Mulberry Bayswater and Wrap Dresses For the Office

I still think a printed dress is the easiest, simplest outfit for work. Add some neutral accessories like this classic Mulberry bayswater bag and some ballet flats and you have easy spring office style. No further accessorising required, although you can always add a bright necklace on top like I did with these outfits to feel like you put a little effort in!

What I wore:

Necklace: Starfish Project Hannah turquoise bead necklace

Dress: Atmos&Here Arlette jersey wrap dress

Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs logo plaque flats in camel

Bag: Mulberry Bayswater in Oak NVT leather (cheaper second hand)

Why I wore it:

I'm not entirely sure the length of this necklace worked with the wrap neckline of the dress and the tie over the waist, but I did like the little touch of colour it added to this outfit! With the black and white printed wrap dress and neutral tan Mulberry Bayswater and Marc Jacobs flats, a little bit of green through the necklace was a nice way to add a pop of colour.

I did consider wearing statement earrings with this outfit too, but felt it was busy enough. It was my first day back at work after a week off sick, and there was so much to catch up on. The simple yet comfortable dress worked well, for meetings and for sitting at my desk reading all the emails I missed!

Last worn: tulip hem wrap dress, green beaded necklace, camel flats, Mulberry Bayswater.

Other ways to wear: tulip hem wrap dress and purple bag, camel flats with olive and mustard, Mulberry Bayswater and pencil skirt.

Perfect for pregnancy: camel flats in third trimester, Mulberry Bayswater in third trimester.

---

What's In My Bag: Mulberry Bayswater

---

What I wore:

Necklace: Starfish Project Veronica short yellow multi strand necklace

Dress: Target Dannii Minogue Petites printed wrap dress

Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs metallic mouse flats

Bag: Mulberry Bayswater in Oak NVT leather (cheaper second hand)

Why I wore it:

Sometimes I find this dress a little tricky to wear. It 'reads' as blue from a distance, but up close you can see the pink, red, black, green and blue in the geometric print. I decided to try mix things up a bit and wear this bold yellow statement necklace with it. I really liked the combination, and I felt it distracted from how tired I felt and looked. I did manage to get a lovely compliment from a colleague who said I looked just like his niece - and she's 20, so I was very happy with that! I think it was maybe the ponytail, or all the makeup I threw on to try look a bit more perky.

Unfortunately despite feeling much better and just a little tired, my voice sounded terrible! I'd started to loose it the day before when working from home as everyone ended up calling me, and by mid-afternoon it was almost entirely gone. I soldiered through the day though, lots of charades and having others speaking for me and managed to wrap up everything from my to-do list before I left, so I felt productive! Even if I did have to postpone one meeting as the person I was meeting with thought it was too much to try make me talk for 30 mins! 😂 They were probably right!

Last worn: faux wrap dress, yellow statement necklace, gold mouse flats, Mulberry Bayswater (above).

Other ways to wear: faux wrap dress in winter, gold mouse flats with purple skinny jeans, Mulberry Bayswater and chambray dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: faux wrap dress in second trimester, gold mouse flats in third trimester, Mulberry Bayswater in second trimester.

---

Wrap Dresses Under $50:

---

How You Can Wear It:

A wrap dress is a classic wardrobe staple that can work for many different occasions. Mine get worn mostly to the office though! They are a fail-safe outfit option that work for a business casual office like mine as well as a more formal business attire dress code. If you're wearing a sleeveless version like I am in the last outfit, a blazer or cardigan is a good option to keep shoulders covered for formal meetings.

Linking up with Confident Twosday, Turning Heads, Style Sessions.

Follow Away From the Blue on:

Bloglovin : Twitter : Instagram : Youtube : Facebook : Google Plus : LikeToKnow.It 

Monochrome Pencil Skirt Outfits With Long Sleeve Tees And Colourful Scarves

Wearing a few of my recent purchases to the office! I managed to pick up a couple of long sleeved tops at the opshop sale last month. While it was nearing the end of winter in Brisbane and getting warmer, it's still quite chilly when I have my commute to work so I knew the long sleeves would be perfect to wear to the office. I'm lucky my dress code is on the casual side of business casual too so a tee is perfectly acceptable, especially when paired with a pencil skirt as I have here.

