Embellished Tanks and Maxi Skirts With Balenciaga Tempete Day Bag

The thing I like about maxi skirts is that they never feel over or under dressed. When wearing both of these maxi skirts below I added some embellished tanks to make them feel just a little more dressed up, and a little more festive for the parties we were going to (back in December!).

What I wore:

Dress: Jeanswest 'Darcy' embellished top in winter coral
Skirt: Target navy side split maxi skirt
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bracelets: the usual plus Fashion Scarf Girl Navy and Gold hair scarf (c/o) tied in bow
Bag: Balenciaga giant hardware Day bag in 2009 tempete

Why I wore it:

I wore this to the boys daycare party. I'd just worn shorts and a tee earlier in the day, but swapped to this as the maxi skirt gave me more coverage, and I wanted the bigger bag. I'm glad I picked this bag, they got so many things I had to hold and it was nice being hands free! The style challenge for the day was 'sequins and sparkle' so this sequin embellished tank was perfect, and probably overdue a wear! It's been a while since I last wore it.

The boys had a wonderful night at the party, and I was grateful for having picked the maxi skirt to wear with all the running around after them I did and bending down to toddler level!


Last worn: sequin embellished tank, navy scarf, navy stripe maxi skirt, black Havaianas, Balenciaga Tempete Day Bag.

Other ways to wear: sequin embellished tank and skinny jeans, navy scarf on a handbag, navy stripe maxi skirt worn two ways, Balenciaga Tempete Day Bag and printed dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: sequin embellished tank in third trimester, Balenciaga Tempete Day Bag in second trimester.

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What's In My Bag: Balenciaga Tempete Day

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What I wore:

Dress: Jeanswest 'Macy' ombre tank in 'very berry'
Skirt: Noisy May long denim maxi skirt
Shoes: Rebecca Minkoff Georgina studded gladiator sandals in blush
Bag: Balenciaga giant hardware Day bag in 2009 tempete

Why I wore it:

Since I liked the outfit above so much, I repeated a similar thing a few days later. I picked this ombre beaded tank which is such a special piece but again, like the sequin tank above, so sparingly worn due to how delicate it is. Life with two boys under 5 requires a bit of consideration when wearing delicate pieces!

I really liked the pink and blue together of the ombre tank and chambray skirt, and the studded sandals were a simple option. We had a busy day, with the final Christmas food shop in the morning and then a party with our church friends down the coast. This was the perfect outfit to feel cool and pulled together for all those events. I was relieved to see that Woolies wasn't as busy as I anticipated and I grabbed the groceries quite quickly, but it was definitely getting busier as we left.


Last worn: ombre embellished tank, noisy may chambray maxi skirt, studded gladiator sandals, Balenciaga tempete day bag (above).

Other ways to wear: ombre embellished tank and skinny jeans, noisy may chambray maxi skirt and printed tank, studded gladiator sandals, Balenciaga tempete day bag and floral dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: ombre embellished tank and hidden second trimester bump, Balenciaga tempete day bag in third trimester.

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Embellished Tanks Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

Anything with a little extra embellishment will feel a bit more pulled together when you add it to an outfit. A simple maxi skirt looks more dressed up when you add an embellished tank, but it creates a simple outfit option, ideal for running around after kids at parties!


Linking up with Lizzie In Lace, Weekend Linkup, Friday Faves, Fancy Friday, Sunday Reflections, Shoe & Tell, On Mondays We Link Up, Modest Monday.

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Printed Tees, Denim Shorts and Balenciaga G21 Hardware Bags

When it's a hot and humid weekend, I default to the simple summer outfit: shorts and tee! For something a little different, I'm wearing some printed tees and accessorising with Balenciaga bags.

What I wore:

Necklace: Jeanswest Taryn turquoise tassel bead necklace
Tee: Sass and Bide 'New Day Rising' tee in orange leopard print
Shorts: Jeanswest Sara distressed hot short
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bag: Balenciaga part time in black 2010 with SGH

Why I wore it:

This tee is so rarely worn. It's a bit bold and in your face, being orange leopard print, but it was perfect for the 'orange kisses' style prompt with the style challenge I was doing on Instagram. It's also super soft and so comfortable to wear. While I wear it really sparingly, I was once again reminded of how much I love it, so it's definitely still hanging around in my wardrobe (even if this is only it's fifth wear in 4 years!). Hopefully it doesn't go so long between wears in future!

