Second Trimester Evening Outfits: Jersey Maxi Dresses & Pregnancy Weight Comments

As much as I love a good singlet and shorts combo for being pregnant over summer, you can't beat the simplicity of a maxi dress for looking put-together. They are perfect for feeling dressed up enough for going out for dinner, while still being incredibly comfortable and accommodating to a baby bump.

What I wore:

Necklace: Tai gold alphabet necklace layered with thrifted pearl and heart charm long necklace
Dress: Jeanswest 'Elodie' tie dye grey jersey maxi dress
Shoes: Balenciaga studded sandals in sorbet RGGH (on sale!)
Bracelets: the usual plus House of Harlow sunburst wrap bracelet in cobalt and Disney Couture Winnie the Pooh bangle
Bag: Chanel vintage quilted lambskin flap

Why I wore it:

This is what I wore to hubby's work Christmas party. We went out for dinner, and I had planned to wear one of my dressier non-maternity maxi dresses, but quickly found I couldn't squeeze the bump into it! Clothes that zip up are generally are not pregnancy friendly. Tried on a few and settled on this one instead. Stretchy jersey so I knew it would fit (I wore it through the third trimester last time) and I just added some glam accessories with my vintage Chanel bag.


Last worn: tie dye maxi dress, Balenciaga studded sandals, vintage Chanel flap bag.

Other ways to wear: tie dye maxi dress without a baby bump, Balenciaga studded sandals and a chambray dress, Chanel bag and a purple maxi dress.

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 Marvellous maxi dresses under $50:

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What I wore:

Necklace: custom Cooper charm by Silhoupette layered with Chanel necklace
Dress: MEV Havana maxi dress C/O Zibibo
Belt: Louis Vuitton "comete" bandeau scarf
Shoes: Wittner 'Jasmarie' studded sandals
Bracelets: the usual plus Hermes pink clic clac
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff metallic silver mini MAC (on sale!)

Why I wore it:

We had a dinner out with friends booked for a while and I was looking forward to it, but so much more after the Christmas party the night before. There were a lot of 'you're huge!', 'it must be twins!' and 'are you sure it's not twins?' comments from strangers at the party and it was getting to me a little, with all the pregnancy hormones! While my OB reassures me I'm measuring right on track, I still think I look a couple weeks bigger than at the same point in pregnancy with baby T. I know you'll always look bigger in subsequent pregnancies too as your abdominal muscles aren't as taught as they were the last time, but so many comments seem designed to put pregnant women down for the natural and normal weight gain that comes along with growing another human.

I am completely in awe and so grateful for a growing baby, and I'd happily have a belly twice the size if that means baby is growing as it should. Being pregnant is a blessing I am thankful for every day. It still stings a little to be constantly told how huge you are though, especially at a time when emotions are already a little unstable!
I don't want to appear ungrateful, I just want to highlight that there are nice ways to say things and not-so nice ways to say things and that when someone is pregnant suddenly all the weight comments start flying, with very few filters. Commenting that the bump is growing nicely or has gotten bigger since you last saw it is a lot politer than saying that pregnant women swell up like massive puffer fish, haha.

It was awesome to put on a pretty dress I knew I would fit, look good in, and laugh and joke with my friends for the evening. I am so blessed to have friends that know exactly how to compliment a pregnant lady, giant baby belly and all ;)


Last worn: purple maxi dress, Louis Vuitton bandeau, studded sandals, Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC.

Other ways to wear: maxi dress in winter without a baby bump, Louis Vuitton bandeau worn in hair, studded sandals and denim shorts, Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC and skinny jeans.

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The Asos 70% off sale includes some really pretty dresses if you're after some more maxi dress bargains.

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Linking up with Fab Favourites, Flashback Friday, Fabulous Friday, Weekend Link Up, Let It Shine, Shoe and Tell, Modest Monday.

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Happy New Year! Festive Maxi Dress Outfits With a Sequin Scarf and Quilted Bags

Happy new year!

