Office Outfits: Blue Printed Dresses, Purple Balenciaga Work Bag and Starfish Project Necklaces

I've been back at work for 2 months now and I still have unworn office pieces in my wardrobe! Working part time I definitely have less need for strictly office clothing in my wardrobe. I was so excited to unbox my office pieces from storage near the end of my maternity leave, but now I'm wondering if I really need all of them.

I had a mini wardrobe declutter recently where I went through the still unworn office pieces and pulled a few out to donate or sell on ebay, but these dresses will definitely be staying in my wardrobe. Blue is my favourite colour, so there's always room in my wardrobe for a blue dress or two. Blue looks so good with purple too.

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Monica Mac coat in Indigo
Necklace: Starfish Project Veronica short yellow multi strand necklace
Dress: Jeanswest Aztec print dress
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs logo plaque flats in camel
Bag: Balenciaga raisin purple 2009 giant silver G21 hardware work bag

Why I wore it:

If I had to pick just one favourite office dress, this would be it! Can't believe it's been a year and a half since it was last worn, but it's not breastfeeding friendly so was packed away while I was on maternity leave. I love the navy colour and the print. I usually wear a belt with this, but I'd decided to wear a long necklace so took the belt off. I changed my mind at the last minute and picked this yellow Starfish Project necklace instead. It met the style challenge prompt of 'V' as it's the 'Veronica' necklace! I do think this dress looks much better with a belt though!

I love blue and yellow together, and blue and purple, but I wasn't sure about the purple bag and yellow necklace together. I figured that they were far enough apart in my outfit that it didn't matter and I could wear it anyway. Still not sure I'd wear the two colours together again, but it doesn't look too bad here.


Last worn: navy macintosh, Aztec print dress, Marc by Marc jacobs tan flats, Balenciaga purple work bag.

Other ways to wear: navy macintosh and monochrome outfit, Aztec print dress and tights, tan flats and skinny jeans, Balenciaga purple work bag and pencil skirt.

Perfect for pregnancy: Aztec print dress in third trimester, tan flats in third trimester.

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Blue Printed Dresses Under $50:

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What I wore:

Jacket: Barkins beige trench coat 

Necklace: Starfish Project Hannah turquoise bead necklace
Dress: French Connection blue Paisley print dress
Shoes: Acne pistol boots in "skin"
Bracelets: the usual plus Roie Designs waxed leather cream howlite beaded wrap bracelet
Bag: Balenciaga raisin purple 2009 giant silver G21 hardware work bag

Why I wore it:

Another take on the same outfit formula, with a blue paisley print dress this time and a long turquoise Starfish Project necklace. Just like in the outfit above, I was happy to wear a statement beaded necklace with the printed dress. You can wear statement necklaces with more than just plain basics.

It was a little cooler when I wore this too so I got another old favourite out of my wardrobe, these Acne Pistol boots. I wasn't sure I could handle the whole day in heels, even though these are very comfortable they are quite high. I was pleased my weak knee held up well despite not having worn tall heels in a very long time. Over 2 years!

Just like the paisley print dress, these ankle boots haven't been worn in such a long time as they aren't ideal stay at home mum style. While I probably could run in them if I had to, I prefer to chase toddlers in flats, ha! Wearing Pistol boots and dresses is a spring outfit favourite of mine, so I'm sure you will see these pop up more now as I wear them to work. I'm thankful for a business casual dress code that lets me wear ankle boots!


Last worn: camel trench, paisley print dress, Acne pistol boots, Balenciaga purple work bag (above).

Other ways to wear: camel trench and fit and flare dress,  blue printed dress and pink accessories, Acne pistol boots and printed shorts, Balenciaga purple work bag and pink skirt.

Perfect for pregnancy: trench coat in first trimester, paisley print dress in second trimester, pistol boots and maxi skirt in third trimester.

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Starfish Project Beaded Necklaces:

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How You Can Wear It:

Printed dresses make getting ready for work in the mornings easy as they are instant outfits. You can still add accessories though, colourful statement necklaces work just as well with printed pieces as they do with plain basics. These Starfish Project necklaces support a very good cause too!