Keeping things simple, I stuck with monochrome outfits and added a pop of colour with my scarves, topping off my outfits with the fun tassel statement earrings I also bought last month.

What I wore:

Jacket: Barkins beige trench coat 
Earrings: Kmart blue fringe crescent statement earrings (new purchase)
Scarf: Louis Vuitton monogram shawl in bleu
Tee: thrifted Maison Scotch black paint splatter print long sleeved tee
Skirt: Jeanswest zip detail ponte pencil skirt
Shoes: RMK Chester black ankle boots
Bag: Mulberry Bayswater in Oak NVT leather

Why I wore it:

Keeping things really simple and going completely monochrome with the black long sleeve tee and black pencil skirt. I usually plan my outfits the night before, and figured the print on the top would stop the outfit looking too boring. When I put it all on in the morning though, I realised the print on the top wasn't doing enough to add a bit of lightness, especially paired with the black pencil skirt, black tights and ankle boots. Even the navy earrings weren't lifting this enough, it looked a bit drab.

The bright blue Louis Vuitton shawl was the perfect solution - a great pop of colour against the black. It also kept me nice and cosy in the morning. I like that spring like weather is arriving again here in Brisbane, but it's still extremely wintery in the early hours!


Last worn: camel trench, Louis Vuitton shawl, black pencil skirt, black ankle boots, Mulberry Bayswater tote bag. It's the first time I've worn the tee on the blog as it's a recent purchase.

Other ways to wear: camel trench and sheath dress, Louis Vuitton shawl and floral dress, black pencil skirt in autumn, black ankle boots worn 30 ways, Mulberry Bayswater tote bag in summer.

Perfect for pregnancy: camel trench in first trimester, black pencil skirt in first trimester, black ankle boots in second trimester, Mulberry Bayswater tote bag in third trimester.

---

Mulberry Bayswater After 7 Years:

---

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Monica Mac coat in Indigo
Earrings: Kmart blue fringe crescent statement earrings (new purchase)
Scarf: Fashion Scarf Girl plain crinkle scarf in orange (c/o)
Top: thrifted cobalt blue long sleeve tee
Skirt: Asos blue textured lace pencil skirt
Shoes: Asos leather Chelsea boots in tan
Bag: Mulberry Bayswater in Oak NVT leather

Why I wore it:

Still a monochrome outfit, but sticking with my favourite colour and going blue with the cobalt tee and the lace pencil skirt. I added even more colour to this with the orange scarf, it really pops against blue and I've worn it that way before with a navy dress.


I love how well the navy earrings coordinated with the blues on my outfit and they got a few compliments! I've admired the statement tassel earring trend on the ladies I follow on Instagram for a while, but with particularly curious and grabby toddlers I was sure it was going to be a trend I'd have to let pass me by. Suddenly realised I could do what I do with all other non-kid friendly pieces in my wardrobe and just wear them to work. Even if I do have to take them off as soon as I get home in the afternoon! They were fun to wear and try out for something different from my usual accessories!

While I loved the blue and orange together I really wasn't happy with the ankle boots I chose for this. I am noticing every time I wear these tan boots with black tights it just emphasises how petite I am and makes my legs look a bit stumpy. The longer length pencil skirt doesn't really help! I thought that with the oak Mulberry Bayswater bag it would tie in nicely, but a few times through the day I wished I'd worn my black ankle boots instead.


Last worn: navy macintosh, orange crinkle scarf, blue lace pencil skirt, Chelsea leather boots, Mulberry Bayswater (above). First time I've worn the tee on the blog as it's a recent purchase.

Other ways to wear: navy macintosh and wrap dress, orange crinkle scarf and shift dress, blue lace pencil skirt and blazer, Chelsea leather boots and maxi skirt, Mulberry Bayswater and chambray dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: blue lace pencil skirt in third trimester, Chelsea leather boots in second trimester, Mulberry Bayswater in second trimester.

---

Bright Scarves Under $50:

---

How You Can Wear It:

A monochrome office outfit makes getting dressed for work easy - even if you haven't planned out your outfit the night before! For an extra touch, you can add a bright contrasting scarf on top. It makes a simple monochrome outfit seem more interesting, keeps you warm on a cold commute and it's a fun way to accessorise.


