Green And Gold: Mustard Tanks and Soft Shorts with Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAC Bag

Combining two of my loves together for some colourful summer outfits: soft shorts and mustard yellow. Buying these shorts at the start of summer was such a good idea!

What I wore:

Necklace: Starfish Project Hannah turquoise bead necklace
Top: Jeanswest Maya gather back tank in chartreuse
Shorts: Jeanswest Parker printed shirred short
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC in aquamarine with python embossed leather

Why I wore it:

Wore this for Australia day, so I had to go with the green necklace to have a bit of green and gold with the mustard tank. I've worn this tank and necklace together before too. It was something a little different for Australia Day, as we usually try host a BBQ but skipped it this year. We went to the Yayoi Kusama exhibition at Brisbane's Gallery Of Modern Art before having lunch in the city. I was hopeful we might get to see some more of the exhibition but our main goal was to see The Obliteration Room in the kid's area. You get given a sheet of stickers, walk into a white room and get to stick the stickers wherever you want. Toddler heaven!

The boys are always trying to stick stickers everywhere at home, so I thought they'd enjoy being given free reign and leaving their imprint on a fun work of art. As you can see from the Instagram photo, it was near the end of the exhibition so there wasn't much white left, but it was still a lot of fun. They had an incredible time and although I didn't get to see other bits of the exhibition I'd wanted to, it was so much fun seeing how much they enjoyed the room.

I'd thought of wearing a monochromatic outfit as it would look great in photos, but wanted to wear my mustard tank more. I did feel a little regret when I watched a lady in a black and white dress posing in front of a professional grade camera and realised her shots would look beautiful! But I was happy and comfortable in this outfit, nice for a hot day out in the city. I did dress the boys in white shirts and they looked especially cute in all the photos. Of course I regretted that outfit choice later too when they had ice cream... 😂


Last worn: mustard tank, Parker printed shorts, Havaianas, Rebecca Minkoff aqua mini MAC.

Other ways to wear: mustard tank and blue shorts, Parker printed shorts and grey tee, Rebecca Minkoff aqua mini MAC and boho dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: Rebecca Minkoff aqua mini MAC and mustard tank in second trimester.

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The aqua mini MAC was my first Rebecca Minkoff bag purchase. My collection has grown quite a lot since!

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What I wore:

Necklace: Lovisa wooden statement bead necklace

Top: thrifted Cotton On yellow tank
Shorts: Jeanswest Tessa olive embroidered shorts
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC in aquamarine with python embossed leather

Why I wore it:

I shared this on Instagram for Australia day but I'd worn it a few days before, I just hadn't gotten around to sharing it then. It was a busy day, with the daycare runs, my usual working from home, and then a specialist appointment for the little one. The stress of a busy day and of trying to find and get to a new location on time was quickly forgotten when we stopped to buy milk on the way home and  I picked myself up a well-earned tub of Ben and Jerry's!

Given how high I had to wear these shorts to disguise the mum-tum though, probably could have skipped the ice cream. Still ate and enjoyed it though!

The necklace is gold and the chain on the mini MAC is silver, and the aquamarine doesn't match anything else I'm wearing, but I really liked this outfit. I think the colours all worked so nicely together despite not matching, and it was perfect for a hot summer day.


Last worn: mustard tank, olive embroidered shorts, Havaianas (above), Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC (above).

Other ways to wear: mustard tank and flares, olive embroidered shorts with stripes, Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC and maxi dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: mustard tank in second trimester, Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC and maternity denim.

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Soft Shorts Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

Soft shorts are the best for a hot and humid day. A plain tank is always a good basic to wear with them, especially if they have a print or embroidery as these ones do. Another benefit to a basic tank is that you can be a little more adventurous with your necklace and pick a bolder statement piece if you want.



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Denim Shorts, Summer Layers and Rebecca Minkoff MAM Bag

Happy Valentine's Day! Sharing two un-Valentine's Day like outfits, although one does have a little pink in it!

With Brisbane's summer heart, shorts and a tank are a good way to dress. It's easy to add a little summer layer to them though for more colour, as I've done with each of the outfits below.

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Jamie printed kimono (on sale!)

Necklace: Uniquely Made with Love Sea Change necklace
Tank: Atmos & Here Oregon stripe tank
Shorts: Jeanswest Sara distressed hot short
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff MAB mini in soft grey

Why I wore it:

Wore this to go to an appointment in the morning. I wanted something easy to wear and it has been a while since I've worn these denim shorts. I was going to wear a different printed tank, but then I saw the kimono and realised that it would look great with stripes. Last time I wore this kimono I tried a little print mixing too. I liked this combination and felt that it looked good, but got a few side eyes when we went out for lunch so maybe it wasn't the best choice. I was happy in it though, and that's all that matters!

