a bright outfit. You can pick complimentary colours like pink and blue, or go monochrome and match your bag to your outfit for an easy, fail-safe match.




If you're pregnant or a new mum or both, I'd suggest checking out your local Australian Breastfeeding Association group. You can go to one without becoming a member, if you want to see what it's like first and how good the cakes are. In my experience though, the cake and the conversations are well worth the small $70 annual membership fee. 😂 Not a sponsored post, just wanted to share more about a group that's been a large part of my life this past year.


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Printed Shorts with Neutral and Bright Fitted Tanks

Before starting my #6MonthsWithoutShopping challenge and trying to hit 30 wears on more of my wardrobe, I'd been admiring a pair of printed shorts at Jeanswest. It was a good motivation for me to get the printed shorts I already have and wear them more often. This post brings them to 14 wears, even though the lightweight fabric and relaxed cut make them perfect for a hot day.

The outfit formulas followed below are incredibly similar, but I think they look different just by changing from a neutral to a colourful top. Anything to justify the huge box of fitted tanks I have in multiple colours! 😉

What I wore:

Sunglasses: Ray-Ban new Wayfarers

Necklace: Ruby Olive Softies Ava elephant pendant teething necklace
Tank: Target grey marle tank top
Shorts: Jeanswest 'Scarlette' printed shorts
Shoes: Rebecca Minkoff Georgina studded gladiator sandals in blush (on sale, 44% off!)
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC in aquamarine with python embossed leather (on sale!)

Why I wore it:

I really liked my outfit last time I wore this teething necklace and Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC bag together, so it was good wearing the combination again. They go quite well together!

Grey and blue is another one of my usual combinations. It's been such a long time since I wore this Target tank, a shame as it's a really good basic. A nice neutral tank went well with the busy printed shorts.

Ran a few errands in the morning and had a haircut too. You might have notice my hair doesn't look any different! I've decided to grow it out and donate it, so just had a trim. I usually grow my hair long and then change my mind and cut it short again, so this way it will benefit a sick child. Completely inspired by my friend who grew her hair for two years in order to donate it.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer, Target grey tank, printed shorts, Rebecca Minkoff studded sandals, aquamarine Mini MAC bag.

Other ways to wear: grey tank and maxi skirt, printed shorts and stripes, Rebecca Minkoff studded sandals and denim, aquamarine Mini MAC bag and wrap dress.

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Blue Printed Shorts Under $50:

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What I wore:

Sunglasses: Ray-Ban new Wayfarers

Necklace: Ruby Olive Softies Charlotte teething necklace
Tank: thrifted Cotton On yellow tank
Shorts: Jeanswest 'Scarlette' printed shorts
Shoes: Rebecca Minkoff Georgina studded gladiator sandals in blush (on sale, 44% off!)
Bag: Balenciaga giant hardware Day bag in 2009 tempete

Why I wore it:

I liked the neutral tank and printed shorts combo above but wanted to try something a little more colourful the next time I wore these shorts. I like blue and yellow together so this tank seemed like a good choice. I mentioned on Instagram that this isn't a 'flattering' look.

When doing my wardrobe detox with a personal stylist two years ago, soon after buying these shorts, she pointed out that they didn't hit at the slimmest part on my waist (none of my tummy region is slim after having my beautiful babies!). It's easy to disguise by wearing the shorts with similar colours. But some days, you just want to wear a cheerful bright yellow tank and enjoy the colour combination more than the way the outfit flatters your post-baby body. I'm grateful for the advice of the stylist (she was so knowledgable and helpful!) but I'm also going to wear what makes me happy even if it doesn't look the best.

While this outfit does seem to highlight my rounded 'mum-tum', these shorts and blue and yellow together make me happy. Even if it did feel a little overly bright for a quiet day with not much else on other than a trip to the post office, I enjoyed wearing this.


Last worn: Ray-ban Wayfarer (above), yellow tank, printed shorts (above), studded gladiator sandals (above), Balenciaga tempete Day bag.

Other ways to wear: yellow tank and baby bump, printed shorts and ankle boots, studded gladiator sandals worn 30 ways, Balenciaga tempete Day bag and blue dress.

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More Printed Shorts Under $50:

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You don't have to pair colourful printed shorts with a neutral top, you can wear a complimentary colour for an extra touch of brightness to your outfit. Neutral shoes are a good addition to a bright outfit like this.


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