Linking up with Confident Twosday, Turning Heads, Style Sessions.

Follow Away From the Blue on:
Bloglovin : Twitter : Instagram : Youtube : Facebook : Google Plus : LikeToKnow.It 

Printed Sheath Dresses With Mulberry Bayswater Bag and Winter Layers

Layering up some some dresses for winter office wear. Something I do frequently (I love extending the opportunities in the year I can wear pies in my wardrobe), but something that perhaps was a little poorly thought through this time, considering it was the coldest winter week we'd had for a while. The weekend before it had been the coldest day in 4 years, so very chilly temperatures. Being stubborn and having nothing else planned to wear though, I persisted with wearing my dresses!

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Monica Mac coat in Indigo
Scarf: Louis Vuitton monogram shawl in bleu
Cardigan: Paper Scissors grey wrap cardigan
Dress: French Connection blue Paisley print dress
Shoes: RMK Chester black ankle boots
Bag: Mulberry Bayswater in Oak NVT leather

Why I wore it:

Could not resist going a bit monochrome here with the blue macintosh, blue sheath dress and blue Louis Vuitton shawl. Do I look cold though? I was freezing! I thought the scarf, ankle boots, and cardigan I wore under my coat would keep me warm, but I was shivering on the way to work. Such a chilly day. I ended up needing my coat when we went out for lunch too. I did regret not picking something warmer to wear.

Cold weather aside, I did like this outfit. I loved all the blue together, and this Mulberry Bayswater bag holds everything I need for the office. While this sheath dress is definitely worn the most in the warmer weather, it's nice to do something different and layer it up a little for winter. Just maybe will pick a less chilly day next time I try!


Last worn: navy macintosh, grey cardigan, Louis Vuitton shawl, Paisley print sheath dress, RMK ankle boots, Mulberry Bayswater.

Other ways to wear: navy macintosh and pencil skirt, grey cardigan and maxi dress, Louis Vuitton shawl and floral dress, Paisley print sheath dress and heels, 30 ways to wear black ankle boots, Mulberry Bayswater.

Perfect for pregnancy: Paisley print sheath dress in second trimester, RMK ankle boots in second trimester, Mulberry Bayswater in second trimester.

---

Wear and Tear: Mulberry Bayswater

What my Mulberry bayswater bag looks like up close after 7 years of wear

---

What I wore:

Jacket: Barkins beige trench coat 
Scarf: Love Quotes knotted tassel linen scarf in sunshine yellow
Cardigan: Paper Scissors grey wrap cardigan
Dress: French Connection 'Woodblock wonder' panache dress in white/geranium rose
Belt: Rebecca Minkoff Liv double wrap velvet belt
Shoes: RMK Chester black ankle boots
Bag: Mulberry Bayswater in Oak NVT leather

Why I wore it:

Following exactly the same outfit formula as the one above, with a pretty printed sheath dress, the same ankle boots, cardigan, and Mulberry Bayswater bag. I did make a change and instead of wearing the blue macintosh I wore this cosy trench coat - it's warm and lined and I didn't feel the cold as much in this outfit. I was also able to leave my coat behind when I went out for lunch, it was a warmer day overall.

I've always found this sheath dress tricky to wear outside of summer. Fleecy tights is my default winter wear with dresses and skirts, but black and orange? Makes me think of Halloween. I added the black belt to try tie in the black tights with the dress, and I did consider swapping out the grey cardigan for a black one. But my black cardigan is a lot thicker than this and I wasn't sure it would fit under the coat! I still quite liked this outfit, even with the grey cardigan.

While the bold orange dress is enough of a statement on its own, I felt like adding more colour and wearing this yellow scarf. It's such a big scarf, perfect for wrapping around a few times and keeping me cosy. Thought it would be a good colour to wear with this dress after I loved my yellow statement necklace with the orange print when I wore it previously. I really liked this outfit!


Last worn: camel trench, grey cardigan (above), yellow Love Quotes scarf, orange sheath dress, velvet belt, RMK ankle boots (above), Mulberry Bayswater (above).

