Frocktober Unplanned and Planned Dress Outfits: Casual Tee and LBD For The Office

I'm currently participating in the Frocktober style challenge to raise funds and awareness for Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation. While I'm behind with blogging what I wore, you can follow along on instagram where I've been using the #31Days31DifferentDresses tag for my own challenge.

If you'd like to make a donation it would be greatly appreciated! 1 woman dies every hour from ovarian cancer, there is no early detection test. Your donation helps fund research.

What I wore:

Sunglasses: Rayban new Wayfarers (classic style also on sale!)

Necklace: Lovisa blue leaf long necklace
Dress: Choies monochrome stripe shift dress (C/O)
Shorts: Cotton On blue denim shorts (gifted)
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs (on sale!)
Bracelets: the usual
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff metallic silver mini MAC

Why I wore it:

This was not the dress I had planned to wear for the day! After we got home from lunch on Sunday, toddler T seemed a little more upset than usual, and his symptoms ramped up quite badly. He has a little viral bug and was not having a good time. We ended up getting the doctor out to check up on him. Instead of going out and enjoying the beautiful weather for a public holiday Monday, I stayed home and enjoyed cuddles with a little guy who just wanted to be held all the time.

I wasn't really sure what to wear after our plans had to be cancelled. I did contemplate not even getting changed out of my pyjamas...but knew I had the challenge and the fundraising goal to hit. So I hunted for a dress I could wear for a quick stop by the IGA (thank goodness for it being open on a public holiday!) to grab some essentials for dealing with sickness, and spending the rest of the day at home curled up on the sofa with an unwell toddler.

My sister had recently given me these shorts which she no longer wanted, so I figured they would be perfect to go under the too-short tee dress I've worn in the past as a tunic. Comfort-wise this turned out to be a great outfit, and I would happily wear this again! I'd been thinking this dress wouldn't be worn in the 31 days because it's so short, and that I'd end up getting rid of it at the end of the challenge. I'm happy I gave it a go and discovered a great outfit, and changed my mind about it leaving my wardrobe.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarers, striped tee dress, Havaianas, Rebecca Minkoff silver mini MAC. First time I've worn the shorts as they were just given to me.

Other ways to wear: striped tee dress worn as a tunic over jeans, Havaianas and skinny jeans, Rebecca Minkoff silver mini MAC with plaid and denim.

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More striped tee dresses under $50:

Red cardigans under $50:

Shopbop has a great range of red cardigans and tee dresses too!

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What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest long red drape cardigan

Necklace: Dogeared silver wishbone necklace
Dress:  Jeanswest tucked ponte black dress
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs suede flats in red
Bracelets: the usual plus Roie Designs black leather Swarovski beaded wrap bracelet
Bag: Balenciaga part time in black 2010 with SGH

Why I wore it:

In contrast to the outfit above, this was a little more planned! I knew I wanted to wear this fit and flare dress to the office. I've just worn it recently, but I like it so much I don't mind repeating it again so soon.

The red cardigan was something I added in the morning to keep me warm on the commute to work and in the cold air con of the office. I loved the way it looked in the mirror, not so impressed with it in the photos though. I did really like the colour coordination with the red flats and cardigan, a colleague complimented it too. Makes it look like the red cardi was planned and not a quick thing thrown on at the last minute.


Last worn: red cardigan, black fit and flare dress, red suede flats, Balenciaga part time bag.

Other ways to wear: red cardigan and a maxi skirt, black fit and flare dress and pink accessories, red suede flats and a pencil skirt, Balenciaga part time bag and a floral cami.


Linking up with What I Wore, Wednesday Linkup, Style Me Weekly, Oh Hey Girl, Thursday Fashion Files, Throwback Thursday.


This post was created in partnership with Shopbop. Occasionally, Away From The Blue blog may receive vendor or brand sponsorships for mentioning their products or services. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own.

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Colourful Cardis, Printed Tanks, Jeanswest Prima Denim Skinny Jeans. SAHM Style

Now that my knee is feeling much better with daily exercises after intensive physio, I'm spending more and more time without the bulky knee bandage. Which means I can wear my skinny jeans again! Although it's Spring here in Brisbane, it's not always warm enough for bare legs, so I'm pleased to be able to wear all my jeans again and not just my flares.


