Printed Sheath Dresses and Jersey Blazer With Balenciaga Day Bag: Spring Office Wear

Like everyone, my wardrobe has fluctuated over the years. In the past 10 or so years I've gone from being a uni student to working full time, changing careers, having two beautiful babies, over 2 years of maternity leave and now a part time working mum of two toddlers.

While it's been fun unboxing my office clothes after maternity leave, it's eye opening to see that I'm wearing the last of the office dresses now, over 3 months since I started back at work.

It's an interesting place to be at wardrobe-wise. Having more office wear than I need but not really wanting to let any of it go. It's not that I don't use office wear, just that I have much more than a part time worker needs. Not entirely sure if I should downsize more or just enjoy having lots of choice for workwear! Despite not being worn often, I love both of these sheath dresses.

What I wore:

Jacket: Zara cream jersey blazer
Necklace: Starfish Project Veronica short yellow multi strand necklace
Dress: French Connection 'Woodblock wonder' panache dress in white/geranium rose
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs logo plaque flats in camel
Bag: Balenciaga truffle brown RH classic day bag

Why I wore it:

This dress is it, the final as yet unworn office dress, 3 months after returning to work. It's a beautiful dress and always gets compliments, perfect for the office and light enough for summer but not so light that it can't work for spring layered with a jersey blazer. The only reason it was the last office dress I had left to wear is that I prefer to wear it without tights. Now that spring has arrived it's the ideal weather for it.

I wasn't sure if the bright yellow necklace would be too much with the orange print on the dress, but I really liked the bold combination. With all of the colour going on in my outfit, I picked a neutral cream blazer and a brown Balenciaga bag with camel flats, they look so nice together and were perfect to pair with the print and colour.


Last worn: cream jersey blazer, orange printed sheath dress, camel flats, Truffle Balenciaga Day bag.

Other ways to wear: cream jersey blazer and skinny jeans, sheath dress with layered knit, camel flats and wrap dress, Truffle Balenciaga Day bag and maxi skirt.

Perfect for pregnancy: blazer and belly band with an early baby bump, dress hiding an early second trimester bump, camel flats in third trimester, Balenciaga day bag for second trimester travel.

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Jersey Blazers Under $50:

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What I wore:

Jacket: Zara cream jersey blazer
Necklace: Uniquely Made with Love Sea Change necklace
Dress: French Connection blue Paisley print dress
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs metallic mouse flats (on sale in black!)
Bag: Balenciaga truffle brown RH classic day bag

Why I wore it:

Another printed sheath dress, sticking with the same cream jersey blazer I wore above and the same Balenciaga day bag. As the blue necklace matched the blue print of the dress, I added a little more interest to my outfit with the gold mouse flats. I love these shoes so much, they are so cute but so wearable to the office too, a nice way to add a little personality to a corporate outfit.

I've already worn this dress once since my return to work from maternity leave, but it was good to wear it again as it will always be one of my favourites! When I had my wardrobe detox session this was one of those 'hmmm' pieces in my wardrobe that the personal stylist stopped for a moment to consider - so of course I explained that I really wanted it to stay, and it moved into the 'keep' pile! It's actually one of the dresses I bought when starting out with my current company about 8 and a half years ago, it's definitely got staying power in my wardrobe! I've worn it 15 times since I started blogging, and many more times before then, one of those pieces I think I've already hit 30 wears on although sadly don't have a photo of every wear.

It's worked for two pregnancies too - it's quite roomy, although with the zip up the back I've never worn it past the second trimester!


Last worn: cream jersey blazer (above), Paisley print sheath dress, mouse flats, Truffle Balenciaga Day bag (above).

Other ways to wear: cream jersey blazer and a-line skirt, Paisley print sheath dress and pink accessories, mouse flats and printed jeans, Truffle Balenciaga Day bag and shorts.

Perfect for pregnancy: blazer and hidden second trimester baby bump, paisley print dress in the second trimester, mouse flats in the second trimester, Balenciaga day bag in first trimester.

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Printed Sheath Dresses for the Office Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

Printed sheath dresses are quick and easy office outfits. With a printed statement dress you don't have to try to had with accessories as the dress makes a bold enough statement on its own. If you're unsure what to wear them with, stick with neutral accessories like tan bags and shoes that go with everything. A blazer helps add to the professional look and keeps you warm in the office aircon.

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SALE ALERT!

Jeanswest have 40% off at the moment, perfect time to pick up some spring/summer pieces! New pieces as well as sale items are all reduced.

I've already had a blast spending my saved gift cards there, stocked up on shorts!

Couldn't resist this embroidered pair, a printed pair and this distressed pair to replace my other black ones. All 40% off means I still have 2 gift cards left to spend!