Other ways to wear: camel trench and burgundy pants, grey cardigan and jeans, yellow Love Quotes scarf and grey maxi dress, orange sheath dress and blazer, velvet belt over a blazer, ankle boots and shorts, Mulberry Bayswater and chambray dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: camel trench coat in second trimester, yellow Love Quotes scarf in second trimester, orange sheath dress in second trimester, ankle boots in second trimester, Mulberry Bayswater in third trimester.

---

Sheath Dresses Under $50:

---

How You Can Wear It:

Printed sheath dresses, or any summer workwear staple, can easily be layered up for cooler weather. A business casual office environment like mine makes ankle boots a practical and suitable choice. You can also add extra layers for your commute like a cardigan under a thicker coat, and a warm and cosy scarf. The cardigan comes in helpful when you reach your desk if your office aircon is too cold as well!


Linking up with Confident Twosday, Turning Heads, Trend Spin.

Follow Away From the Blue on:
Bloglovin : Twitter : Instagram : Youtube : Facebook : Google Plus : LikeToKnow.It 

Printed Shirts, Pencil Skirts and Colourful Cardigans With Mulberry Bayswater

With the winter weather arriving in Brisbane and it feeling a lot colder in the mornings, it gave me the wonderful opportunity to wear two of my newly purchased cardigans right away! I picked up these cardigans in the Jeanswest knitwear sale last month. I couldn't resist getting two of them!

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest waterfall drape cardigan in scarlett marle
Shirt: Zara star print shirt
Skirt: Jeanswest black ponte pencil skirt
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs logo plaque flats in camel
Bag: Mulberry Bayswater in Oak NVT leather (get it second-hand and cheaper here)

Why I wore it:

You might remember that I already have a little red cardigan. I decided to donate that one and replace it with this. It's thicker, warmer and with longer sleeves. I also I love the button feature! It's got a button on either side of the cardigan you can use to button up the hems. You can use it for breastfeeding, or to change the knit into a cowl neck top. Just wearing it simply here, letting the waterfall drape shine and the red pop against the black outfit.

Cooler weather means long sleeves more regularly too! I'm so pleased to be able to get this star print shirt out again. It's one of those pieces that is formal enough for work with the buttons but casual enough for stay at home mum style with denim. I love how it looked with the pencil skirt.

With the red cardigan being a big bright pop of colour with my outfit I went with a classic neutral tan for my accessories, with my Marc Jacobs ballet flats and Mulberry Bayswater bag.

Sadly, this may be last time I wear this shirt. I stupidly didn't check the setting on the iron and burned literally right through it when I tried to go over it quickly. So annoyed with myself! I'm going to take it to my tailor and see if it can be turned into a tank after I burned right through one of the sleeves.


Last worn: star print shirt, ponte pencil skirt, camel flats, Mulberry Bayswater. First time I've worn the cardigan as it's a recent purchase.

Other ways to wear: star print shirt and burgundy pants, ponte pencil skirt, camel flats and sheath dress, Mulberry Bayswater and chambray dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: star print shirt in first trimester, ponte pencil skirt in second trimester, camel ballet flats in second trimester, Mulberry Bayswater in third trimester.

---

Review and Contents of the Mulberry Bayswater:

---

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest waterfall drape cardigan in navy night sky marle
Necklace: Uniquely Made with Love Sea Change necklace
Dress: Jeanswest 'Ruby' mixed print shirt
Skirt: Jeanswest zip detail ponte pencil skirt
Shoes: Walnut Melbourne 'Ava' black lizard ballet flats (also available in silver)
Bag: Mulberry Bayswater in Oak NVT leather (get it second-hand and cheaper here)

Why I wore it:

It was this navy cardigan I'd seen on the website that prompted my trip into Jeanswest. When I saw the red one above hanging next to it, I decided to take them both in to try on, to pick my favourite. I decided I liked them both enough to buy them! I think this navy will be the perfect neutral to add to my winter wardrobe. I like how it worked with the blacks in this outfit, and just as the red cardigan did above, it kept me cosy on my autumn morning commute to work.


Last worn: navy cardigan, mixed print shirt, zip detail pencil skirt, Walnut Melbourne ballet flats, Mulberry Bayswater (above).

