Textured Jackets, Grey Pencil Skirts and Rebecca Minkoff MAB Tote

When the weather warmed up a little it was good to leave my trench coats behind and wear some lighter jackets better suited to spring. As both of these jackets are textured I kept the rest of my outfit simple, with neutral shoes, a big navy tote and plain tops with grey pencil skirts.

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Cassandra jacquard jacket
Scarf: Fashion Scarf Girl Family tree scarf in blue and navy (c/o)
Top: Jeanswest chana long sleeve stud top in night sky navy
Skirt: Atmos&Here grey marle jersey pencil skirt
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs silver tuxedo flats
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote in moon navy

Why I wore it:

I knew that this light blue family tree print scarf would work really nicely with the navy blue blouse. I wasn't too happy with how it looked with the busy jacquard jacket though. I knew I'd appreciate the scarf in the cold office air con, so decided at the last minute to accessorise my bag a bit by knotting the scarf on it. I think the blue scarf worked just as nicely with the navy tote as it did with the navy blouse when I wore it to keep warm in the office.

With the metallic thread running through the jacket, the silver ballet flats were an obvious choice, I do like a bit of matchy matchy, with even the top and bag matching too.

This pencil skirt is a comfortable grey jersey I sometimes worry is a little too casual, but for a mostly quiet day with little face to face meetings it was perfect. And it doesn't look out of place when others in the office are wearing jeans!


Last worn: jacquard blazer, family tree scarf, navy studded blouse, grey jersey pencil skirt, silver ballet flats, Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote.

Other ways to wear: jacquard blazer and jeans, family tree scarf and stripes, navy studded blouse worn two ways, grey jersey pencil skirt and Converse, silver ballet flats and purple pants, Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote and sheath dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: jacquard blazer in third trimester, grey jersey pencil skirt in third trimester, silver ballet flats in third trimester, Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote in first trimester.

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More Ways To Accessorise A Bag:

Just like in the outfit above, you can change the look of your bags a little by accessorising them. I share tying a scarf on them and 5 other ways you can accessorise your handbags in this video:

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What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Dixie collarless jacket
Scarf: Fashion Scarf Girl parrot print scarf (c/o)
Top: Jeanswest 'Tilda' black shirt
Skirt: Asos tailored tab front pencil skirt in grey
Shoes: Walnut Melbourne 'Ava' black lizard ballet flats (also available in silver)
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote in moon navy

Why I wore it:

Since I loved the plain top, textured jacket and grey pencil skirt combo, I tried it again the next time I was in the office. This time around, with the black boucle jacket and plain black top, I felt the outfit needed a bit of colour. I decided to wear this colourful parrot print scarf. Despite the busy texture of the jacket, I think the printed scarf worked well as the top of my outfit was all black, unlike the first outfit.

I really enjoyed wearing this - and the more formal fabric of the pencil skirt made me feel suitably attired for a couple of big meetings I had during the day. I was glad when the day was over though, it was such a busy afternoon, I even had to cancel lunch with hubby to get more work done.


Last worn: boucle jacket, parrot print scarf, black blouse, grey pencil skirt, black ballet flats, Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote (above).

Other ways to wear: boucle jacket and a-line skirt, parrot print scarf and blue knit, black blouse and leopard print jeans, grey pencil skirt in winter, black ballet flats and jeans, Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote and fit and flare dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: boucle jacket in second trimester, black blouse in second trimester, grey pencil skirt in first trimester, black ballet flats in third trimester, Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote in third trimester.

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Textured Jackets Under $50

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How You Can Wear It:

Textured jackets are a nice alternative to a plain jacket and add some extra interest to your outfit. To keep things simple, you can wear them with plain, block colour pieces and let the jacket shine and be the statement part of your outfit. They work nicely in the office, fitting in with any dress code.


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

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Colourful Winter Office Wear: Blue and Yellow Pencil Skirt Outfits

Sharing some colourful but still very cosy winter outfits, with my favourite blue pencil skirts and a big Rebecca Minkoff MAB tote bag. When our winter temperatures dipped again, I wanted warm knits, and picked some of my bright ones to inject a little colour.