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Stripe Henleys in Neutral Outfits with Colourful Pink and Purple Accessories

I unpacked all my winter stuff months ago, but even with my #6MonthsWithoutShopping and #noBuyJuly17 and no new things in my wardrobe, I still have winter pieces unworn. Part of this is due to not having a lot of space in my wardrobe and some of my winter things having to go into one of the boy's rooms where I forget to look when picking out things to wear. I've been making more of an effort lately to wear some of my long sleeved winter tops.

The same outfit formula was used to wear each of the striped henley tops below, but I think the outfits look quite different! Striped henley, monochrome jeans and cardigan and colourful scarf and bag is easy winter stay at home mum style.

What I wore:

Jacket: Cotton On black knit wrap cardigan

Scarf: Alexander McQueen magenta skull scarf in roses print
Top: Jeanswest 'Marina' stripe henley
Jeans: Nobody Denim Siren skinny super high-rise jeans in power black denim (C/O, on sale!)
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in black
Bag: Balenciaga Day bag in 2005 magenta (20% off with code 'REAL')

Why I wore it:

You can tell that this scarf has been sitting unworn in a storage box for a while as it's so crumpled! I probably should have ironed it, but I barely have time to iron my clothes (#mumLife!) so accessories are probably never going to get ironed! 😂

I liked the addition of the magenta Balenciaga bag and skull scarf together with the black and white - really made the outfit more colourful and cheerful.

Wore this for a little bit of a busy day - had my local ABA group meeting in the morning, then lunch, a quick shopping trip and a doctors appointment. The shopping trip was very special! It was back when I was still doing my #6MonthsWithoutShopping, but as I've shared previously, I was treated to a pair of jeans! Thanks to a special someone doing the $5 challenge and deciding to surprise people with the money they saved. I went into Jeanswest 'just for a look' and found the perfect grey jeans to replace my old pair.

The $5 challenge is where you save all the $5 notes you get as change for the year. Even as someone who doesn't use cash often, they saved a lot! I think I'll give it a go next year!


Last worn: black wrap cardigan, magenta skull scarf, navy stripe henley, Nobody Denim jeans, Converse, Balenciaga magenta day bag. 

Other ways to wear: black wrap cardigan and flares, magenta skull scarf and grey tee, navy stripe henley and maxi skirt, Nobody Denim jeans and ankle boots, Converse and printed dresses, Balenciaga magenta day bag and printed jeans. 

Perfect for pregnancy: black cardigan and hiding an early baby bump, skull scarf and plaid shirt in first trimester, stripe henley for an obstetrician appointment, Converse for a weekend trip in the second trimester, magenta day in the office in third trimester.

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Striped Henleys Under $50:

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What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Alice longline Australian wool cardigan

Scarf: Alexander McQueen pink pashmina in skull and floral print
Top: Jeanswest 'Melanie' Stripe henley in black/coconut
Jeans: Jeanswest Cecile dove grey skinny jeans (on sale, 25% off!)
Shoes: Purple high top Converse look-a-likes (from my sister's wardrobe)
Bag: Balenciaga Day bag in 2005 magenta (20% off with code 'REAL')

Why I wore it:

These are the wonderful jeans I was treated to as part of the $5 challenge - I was surprised to see them in store as I'd been wanting a pair of grey jeans to replace my old ones, and actually had just finished a phone call with my sister asking if she had any grey jeans from her massive wardrobe clearout!

The purple Converse-like high tops I'm wearing are from my sister's wardrobe clearout. I've always wondered if I should add a colourful pair of Converse to my shoe collection, given how much my black and white Chucks are worn, but never been sure what colour to add. This made the decision for me, perfect! I like the purple shoes with the pink skull scarf and magenta bag. Just the right amount of colour for a grey outfit, and perfect for a morning at playgroup.

Last time I wore this scarf I wore it with this striped top too, I really like the combination!


Last worn: wool cardigan, neon pink skull scarf, grey stripe henley, grey skinny jeans, magenta Balenciaga day bag (above). First time I've worn the shoes as they are a recent addition from my sister's wardrobe to mine!

Other ways to wear: wool cardigan and flared jeans, neon pink skull scarf and chambray dress, stripe henley in the office, grey skinny jeans with animal print, magenta Balenciaga day bag and graphic tee.

Perfect for pregnancy: stripe henley in first trimester, skull scarf in third trimester, magenta Balenciaga bag and novelty pregnancy tees.

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Pink and Magenta Skull Scarves Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

Bright accessories aren't just for summer! Don't be afraid to add a little (or a lot!) of colour to a winter outfit with a bright scarf, bag or even shoes. Neutral outfits are so easy to wear in winter as you know all the pieces look good together. Adding a bright accessory or two really pops against the neutrals and is a quick and simple way to add a little colour to all your grey or black layers.