Shortly before my knee injury I wore a simple but colourful outfit with a printed tank, bright cardi and skinny jeans. I really loved that outfit so much, so I've been wearing similar outfits recently.

What I wore:

Cardi: Jeanswest long red drape cardigan

Necklace: Roie Designs feather, quartz and love charm long necklace
Top: Jeanswest 'Hannah' print tank in paradise pink multi
Jeans: Jeanswest Bindi skinny 7/8 jeans in indigo luxe
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs studded mouse flats in grey
Bracelets: the usual (plus a hair tie!)
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Love cross body bag in grey

Why I wore it:

I'm never really sure of the colour on this tank! (Is it pink, coral, red or a mix of them all?!). It was too chilly for bare arms so I was looking for a cardigan to wear with it, and going to pick a plain grey one, when I thought I'd give this brighter red one a try. I haven't worn it in a while. I'm really pleased with the way it turned out, I liked this combination!

Cooper has had his 'summer trim' so we took toddler T out to the hairdressers for his first haircut too. He did really well, it helped that the hairdressers were lovely and used to kids. He looks less and less like a little baby every day, he's growing so fast!


Last worn: red cardi, striped tank, skinny jeans, studded mouse flats, Rebecca Minkoff Love bag.

Other ways to wear: red cardi and a maxi skirt, striped tank with a leather jacket in winter, skinny jeans layered up in winter, studded mouse flats and a maxi dress, Rebecca Minkoff Love bag and printed shorts.

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Shop more colourful printed tanks at Shopbop:

Shopbop have a large selection of tank tops - everything from graphic tanks to plain or printed tanks! They are so easy to layer up when it's cooler or wear on their own when it's warmer.

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What I wore:

Sunnies: Rayban new Wayfarers

Cardigan: Jeanswest Peggie kimono cardigan in purple mulberry marle

Necklace: House of Harlow sunburst necklace in silver and grey
Top: Atmos&Here 'Florida' tank in Aztec print
Jeans: Jeanswest prima denim super skinny jeans in absolute black
Shoes: Walnut Melbourne 'Ava' black lizard ballet flats
Bracelets: the usual
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Love cross body bag in grey

Why I wore it:

Again, loving the printed cardigan and printed tank combination, so I wore it for a day out with toddler T. We went to the library for toddler time (singing and dancing) and then had morning tea together and did a little bit of running around our local Westfield. Well, he did most of the running, I said sorry to the laughing sales assistants every time he let go of my hand and sprinted into a shop doorway. It's amazing how you can't help but smile at a tiny toddler walking around with the biggest grin on his face, we got lots of chuckles from passers by too. When I'm in a rush, it's impossible, but when I've got nothing on my calendar except spending time with the toddler, it's nice to let him 'explore' a little and to just slow things down to his pace.

I'd been looking for something to wear one day and had thought the purple cardi would look nice with this tank, but picked something else to wear instead. It was nice to get around to wearing it, even if I do wish I'd worn a different necklace as this one gets 'lost' a bit in the print.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarers, purple kimono cardigan, Aztec print tank, black prima denim jeans, black ballet flats, Rebecca Minkoff Love bag (above).

Other ways to wear: purple cardigan and a maxi skirt, Aztec print tank with a red bag, black skinny jeans and plaid shirt, black ballet flats and a printed dress in the office, Rebecca Minkoff Love bag and a litle red dress.



Linking up with Fab Favourites, Fabulous Friday, Flashback Fashion, The Ultimate Rabbit Hole, Modest Monday.


This post was created in partnership with Shopbop. Occasionally, Away From The Blue blog may receive vendor or brand sponsorships for mentioning their products or services. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own.

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Shirt Dress, Shift Dress, Cardigans and Ankle Boots.

DH and I are at the 'spending every weekend attending open houses' phase of house-hunting. Below are two simple outfits I've worn to do so. As they were so similar, I thought I'd post them together.

We take turns each baby wearing while we go through the houses, so I need to wear something that's easy to wear with a toddler strapped to me, not too casual, and with a layer that I can take off and on as it heats up. I went with dresses both times as they are instant outfits, which is what you need when you have to fit in 5 open houses in one morning and you're running late!