With the bold orange neon tee I felt simple was best so stuck with black accessories. Black denim shorts, Havaianas, and my black Balenciaga part time bag. Even though the pendant necklace is gold and the studded hardware on my bag is silver, I felt they looked okay together.

This was a simple outfit to take my parents in the airport in the morning and then run a few errands with the boys and pick up some last minute food pieces for a Christmas party in the evening (which I got changed for). Mid January and I'm still posting December pics, eek!


Last worn: orange leopard print tee, tassel pendant necklace, black denim shorts, Havaianas, Balenciaga Part Time Bag.

Other ways to wear: orange leopard print tee and flares, black denim shorts and scarf, Balenciaga Part Time Bag in the office.

Perfect for pregnancy: Balenciaga Part Time Bag in third trimester.

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My Complete Balenciaga Handbag Collection:

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What I wore:

Jacket: Choies red vintage pattern kimono
Tee: Jeanswest Flavia foil printed polka dot tee deep iris
Shorts: thrifted Jeanswest distressed denim shorts
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bag: Balenciaga giant hardware Day bag in 2009 tempete

Why I wore it:

I didn't like this outfit as much as the one above! It was a busy day. There was a threat of a storm all day but we decided to head to the local Christmas markets anyway as I'd seen a stall holder advertising on facebook that I really wanted to check out to pick up the final Christmas gift off my list. Unfortunately, the threat of the storm had meant there weren't as many stall holders as planned and the stall I wanted wasn't there. We found an alternative present, but it wasn't as good as my first choice option, and did mean we had to stop at the shops on the way home to pick up a couple of other little things.

I wanted to try something different and do a little print mixing with this tee - I thought the navy polka dots would be a nice back ground for this red printed kimono. I really like red and navy together. I didn't love this outfit as much as I'd hoped though. The print mixing looked great when I held the pieces up side by side the night before but not so much once I wore them in the morning. Feeling hot and bothered all day with the humidity didn't help me love my outfit any more either, haha!


Last worn: red printed kimono, navy polka dot foil tee, distressed denim shorts, Havaianas (above), Balenciaga Tempete Day bag.

Other ways to wear: red printed kimono and jeans, navy polka dot foil tee and cosy cardigan, distressed denim shorts and converse, Balenciaga Tempete Day bag and maxi dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: red printed kimono in second trimester, Balenciaga Tempete Day bag in third trimester.

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Similar Printed Tees Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It

Shorts and a tee is a staple summer outfit for many people! You can add a little more interest by swapping out a plain tee for something bright and bold. A fun printed tee is a nice alternative, while still being just as comfortable. You could even try print mixing like in the second outfit by adding a kimono.

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Ruffle Camis and Blue Pencil Skirts For The Office | Weekday Wear Linkup

Summer time means I get my camis out, and wonder why I never wear them! These spaghetti strap ruffle camis are so fun to wear, even though in most offices you'll have to cover them up, with a cardigan like I did in the first outfit, or a blazer in the second. I've got another edition of my weekly linkup you can join at the end too!

What I wore:

Necklace: Ruby Olive Art series long striped pod necklace
Cami: Jeanswest 'Maria' cami in cream
Skirt: Asos blue textured lace pencil skirt
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs silver tuxedo flats
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Regan Satchel Tote in moon

Why I wore it:

As mentioned above, I did throw a cardi on over this in the office, but it was much too hot that morning to take pics with it on!

When I was thinking up what to wear to work I was surprised to see that I hadn't worn these pieces together before! They are both older pieces in my wardrobe, and I've worn this blue lace skirt with white tops in the past, just not this cami. I really liked the combination. Simple for a hot day and the subtle pleated texture to the cami worked really well with the textured pencil skirt I thought.

Of course with the navy skirt I had to pick a navy bag, so I went with this Rebecca Minkoff Regan bag for a little matchy-matchy. This bag is a great neutral base, perfect for further accessorising so I added my new llama keychain. 😂 I have a lot of fun bag charms, but this one made me smile as soon as I saw it and I knew I had to buy it right away! I added more colour to my outfit with this dotty necklace, such a great accessory with the blue and white.


Last worn: white cami, colourful statement necklace, blue lace pencil skirt, silver ballet flats, Rebecca Minkoff Regan.

Other ways to wear: white cami and maxi skirt, blue lace pencil skirt in monochrome outfit, silver ballet flats and skinny jeans, Rebecca Minkoff Regan and pleated skirt.

Perfect for pregnancy: white cami in second trimester, blue lace pencil skirt in third trimester, silver ballet flats in third trimester.