Other ways to wear: navy cardigan and printed shorts, mixed print shirt and shorts, pencil skirt for Youtube creator day, Walnut Melbourne ballet flats and a-line skirt, Mulberry Bayswater and polka dots.

Perfect for pregnancy: zip detail pencil skirt in first trimester, Walnut Melbourne ballet flats in third trimester, Mulberry Bayswater in second trimester.

---

Printed Shirts For The Office Under $50:

---

How You Can Wear It:

With a neutral printed skirt and a black pencil skirt, you have an easy and professional outfit for work, especially when you add a classic bag like the Mulberry Bayswater. For a little fun and colour with your outfit, you can add a cardigan just as I have in these outfits here. If your workplace is more formal, just leave the cardigan in your bag when you get to your desk.


Linking up with Confident Twosday, Trend Spin, Turning Heads, Style On The Daily, Fashion Frenzy, Oh Hey Girl, Fashion Files.

Follow Away From the Blue on:
Bloglovin : Twitter : Instagram : Youtube : Facebook : Google Plus : LikeToKnow.It 

Black Printed Dresses and Mulberry Bayswater: Winter Office Outfits

I've always loved printed dresses for work. A dress is an easy instant outfit, quick to pull together and a print adds a little extra interest. Don't let the winter weather put you off either! Add fleece lined tights to your dress, a cosy trench coat, scarf and maybe even a cardigan too.

Below I'm wearing an old favourite dress in a new way, and a new-to-me dress I got from my Grandma's wardrobe. It was good to get my Mulberry Bayswater out again too, it's been packed away for over a year and a half while on maternity leave as I use it as an office-only bag.

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Monica Mac coat in Indigo

Scarf: Alexander McQueen Azure wool skull scarf
Dress: Leona Edmiston Jemima fern print dress
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs black logo plaque ballet flats
Bag: Mulberry Bayswater in Oak NVT leather (get it second-hand and cheaper here, or here)

Why I wore it:

This Leona Edmiston dress is an old favourite, perfect for the office. I liked how the loose lower half worked nicely in pregnancy too, from hiding an early baby bump to fitting a second trimester belly. After not being able to squeeze into the outfit I'd planned to wear the week before, I was grateful to have this in my wardrobe as I knew it would definitely fit!

When I've worn this dress in the past I've usually picked pink accessories to wear with it, tying in with the pink in the fern print. I thought I'd try it with blue instead for a bit of a change, I liked it. Since I was trying a new colour combination, I kept the shoes and bag neutral.


Last worn: navy mac jacket, wool skull scarf, fern print dress, Marc Jacobs flats, Mulberry Bayswater tote.

Other ways to wear: navy mac jacket and printed jeans, wool skull scarf and teal top, fern print dress and pink accessories, Marc Jacobs flats and colourful jeans, Mulberry Bayswater tote for casual Friday.

Perfect for pregnancy: printed dress in second trimester, Mulberry Bayswater and third trimester bump.

---

Black Printed Jersey Dresses Under $50:

---

What I wore:

Jacket: Barkins beige trench coat 

Scarf: Supre neon pink leopard print scarf
Dress: black and white knit dress from my Grandma's wardrobe
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs metallic mouse flats (on sale in black!)
Bag: Mulberry Bayswater in Oak NVT leather (get it second hand and cheaper here, or here)

Why I wore it:

My mum bought this dress back from a visit with my grandparents at the start of the year. It's labeled to be 3 sizes larger than I usually wear, but we are all fairly certain the label is wrong. It's a lovely knit dress, so perfect for winter.

I wanted to add a little colour to the outfit and was hunting through for a scarf when I saw this neon leopard print one hasn't been worn yet this year I thought it was ideal. I figured it was far enough from the fun blurred black and white print on the skirt to work.

Still not completely sure on it looking at the photos now, but I did feel happy and comfortable in this during the day.

I'd love to wear this dress with heels too - being petite, midi lengths like this can sometimes make me look shorter than I am. I considered getting this hemmed but not sure I want to loose the slight scalloped edge that's there at the moment, so I'll just try it with heels next time.


Last worn: camel trench, neon leopard print scarf, gold mouse flats, Mulberry Bayswater (above). First time I've worn the dress as it's a hand-me-down from my Grandma's wardrobe.