Plus, an update on how I did with my No Buy July challenge, #noBuyJuly18!

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Monica Mac coat in Indigo
Scarf: Louis Vuitton monogram shawl in bleu
Jumper: thrifted SES fashions mustard marle knit jumper
Skirt: Warehouse navy jacquard pencil skirt
Shoes: RMK Chester black ankle boots
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote in moon navy

Why I wore it:

Trying blue and yellow with a mustard marle knit, blue scarf and blue pencil skirt. Decided to wear the Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote as I love wearing blue bags with this pencil skirt, it's a frequent go-to combination.

While I do normally like blue and yellow together, I wasn't sure if this skirt and knit would look as good as I hoped together. I ended up really liking this outfit, I think the scarf really made it perfect for me. This was such a comfortable outfit too, very much appreciated for a crazy day at work where nothing went according to plan at all!


Last worn: navy macintosh, Louis Vuitton scarf, mustard marle knit, jacquard pencil skirt, black ankle boots, Rebecca Minkoff MAB tote bag.

Other ways to wear: navy macintosh and wrap dress, Louis Vuitton scarf and embroidered top, mustard marle knit and a-line skirt, jacquard pencil skirt in summer, black ankle boots worn 30 ways, Rebecca Minkoff MAB tote bag and grey pencil skirt.

Perfect for pregnancy: jacquard pencil skirt in first trimester, ankle boots in second trimester, Rebecca Minkoff MAB tote bag in third trimester.

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What's In My Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Medium MAB Tote Edition!

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What I wore:

Jacket: Barkins beige trench coat 
Scarf: Love Quotes knotted tassel linen scarf in sunshine yellow
Knit: thrifted Valleygirl blue 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

Why I wore it:

Again continuing the blue and yellow theme! I really do like the colours together.  I felt like all of the blue together wasn't quite colourful enough, so I added this cosy and bright yellow scarf. This knit and pencil skirt is a combination I've worn before in the warmer weather, it was good to be able to layer it up for winter.

Unlike the previous week at work, I had to wear my trench coat when I ventured out for coffee with my boss in the morning and lunch in the afternoon. It was a much cooler winter day. While the bright yellow scarf is a fun summery shade, the big size makes it very warm and very cosy to wrap myself up in during winter! I like blue and yellow together so it seemed like a fun choice for a cold morning to repeat the colour combo again.

Usually when it's cold I'll add ankle boots to my outfit, but I felt ballet flats were better for all the running around I had to do in the morning. It was one of those days where you come into work with an idea of what task you're going to do, then the afternoon rolls around and you realise you've been pulled in so many directions you hadn't started your task!


Last worn: camel trench, yellow scarf, blue marl knit, blue lace pencil skirt, Walnut Melbourne flats, Rebecca Minkoff MAB tote bag (above).

Other ways to wear: camel trench and burgundy pants, yellow scarf and maxi dress, blue marl knit and skinny jeans, blue lace pencil skirt and grey tee, Walnut Melbourne flats and skinny jeans, Rebecca Minkoff MAB Tote Bag and maxi dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: camel trench in second trimester, yellow scarf in second trimester, blue marl knit in first trimester, blue lace pencil skirt in third trimester, Walnut Melbourne flats in second trimester, Rebecca Minkoff MAB tote bag in second trimester.

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No Buy July Results!

It might not come as a surprise, after I mastered 7 months without shopping last year, but I made it through #noBuyJuly18 sticking to my goal and not spending anything on fashion. July is such a busy time with all of the sales, but I'm pretty content with my winter wardrobe now (even after halving my winter pieces from two storage boxes to one), and that makes it easier to avoid the sales. Some of the sales were extremely tempting, but even with the $5 sale at Jeanswest (!) I didn't buy anything. For full disclosure, I did add a few things to carts but decided not to buy at the last minute.


I shared more tips for how to survive a no shop challenge after completing 6 months without shopping: lessons from a former shopaholic.