I can't believe this post marks 4 years of blogging! 863 posts, countless outfits... thank you all for following along and supporting me. Thank you to everyone who reads what I write, who leaves a sweet comment, and who adds value to my blog. It's readers like you that have encouraged me to keep this blog going each year. I truly value your friendship and thoughtful comments.

I've enjoyed being able to share my real everyday style with you over the years. In a world of perfectly posed, professionally shot and photoshopped pictures, I've enjoyed sharing my quick little snaps taken before I leave the house each day, puppy and toddler photobombs sometimes included! It's been wonderful reading along with all my blog friends too. I highly recommend you check them out.


While trying to wear more of my wardrobe and think more about what I buy, I hope I've inspired you to try to wear more of your wardrobe and to re-wear and remix what you already own. Through my numerous outfit fails, I've shown that not every outfit is perfect. Not everything is or has to be perfect, despite appearances on social media. Fashion is all about fun - or we wouldn't have so many pretty things stuffed in our wardrobes! So enjoy what you own, have fun with what you wear, and remember that at the end of the day clothes are only clothes. We get to take them off each night and start fresh every morning.

Here are your favourite OOTD shots from 2015 too, my #2015bestnine:

Outfit posts:

printed maxi dress | singlet and maxi skirt |  print mixing

kimono and denim shorts | purple tee and maxi skirt | cosy yellow scarf

purple maxi dress: still to be blogged | pink and burgundy | maternity shorts and maxi cardi

2015 has been a big year, here's hoping 2016 is bigger and better and full of everything you wish for!



Figured now was a good time to share my Christmas outfits - I added some sparkle to them with my sequin scarf worn as a belt. A great accessory for a maxi dress, and anything with sequins seems so perfectly festive for Christmas and New Years.

What I wore:

Necklace: Tai gold alphabet necklace layered with Tiffany diamonds by the yard necklace

Dress: MEV Havana maxi dress C/O Zibibo
Belt: white and silver sequin scarf worn as a belt
Shoes: Asos 'five star' leather sandals
Bracelets: the usual plus silver charm bracelet
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Love cross body bag in grey (get an extra 40% off at Rebecca Minkoff with code 'BYE2015'!)

Why I wore it:

We were lucky enough to celebrate Christmas twice this year! For previous years we've visited both sides of the family on the same day, but this year was just like last year and more relaxed with each family celebrating on a different day. This is what I wore to celebrate early with hubby's side of the family. I wore this maxi dress last year on Christmas day, without the baby bump, but as we didn't visit hubby's family that day I figured I could re-wear it for this year. I made it a little different by swapping the belt for my sequin scarf. Accessories are so great for making 'new' outfits out of old favourites!


Last worn: purple maxi dress, sequin scarf, Asos leather sandals, Rebecca Minkoff love bag.

Other ways to wear: maxi dress layered up for winter, sequin scarf as a headband, Asos leather sandals and skinny jeans, Rebecca Minkoff love bag and skinny jeans.

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Where to buy pretty sequin scarves:

And pretty sequin snoods:

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What I wore:

Necklace: Tai gold alphabet necklace layered with Tiffany diamonds by the yard necklace

Dress: Jeanswest 'Sierra' embellished black maxi dress (on sale!)
Belt: white and silver sequin scarf worn as a belt
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs silver tuxedo flats (new purchase)
Bracelets: the usual plus silver charm bracelet and Disney Couture Winnie the Pooh bangle
Bag: Chanel vintage quilted lambskin flap

Why I wore it:

This was what I wore for Christmas day. I had really liked wearing the sequin scarf as a belt previously, so thought I'd add it to this dress too. It already has a pretty embellished neckline, but Christmas is a time for sequins and shimmer and glitter! I gave it a go and was pleased that it didn't feel like too much sparkle. We spent the morning at home together and then headed over to my parents for lunch and more present opening.