Was a really comfortable outfit, with a very practical bag. I had to juggle the baby bag, my handbag and the toddlers, so I appreciated the cross body strap on my Rebecca Minkoff MAM bag as well as the fact that it held everything I needed in it.


Last worn: blue printed kimono, black striped tank, distressed denim shorts, Havaianas, Rebecca Minkoff MAM bag.

Other ways to wear: blue printed kimono and printed shorts, black striped tank in winter, distressed denim shorts in 5 piece wardrobe capsule, Rebecca Minkoff MAM bag worn 30 wears.

Perfect for pregnancy: Rebecca Minkoff MAM and maternity pencil skirt.

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What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Peri drape sleeveless jacket (on sale!)
Necklace: gifted Lovisa wooden statement bead necklace
Tank: Jeanswest Brianna basque hem tank
Shorts: Jeanswest Trinity Bermuda denim shorts (on sale!)
Shoes: Wittner 'Jasmarie' studded sandals
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff MAB mini in soft grey

Why I wore it:

Another appointment, going to see the specialist for a checkup for Baby Boy. As I liked the outfit I'd worn above the day before, I wore a similar outfit the next day. A plain black tank this time, with longer bermuda denim shorts and instead of a kimono I added the pink vest. I'd been thinking about wearing my pink blazer again, after seeing Lorna wearing hers so well, but it was a bit warm for that so I went with this pink vest instead.

Again I wore my Rebecca Minkoff MAM bag, it's such a good bag with the boys as the cross body strap makes it so easy to wear. I added this fun wooden statement necklace I got for Christmas too, it looks nice against the plain black tank. As the specialist's office is full of toys I didn't have to worry about wearing a teething necklace to entertain the boys. It's nice to wear non-silicone necklaces sometimes!


Last worn: pink vest, black tank, bermuda denim shorts, studded sandals, Rebecca Minkoff MAB mini (above).

Other ways to wear: pink vest and printed jeans, black tank and printed shorts, bermuda denim shorts worn two ways, studded sandals and little black dress, Rebecca Minkoff MAB mini and blue dresses.

Perfect for pregnancy: studded sandals in third trimester, Rebecca Minkoff MAM and maternity jeans.

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How You Can Wear It:

Add some colour to a denim shorts and tank outfit in summer with an extra layer. Kimonos and lightweight vests don't overheat you, but add a fun touch to your outfit.



Linking up with Wardrobe Wednesday, What I Wore, Style On The Daily, Fashion Files, Fun Fashion, Weekend Wear, Flashback Fashion.

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Two Ways to Wear: Jeanswest Elissa Leaf Print Tank

I got so many nice new wardrobe additions as Christmas presents! This top is one of them, and I got some pretty necklaces and kimonos too. While I have my 30 ways to wear series, it's nice to use the two outfit format I have in each post to show two ways to wear something too.

The beauty of this printed tank from Jeanswest is that it goes with so much in my wardrobe. It's nice and light for summer and was perfect to wear on two very hot days during some of the heatwaves we had in Brisbane.

What I wore:

Earrings: Jeanswest Evy dangly earring
Necklace: Lovisa gold filigree heart pendant
Tank: Jeanswest Elissa leaf print tank
Skirt: Noisy May long denim maxi skirt
Shoes: Rebecca Minkoff Georgina studded gladiator sandals in blush
Bracelets: the usual plus vintage silver charm bracelet and silver diamonte bracelet
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff unlined saddle bag in cherry red (on sale in blue!)

Why I wore it:

Wore this pretty tank for the first time to go out to dinner. I thought the chambray maxi skirt would be nice with the blue leaves in the print, and they are both light pieces which was perfect for the heatwave we were experiencing.

The red leaves in the print made me think of this little red saddle bag right away too. (See 30 ways to wear a red saddle bag here.) I really liked how this outfit came together. While the usual 'fashion rule' is to avoid pairing two voluminous pieces like this skirt and tank together, I've done it a few times. Sometimes you just want loose, comfortable layers, and on this super hot day it was exactly what was needed. I really liked wearing this outfit. So comfortable, and great for overindulging at dinner as the maxi skirt has an elastic waistband!


Last worn: earrings, chambray maxi skirt, studded rebecca minkoff sandals, red saddle bag.

Other ways to wear: earrings and maxi dress, chambray maxi skirt worn two ways in winter, studded rebecca minkoff sandals worn 30 ways, red saddle bag worn 30 ways.