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What's In My Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Regan:

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What I wore:

Jacket: thrifted Zara black blazer
Necklace: Jeanswest Taryn turquoise tassel bead necklace
Cami: Jeanswest peach ruffle cami
Skirt: Warehouse navy jacquard pencil skirt
Shoes: Walnut Melbourne 'Ava' black lizard ballet flats (also available in silver)
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Regan Satchel Tote in moon

Why I wore it:

A little cooler this morning (although not by much!) so I had my blazer on in photos. This cami looks a bit rumpled in the photos, but it was a pleasure to wear. Again, it was a simple outfit, I like peach and navy together so the jacquard skirt and plain ruffle cami seemed like a good pairing. I was in a bit of a rush that morning though and not feeling the best, so a hastily half tucked cami is what you get!

I actually wasn't sure I'd make it through the whole day at work, but with a lot of meetings I powered through and got to the end of the day. Overall I liked this outfit as much as the one above, I just didn't enjoy wearing it as much as I wasn't feeling the best!


Last worn: jersey blazer, peach ruffle cami, tassel pendant necklace, jacquard pencil skirt, Walnut Melbourne ballet flats, Rebecca Minkoff Regan bag (above).

Other ways to wear: jersey blazer and jeans, peach ruffle cami and pleated skirt, jacquard pencil skirt with mustard, Walnut Melbourne ballet flats and lace dress, Rebecca Minkoff Regan bag and wrap dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: jersey blazer in third trimester, jacquard pencil skirt in first trimester, Walnut Melbourne ballet flats in second trimester.

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Ruffle Camis Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

A classic cami and pencil skirt is a work staple! In most offices, spaghetti straps are frowned on or just not allowed in the office dress code. It's easy to cover up and make your look a little more formal with a blazer, perfect for a day of meetings! Or if your office is a little more casual like mine you could just throw a cardigan on top.

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Weekday Wear Linkup #02

Welcome to the Weekday Wear linkup! A linkup for you to share your weekday outfits - whether that is office wear or stay at home mum wear - if you wore it on a weekday, you can link it up!

Guidelines:
1. Please link to a specific outfit post, not your blog homepage.
2. Link back to this post so others can find the link up.
3. Follow your host Away From The Blue on Bloglovin, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or YouTube.
4. Add up to two posts and be sure to visit and comment on as many other posts as possible to get some weekday outfit inspiration!
Optional: tweet the post you linked up with the hashtag #weekdayWearLinkUp so I can retweet!

Subscribe for The Weekday Wear Linkup reminder emails

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Linking up with Modest Monday, On Mondays We Link Up, Style Sessions, Turning Heads, Style On The Daily, Oh Hey Girl, Thursday Moda, Labour of Fashion, Fashion Files, Chic and Stylish, Weekend Wear, Flashback Fashion.

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Accessorising Handbags & Blue Printed Dresses

It's no secret blue is my favourite colour, and while I have a few dresses in my wardrobe, blue printed dresses make up the majority! Both of these dresses are very different styles and prints, but are great for a hot summer day. I accessorised them both with bright mini bags, and accessorised further by adding accessories to those bags themselves.

What I wore:

Necklace: Lovisa gold filigree heart pendant
Dress: Kmart strappy tiered sundress in watercolour blue and blush print
Shoes: slim gold Havaianas
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote in plum

Why I wore it:

I wasn't doing anything special on this day - a quiet day out with the boys, but sometimes you just want to throw on a pretty dress. This lightweight one is so good in the heat too, and since I picked it up on clearance at Kmart for $2, it's down to a $1 cost per wear already!

Last time I wore this I paired it with a pastel pink bag to match the print of the dress. This time around I decided to do something a little different. I love blue and pink and pink and purple and blue and purple together, this dress gives me the ability to wear all three! Since I was wearing the purple mini MAB tote bag and it has gold hardware, I picked my rose gold filigree heart necklace to wear.

I really liked this outfit - simple but perfect for a hot day! The purple mini MAB tote bag has a little extra interest too with the faux fur pom pom charm - a gift a few years ago from one of my friends, it looks so good on this bag it lives there permanently!


Last worn: blue and pink tiered sundress, gold filigree heart necklace, gold Havaianas, purple Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote bag.

Other ways to wear: tiered sundress and silver sneakers, purple Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote bag worn 30 ways.

Perfect for pregnancy: purple Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote bag in third trimester.