Last worn: embellished maxi dress, sequin scarf, vintage Chanel bag. First time I've worn the flats as they are a recent purchase.

Other ways to wear: embellished maxi dress and a denim jacket, sequin scarf with a printed tank, vintage Chanel bag and jeans.

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The Asos sale continues, and with further reductions it's now up to 70% off!

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Linking up with Fabulous Friday, Fab Favourites, Passion for Fashion, Labour of Fashion, Shoe and Tell, Hello Monday, Let It Shine, Modest Monday.

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Merry Christmas!

A slightly early merry Christmas!


While I'll be having a break from blogging for a few days (although I'm sure to be on instagram a bit), I wanted to have something Christmassy posted.
I decided to do a flashback to some Christmas outfits from previous years that I could find photos for.

Over the past few years maxi dresses have been my go-to for Christmas day, and I'll be wearing a maxi dress again this year! (I've included some great ones under $100 at the end of the post too).


Fingers crossed you find your perfect gift under the tree. If you're celebrating the birth of Jesus, or just the fact that you have a day off, I hope you have a wonderful time with friends, family and food.

If you can't make it to church or want to celebrate while staying comfortable in your pajamas, check out Church Online, we have some special Christmas services running this week.

Maternity/nursing dress and gold belt

Snake print maxi dress and red Balenciaga clutch

High-low pleated maxi dress

Tie-dye maxi dress and a dressed up Cooper!

And some pre-blog golden oldies!

2011

2007

2005

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Shop more beautiful maxi dresses under $100:

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But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
- Luke 2:10-11 NIV

Have a great Christmas!

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Plain Maxi Dresses in the Second Trimester - Christmas Outfit Ideas Under $100

First up, Shopbop are having an extra 25% off sale items, and some of the things I've featured in my Gift Guides are on sale! Just use code 'BONUS25', for 3 days only!


As I've mentioned before, the summer heat and humidity in Brisbane along with a growing baby bump has meant that I'm reaching for dresses as a nice comfortable and cool maternity option. And you can never go wrong with a maxi dress!

What I wore:

Sunglasses: Rayban new Wayfarers (on sale!)

Necklace: Jeanswest Taki necklace (C/O) layered with Tai gold alphabet necklace
Dress: MEV Havana maxi dress C/O Zibibo
Belt: C/O Poppywinkle brown weave belt
Shoes: Ikwetta 'Circles of life' sandals (C/O)
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote in plum (also love this metallic one!)

Why I wore it:

This dress was one of my favourite maternity items in my last pregnancy, but it's taken me a while to get around to wearing it this time! While I did wear it a little post-pregnancy (it's a nursing dress too) it had been packed away with the rest of my maternity clothes and after unpacking it I had been waiting for the perfect occasion. I had been planning to wear it to toddler T's playgroup Christmas party for a while. Was the best thing to wear on such a hot day.

The only thing I didn't like about this outfit was the belt - I really wished I'd worn a different one. With an inquisitive toddler who loves to pull out all my accessories I've had to move my belts up to the top of the wardrobe and I didn't have time to rummage through the box and grab the one I wanted as we were running late. Just went with the first one I saw.

If you remember last time I wore this necklace it had a few more strands - the best feature about this necklace is that you can separate the pieces and wear it together or wear it separately. For less than $50 it's a great gift idea too!


Last worn: Ray-ban Wyafarers (above), pink MEV Havana maxi dress, braided belt, Ikwetta sandals, purple Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote bag.

Other ways to wear: maxi dress layered up for winter without a baby bump, braided belt and a printed shirt dress, Ikwetta sandals and skinny jeans, Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote bag and a boho printed dress.

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Plain maxi dresses under $100: (for before, during, or after pregnancy)

Plain doesn't have to mean boring - a block colour maxi dress is a beautifully simple outfit.


Nursing maxi dresses under $100: (perfect for breastfeeding as well as pregnancy)

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What I wore:

Sunglasses: Rayban new Wayfarers (on sale!)