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What I wore:

Necklace: gifted statement silver plate necklace
Tank: Jeanswest Elissa leaf print tank
Shorts: thrifted pastel pink cotton shorts
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bag: Balenciaga part time in black 2010 with SGH

Why I wore it:

Had a fun day out planned with my mum and sister. Again, it was a hot day so I went with comfortable pieces like the printed tank and the pastel pink shorts. The tank has pink leaves in the print that match so nicely to the shorts. Just like last time I wore these shorts though, I managed to get them dirty. I'm kinda glad I thrifted these as they are confirming my suspicion that I'm just too clumsy to get white shorts or jeans, ha! It's annoying to have to try remove stains so often though.

The pretty necklace was a Christmas gift, I thought it worked really well with the neckline of the top.

There were just a few things I wasn't too happy about with this outfit. I think a different bag would have worked better, the black is a bit harsh with all the pastels. It looks okay, but I have other bags (like my metallic mini MAC) that would have looked better I think.

I also wish I'd gone for a different backdrop to show the outfit off better, it kinda blends in with the bricks. I was just looking for a shady spot to take a photo that morning though, didn't think about how it looked with my outfit. I always pick spots for their shade, I admire the bloggers that drive around looking for the perfect locations to match their outfits! It's too sunny to use my normal spot over summer, so I'm finding the shade where I can.


Last worn: leaf print tank (above), pink shorts, Havaianas, Balenciaga part time bag. 

Other ways to wear: pink shorts and denim jacket, Balenciaga part time bag in the office. 

Perfect for pregnancy: Balenciaga part time bag in third trimester.

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Similar Leaf Print Tanks Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

A multi coloured printed piece like this leaf print tank makes creating outfits easy. You can change up the way you wear it each time by picking clothing that matches different colours out of the print. Picking a colour out of a printed piece is a good way to pick an accessory too if you're unsure what would go best and you don't want something other than a neutral piece.



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30 Ways To Wear: Red Rebecca Minkoff Saddle Bag - #30wears Series

This months #30wears post is a bag I've been loving lately, my Rebecca Minkoff unlined saddle bag. It's been a few months since I did a 30 wears post with a handbag so thought it was a nice time to do one again.

I'm enjoying my #30wears series. The 30 wears challenge is committing to wear everything you buy at least 30 times. Since I have this blog with an archive of what I wear each day that extends over 6 years, it's been interesting counting up how many times I've worn things and fun to be able to put a post together showing how I've done so. There are other bags I've worn more than this one, I just realised this was over 30 wears as I've been wearing it frequently recently and so it was perfect timing to do a post on it.

#30Wears: Rebecca Minkoff Red Saddle Bag

I bought this saddle bag in the Shopbop sale in April 2016, so it's just under 2 years old, and I've worn it over 30 times since then. In terms of cost per wear, it was $154.88 and I've worn it 33 times so that's $4.69 a wear. Higher than the often-aimed-for 'cents per wear' but considering I'll have this bag in my wardrobe for a long time yet, it's not too bad, it's going to get a lot more wear.

Red Saddle Bag With Blue Outfits

Red and blue are such a nice combination and red and navy is one of my favourite versions of this combo. You can see in all of the pics in this post that it's a colour combination that pops up frequently. I just love the touch of colour a red bag gives against a blue outfit.

Saddle Bag With Monochrome Outfits

Sometimes you just want your bag to be a pop of colour with your outfit. This bright cherry red bag is the perfect touch with a monochromatic neutral outfit. Black really makes the red shine, any neutrals do really. While I love this red bag with other colours, like the blue outfits I featured above, I do love the simplicity of a monochrome outfit of neutrals and a tiny pop of colour with a statement bag like this.

Red Saddle Bag to Compliment Other Red Pieces In An Outfit

Sometimes I like a bit of matchy matchy, and if I'm wearing something red in my outfit I'll reach for this red saddle bag. The shades don't have to match exactly, as you can see from the red maxi skirt outfit which is slightly more yellow than the cherry red of the bag. It's still a nice combination though. This is a good way to wear a colourful bag if you're unsure how to style it as you're used to more neutral ones.

Saddle Bag With Flares

Pairing this red saddle bag with flared jeans has such a retro vibe, and it's probably the most worn accessory with these jeans since I started my blog. I expect this combination will pop up a few more times over winter when it gets cold enough to wear these jeans again.

Red Saddle Bag With Jeans

It's not just flared jeans I wear this bag with though. Skinny jeans are my favourite jeans style, and make up the majority of my denim collection. The red saddle bag pairs so nicely with any kind of denim, from the traditional blue jeans, classic black or fun printed pairs.