Linking up with Turning Heads, Confident Twosday, On Trend, The Style File, Style on the Daily, Wardrobe Wednesday, What I Wore, Oh Hey Girl.

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What I Bought After a No Shop Challenge: The End of 7 Months Without Shopping

There's been a lot of interest in what I'd buy after I managed to complete not just the 6 months I'd planned but 7 months without shopping.

I'd had one big splurge planned but other than that I wasn't really sure what I wanted, as I tended to overthink most things I went to buy. I ended up making a few impulse buys. I've actually had quite a lot enter my wardrobe too, mainly from my sister's wardrobe clear out.

What was added to my wardrobe during my no-shop challenge:

• A knitted dress from my Grandma's wardrobe (worn here)
• Purple high top Converse look-a-likes from my sister (worn here and here)
• Jeanswest two tone boxy oversized tee from my sister (worn here and here)
• A floral ruffle detail tank from my sister (worn here and here)
• A trio of band tees from my sister (not yet worn)
• Jeanswest Cecile dove grey skinny jeans a very generous gift from a special someone who is surprising people with their savings from the $5 money challenge (worn here and here)
• Nibbly Bits Feather pendant in peach (C/O)
• Nibbly Bits BB plum silicone teething necklace (C/O)

What I Bought in August:

• Balenciaga raisin purple 2009 giant silver G21 hardware work bag 
• Starfish Project Veronica short yellow multi strand necklace
• Starfish Project Hannah turquoise bead necklace
• thrifted SES Fashions mustard yellow cardigan
• thrifted billabong red printed maxi skirt
• Kmart Aztec print tiered little black dress 
• Jeanswest Flavia foil printed polka dot tee deep iris (gift card purchase)

As you can see, only one of the things I bought was with one of my end-of-challenge gift cards. I'd asked for gift cards for Christmas and set them aside to spend at the end of my no-shop challenge. I just haven't seen anything I had to have that looked as good as I imagined when I tried it on (with the exception of the impulse buy polka dot tee, which is SO soft). With more spring and summer stock coming into the stores as winter ends I'm sure I'll have spent them before they expire in December. Being in Brisbane, winter clothing isn't a priority for me to buy as I tend to wear my summer pieces year-round, just with a few extra layers.


I still have my 'wear it twice in the month I bought it' rule to ensure that everything I buy and add to my wardrobe will work with what I already own. While there might have been a few impulse buys, I'd mostly been thinking about adding similar pieces for a while, and I've hit two wears on everything this month.

The Kmart dress is the only thing I bought full price. I probably could have waited for a sale, but seeing it while I was on my no-shop challenge and then starting to notice the stock levels falling in my local store made me go snap it up before I missed out quite quickly in August! It was only $15 so I'm not too upset I paid full price - still a bargain! And out of stock in my size now in my local Kmart so a good purchase.


The Starfish Project necklaces were an impulse buy too, I was a few days into August and hadn't bought anything yet when I stumbled across the brand on Instagram. From their website, 'the Starfish Project restores hope to women escaping human trafficking and exploitation in Asia.' They provide shelter for women and their children, counselling and employment and education. For every piece on their website that you can buy, it tells you exactly what that money can do. The yellow Veronica necklace is equal to the cost of 5 days of room and board at the Starfish Project shelter. The turquoise Hannah necklace is is equal to the cost of 1 week of counseling for an exploited woman.

This isn't a sponsored post, I bought the necklaces with my own money - but I wanted to share as with Christmas coming up it's a lovely gift idea - especially as you get a little note with each purchase. A nice way to help someone look and feel good when they unwrap your gift on Christmas day! I may have added a gift for someone special to my order too...