Necklace: Dogeared 3 Wishes stardust bead necklace layered with Dogeared silver wishbone necklace
Dress: thrifted black Jeanswest halterneck maxi dress
Shoes: Wittner 'Jasmarie' studded sandals
Bracelets: the usual plus beaded neon and gold and black and gold bracelet set
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini quilted affair bag in fire engine red (on sale in burgundy or on sale in pink)

Why I wore it:

Wore this for a busy day. We spent the morning braving the local Westfield gift shopping, crossing a few more gifts off our lists. Then I popped into the city to meet Rachel from A Nesting Nomad. It was great catching up with her and her hubby briefly while she was in the country! After having afternoon tea with them though I was still a bit full when we had dinner with the in-laws in the evening.

Red and black seemed like a nice colour combination, and it gave me an excuse to wear my quilted Rebecca Minkoff mini affair bag that hasn't been getting worn lately.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer, red singlet, black maxi dress, studded sandals, Rebecca Minkoff mini affair bag.

Other ways to wear: red singlet and skinny jeans, black maxi dress layered for winter, studded sandals and a wrap dress, Rebecca Minkoff mini affair bag and a navy shirt dress.


Linking up with Pleated Poppy, Fresh Fashion, Style Me Wednesday, Oh Hey Girl, Throwback Thursday, Fashion Files, Fun Fashion, Fabulous Friday.


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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Finishing Frocktober: Boho Dress, Jeans and A Tee. Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAB Tote

My final October outfit! I had a bit of a backlog of outfit pictures before I started the Frocktober challenge, and I wanted to post them before I started sharing all of my Frocktober outfits. Mainly because it's a nice timeline of the development of the baby bump. Thanks for sticking with me while I wrapped up posting the old outfits.

What I wore:

Sunglasses: Rayban new Wayfarers (on sale!)

Dress: Jeanswest 'Chelsea' printed dress
Belt: Asos skinny pale pink belt
Shoes: Balenciaga studded sandals in sorbet RGGH
Bracelets: the usual plus Hermes pink clic clac and purple Salvatore Ferragamo 'Vara' leather bow bracelet
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote in plum (on sale in blue!)

Why I wore it:

My favourite dress to finish up Frocktober! Just a relaxing Saturday, spending some gift cards we found that expired that day, and going out for lunch.

It was an interesting challenge. If it had been one of the instagram style challenges I like to play along with, I would have given up a long time ago! It was only because I'd set myself a #31Days31DifferentDresses to fundraise for Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation that I kept going, as so many people had generously donated to encourage me.

I did a Frocktober wrap up post here. There were some outfits I loved, some I hated, and despite hoping I'd be able to clean out my wardrobe a little by getting rid of dresses that no longer worked for me, so very few dresses actually left my wardrobe! With many generous supporters, I managed to triple my initial fundraising target and raise over $600 for such a good cause. Thank you.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarers, boho print dress, pink belt, Balenciaga sandals, Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote.

Other ways to wear: boho print dress layered up for autumn, pink belt with a LBD, Balenciaga sandals and a back maxi dress, Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote with a maxi dress.

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Shop more Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote bags:

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What I wore:

Sunglasses: Rayban new Wayfarers (on sale!)

Tee: Kisschasy the final roar band tee
Jeans: Jeanswest maternity super skinny jeans in antique blue
Shoes: Big W purple thongs
Bracelets: the usual plus House of Harlow sunburst wrap bracelet in cobalt
Bag:  Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote in plum (on sale in mint!)

Why I wore it:

I was so excited to wear my maternity jeans after Frocktober! I wore my jeans and pants as much as possible in the early stages of my pregnancy with the help of a belly band, but I was really missing my maternity jeans. I knew as soon as I wore them the secret would be out, especially here on the blog, and I wanted to keep the secret to myself a little longer.