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Dana drape knit cardi in boysenberry

Scarf: Alexander McQueen modal and cashmere skull scarf
Dress: Atmos&Here Polly navy polka dot shirt dress
Shoes: Asos airtime leather Chelsea boots in tan
Bag: Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere

Why I wore it:

As soon as I put these pictures on the computer I realised I should have worn a belt with this, oh well. I was comfortable and decided not to wear a belt so it would be easier to strap the baby carrier around me. I've worn it without a belt before and its looked fine, I just think with this cardigan a little waist definition would have been nice.

On the plus side, it warmed up nicely through the day and I ended up taking the cardigan off by the time we got to the third house, so I didn't wear it like this all day. I do like the colours of everything together, just feel a belt would have made it look nicer.


Last worn: purple cardigan, taupe skull scarf, polka dot dress (as a top), Asos Chelsea ankle boots, Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere.

Other ways to wear: purple cardi and a maxi dress, skull scarf in the office, polka dot dress with Converse, ankle boots in the office, Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere and skinny jeans.

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Shop more shirt and shift dresses under $70:

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What I wore:

Sunnies: Rayban new Wayfarers
Jacket: gifted Kmart striped maxi cardigan

Necklace: Roie Designs long freshwater pearl necklace with tassel
Dress: Zalora Basics faux leather placket red shift dress (on sale!)
Shoes: RMK Chester black ankle boots
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff metallic silver mini MAC

Why I wore it:

I wasn't 100% happy with this outfit either, although I do like it more than the one above. I was trying to decide on something to wear to add a bit of interest and picked this necklace. I think a shorter necklace or a scarf would have worked better with the placket detail on the dress though.

This striped maxi cardigan is new-to-me! My mum brought it over one day and asked if I wanted it, of course I said yes. It's not too warm which is great as I'll be able to keep wearing it as it warms up and we move into spring. I like boots and tights but I'm looking forward to the end of winter too!


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer, Zalora red shift dress, black ankle boots, Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC. First time I've worn the cardigan.

Other ways to wear: red shift dress with bare legs, ankle boots and a maxi dress, Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC and a maxi dress.


Linking up with Mix It Monday, Modest Monday, Turning Heads, Real Mum Style, Style Sessions, Confident Twosday, Wardrobe Wednesday, Whatcha Wearing, Pleated Poppy, Style Me Weekly, Wednesday Pants, What I Wore, Oh Hey Girl, Throwback Thursday, Fun Fashion Friday today.

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SAHM Style: Maxi Skirts and Cardigans - Cosy and Comfy

Just in case you missed it, Beth from Almost Posh and I had a chat to a newspaper about #noBuyJuly15. You can see the article online here. It has lots of great tips about reducing impulse buys, saving, and trying to spend more mindfully.


And now, what I've been wearing. I felt like I'd been wearing my skinny jeans a lot this winter, so I made more of an effort to wear my maxi skirts and get out of the denim rut. These two outfits were perfect for the days we had lined up with friends visiting from overseas. Maxi skirts and cardigans are such a cosy and comfortable combination.

What I wore:

Cardigan: Jeanswest Dana drape knit cardi in boysenberry

Necklace: Roie Designs long freshwater pearl necklace with tassel
Tee: Jeanswest 'Lucy' colour block tee in grey marle/rosebud
Skirt: Izabel London Aztec print maxi skirt (C/O)
Shoes: Ikwetta 'Circles of life' sandals (C/O)
Bag: Marc By Marc Jacobs Classic Q Fran bag with gold hardware in carob brown

Why I wore it:

Apologies for the bin in the background of this shot! I was in a bit of a rush that morning. We were up early to travel down to NSW with our friends, and visit some great beaches and points of interest along the way. I was excited to wear my new Ikwetta sandals too! They are so pretty and perfect for the beach. You can see a better pic of my colourblock tee here when I was on a beach with baby, it's got a pink panel on the back. I have to say baby T coped so well with all the travel, it was a big day for him. I usually like to be home for his afternoon nap (he's down to just one nap a day) but he was still happy and smiley despite not really getting a big nap.