How I Wore It:

Balenciaga purple work bag / Starfish Project yellow necklace / Starfish Project turquoise necklace

Balenciaga purple work bag

thrifted billabong red printed maxi skirt / Jeanswest polka dot tee

Starfish Project turquoise necklace / thrifted mustard yellow cardigan / Kmart little black dress / Jeanswest polka dot tee

What I'm Buying in September:

I'm going to try Beth's #noSpenderSeptember now! With some hand-me-downs coming into my wardrobe during my no-shop challenge, and having bought a few pieces in August, I'm pretty wardrobe content at the moment. I still have a lot of gift cards to spend though so we will see what happens...

Linking up with Weekend Wear, Friday Faves, Flashback Fashion, Passion for Fashion, Friday Favourites, Style Nudge, Mummy Monday, Mix It Monday, Hello Monday, Modest Monday.

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Wearing A Colourful Bag to the Office with Textured Pencil Skirts and Black Shirts

After I completed 7 months without shopping, I celebrated in my usual fashion and bought a new bag! 😂 Although it's big and purple, I still think it's perfect for the office - you don't have to stick to neutral bags for work.

I wore it to the office the other week with a classic black shirt and textured pencil skirt outfits, wearing more of my office pieces that were packed away while I was on maternity leave.

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Dixie collarless jacket

Necklace: freshwater pearl necklace and long freshwater pearl strand necklace
Shirt: French Connection verity voile black short sleeve shirt (with Target grey marle tank top underneath)
Skirt: Cotton On 'Mica' mesh spot skirt in dusty pink
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs black logo plaque ballet flats
Bracelets: the usual plus Roie Designs howlite and hematite beaded bracelets
Bag: Balenciaga raisin purple 2009 giant silver G21 hardware work bag (from my bestie's wardrobe!)

Why I wore it:

I felt really lady-like in this outfit! Which helped counteract some of the awkwardness I felt when I stepped back from setting my tripod up in the morning to get a blog photo and realised I'd just been standing in my bemused neighbour's way (you can see them jogging away in the background!). So awkward. I never know what to say when people see me taking outfit photos so I just kinda smile and shrug.

I've worn this top and pencil skirt together before. Back then I was hiding an early baby bump, this time around I'm using the outfit to disguise my mum-tum 😉
This pencil skirt was one I saw in a magazine a few years ago and thought it was nice, so I checked out the price details. When I saw it was called the 'Mica' skirt I just had to get my namesake. It's perfect for the office and one of those pieces I'm glad I impulsively bought. Despite the top layer being textured polka dots on a fine mesh, it's held up well over the years and I'm impressed by the quality, considering I bought it 5 years ago.

I hadn't planned a necklace to wear with this, I'd set out the clothes and thought I'd pick one at the last moment. I was still unsure as I was getting dressed until I added the tweed blazer I knew I had to go for my pearls. They are actually two different freshwater pearl necklaces! The shorter one is from my jewelry designer friend and I've worn it as a bracelet before.

Last worn: tweed blazer, French Connection shirt, grey target singlet, pink polka dot pencil skirt, Marc Jacobs black flats. First time I've worn the bag as it's a new purchase. 

Other ways to wear: tweed blazer and skinny jeans, black shirt and peplum skirt, grey target singlet and striped maxi, pink polka dot pencil skirt and striped tee, Marc Jacobs black flats and skinny jeans.

Perfect for pregnancy: boucle blazer in third trimester,grey singlet in third trimester, shirt and pencil skirt hiding first trimester bump.

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Textured Pencil Skirts Under $50:

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What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Monica Mac coat in Indigo

Scarf: Marc by Marc Jacobs mauve square scarf
Shirt: Forever 21 sheer black ruffle detail shirt
Skirt: Warehouse navy jacquard pencil skirt
Shoes: Walnut Melbourne 'Ava' black lizard ballet flats (also available in silver)
Bag: Balenciaga raisin purple 2009 giant silver G21 hardware work bag

Why I wore it:

I've been wearing blue and purple together often recently! I really like the combination. This purple scarf was the perfect topper to my black and navy outfit, and tied in nicely with my purple bag.

This black shirt is another one that hasn't been worn for a while. It's button up so would work for breastfeeding, but it feels a bit 'fancy' for stay at home mum wear so it was packed away with all my office clothes while I was on maternity leave. It's a little hard to see in the pictures with all the layers but it's got a fun ruffle detail down the front. You can see it better when I previously wore it here, again with the same skirt!

This jacquard pencil skirt is one of my favourite textured ones - it's a very pretty design, even if the skirt rides up a little as I walk! A ruffle shirt, textured pencil skirt and purple accessories might sound a bit much for the office, but I think all the pieces work well together.


Last worn: navy macintosh, purple blanket scarf, sheer ruffle shirt, jacquard pencil skirt, Walnut Melbourne ballet flats, Balenciaga work bag (above).

Other ways to wear: navy macintosh and striped dress, purple blanket scarf and chambray dress, sheer ruffle shirt and pink skirt, jacquard pencil skirt and grey tee, Walnut Melbourne ballet flats and wrap dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: jacquard pencil skirt in first trimester, ballet flats and maternity jeans.

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Purple Tote Bags Under $200:

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How You Can Wear It:

Neutral bags are a good choice for the office, but if you have a relaxed work environment with a business casual or smart casual dress code, it's easy to add a little extra colour to your outfit with a bright bag. While there are some exceptions, my general rules for picking a bag for work are to:
Carry a neutral bag if -  I'm going to be travelling for work, either across the city or to another state, and I'll need to carry my bag into meetings.
Carry a bright bag if -  I'm going to be in meetings in the same building all day leaving my bag behind at my desk and I'd like something fun to look as I work.

Don't be afraid to add a little colour to your office wear with a bright bag.


Linking up with Style Sessions, Turning Heads, On Trend, Confident Twosday, What I Wore, Style on the Daily, Oh Hey Girl, Fashion Files.

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Getting More Wear From Your Wardrobe: Work and Weekend with Burgundy Pants

I would love to have a wardrobe full of pieces that work for any situation I come across. That means being able to build business casual outfits to the office as well as stay at home mum outfits and weekend wear. One thing that helps is having go-to outfit formulas.

A shirt and pants is one of those outfits you could wear for work or the weekend! These burgundy pants are a favourite of mine, and I love how they look with my camel trench coat. Both outfits below I had in mind to wear to work, but only one of them was worn into the office.

What I wore:

Jacket: Barkins beige trench coat 
Scarf:  Seed Heritage Paisley print snood
Shirt: Zara star print shirt
Pants: Jeanswest 'Fiona' skinny leg pant in shiraz
Shoes: Walnut Melbourne 'Ava' black lizard ballet flats (also available in silver)
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff MAB mini in soft grey (on sale, 30% off!)

Why I wore it:

I probably should have tucked the shirt into the pants to make this look a little more formal, but I loved this outfit all the same. After dealing with a few days of gastro, I was cleared to go back to work so I just pulled on an easy outfit! I know the burgundy pants, star print shirt and trench look great together as I've worn them that way before.

This outfit was perfect for the office - even with the shirt untucked and it kept me nice and cosy for my early commute.


Last worn: camel trench, paisley print snood, star print shirt, burgundy pants, Walnut Melbourne flats, Rebecca Minkoff MAM bag.

Other ways to wear: camel trench and fit and flare dress, paisley print snood and little red dress, star print shirt and denim shorts, burgundy pants with dress worn as a shirt, Walnut Melbourne flats and pleated skirt, Rebecca Minkoff MAM bag and maxi skirt.

Perfect for pregnancy: trench coat and pencil skirt in first trimester, printed snood in second trimester, star print shirt in early weeks of pregnancy, burgundy pants in first trimester, ballet flats and maternity pencil skirt, Rebecca Minkoff MAM in third trimester.

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Burgundy Pants Under $50:

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What I wore:

Jacket: Barkins beige trench coat 
Scarf: Forever New Skye Foil Feather scarf in berry / gold (on sale!)
Shirt:  Jeanswest Tory textured shirt (on sale!)
Pants: Jeanswest 'Fiona' skinny leg pant in shiraz
Shoes: Asos Cleo leather boots in tan
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff MAB mini in soft grey (on sale, 30% off!)

Why I wore it:

I like to plan and layout my work outfits ahead of time so I'm not rushing in the morning. This outfit was one I'd planned out, hung up and was ready to wear when I woke up and realised I'd caught the cold the boys and hubby had. It hasn't been a good winter health-wise! So after a few days off work, I was back to getting outside of the house again, but still pretty exhausted. I had booked in the day off as I had an early morning appointment for Baby Boy so rather than trying to find something new to wear, I just decided to wear what I'd planned to for the office.


Just like the outfit above it's a shirt, trench and scarf with my burgundy pants. I just swapped the ballet flats for these slouchy boots to make it a little more casual for an appointment then playgroup. While I did feel a little overdressed for playgroup - and one of my friends did comment I looked rather more pulled together than usual! - this was still a great outfit to wear. I love navy and burgundy together!

With pieces like these burgundy pants in my wardrobe that work both casually and professionally, it's a good push for me to be stricter with what I buy and make sure it works in multiple ways.


Last worn: camel trench (above), feather print scarf, navy shirt, burgundy pants (above), tan boots, Rebecca Minkoff MAM (above).

Other ways to wear: camel trench and skinny jeans, feather print scarf and stripes, navy shirt and denim shorts, burgundy pants and ombre knit, tan boots and shirt dress, Rebecca Minkoff MAM and denim shorts.

Perfect for pregnancy: trench coat and stripes in first trimester, burgundy pants and belly band in first trimester, Rebecca Minkoff MAM and maternity pencil skirts.

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Colourful Pants Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

If you have a business casual or smart casual dress code, you can get more wear from the pieces in your wardrobe by wearing them to the office during the week and casually on the weekends. Colourful pants are good for this - they adhere to a relaxed office dress code and don't look out of place on the weekend or as stay at home mum wear. They are a nice variation on the standard black you see for work pants and just as easy to wear.


Linking up with Confident Twosday, Turning Heads, Trendy Tuesday, Style Sessions, Fashion Frenzy, Style on the Daily, Fashion Files, Fabulous Friday.

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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.

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Black Printed Jersey Dresses Under $50:

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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.

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Black Knit Dresses Under $50:

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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.

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Monochrome Winter Office Outfits: Pencil Skirts and Matching Knits

Returning to work in winter has meant I not only get to wear my neglected pencil skirts that were packed away in pregnancy, but also some of my winter knits I haven't seen in a while! I had a little fun trying to create monochrome outfits, even if one of the outfits wasn't my first choice for what to wear.

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Monica Mac coat in Indigo

Scarf: Marc by Marc Jacobs bright blue stole
Knit: Warehouse grey bead front jumper
Skirt: Asos tailored tab front pencil skirt in grey
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs silver tuxedo flats
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote in moon navy (on sale in pink, or in white)

Why I wore it:

To help make things easier with my return to work, I've gone back to laying out what I want to wear for work the night before. I used to do this a lot before kids came along - now I usually plan it out in my head before falling asleep. Despite a tough and tiring day, I decided to actually try on what I'd set out the night before, and I'm glad I did. Although it's 16 months post-baby, the fixed waist zipped pencil skirt I wanted to wear still didn't fit! 😂

It had always been a bit of a snug fit and my diastasis recti wasn't helping the situation. I was able to take the time to find something else that fit, this lovely pencil skirt. Hooray for elasticated waists! Still managed to achieve a monochrome look liked I'd first planned by picking this lovely grey beaded knit to wear with it. Not a bad outfit, one that looks quite nice in the photos actually, just not what my first choice had been!


Last worn: navy mac, cobalt scarf, beaded jumper, grey pencil skirt, silver ballet flats, Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote.