It was so good to wear these - comfortable and practical for a morning at playgroup with the toddler. I wore my Kisschasy band tee I'd picked up at their final Brisbane concert too. Toddler T and I both wore our graphic tees!


Last worn: Ray-Ban wayfarer (above), Jeanswest maternity jeans, purple thongs, Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote (above). First time I've worn the tee as it's a recent purchase.

Other ways to wear: maternity skinny jeans and a newborn, purple thongs and shorts, purple Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote with a black dress.


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

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Frocktober: Blue Printed Dresses - Work and Weekend with Gold Necklaces

For the final days of the Frocktober challenge, I'd saved some of my favourite blue dresses to wear. I'm sharing dresses 29 and 30, for work and weekend. I wore them both with gold necklaces!

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Cassandra jacquard jacket
Necklace: House of Harlow Dynamic necklace in gold
Dress: Jeanswest Aztec print dress
Belt: Kmart thin gold glitter belt
Shoes: Asos airtime leather Chelsea boots in tan
Bracelets: the usual plus Roie Designs waxed leather cream howlite beaded wrap bracelet
Bag: Marc By Marc Jacobs Classic Q Fran bag with gold hardware in carob brown

Why I wore it:

Last time I wore this jacket (pre-Frocktober) I wore it with blue too, and the same accessories! I really like the jacket and the dress, so although they are both 'busy', I wanted to wear them together. It looked much better than the last time I tried to wear this jacket with a blue printed dress I think!

This dress is one of my favourites for work, and I'd saved it for near the end as it fit in the third trimester last time so I knew I'd definitely be able to wear it in the second trimester.

Wore this to MC a Frocktober frock fashion parade at work. Wearing my favourite colour, blue, always calms me and wearing a dress I'm happy and confident in even with a growing baby bump helped me be a little less nervous, as I hate public speaking. All the 'models' did so well, took the attention off me so I could relax a little more and we raised a lot for Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation, which was wonderful!


Last worn: metallic boucle jacket, gold glitter belt, Aztec print dress, Asos Chelsea ankle boots, Marc by Marc Jacobs Fran.

Other ways to wear: boucle jacket casually with a maxi skirt, gold glitter belt and a maxi dress, Aztec print dress in the third trimester, Asos Chelsea ankle boots, Marc by Marc Jacobs Fran with a pencil skirt.

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Shop more gold necklaces under $100:

(some of these would be great Christmas gifts!)

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What I wore:

Necklace: Happiness Boutique turquoise and coral pendant necklace (C/O)

Dress: Jeanswest 'Chantelle' crochet detail blue printed maxi dress
Shoes: Ikwetta 'Circles of life' sandals (C/O)
Bracelets: the usual plus House of Harlow sunburst wrap bracelet in cobalt
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote in plum

Why I wore it:

I had to save a maxi dress for near the end of the challenge! It's been a few months since I last wore this dress too, as I last wore it for toddler T's first birthday party!

I wore this during the day, my sister and I took toddler T out for a morning of fun. We went to rhyme time at the local library, and spent a while inside an indoor playgrounds (I carried a pair of socks for me in the baby bag for that, as you have to wear socks). We had lunch together then took a very tired but happy toddler home to nap.

In the evening, I got changed into yet another dress! I hadn't had a chance to wear it during the challenge, was keeping it as one that would work for the office if I ran out of dresses, so it was good to squeeze in a wear. My sister and I went out to see one of our favourite bands we loved growing up, doing their final gig in Brisbane. I've shared my love for Kisschasy before, and they did play my favourite 'Strings and Drums' song as part of their set. It was a bittersweet show.


Last worn: blue printed maxi dress, Ikwetta sandals, Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote bag.

Other ways to wear: blue printed maxi dress for a Christmas party, beaded sandals with a leopard print dress, purple bag with a black maxi dress.


Linking up with Wednesday Wearables, Pleated Poppy, Style Me Wednesday, Oh Hey Girl, What I Wore, Fashion Files, Throwback Thursday, Fun Fashion, