Easy Postpartum Style: Trying to Hide a Lack of Sleep And Memorial Day Sales

Looking after a newborn involves some level of sleep deprivation. When you have two under 2 and a toddler to take care of in the day time, there isn't a lot of opportunity to catch up on missed sleep.

Some days you need to get out of the house no matter how little sleep you've had, so I thought I'd share two outfits I wore on some very sleep deprived days. I tried to use accessories to disguise the lack of sleep without my trusty BB cream - which I ran out of shortly after baby arrived. If you want some tips on makeup for tired mums, check out Anne's post!

What I wore:

Sunnies: Ray-Ban new Wayfarers

Kimono: New Look Petite print kimono (on sale, 70% off!)
Singlet: Jeanswest maternity nursing cami
Jeans: Sass and Bide  'neon nights' jeans
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs black logo plaque ballet flats
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff unlined saddle bag in cherry red

Why I wore it:

Despite wanting to stay in bed after a very disturbed night, I had to take toddler T out so I grabbed a combination I knew would work from my heavy repetition of it over my pregnancy; denim, singlet and kimono.

I like kimonos as they are a great accessory to make it look like you put a little more effort into your outfit, and the colour and print helps to distract away from a tired face after a broken 3 hours of sleep. Hiding behind sunnies works too!


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarers, printed kimono, breastfeeding singlet, Sass & Bide skinny jeans, black ballet flats, Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag.

Other ways to wear: navy kimono with a green top, breastfeeding singlet and a maxi skirt, Sass & Bide skinny jeans and tall boots, black ballet flats and a maxi dress, red saddle bag and a black outfit.

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What I wore:

Sunnies: Ray-Ban new Wayfarers
Scarf: Love Quotes knotted tassel linen scarf in sunshine yellow
Tee: Atmos&Here navy stripe v-neck tee
Jeans: Sass and Bide  'neon nights' jeans
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs metallic mouse flats
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff unlined saddle bag in cherry red

Why I wore it:

I wore this on another failed trip to replace my BB cream. Ended up buying a different brand to give it a try as my usual was still out of stock.

More hiding behind my sunglasses and the same denim jeans as in the outfit above - because hunting out a new pair of clean and ironed ones is a lot of work when you're just too tired. If they are still clean, they get worn again!

This time I added a bright scarf to my outfit as it was a little cooler in the morning and I hoped the cheerful yellow would reflect on my bare face and make it look a little brighter and more awake. At the very least the bright accessories would draw the focus away from the giant bags under my eyes ;)



In the end, while you do stare into those gorgeous little wide-awake-and-refusing-to-sleep newborn eyes at 2am and a part of you wonders why they just won't sleep....you can't help but smile and coo back at this beautiful little miracle staring up at you, excited and ready to play because he hasn't figured out the difference between night and day yet. Not every moment of life with baby is perfect, but every moment is fleeting. It's both a reason to treasure the good moments and something to remember to get you through the tough, sleepless moments!


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer (above), Love Quotes scarf, striped tee, Sass & Bide skinny jeans (above), gold mouse flats, Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag (above).

Other ways to wear: yellow scarf and a navy dress, striped tee and a baby bump, Sass & Bide skinny jeans and Converse, gold mouse flats and a wrap dress, Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag and flares.

It's Memorial Day weekend in the US so there are a bunch of sales going on!

• Asos - get an extra 20% off with code 'HISUMMER'
• Bloomingdales - get an extra 20% off sale with code 'BROWNBAG'
• Bluefly - get an extra 20% off with code 'MDW20'
• Farfetch up to 50% off sale - no code needed
• Jeanswest have 40% off everything - no code needed
• Nordstrom up to 40% off sale - no code needed
• Shopbop has new items added to sale - no code needed

Happy shopping!




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Postpartum Outfits: Striped Maxi Skirts, Rebecca Minkoff Cross Body Saddle Bag

Keeping things easy in the first few weeks post-baby by getting a little repetitive with my outfits. While I wore these striped maxi skirt outfits a few days apart, I thought I'd post them together on the blog. 2 different ways to wear very similar skirts.

What I wore:

Top: Atmos & Here Arlene wrap top in navy

Skirt: AT by Atmos&Here Mars striped maxi skirt
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs black logo plaque ballet flats
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff unlined saddle bag in cherry red

Why I wore it:

I really liked this outfit! Had plans to catch up with a friend and give her the maternity clothes I wouldn't be needing any more. Managed to get myself, toddler T and the baby all ready to go - then found out she was unwell and couldn't make it. Still, counting it as a win as we were all set to go on time for once!

I purchased this top in the third trimester, a size larger than I usually would so that it had space for the growing bump as well as working with a leftover baby belly in the early forth trimester. Seeing the photos though I wish I'd ordered my usual size, looks a little large here without the baby bump.


Last worn: wrap top, striped maxi skirt, black ballet flats, Rebecca Minkoff cherry red saddle bag.

Other ways to wear: wrap top and denim shorts, striped maxi skirt and a graphic tee, black ballet flats with a black and grey outfit, Rebecca Minkoff cherry red saddle bag and jeans.

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Great striped maxi skirts under $50:

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What I wore: 

Sunnies: Ray-Ban new Wayfarers

Tee: Zalora Basics maroon stepped t-shirt
Skirt: Target black and white striped maxi skirt
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs black logo plaque ballet flats
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff unlined saddle bag in cherry red

Why I wore it:

Wasn't as sure of this outfit as I was about the one above. We had to pop out and run errands and get groceries, and I hadn't thought about what to wear. I saw this red top that hadn't been worn in a while in my wardrobe and knew it would work with the striped maxi skirt, nice easy outfit. It wasn't until I grabbed my bag on the way out the door that I realised I was wearing red and maroon together, and wasn't sure if it worked. Didn't have time to change.

Not a combination I would have tried on my own, but I think it looks okay in the photos. Feel better about it after seeing the photos than I did wearing it!


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer, maroon tee, striped maxi skirt, black ballet flats (above), Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag (above).

Other ways to wear: maroon tee and skinny jeans, striped maxi skirt and a baby bump, black ballet flats and a printed skirt, red bag with a monochrome black outfit.

Linking up with Oh Hey Girl, Style Me Wednesday, Throwback Thursday, A Labour of Fashion, Thursday Moda, Style Perspectives, Passion for Fashion, Flashback Friday, Weekend Linkup, Fun Fashion.

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Postpartum Outfits: Rebecca Minkoff Saddle Bag, Jeans and Printed Tanks

It's always a good feeling fitting back into pre-pregnancy jeans post baby! As someone who loves wearing denim, I feel a little happier getting dressed each day having my go-to jeans as an option. It means I'm reaching for them a lot though, so I ended up with two very similar outfits with printed tanks and my cute red Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag. Both of these were worn in April, when Brisbane's autumn temperatures were more like summer and layers weren't needed.

What I wore:

Sunglasses: Ray-Ban new Wayfarers

Tank: Atmos & Here Oregon stripe tank
Flares: Jeanswest 'spoylt' flared jeans
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in black
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff unlined saddle bag in cherry red

Why I wore it:

Flared jeans were really trendy last year, so I was glad I'd kept these in my wardrobe although I didn't get a lot of wear as the baby bump quickly outgrew them. I'm happy I get a chance to jump on the trend again now. This was a nice casual outfit for the daycare pick up / drop off.


It's the second wear of this top since I bought it. I'm reviewing everything I buy after wearing it twice in a month to make sure I'm buying things I'll actually wear and not just add to my overflowing wardrobe unnecessarily. My purchase review for this striped tank:

This was an impulse buy to get me over a free shipping threshold. I have quite a few striped tops so this wasn't special enough for me to have bought it otherwise. I like how it's a slight trapeze shape - skims over the postpartum belly nicely. While it's not something I needed, I still see it getting a fair bit of wear, as stripes do go with everything. Not the smartest of purchases wardrobe-wise as it doesn't fill a gap I had, but definitely better than paying the same amount just for shipping, as this way I got a top too.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarers, striped tank, flared jeans, Converse, Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag.

Other ways to wear: striped tank and a maxi skirt, flared jeans and ballet flats, Converse and colourful jeans, Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag and a maxi skirt.

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More Great Saddle Bags:

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What I wore:

Sunnies: Ray-Ban new Wayfarers

Tank: Sass and Bide "For Easy Reference" tank
Jeans: Jeanswest Super Skinny Jeans in Mid Indigo
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs metallic mouse flats
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff unlined saddle bag in cherry red

Why I wore it:

Every time I wear this tank I realise how much I love it and wish I'd wear it more. Definitely need to make more of an effort to wear it and not just 'save' it for perfect occasions that never seem to arise.

Similar to the outfit above, another casual jeans and printed tank combination for a morning when I attempted to run multiple errands with two under 2. It didn't go as well as I hoped, but I did like my outfit at least!

It's the third time I've worn this Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag since I bought it, so my purchase review:
I love this bag. I'd had my eye on it for a while thinking it would be great post-baby but held out for it to go on sale. I already had a couple of red bags, so sold them on ebay to justify getting this one. It's a great size for holding my essentials and the cross body strap is perfect for running around with the boys. I'm really pleased I bought this and I'll have to do a proper video review on youtube.



Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer (above), Sass and Bide tank, skinny jeans, gold mouse flats, Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag (above).

Other ways to wear: Sass and Bide tank and pink accessories, skinny jeans and a pastel blazer, gold mouse flats and a wrap dress, red saddle bag and a monochrome outfit.

Linking up with Style Nudge, Hello Monday, Modest Monday, Colour & Grace, Classy Monday, Mix It Monday, Turning Heads, On Trend, Style Sessions, Confident Twosday, Wardrobe Wednesday, What I Wore.

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Postpartum Outfits: Maxi Dress, Maxi Skirt and Cross Body Bags

A mix of outfits - slightly dressier outfit with a maxi dress for a birthday dinner, and a more casual maxi skirt outfit to run errands and do the day care drop off / pick-up.