The only time I didn't like this outfit was when we were in Surfers Paradise at sunset. While it was gorgeous, no more sun to heat me up and walking along the markets right by the breezy beachfront made me wish I'd worn different shoes. They were okay during the day, just wanted something closed in as the temperatures dipped at night. The cosy cardi didn't keep my feet warm! The hot chocolate for the drive home helped a little though ;)



Last worn: purple cardi, colour block tee, printed maxi skirt,, Marc by Marc Jacobs Fran bag. First time I've worn the sandals.

Other ways to wear: purple cardi and a tiny newborn baby, first time I wore this colour block tee, printed maxi skirt with grey and black, Marc by Marc Jacobs Fran bag at 40 weeks pregnant.

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More maxi skirts and cardigans:

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What I wore:

Cardi: Izabel London striped waterfall cardigan (C/O)

Necklace: House of Harlow sunburst necklace in silver and grey
Tee: Zalora Basics maroon stepped t-shirt
Skirt: Target grey marle maxi skirt
Shoes: RMK Chester black ankle boots
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini quilted affair bag in fire engine red (on sale in pink and on sale in black)

Why I wore it:

I don't know what my hair was doing this day either! Had to get ready in a rush as didn't want to be late - we went to farewell our friends at the airport. We had coffee together and then after they flew away baby T and I went out for lunch with my mum.

As above, a maxi skirt and cardigan seemed like a comfortable and cosy option - although ankle boots this time to keep my feet warm!

As it's the second time I've worn this tee (and I'm trying to wear and review everything I buy twice in a month after buying), my purchase review:
I am glad I bought this tee. It had been hanging around in my cart at The Iconic for a while when it was on sale, and as I had an extra discount code off sale items and I was buying some boots too it was a good time to purchase.
I mentioned when I did my June monthly purchase wrap-up that I still had tops from the previous month that I hadn't worn. As a result, I returned all the tops from my June Jeanswest order, but kept this one. Partly as it was only a couple of dollars and partly because I really like it! It's got a high-low hem so it's just a little different from a normal tee, but still just as comfortable and easy to wear. It also fills my wardrobe gap, being a plain block-colour top. I definitely don't regret purchasing this at all, and it was easy to wear this twice in a month. Unlike the shirt I bought in May that I still haven't worn yet....

#noBuyJuly15 challenge was definitely needed, as I'm not managing to wear everything I buy before buying new things!


Last worn: striped cardigan, red tee, grey maxi skirt, black ankle boots, Rebecca Minkoff mini affair bag.

Other ways to wear: striped cardigan and red tee together with jeans, grey maxi skirt with floral cami in spring, black ankle boots in the office, Rebecca Minkoff mini affair bag with printed maxi skirt.

Linking up with Pleated Poppy, Style Me Weekly, Cappuccino and Fashion, Oh Hey Girl, Style Me Wednesday, Wednesday Pants, Trendy Wednesday Fashion Files, Thursday Favourites, Throwback Thursday, Fun Fashion Friday, Weekend Link Up today.

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SAHM Style: Jeanswest Prima Denim Skinny Jeans Casual Winter Outfits

I've been wearing my skinny jeans a fair bit to get through Winter! My newest prima denim ones are definitely my favourites, stretchy and comfortable and cosy. They are a nice easy option for being a stay-at-home mum.

First, the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is on now! I'm doing #noBuyJuly15 so I'm not shopping this time around, but thought I'd share the sale with you - in case you haven't already read about it on every other blog ;)

Starting now and until July 9th, early access has started for Nordstrom cardholders. It then opens up to the public from July l7th, but it only lasts until 2nd August! If you are not a card holder, you can still browse the sale and get your wishlist together, although you can't buy anything until it's open to the public on the 17th. I'll be sure to post about it again then so you can buy something.