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Bright Knits Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

Winter wear works well in neutral colours, as you can layer without worrying about colours matching. It's a fun idea to add some colourful pieces though, from bright scarves to colourful and cosy knits, you can still be cosy and warm! Sticking with colour combinations you know you love, or adding a contrasting scarf to a monochrome outfit, is a good way to try it out.


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

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Rebecca Minkoff Medium MAB Tote With Sheath Dresses and Heels

Just for something a little different, I wore heels with my sheath dresses in the office. I used to wear heels every day, and actually had so few flats that when I injured my knee I had to go buy a pair of flats to wear to work! Now that I'm mostly a stay at home mum, only in the office two days a week, and have to be careful with what I wear to avoid aggravating my knee injury, I rarely wear heels. It was so nice to get them out for a change!

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest grey jersey blazer
Necklace: Starfish Project Veronica short yellow multi strand necklace
Dress: French Connection blue Paisley print dress
Shoes: Wittner 'Lumen' heel in patent leather
Bracelets: the usual plus Roie Designs waxed leather cream howlite beaded wrap bracelet
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote in moon navy

Why I wore it:

When I first started the 30 wears challenge, there were a few pieces in my wardrobe I'd already hit that on. There are some pieces, like this dress, that I'm close to but haven't quite hit 30 wears of. Now I've identified a few of those pieces and I'm actively trying to wear them more often, I'm frequently searching the blog to see how I've worn them in the past and how I could make it a little different the next time I wear them.

Was so surprised to see that I hadn't worn this dress and necklace together before! I love blue and yellow, so this combination made me really happy. With the navy Rebecca Minkoff MAB bag matching the blue Paisley print of the dress, the nude heels and neutral grey blazer, I thought the bright yellow statement necklace was the perfect pop of colour! I really enjoyed wearing this outfit, even if it did take me a while to get used to hobbling around in these heels again. It's been a year and a half since I last wore them!


Last worn: grey blazer, Paisley print sheath dress, nude pumps, Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote.

Other ways to wear: grey blazer and aztec print dress, Paisley print sheath dress and ankle boots, nude pumps and pencil skirt, Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote and pencil skirt.

Perfect for pregnancy: Paisley print sheath dress in second trimester, Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote in third trimester.

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Rebecca Minkoff Medium MAB Tote Review:

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What I wore:

Jacket: Zara cream jersey blazer
Necklace: Lovisa wooden statement bead necklace
Dress: French Connection 'Woodblock wonder' panache dress in white/geranium rose
Shoes: Wittner 'Mimi' heels in mushroom
Bracelets: the usual
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote in moon navy

Why I wore it:

Unlike the outfit above, the big blue MAB tote bag was the pop of colour with this orange dress. I went for cream and brown accessories with the jersey blazer, statement necklace and heels. These are definitely my favourite pair of heels. An impulse sale buy years ago, they really go with everything, this brown shade is such a nice neutral.

Although these are extremely comfortable heels, I did end up swapping to ballet flats to go out for a coffee meeting with my boss in the morning -  not up to walking all the way across the city in heels just yet!

With the neutral accessories, I really liked the bold colour combination with the orange dress and navy bag. It's not the first time I've worn this dress with a blue bag and it won't be the last.


Last worn: cream jersey blazer, orange sheath dress, taupe heels, Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote (above).

Other ways to wear: cream jersey blazer and jeans, orange sheath dress in summer, taupe heels and flares, Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote with monochrome outfit.

Perfect for pregnancy: cream jersey blazer in second trimester, orange sheath dress hiding a baby bump, Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote in first trimester.

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Sheath Dresses For Work Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

A sheath dress is a classic office staple. Made even more formal with a blazer and heels, it's the perfect go-to office look. A big bag, as well as fitting everything you need for work, will easily accomodate a pair of ballet flats to change into if wearing heels gets to be too much!


Linking up with Oh Hey Girl, Fashion Files, Chic and Stylish, Fun Fashion, Weekend Wear, Fabulous Friday, Flashback Fashion, Weekend Wear.