Other ways to wear: navy mac and striped dress, cobalt scarf and maxi skirt, beaded jumper and skinny jeans, grey pencil skirt and floral cami in summer, silver ballet flats and purple jeans, Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote and plaid shirt.

Perfect for pregnancy: embellished jumper in first trimester, grey pencil skirt and hidden 20 week baby bump, Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote and wrap dress in third trimester.

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Knits Under $50 for a Business Casual Office:

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What I wore:

Jacket:  Jeanswest Monica Mac coat in Indigo

Necklace: Eye Candy LA 'Sasha' statement necklace
Jumper: blue Mossman knit jumper
Skirt: Asos blue textured lace pencil skirt
Shoes: Walnut Melbourne 'Ava' black lizard ballet flats (also available in silver)
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote in moon navy (on sale in pink, or in white)

Why I wore it:

Unlike the outfit above, this planned outfit worked perfectly. This pencil skirt is stretchy and has an elasticated waist - it worked quite far into my pregnancies too!

No scarf with this outfit so I took the chance to wear my favourite statement necklace. I didn't need the scarf as it was supposed to get up to summer temperatures in the middle of the day. I did however need the cosy knit to keep me warm on my very early morning commute. I'm usually up and out the door early, but had to leave just as the sun was starting to rise, which is the reason for the colours being slightly off in the photo. You can see the lights still on behind me in the dark! Thankfully my camera copes okay with low light settings and the photo doesn't look too bad. I also got to see a beautiful sunrise while waiting for the train, so a pretty good morning overall.


Last worn: navy mac (above) cobalt knit, lace pencil skirt, black ballet flats, Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote (above).

Other ways to wear: navy mac and burgundy dress, cobalt knit and teal maxi dress, lace pencil skirt worn casually, black ballet flats with blush and olive, Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote and printed dresses.

Perfect for pregnancy: cobalt knit in early first trimester, lace pencil skirt and third trimester bump, ballet flats in third trimester, Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote and wrap dress in third trimester.

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Elasticated Waist Pencil Skirts for Work Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

If you're unsure how to wear your pencil skirts to the office in winter, add some cosy tights (mine are fleece-lined!) and a matching knit. It's an easy, monochrome outfit that will keep you warm. If your office dress code is more formal or corporate, it's easy to layer a button up shirt under your knit and take your jumper off when you reach your desk.


One final thing: I'm thrilled my latest office wear post for World Breastfeeding Week was selected for Links A La Mode! 😃

Links à la Mode, August 3rd

• Adorned in Armor: Reclaiming My Time
• Aesthetic Distance: Real Talk: When You Are A Jack Of All Trades, You Are A Master Of SOME
• Away from the Blue: Outfits for Expressing Breastmilk at Work: Pumping Friendly Dresses
• Eyes on Style TO: Floral Shorts and Mid-Length Vests
• Five Foot Nothing Shopping: Summer Dress Essentials
• Green Acres Meets Paris: Patricia Nash Designs “Enjoying the Moment” in Knoxville
• Girl in Betsey: How to Date in the Digital Era
• Hampton Roads Fashion and Style: Maternity Style | Lace Midi Dress
• Have Clothes, Will Travel: An Ever Elusive Dress
• Jessica Sheppard: Nordstrom Anniversary Sale
• Life in the Fash Lane: Re-Purposed Maxi
• Modernly Michelle: What to Wear to Summer Time Brunch
• Sifa's Corner: 5 Fashion Tips That Will Never Go Out of Style
• Tales of Two: Manly to Spit Walk - Exploring Sydney's Isolated Beaches
• T and Tour: My Mykonos Travel Guide
• The Chic Machine: 6 Pieces to Include in Your Anti Capsule Wardrobe

SPONSOR: Shopbop Vince, KORAL ACTIVEWEAR, Etre Cecile, Alpha Industries, Maggie Marilyn, NUDE, Patent Pumps, Plaid Pants, Mini Bucket Bags, Men's Club Monaco

Linking up with Turning Heads, Confident Twosday, Style Sessions, Wardrobe Wednesday, Style On The Daily.

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