What I wore:

Scarf: Marc by Marc Jacobs Stargazer scarf in aquamarine (on sale in black and white!!)
Top: Atmos&Here 3/4 sleeve stripe tee in berry white
Jeans: Jeanswest Bindi skinny 7/8 jeans in indigo luxe
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in black
Bracelets: the usual plus Roie Designs waxed leather cream howlite beaded wrap bracelet
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Love cross body bag in grey

Why I wore it:

Wore this out to playgroup some time ago - this was actually when I left my scarf behind! The photos got accidentally hidden away on my computer, so I'm quickly posting them now before I lose them again. Having posts scheduled in advance means I don't have to copy the outfit photos from my camera as much as I did pre-baby, when I was blogging what I wore that day and the day before. It means I can accidentally miss pictures when I'm trying to pull a blog post together though, as they can sit there for a few days and get hidden in all the baby and puppy pictures I take as well!

Had been wanting to wear this red striped top for a while, and I thought the printed scarf was nice against it for a slight bit of print mixing. Converse were comfortable and practical for running around the playground with baby too.


Last worn: galaxy print scarf, striped top, skinny jeans, Converse, Rebecca Minkoff Love bag.

Other ways to wear: colourful galaxy print scarf with a monochrome outfit, striped tee in the third trimester, skinny jeans in autumn for a day at home, Converse and denim shorts, Rebecca Minkoff Love bag with maxi dresses.

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What I wore:

Scarf: Alexander McQueen red skull-print modal and cashmere-blend scarf
Knit: Warehouse grey bead front jumper
Jeans: Jeanswest prima denim super skinny jeans in absolute black
Shoes: Walnut Melbourne 'Ava' black lizard ballet flats (new purchase)
Bag:  Rebecca Minkoff metallic silver mini MAC (on sale here!)

Why I wore it:

This felt like a slightly more dressed up than usual day care drop off/pick up / work from home outfit. I think it's the red scarf with the neutral outfit. I tend to view scarves as accessories that help make something look more pulled together. A cosy and comfortable outfit too.

As I was sitting at the computer working most of the day with just a little bit of driving around with baby T, I thought it would be a great time to break in my new shoes. I mentioned when I got them that I'd bought them as replacements for an old pair of black ballet flats I had. The old ones just didn't seem to be as comfortable post-pregnancy as they were before it. Maybe I stretched them out too much in pregnancy with my swollen feet, haha. I'm getting much tougher on my shoes and I only want to keep ones that are comfortable for an entire day with baby and all the running around that requires. I think these new ones will be perfect.

The only thing that wasn't ideal about this outfit was the black jeans - we had a tradie round to do some work in the morning and it was a bit dusty, black pants were not the best pick. Probably just not the best day to have the tradie over at all actually, he seemed to have a fondness for using power tools whenever I was trying to speak on a conference call!


Last worn: beaded jumper, skinny jeans, red skull scarf, silver mini MAC bag. First time I've worn the shoes as they are a new purchase.

Other ways to wear: embellished jumper with a jacquard skirt, skinny jeans and a sleeveless top, Alexander McQueen skull scarf in summer, mini MAC with a maxi dress.

Linking up with Passion for Fashion, Flashback Fashion, Casual Friday, Fab Favourites, Favourite Fashion Friday, The Ultimate Rabbit Hole, Shoe and Tell, Let It Shine today.

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Comfortable Winter SAHM Style and Izabel London Review

Two casual and comfortable outfits for days with baby, featuring two new items that were given to me by Izabel London in return for showcasing them on the blog. I thought I'd include a review too, if you have been considering purchasing from them.

What I wore:

Jacket: Cotton On black knit wrap cardigan

Necklace: Roie Designs feather, quartz and love charm long necklace
Top: Asos new forever grey tee
Skirt: Izabel London Aztec print maxi skirt (new, C/O)
Shoes: Asos airtime leather Chelsea boots in tan (new purchase)
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini quilted affair bag in fire engine red (new purchase, on sale in black and studded version on sale too)

Why I wore it:

I was intending to add a scarf to this outfit for some more colour, but baby T was being cranky that morning so I forgot all about it and went out the door without one. At least there was a little bit of colour with the bag, and all I was doing was going to the doctors with baby and getting groceries so I didn't have to be over-accessorised for errands.

This skirt is one of the items I got from Izabel. It is so comfortable! I was a little unsure about ordering a maxi skirt from a new brand I'd never tried before, as I almost always have to have maxi lengths taken up at the tailor. Petite problems! This skirt has a fold-over waist detail though, so you can adjust the length to suit. I'm 5"2, and the skirt is the perfect length with the waist folded over all the way. It doesn't look bulky around the waist even with the top section folded down.