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Maxi Dresses In Winter: Leather Jackets, Scarves and Ankle Boots

When I did my 30 wears post with one of my leather jackets, I mentioned that I'd been looking forward to wearing the maxi dress and leather jacket outfit combination more over winter. Add some ankle boots, a big scarf and a leather jacket to a summer maxi dress and you have an easy and cosy winter outfit - and you get more wear from your summer dresses.

What I wore:

Jacket: Asos Black by Markus Lupfer printed leather jacket
Scarf: Sportsgirl animal scarf in violet
Tank: Jeanswest 'Jenni' basic singlet in festival fuchsia
Dress: black Jeanswest halterneck maxi dress
Shoes: RMK Chester black ankle boots
Bag: Balenciaga Day bag in 2005 magenta (20% off with code 'REAL')

Why I wore it:

Wore this for a day out with my boys, my last official day of maternity leave. (I've already blogged my return to work outfits but haven't shared this pic yet!). We spent the morning running a few quick errands and attending rhyme time at the library.

After liking the maxi dress and leather jacket combo I was eager to try it again. I thought that printed leather jacket would be nice with the black maxi dress but it all just looked a little too dull and black - so bright accessories were perfect for adding some colour! I really liked the purple scarf with the magenta Balenciaga day bag and pink tank.


Last worn: printed leather jacket, leopard print scarf, pink tank, black halter neck maxi dress, black ankle boots, Balenciaga magenta day bag.

Other ways to wear: printed leather jacket worn 30 ways, purple leopard print scarf with blue outfit, pink tank and striped skirt, black halter neck maxi dress and kimono, black ankle boots worn 30 ways, Balenciaga magenta day bag in the office.

Perfect for pregnancy: leopard print scarf and stripes in third trimester, pink tank in second trimester, maxi dress in the third trimester, ankle boots for baby bump reveal, magenta day bag and graphic tee in third trimester.

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More Leather Jackets Under $100:

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What I wore:

Jacket: Wittner 'Santa Fe' cobalt blue leather jacket

Scarf: Marc by Marc Jacobs scarf in Island pine-print
Dress: Jeanswest 'Elodie' tie dye grey jersey maxi dress
Shoes: RMK Chester black ankle boots
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff unlined saddle bag in cherry red (on sale in pink!)

Why I wore it:

I went much more colourful for the next time I wore the maxi dress and leather jacket outfit. Had a crazy busy day. After being back at work, I'd found all the little errands I'd usually do during the week had to be crammed in on my days off, and so set an optimistic target of stopping in multiple places before lunchtime. Of course the boys were increasingly cranky and fed up being driven around all morning, so it wasn't the easiest of days!


Although we ran out of snacks buy the time we reached the final stop at Priceline, I was thankfully able to keep the boys amused long enough to have a wonderful chat and makeup trial session with Kaitlyn. We picked out all of the below makeup for my return to work.

I'm sharing this as I know a few bloggers gave me advice when I mentioned I needed new makeup that didn't make me breakout. My old stuff was over a year old and not entirely perfect. With the information I'd picked up from beauty blogs and a very patient and knowledgeable Kaitlyn, I managed to pick out things I'm really happy with.

I'm not a beauty blogger but I am impressed with all of this so far! I wear it twice a week to the office and have zero issues. The L'Oreal foundation in particular was expensive but worth every penny!

What I bought:

• Nude by Nature brush
• Nude by Nature mineral cover
• L'Oreal Infallible foundation
• NYX lipstick in Indian Pink 550

Just as well beauty products were exempt from my #6MonthsWithoutShopping challenge, as this was quite a big haul for me! Not sponsored, but I have been visiting the ladies at my local Priceline often (as it has a pharmacy) and I trust their recommendations! :)



Last worn: cobalt leather jacket, Marc Jacobs scarf, tie dye maxi dress, black ankle boots (above), Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag.

Other ways to wear: cobalt leather jacket and printed dress, Marc Jacobs scarf and pencil skirt, tie dye maxi dress and boho fringe bag, black ankle boots and skinny jeans, Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag and printed jeans.

Perfect for pregnancy: print mixing with scarf at 37 weeks, tie dye maxi dress at 38 weeks, ankle boots and baby bump.

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Maxi Dresses Under $50 You Can Wear All Year

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How You Can Wear It:

Don't pack your summer maxi dresses away when the cold weather arrives! You can layer them up for even the coldest winter day with the right layers. they might not be ideal in the snow if the maxi length trails on the ground, but if you have a snow-free day it's a good time to give this outfit idea a try! You can even hide some leggings underneath if it's really cold.


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Printed Tanks, Cardigans, Colourful Bags & Skinny Jeans

First, Jeanswest are having a 40% off everything sale for members! Online and in store, ends Sunday!

I've mentioned before I'm happy to keep my summer pieces out and wear them year round. On a mild winter day (which is most winter days in Brisbane to be honest) all I need is a cosy cardi on top and it's perfect.

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Dana drape knit cardi in boysenberry (Currently 40% off everything, including knitwear!)

Necklace: For King & Country Priceless Australian coin and crest necklace
Tank: Jeanswest 'Rowena' print tank (Currently 40% off everything!)
Jeans: Jeanswest Cecile dove grey skinny jeans (gifted, currently 40% off jeans!)
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs black logo plaque ballet flats
Bag: Balenciaga Day bag in 2005 magenta (20% off with code 'REAL')

Why I wore it:

First wearing of these new jeans! I was lucky enough to know someone doing the $5 challenge who saved more than they expected and decided to surprise people by using the money to treat them. (Can't share who it was as they are surprising multiple people!). I said I didn't need anything with my no-buy challenge, but there is that loophole where if someone else buys it for you it's not breaking the challenge! 😉

I went into Jeanswest, just for a look, and saw these jeans which were the perfect candidate to replace my old (10 year +) grey jeans I wasn't entirely happy with. I prefer a higher rise now. Super excited to have something new in my wardrobe, although it does mean saying goodbye to these old jeans. They had a good run and hadn't been worn a lot recently - I can see very few times in the past few years I've had the blog anyway.

As this was a quiet day, just a couple errands and grocery shopping, I decided to try something I'd been thinking about for a while and pairing the similarly coloured magenta bag and cardigan together. I actually really liked the combination! It was good to get this old tank out too. It hasn't been worn in a while after outgrowing it in pregnancy.


Last worn: purple cardigan, animal print tank, bow ballet flats, Balenciaga magenta day bag. First time I've worn the jeans as they are a recent gift.

Other ways to wear: purple cardigan and chambray dress, animal print tank and denim shorts, bow ballet flats and flares, Balenciaga magenta day bag and breastfeeding dresses.

Perfect for pregnancy: purple cardi in first trimester, printed tank hiding 20 week baby bump, magenta day bag and novelty pregnancy tees in third trimester.

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More Printed Tanks Under $50:

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What I wore:

Jacket: Paper Scissors grey wrap cardigan

Tank: Emerson crochet lace bib print top
Jeans: Nobody Denim Siren skinny super high-rise jeans in power black denim (C/O, on sale!)
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in black
Bracelets: the usual plus Roie Designs pearl, howlite and hematite beaded bracelets and black leather Swarovski beaded wrap bracelet
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff unlined saddle bag in cherry red (on sale in blue!)

Why I wore it:

A much more colourful printed tank in this outfit! :) The last time I wore this tank it was the height of summer and despite the heatwave we headed out to see Thomas the tank engine at the rail museum.

Although it was winter this time around, I ended up swapping my thick wool cardigan for this thinner one, as it looked like it might warm up. It was again a hot and sunny day, I was pleased I picked the thinner cardigan! I loved this tank, bag and cardigan together when I wore it with flares so I knew I'd like the combination again with different jeans.


Had a lot of fun with the boys running around the museum and playing with all the Thomas toys, and it was good being able to take a picture in the same spot with the same tank but a different season! Just goes to show you don't have to put all your summer tanks away when winter arrives.

Same tank, different seasons! https://t.co/TPNLX0YdEh @liketoknow.it #liketkit #LTKStyleTip pic.twitter.com/b9WG1U5nDS

— Mica (@AwayFromTheBlue) July 3, 2017

Last worn: grey drape cardigan, printed red crochet detail tank, Nobody Denim skinny jeans, Converse, Rebecca Minkoff studded saddle bag.

Other ways to wear: grey drape cardigan and flares, printed tank and striped maxi skirt, Nobody Denim skinny jeans in monochrome outfit, Converse and a dress, Rebecca Minkoff studded saddle bag and maxi skirt.

Perfect for pregnancy: printed tank in second trimester.

How You Can Wear It:

Your summer printed tanks can still be layered up and worn in winter with a cosy cardigan. Layering with printed pieces doesn't have to be tricky. For a neutral printed tank, try a plain block colour cardigan like in the first outfit. Neutral layers work well with a textured and colourful printed tank too. Monochromatic greys and black like in the second outfit make a colourful printed tank really pop.


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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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More Blue Blanket Scarves Under $50:

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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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More Pink Bags Under $50:

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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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