Saddle Bag with Maxi Skirts

Maxi skirts don't have to be tricky to accessorise. A small cross body is my usual go-to with them, but I've worn large bags with them too. This cute cross body saddle bag is the perfect pairing with any of my maxi skirts, from a plain chambray one to a printed striped skirt.

Red Saddle Bag In Winter

Red is a trending colour this winter in the northern hemisphere. There's something about any winter that makes me reach for red accessories often though. Maybe it's because of all the blacks and greys you layer with, as red is a wonderful pop against them. This spring/summer bag still gets worn frequently in winter with cosy layers. I like to wear my dresses and skirts year round as much as my bags too.

Saddle Bag in Summer

Of course, a red bag works just as well in summer as it does in winter. There's no need to keep a bag hidden away in your wardrobe for a season. I love the way this red bag looks with shorts, it's often worn with my denim shorts in summer. While it's a little small to carry all the summer pieces like hats and sunscreen, I carry the baby bag for that and just have the essentials on me like my phone, keys and wallet while I'm running around with the boys.

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Where to Buy Rebecca Minkoff Unlined Saddle Bag:

More Rebecca Minkoff Saddle Bags:

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30 Ways To Wear a Red Saddle Bag Video:

For something a little different, I thought I'd do a video version of this post too, so you can hear a bit more about why I chose the bag for each outfit and what my favourite outfits were. Would love to hear what you think of the video format - good or bad!

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Looking for more outfit inspiration?

I hope that this post inspired out and gave you some outfit ideas for ways you can wear a red bag. If you want more inspo, you can read 30 ways to wear a red Balenciaga velo bag, or all the 33+ times I've worn this saddle bag in my blog archives.

Want to know more about the bag and what fits inside?

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Soft Shorts and Printed Kimonos with Black Tanks

When people asked what to get me for Christmas, I suggested kimonos and necklaces, and was lucky to receive the beautiful ones I'm wearing here. Kimonos are the perfect layer with soft shorts for Brisbane's summer heat, especially when paired with the new necklaces that I got too!

What I wore:

Jacket: gifted The Kindness Kimono 'Dream Catch Me' print
Necklace: gifted Zatini red pendant necklace
Tank: French Connection feather foil singlet
Shorts: Jeanswest Tessa olive embroidered shorts
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bag: Balenciaga part time in black 2010 with SGH

Why I wore it:

When I unwrapped this Kindness Collective kimono, I thought of these olive shorts right away. A black tank, bag and Havaianas made sense with the black in the print too. I really loved this outfit! It gave me the chance to wear another new piece, this lovely red necklace I also got for Christmas.

My mother in law got me this kimono and was so excited to tell me about the good it does too. Every kindness kimono purchased donates a reusable sanitary kit to help keep girls at school and women at work, and the kimonos are made from remnant fabrics.

It was another day for hubby and I to get things done as we ran around fitting in some errands after a swim, while the boys spent some time with their grandparents. I managed to film some YouTube videos too, a very productive day. I have such a hard time trying to find a quiet time to film them when the boys are in the house, and it's so rare to be at home without the boys! I really want to try more videos this year, so recording a few was helpful.


Last worn: metallic tank, olive embroidered shorts, Havaianas, Balenciaga part time bag. First time I've worn the kimono as it's a recent addition to my wardrobe.

Other ways to wear: metallic tank and printed shorts, olive embroidered shorts and florals, Balenciaga part time bag and dress in winter. 

Perfect for pregnancy: Balenciaga part time bag in second trimester

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Soft Shorts Under $50:

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What I wore:

Jacket: gifted Jeanswest Jamie printed kimono
Necklace: gifted silver ball multi chain long necklace
Top: Jeanswest Brianna basque hem tank (new purchase)
Shorts: Jeanswest 'Scarlette' printed shorts
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bracelets: the usual plus Roie Designs black leather Swarovski beaded wrap bracelet
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Regan Satchel Tote in moon with Rebecca Minkoff Crystal Star Shoulder Guitar strap

Why I wore it:

I bought this Rebecca Minkoff guitar strap and the Regan satchel bag together, so it was only a matter of time before I added the strap to the bag. I really liked the combination.

This combination of printed shorts and kimono together I'm not too sure about though! I wanted to wear both with the new black tank I picked up in the Jeanswest sale with one of my Christmas gift cards. I'd debated them in front of the mirror as I was trying to pick which one to wear and thought that as they are such similar shades of blue, they might look okay in the same outfit. While hubby was unimpressed, I decided to give the combo a try anyway. I don't think I'll be rushing to repeat this print mix, but I'm pleased I tried something new.