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Summer Officewear: Blazers, Bright Tanks and Blue Pencil Skirts

While I'm still on leave, I haven't shared these outfits from before the Christmas break yet! Summer in the office is usually pretty relaxed, when the heat gets too much they often change our already business casual dress code to be even more casual. If I'm worried my outfit is a bit too casual though, even with relaxed dress codes, I add a blazer, just like I've done in both outfits below.

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest grey jersey blazer
Necklace: Starfish Project Veronica short yellow multi strand necklace
Tank: Jeanswest Maya gather back tank in mid turquoise
Skirt: Warehouse navy jacquard pencil skirt
Shoes: Walnut Melbourne 'Ava' black lizard ballet flats (also available in silver)
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote in moon navy

Why I wore it:

I'd just worn this blue tank a few days before, but wore it again to the office to squeeze in one more wear before the month ended, to meet my 'wear things twice in the month I buy them' goal. It's a great casual top, so I added the blazer to ensure it would work for the office as well. Although the turquoise tank and the navy skirt are very different blues, I thought they would look great together, and I couldn't resist adding this colourful yellow statement necklace for even more colour.

I really liked all the colours in this outfit together. The neutral black ballet flats and grey blazer were good accessories, and my Rebecca Minkoff navy MAB tote matched the jacquard pencil skirt well.


Last worn: grey blazer, turquoise tank, navy jacquard pencil skirt, Walnut Melbourne ballet flats, Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote.

Other ways to wear: grey blazer and fit and flare dress, turquoise tank and printed shorts, navy jacquard pencil skirt and winter layers, ballet flats and skinny jeans, Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote and maxi dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: navy jacquard pencil skirt in first trimester, Walnut Melbourne ballet flats and wrap dress, Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote in third trimester.

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Bright Tanks Under $50:

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What I wore:

Jacket: Zara cream jersey blazer
Necklace: Starfish Project Hannah turquoise bead necklace
Tank: Jeanswest Maya gather back tank in chartreuse
Skirt: Asos blue textured lace pencil skirt
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs logo plaque flats in camel
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote in moon navy

Why I wore it:

Wasn't quite so sure about all the colours in this outfit. I love yellow and blue together, and the green necklace is great with the yellow tank...but I think that something was off about this outfit, I didn't like it as much as the blue one above. Getting woken up far too early by baby boy and being too tired to consider my outfit properly that morning may have impacted how I felt about it, ha! I am always harsher with my outfits if I'm not having the best of days.

I was hoping for an easy day at work for being exhausted before my day even began, but when I realised it wasn't looking that way I popped out to Starbucks for a little morning tea treat between meetings.

Thankfully my day improved when I got home, it's impossible to have a bad day when you get excitedly greeted by 2 little boys and a very fluffy dog.


Last worn: cream jersey blazer, mustard yellow tank, ASOS lace pencil skirt, camel flats, Rebecca Minkoff navy MAB tote (above).

Other ways to wear: cream jersey blazer and skinny jeans, mustard yellow tank and printed shorts, ASOS lace pencil skirt in monochrome outfit, camel flats and sheath dress, Rebecca Minkoff navy MAB tote in winter.

Perfect for pregnancy: cream jersey blazer and hidden baby bump, ASOS lace pencil skirt in third trimester, camel flats in second trimester, Rebecca Minkoff navy MAB tote in third trimester.

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Blue Textured Pencil Skirts Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

Your casual summer tanks can easily do double duty in the office when worn under a blazer and paired with a classic pencil skirt. If you're worried a bright tank may be too bold for your office, try picking neutral layers and accessories to wear with it. A blazer definitely isn't needed in the middle of a Brisbane summer, but you can easily take it off for the commute and slip it on to combat the cold aircon at your desk in the office. Such a simple layer to make any outfit feel more pulled together and office appropriate.


Linking up with On Trend, Turning Heads, Trend Spin, Confident Twosday, Style Sessions.

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Two Ways to Wear Grey Marle Jersey Pencil Skirt: Corporate and SAHM Style

While I was on maternity leave with toddler T, I bought this grey jersey pencil skirt. Reasoning I'd be glad I did when I returned to work months later. It's never been the perfect piece I've thought it would be when I bought it though.
It's pieces like this that make me stick to my 'wear it twice in the month I buy it rule' to stop buying things I think will be perfect for later, and just buy pieces that are perfect for my life right now.