What I wore:

Dress: MEV Havana maxi dress C/O Zibibo

Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs black logo plaque ballet flats
Bag: Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere

Why I wore it:

I adore this maxi dress, I really do! It's a maternity/nursing dress, and I wore it heavily in the second and third trimesters of both pregnancies, as well as wearing it post-baby too. It was the last pregnancy outfit I got photos of for the blog. It's nice to wear it again without the bump, and appreciate the ease of breastfeeding in it! In the early weeks, your wardrobe needs to accommodate your changing postbaby body as well as being easy to pull up or down or sideways to allow for easy breastfeeding too while you and baby master the art.

Wore this out to a family birthday dinner.  I'd usually pick a clutch or smaller bag, but I had all my stuff in the speedy bag from the last time I wore it and didn't have the energy to swap out for an evening bag I'd have to juggle with a newborn and toddler. No extra accessories either, just a simple pull on and go outfit.


Last worn: Mothers En Vogue maxi dress, Marc Jacobs ballet flats, Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere.

Other ways to wear: pink maxi dress and LV neverfull, Marc Jacobs ballet flats with black and grey, Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere and denim shorts.

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What I wore:

Sunglasses: Ray-Ban new Wayfarers

Tee: Atmos&Here rolled sleeve oversize tee in black (also in grey)
Skirt: Izabel London Aztec print maxi skirt (C/O)
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs black logo plaque ballet flats
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff unlined saddle bag in cherry red (new purchase)

Why I wore it:

I finally swapped my handbags over! I wore my Balenciaga day bag for a while post baby as that's the bag I had everything in when I went into labour. It was a bag that was easy to continue using while hubby had some time off from work to help us settle in. Now it's just me and the boys, a cross body bag like the Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere I wore above is an essential to keep my hands free. I'd had my eye on this saddle bag at Shopbop for a while and with the recent friends and family sale it was the perfect time to buy it.

It's a great size, so easy to wear when spending the day with two under 2, and really pops against a monochrome black outfit like I've worn it here. A nice easy outfit to do the day care drop off / pick up and a chance to wear my new bag.


As it's the second and third times I've worn my Marc by Marc Jacobs black logo plaque ballet flats, and I'm trying to reflect on everything I buy after wearing it twice to make sure I'm making thoughtful purchases, my purchase review:

I have a few pairs of Marc by Marc Jacobs flats now. They are comfortable, look cute and are easy to pick up on sale, just like I got these ones. I have this same style in silver so it was an easy choice to get it in black too when they were reduced and available in my size. I'm really pleased with them. Although I already have a pair of black ballet flats, I tend to favour neutral coloured shoes so I know I'll get a lot of wear out of these. Happy I bought them.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarers, black tee, printed maxi skirt, black ballet flats (above). First time I've worn the saddle bag as it is a recent purchase.

Other ways to wear: black tee and printed jeans, printed maxi skirt layered up for winter, black ballet flats and a grey maxi skirt. 

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Monthly Purchases: April

You gave me some positive feedback for my monthly purchase wrap up for January/February so I thought I'd do one again showing what I bought in April and how I've worn it. (I didn't buy anything in March as I was in my final month of pregnancy). While I haven't had a chance to put blog posts together, I've been sharing my outfit pics on instagram so I can still show the ways I've been wearing what I bought.

I certainly made up for not shopping in March! There was a bag I'd had my eye on at Shopbop and when the friends and family sale came along I couldn't resist picking up a few other things too with an extra 25% off.

What I Bought in April

In the video:

• Rebecca Minkoff unlined saddle bag in cherry red 
• Tai gold alphabet necklace 
• Marc by Marc Jacobs logo plaque ballet flats 

Not in the video:

• Atmos & Here Oregon stripe tank

This tank was a last minute add on at the Iconic. I picked up a couple undies in their sale and was 50 cents away from free shipping. Instead of paying $7.95 just for shipping...I paid $9.98 and got the tank and free shipping! You can never have too many stripes.

How I Wore It:

• Rebecca Minkoff unlined saddle bag in cherry red (worn six times)
• Tai gold alphabet necklace 
• Marc by Marc Jacobs Logo Plaque Ballet Flats (worn four times. 1, 2, 3, 4)
• Atmos & Here Oregon stripe tank (worn twice: here and here)

I didn't do too badly wearing everything. I have a goal of wearing things I buy at least twice in the month after I've bought it, so that I'm making sure I'm buying things I'll actually wear. The only thing I haven't worn is the necklace which is to be expected as I'm breastfeeding and try to avoid necklaces while baby's in the uncoordinated newborn phase. I know I'll be wearing it soon.

Despite not getting out the house every day with a newborn, and figuring out postpartum dressing the second time around, I managed to wear everything else twice or more. I'm sure people who follow me on instagram are getting really bored of seeing that Rebecca Minkoff bag now...but it's the perfect size and goes with everything! Being crossbody, it's perfect for looking after two boys under 2 as well!


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