Another day of trying to get things done, with another YouTube video filmed despite facing memory card and camera battery issues - it wasn't as productive a day as I'd hoped, ha! Included the video I filmed below. You'll recognise the outfit, although I took the kimono off at home.





Last worn: blue printed shorts, Havaianas (above), Rebecca Minkoff guitar strap, Rebecca Minkoff Regan tote. First time I've worn the black tank and navy kimono as they are recent additions to my wardrobe.

Other ways to wear: blue printed shorts and ankle boots, Rebecca Minkoff guitar strap on Love bag, Rebecca Minkoff Regan tote and tee dress. 

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Printed Kimonos Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

Soft, relaxed fit shorts and loose voluminous kimonos are the perfect light layers for a hot summer day. You can keep things neutral with blacks and olives, or try something different and wear another print with your kimonos. Wondering how versatile a printed kimono could really be? 30 ways to wear a floral kimono!


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Making Casual Dresses Work For The Office With a Pencil Skirt

One way I like to get more wear from my dresses is to layer a skirt over them and wear them as tops. I've done that with both of the dresses below before. Putting a pencil skirt over a dress is the perfect way to make a dress on the shorter side work-appropriate!

What I wore:

Necklace: gifted silver heart long pendant necklace
Dress: Atmos & Here Willow printed tee dress
Skirt: Jeanswest zip detail ponte pencil skirt
Shoes: Walnut Melbourne 'Ava' black lizard ballet flats (also available in silver)
Bracelets: the usual
Bag:  Rebecca Minkoff Regan Satchel Tote in moon

Why I wore it:

My first day back after an extended leave over Christmas time meant picking bright colours to cheer me up. Especially after spending the week before I went back to work feeling sick. I knew it would be a day of catching upon emails and everything else I missed, so wanted to pep myself up as much as possible with this bright and colourful dress worn as a top. It's not the first time I've layered a skirt over this dress, I've done it before here with a maxi skirt and with a pencil skirt again. Way back when I first bought this I fell in love with the print and couldn't decide between getting the dress or tee in the print. I'm glad I picked the dress, as it's so easy to wear it as a top too to mix things up a little.


Last worn: botanical print tee dress, black pencil skirt, Walnut Melbourne ballet flats, Rebecca Minkoff Regan satchel.

Other ways to wear: botanical print tee dress and Converse, black pencil skirt in winter, black ballet flats and fit and flare dress, Rebecca Minkoff Regan satchel and shorts.

Perfect for pregnancy: botanical print tee dress for pregnancy announcement, black pencil skirt in first trimester, black ballet flats in second trimester.

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Pencil Skirts Under $50:

Both pencil skirts I'm wearing in this post are Jeanswest, and they've just released a new office wear collection!

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What I wore:

Necklace: Lovisa gold filigree heart pendant
Dress: Zara printed bib front tunic dress
Skirt: Jeanswest black ponte pencil skirt
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs black logo plaque ballet flats
Bag:  Rebecca Minkoff Regan Satchel Tote in moon

Why I wore it:

Another day in the office, another dress as a top. This dress has been worn with a pencil skirt before too. I'd planned to wear this outfit after the one above, but after wearing that and dragging myself to the office, I made myself much worse and the doctor sent me back home to rest for a few more days. It did make getting ready for work when I was eventually well enough to go back really easy though, just pulled on this outfit I'd had sitting planned for a few days!

The only thing I didn't like about this outfit was the necklace. I love the way it looks, but I didn't consider that when I wore my work security pass around my neck on the long lanyard like I usually do, it would hit and jingle with the necklace all day. It was a little frustrating as I moved around between meetings, as I didn't always have a hand free to separate the two. Might need to save this necklace for weekend wear, which is a shame as it's so pretty!


Last worn: navy shift dress, black pencil skirt, MbMJ ballet flats, Rebecca Minkoff Regan bag (above).

Other ways to wear: navy shift dress and denim jacket, black pencil skirt and tan accessories, MbMJ ballet flats and little black dress, Rebecca Minkoff Regan bag and tee dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: navy shift dress in third trimester, black pencil skirt in second trimester.

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Printed Dresses Under $50 great for layering with:

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How You Can Wear It:

Not all dresses are work appropriate lengths, even though they might be ideal for weekend wear. If you're worried a dress is too short for the office, try turning it into a top by putting it under a pencil skirt. A pencil skirt works so well for different office dress codes, and it's a fun way to remix a dress and make it less casual.



Have you seen my latest YouTube video? Top 3 must-have bags for mums!





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