With my return to work, it was an opportunity to see this pencil skirt again when I unboxed all my workwear and make the decision if it was a keeper or a mistake to buy. I wore it two different ways to really test it out.

What I wore: 

Jacket: Zara cream jersey blazer

Necklace: Diva red stone necklace
Top: River Island floral print sleeveless shirt
Skirt: Atmos&Here grey marle jersey pencil skirt (also available in black or stripes)
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs suede flats in red
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote in moon navy (on sale in pink, or in white)
Nails: OPI This Cost Me a Mint

Why I wore it:

First time I wore this skirt to the office I worried at one point that the jersey fabric was too casual. Since then, I've tried to make it a little formal each time I've worn it. The style challenge for the day was 'Starts With B' so a big blue bag, a button up tank and a blazer made this jersey pencil skirt perfectly formal enough for my business casual office. I didn't worry at all about this looking too casual. Not sure if it was the collared top and blazer or the fact that I'm in a new area after returning from leave where my customers are located off-site and I no longer interact with them in person, so I can be more casual.

I added the red necklace at the last moment. I'd tried on a longer blue one that morning too but I think the red necklace just makes the outfit. The red suede shoes were fun to wear too. I find bright shoes harder to wear than bright bags so these don't get worn often. They are so cute though, I keep them around.

I really liked this outfit. I did have hard time getting a photo that morning without the sun in my eye, that was the only mild annoyance!


Last worn: cream blazer, floral button up tank, grey pencil skirt, red suede ballet flats, Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote.

Other ways to wear: cream blazer and printed dress, floral button up tank and maxi skirt, grey pencil skirt over a dress, red suede ballet flats and a little black dress, Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote and fit and flare dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: cream blazer in the first trimester, skirt in third trimester, red ballet flats and hidden second trimester bump, MAB Tote and wrap dress in third trimester.

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Jersey Pencil Skirts Under $50:

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What I wore:

Jacket: New Look Petite print kimono
Necklace: Nibbly Bits Abacus teething necklace in pop
Top: Jeanswest 'Josie' striped back strap tank
Skirt: Atmos&Here grey marle jersey pencil skirt (also available in black or stripes)
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in white
Bracelets: the usual plus Roie Designs waxed leather cream howlite beaded wrap bracelet
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC in aquamarine with python embossed leather (on sale!)
Nails: OPI This Cost Me a Mint

Why I wore it:

The very first time I wore this skirt I attempted to wear it casually and I didn't really feel comfortable with the resulting outfit. This time around, I wore it again for a style challenge but I actually really loved the resulting outfit. It was just perfect for my day off. I spent it taking Baby Boy to a few appointments that sadly didn't go as well as I expected but at least I liked my outfit.

The style challenge for the day was 'Starts With D', so I tried to dress down this skirt. By leaving the tank untucked, wearing Converse and adding the kimono, I think I made the pencil skirt perfectly casual. It was cool and comfortable for an extremely hot day too.

When I unpacked this skirt at the end of my maternity leave I had planned to give it the 'one last wear' test before I got rid of it, but it's definitely staying in my wardrobe, as I felt so happy in it in both these outfits.


Last worn: navy kimono, stripe tank, grey marle pencil skirt (above), Converse, Rebecca Minkoff aqua mini MAC bag.

Other ways to wear: navy kimono and denim shorts, stripe tank and leopard print, grey pencil skirt and winter layers, Converse and colourful jeans, Rebecca Minkoff aqua mini MAC bag and maxi dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: stripe tank in second trimester, grey pencil skirt and hidden early baby bump, Converse and maternity shorts, mini MAC in second trimester. 

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Grey Marle Pencil Skirts Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

A jersey pencil skirt is extremely comfortable, and can be dressed up or down depending on what you wear it with. Button ups and blazers are good way to make it more formal for work, and you can dress it down with untucked loose layers and Converse for the weekend or your day off.


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

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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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