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More Ways To Accessorise Your Bags:

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What I wore:

Necklace: Zatini red pendant necklace
Dress: Jeanswest 'Chelsea' printed dress
Shoes: slim gold Havaianas
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff red micro Avery cross body bag (with Fashion Scarf Girl Navy and Gold hair scarf (c/o) tied in a bow)

Why I wore it:

This dress is a summer favourite, although I have layered it up for winter a few times in the years I've owned it. I wanted something simple to wear at a catch up at my parents. Since they were missing Christmas as they were going overseas, we caught up with the family to give them a few gifts before they left, and have a yummy dinner together.

I don't think I've worn red with this dress before, but I really liked the way this little Rebecca Minkoff micro Avery bag popped with the blue print. I had to go a little matchy-matchy and wear my red necklace with it too, even though it's guaranteed one or both of the boys will grab on this when I'm wearing it to get a closer look!

To further continue to the blue, and to change up the look of the micro Avery bag a little as I've been frequently wearing it, I added one of my scarves from Fashion Scarf Girl. Such a fun little hair scarf, it looks great tied in a bow on this handbag handle!


Last worn: blue boho printed dress, red necklace, gold Havaianas (above), Rebecca Minkoff micro Avery tote bag. First time I've worn the scarf as it's a recent addition to my wardrobe.

Other ways to wear: blue boho printed dress and blazer, Rebecca Minkoff micro Avery tote bag and skinny jeans.

Perfect for pregnancy: blue boho printed dress in second trimester.

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Similar Blue Printed Dresses Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

A mini cross body bag is a great addition to a simple summer dress outfit, to add an extra little pop of colour. If you want to change things up a bit, you can accessorise the bag too! Try a fun charm or a simple scarf tied in a bow.


Linking up with Lizzie In Lace, Shoe & Tell, Modest Monday, On Mondays We Link Up, Sunday Reflections.

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Printed Tops and Maxi Skirts With Red Rebecca Minkoff Micro Avery Bag

Such a simple outfit formula - pick a printed top and pair it with a plain maxi skirt! Since both the polka dot cami and logo tee have a little red in them, I thought my Rebecca Minkoff mini Avery bag was the best accessory for both outfits.

What I wore:

Necklace: Oxfam Noah's Ark green red beaded necklace

Cami: Jeanswest 'Mia' cami in black

Skirt: Jeanswest Luxe jersey maxi skirt

Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs

Bag: Rebecca Minkoff red micro Avery cross body bag

Why I wore it:

Wore this for a busy day! We had our final ABA meeting for the year, so it was Christmas themed. It was also, sadly, our last time at the Australian Breastfeeding association group meetings. The new year means a change of day for the sessions and we can't make it on the new day unfortunately! I'm still a member and will try organise some pram walks on the days we are free so I can still catch up with my friends.

After a slightly emotional morning, it was off to run errands. The post office was okay, but waiting in line at the bank with two kids who had filled up on sugary morning tea (including chocolate brownies I brought along for the group) probably wasn't the best option. 😂

Hyper kids aside, I really liked this outfit. It was comfortable for the day and the red and green necklace, which can be worn year-round, definitely didn't look out of place at the Christmas party.

Last worn: polka dot cami, red and green necklace, drawstring maxi skirt, Havaianas, Rebecca Minkoff micro Avery tote.

Other ways to wear: polka dot cami and denim shorts, drawstring maxi skirt worn two ways, Rebecca Minkoff micro Avery tote and little grey dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: polka dot cami in second trimester.

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What's In My Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Micro Avery Tote

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What I wore:

Tee: thrifted navy stripe Coca-Cola logo tee

Skirt: Noisy May long denim maxi skirt

Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs

Bag: Rebecca Minkoff red micro Avery cross body bag

Why I wore it:

I was doing a couple of Instagram style challenges in December and the theme for the day on them both was stripes. I hard a hard time picking one piece to wear, stripes are definitely my favourite print! I settled on this fun Coca-Cola thrifted tee, as I thought it went really nicely with this chambray maxi skirt. It's not the first time I've worn this chambray skirt and little red Avery bag together, they are a lovely combo. It tied in nicely with the red logo on the striped tee too.

The boys and I had a quieter day - a couple of errands to run (including picking up food for the daycare Christmas party later in the week) and then some time playing at the playground. Nice easy outfit for all of that.

Last worn: striped Coca-Cola tee, chambray maxi skirt, Havaianas (above), Rebecca Minkoff micro Avery bag (above).

Other ways to wear: striped Coca-Cola tee worn two ways, chambray maxi skirt in winter, Rebecca Minkoff micro Avery bag and black dress.

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Plain Maxi Skirts Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

A plain maxi skirt is a great outfit base, letting you pick any printed piece to wear with it - stripes or polka dots work equally well. They are also a nice option for a hot summer day as a stay at home mum as you can easily run after the kids (and break up wrestling games in the bank) in them!

Linking up with Weekend Wear, Friday Faves.

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Summer Style: Shorts And Kimonos With Rebecca Minkoff MAM Bag

A pair of soft, loose shorts like the ones I'm wearing below and a nice lightweight kimono along with a simple tank is such a staple summer outfit for me! I find the kimonos provide sun protection, add a little extra colour and print, and are a great way to layer without overheating. These outfits were perfect for our December heat.

One of the kimonos I'm wearing isn't actually a kimono at all though!

What I wore:

Kimono: Fashion Scarf Girl pretty pink floral scarf (c/o) worn as kimono
Necklace: Jeanswest Taryn turquoise tassel bead necklace
Tank: French Connection feather foil singlet
Shorts: Jeanswest Tessa olive embroidered shorts
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff MAB mini in soft grey

Why I wore it:

I got this beautiful big scarf as part of my brand rep role for fashion scarf girl. Being a massive scarf (100 cm by 180 cm!) I instantly thought of wearing it as a sarong for the beach. With no beach trips in the immediate future, I decided to double it over and knot the ends together to create a kimono. Not the first time I've worn a scarf as a kimono, it's a good way to change up the way you wear something!

I picked the olive shorts as they kind of met the #DAREcember style challenge prompt of 'in the jungle', being an olive colour. And also because it was a hot day with a lot of running around to do and these are so light to wear. I ran a few errands with the boys, including buying a secret Santa gift for a Christmas dinner with friends.

With the olive shorts and all the colours in the scarf, I thought the neutral Rebecca Minkoff MAM was a good bag to compliment it. Holds a lot of things too!


Last worn: black shimmer tank, tassel necklace, olive embroidered shorts, Havaianas, Rebecca Minkoff MAM bag. First time I've worn the scarf as it is a recent addition to my wardrobe.

Other ways to wear: black shimmer tank and printed jeans, olive embroidered shorts in autumn, Rebecca Minkoff MAM bag in the office. 

Perfect for pregnancy: black shimmer tank in first trimester, Rebecca Minkoff MAM bag in third trimester. 

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Wear And Tear: What The Rebecca Minkoff MAM Bag Looks Like After 5 Years

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What I wore:

Jacket: Somedays Lovin' Yakuza print kimono
Necklace: Ruby Olive Art series long striped pod necklace (gift from my bestie)
Tank: Jeanswest Maji metallic tank in soft green and silver (on sale!)
Shorts: Jeanswest Parker printed shirred short
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in white
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff MAB mini in soft grey

Why I wore it:

This was such a hot day! We planned to put up out Christmas tree in the afternoon (I wore this back at the start of December). There was a new walking trail I wanted to try out first, so we set off early in the morning before the heat got to be too much. Since it was a sunny day, I added the kimono for a little sun protection as I wasn't sure how shaded the track would be. While the walk was short, it was worth it, beautiful views!
While it was a bit warm for closed in shoes, and I kicked them off as soon as I got home, the Converse were good for walking. I was glad the walk was short as it was so hot! Will definitely attempt it again later when it's a little cooler.

It's not the first time I've tried this floral kimono with another print, it's great for print mixing with. With the black shorts, grey kimono and silver tank I felt the outfit needed a little colour - this pretty Ruby Olive necklace that my bestie got me from Christmas was the perfect addition. Met the 'dotty' style challenge prompt nicely for that day too.


Last worn: grey floral kimono, silver tank, black printed shorts, Converse, Rebecca Minkoff MAM bag (above).

Other ways to wear: grey floral kimono worn 30 ways, silver tank worn two ways, black printed shorts in monochrome outfit, Converse and printed dress, Rebecca Minkoff MAM bag worn 30 ways.

Perfect for pregnancy: grey floral kimono in third trimester, Converse in second trimester, Rebecca Minkoff MAM bag in third trimester.

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Soft Shorts Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

Soft shorts are ideal for a hot summer day, and a colourful kimono is a lovely extra layer that will add further interest to your outfit without over heating you. Neutral accessories like basic tanks and grey bags are good pieces to pair with a loud printed kimono too.

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