This cardigan I dug out of my wardrobe after getting rid of the other black cardigan I have. No need to have two black cardigans if I only love one of them. It was the perfect piece to keep me cosy and warm, and I'm glad I wore it because baby T was unwell and this cardigan was easily washed when we got home, unlike the leather jacket I wore last time.....


Last worn: black cardigan, grey tee. First time I've worn the skirt, bag and boots as they are all recent wardrobe additions. I bought a lot in June!

Other ways to wear: black cardigan with jeans, grey tee in the third trimester.

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What I wore:

Jacket: Izabel London striped waterfall cardigan (new, C/O)

Necklace: Tai gold alphabet necklace layered with thrifted pearl and heart long necklace
Tee: Zalora Basics maroon stepped t-shirt (new purchase)
Jeans: Jeanswest Bindi skinny 7/8 jeans in indigo luxe
Shoes: RMK Chester black ankle boots
Bag: Balenciaga flat clutch SGH in 2010 Sang

Why I wore it:

This cardigan is the best cardigan I have ever worn. I was showing hubby the new things I'd got and tried to explain to him just how awesome this cardigan is. It's part wool, so just as cosy and comfortable as a bathrobe, exactly what you need in winter.

This was the perfect outfit for a day at home as hubby helped a friend move, and then an evening out. We were overdue a date night, it's been quite a while since the last one! I just took my things out of the baby bag and put them into the clutch for our dinner/movie date, as well as adding the dangly necklace. I like a 'SAHM uniform' that can be dressed up for date night just be adding some accessories.

Izabel London Review

This was my first time visiting and ordering from Izabel London, so I thought I'd put a review together. (The company did not ask for this, this is just my thoughts). The big thing I like about their site is the fact that they share detailed measurements of the item and the model (like on the page for my waterfall cardigan). However, it's not on all items on their site so maybe it's a new thing they are rolling out. I was looking at some tunics but not all of them had the length listed so I didn't feel confident comparing them and decided to look at the other items instead, as I didn't want something too short. I'm pleased with the two things I did get though.
The customer service at is great - I've been dealing with Sohny and I've always gotten quick responses to emails and we have regularly kept in touch over the ordering process.
The shipping to Australia is good. It took 8 working days to arrive, so just under 2 weeks, and quicker than the estimated 10 working days specified on their website. I'd say it's similar to Asos standard shipping to Australia. They have an Australian returns address if you've ordered something that doesn't work out too. I didn't have to use it though, as I liked what I got style and fit-wise.
Sizing is comparable to Australian sizing, I ordered my standard Australian size and everything fit like I expected.

Overall, I'd recommend Izabel London. I think the products are great quality for the price, and I'm really happy with what I got. Plus if you're a fellow Aussie, a lot of their winter stock is on sale at the moment....I might be doing #noBuyJuly15 but there's no reason you can't have a browse. They ship worldwide too!


Last worn: skinny jeans, black ankle boots, Balenciaga clutch. First time I've worn the tee and the cardigan as they are recent wardrobe additions.

Other ways to wear: print mixing with skinny jeans, black ankle boots with a maxi dress, Balenciaga clutch with a printed maxi dress in summer.

Linking up with Shoe and Tell, Let It Shine, Modest Monday, Style To Inspire, Mix It Monday, More Pieces of Me, Daily Express, On Trend Tuesday, Turning Heads, Reasons to Dress, Real Mom Style, Bless Her Heart, Confident Twosday today.

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Statement Skinny Jeans - Metallic Gold and Bright Red, Louis Vuitton Damier Handbags

The last two of my Fox in Flats Style Dare outfits for May, two outfits that I really liked. I got to wear some of my brighter, more statement denim. I have a few stand-out pieces in my denim collection, it's good to have something different to step away from the blue denim now and then when jeans are the best outfit choice.