Other ways to wear: camel trench and jeans, neon leopard print scarf and grey tee, gold mouse flats and skinny jeans, Mulberry Bayswater and orange dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: trench coat in the first trimester, scarf hiding a first trimester belly, mouse flats and maternity pencil skirt, Mulberry Bayswater and wrap dress in second trimester.

---

Black Knit Dresses Under $50:

---

How You Can Wear It:

A classic little black dress works for so many occasions. Just like a plain dress, a printed dress is perfect for the office. A dress is an instant pull-on and go outfit that you don't need to think too hard about accessorising with. You can definitely have fun and try different accessories with it though, especially in winter when you pull most of the layers off when you get to your workplace anyway.


Linking up with On Trend, Trend Spin, Turning Heads, Confident Twosday, Style On The Daily, Fashion Frenzy, Modest Monday.

Follow Away From the Blue on:
Bloglovin : Twitter : Instagram : Youtube : Facebook : Google Plus : LikeToKnow.It 

Ways to Wear JORD Wood Watches and a Giveaway

If you've read my blog for a while you might remember last year when I was given my first JORD wood watch. It became a firm favourite to wear to the office as glancing at your watch in a long meeting is a lot politer than pulling out your phone to check the time!

JORD kindly gifted me another beautiful watch. I was excited to start wearing a watch again, hoping it would help keep me on time for things. Really it's just become another way for me to see how late we are running! Typical of life with two under 3 I think. As well as a review, I wanted to show you some of the different ways I've worn the women's wood watches I'm lucky enough to own.

I picked the Cora watch as it's a little more dainty than the unisex Fieldcrest watch I have. I was also really intrigued by the purpleheart wood, which looks lovely with the mother of pearl face. As well as the little cut-out detail on the face to see the inner workings of the watch, the back of the face is clear so you can see all the cogs moving around inside which is fascinating - especially to a toddler!

Being a wood watch, it's splash-proof but not waterproof. It means I can wear it through all the constant hand washing that comes along with two boys still in nappies, although I do have to take it off when washing the dishes or showering. It handles stay at home mum duties perfectly. My Fieldcrest watch has held up to a year and a half of use and over 30 wears. It's also been tough enough to cope with being pulled off the bedside table and worn by the toddler more times than I can count, so I'm confident this Cora watch will last as well.

The ordering process was a little different this time around than last time. When you pick your wood watch, you can specify the size of your wrist and get it custom sized for you right out of the box. I used this feature, it's cheaper than getting the band changed at my local watch repair place and it fits perfectly. Being petite with tiny wrists and not always being able to find things to fit me properly, I appreciated this extra service.

The only downside I can find with this watch is that it's an automatic one, so it doesn't use a battery. This means if you get over excited and don't read the manual (guilty!) you won't wind the watch enough when you first set the time and you'll be confused the next day when it stops ticking. Once you read the manual and follow the instructions to properly setup the watch, you won't have any problems and the watch will keep the right time.

Just like my first experience with JORD watches, I was impressed with the speedy shipping time from the US to Australia and the absolutely beautiful presentation. I shared my delight at opening the box on my insta story. These wood watches make great gifts! They are so unique.

If you are inspired by the different ways I've worn my watches or have someone in mind to gift one to, you'll love this generous giveaway! Just by entering you'll get a little something and one lucky winner will get a $100 e-gift voucher. As this is my second wood watch from JORD, I'd be happy to help answer any questions you have about them in the comments too.


Click here for a $20 off code for JORD wood watches and a chance to win a $100 e-gift voucher!



Note: giveaway ends on 26th September. Giveaway is administrated by JORD for Away From Blue readers. I am simply promoting it through my blog. E-gift codes are automatically emailed to entrants. It is open world wide as JORD ships internationally and everyone who is reading here can enter.

This post was sponsored by JORD wood watches. As always, opinions and views expressed on this blog are my own.


Linking up with The Ultimate Rabbit Hole, Shoe & Tell, Let It Shine, Hello Monday, Mix It Monday, Grace & Lace, Red Carpet Fashion.

Follow Away From the Blue on:
Bloglovin : Twitter : Instagram : Youtube : Facebook : Google Plus : LikeToKnow.It