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Cassandra jacquard jacket

Necklace: Roie Designs feather, quartz and love charm long necklace
Tee: Atmos&Here rolled sleeve oversized tee in wine
Jeans: Sass and Bide 'Three Words' metallic gold jeans
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs logo plaque flats in camel
Bag: Louis Vuitton MM damier azur neverfull

Why I wore it:

The style challenge for the day was 'pure gold' so I knew I would be wearing these metallic jeans. They really make a lot more of a statement than normal blue denim, but being jeans they are just as easy to wear! I didn't have a need for anything overly dressed up, so I just wore them with a baggy tee. I needed something to keep my warms warm so decided on this jacket as it has the metallic thread running through it.

It was our wedding anniversary, so to celebrate we had a little picnic in the park and then took baby T to feed the ducks for the first time. It was a little tricky trying to get him to stop eating the bread though, even after his lunch! I thought the neverfull was the perfect picnic bag - easy to throw things in and get things out of as we sat on the grass. It was even warm enough for me to take my jacket off for a little while in the sun.


Last worn: jacquard blazer, burgundy tee, metallic gold skinny jeans, tan MbMJ flats, Louis Vuitton neverfull.

Other ways to wear: jacquard blazer with a printed dress for the office, burgundy tee with a maxi skirt, gold jeans in spring, tan flats with a printed dress, LV neverfull with casual summer shorts outfits.

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What I wore:

Cardigan: Jeanswest brown marle waterfall cardi
Necklace: House of Harlow sunburst necklace in silver and grey
Cami: Jeanswest Audrey tonal print tank
Jeans: Emerson red skinny jeans
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bracelets: the usual plus Roie Designs waxed leather cream howlite beaded wrap bracelet
Bag: Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere

Why I wore it:

The last Fox in Flats Style Dare for May! I've been so behind with blogging it, and not just because I put it on hold to share some of the June dress week challenge pictures first. Only blogging 6 outfits a week means I quickly fall behind in posting if a style challenge means I have to get dressed every day of the week. (Although baby T is older I still like to have a few PJ days at home now and then, and some mornings are so hectic it's good to know I don't have to get outfit photos if I run out of time!)

The challenge for the day was 'nailed it' so I wanted to wear my favourite winter nail polish, OPI's Russian Navy. I had planned to just do my nails, but I had some last minute things to buy for baby T's birthday party so had to get dressed anyway! Used the opportunity to wear these red jeans that I'd been wanting to wear for a while but couldn't fit into a challenge prompt, and a bit of print mixing with the cardigan and cami.

Wearing Havaianas in winter because they are comfortable (and I'm a Queenslander!) and we were just running around the shops in the morning so I was indoors most of the time. I've worn Havaianas and sandals in winter before - as much as I like winter boots I don't like hiding my feet away for 3 months of the year! I'll have another excuse to wear sandals again soon, I've ordered a pair of Ikwetta sandals. I'll be receiving them C/O, so that I can post a review about them. Blogger perks! I wanted to talk about the brand a little before the sandals arrive for two reasons.

First, they are a company doing great thing. They have a kickstarter that I highly encourage you to donate to if you can. The proceeds from their kickstarter will go to build a workshop for their artisans. They have partnered with local people in Kenya who live in slums and make beautiful designs to sell to passing tourists, often only making $1 profit for 4 hours of work. With Ikwetta, they will have a state of the art workshop, high quality tools and environment, and they will be fairly compensated for their hardwork making intricate designs. They want to make a difference in the lives of the talented artisans making beautiful accessories.

And secondly, and rather selfishly, I'm telling you about them as when Sheeni emailed me about a collaboration, it showed that she had actually read my blog and took the time to express her thoughts on it, before explaining how she wanted help to end poverty for the artisans she had struck up a relationship with. I don't have a huge blog so I'm not getting emails every day, but I get a few emails a week from people wanting to collaborate and it's refreshing seeing one from someone who put some effort into their pitch, and that also wants to do some good in the world.

I hope you will check out their kickstarter, even if you can't donate at the moment. It ends 6th July. The products you get from some of the pledges would make great gifts too!


Last worn: brown marle cardi, printed cami, red skinny jeans, Havaianas, Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere.

Other ways to wear: waterfall cardi with a maxi dress, printed cami in summer, red skinny jeans in a similar outfit without the cardi, speedy bandouliere with a dress.

Linking up with Passion for Fashion, Casual Friday, Feature Friday, Mix It Up, The Ultimate Rabbit Hole today.

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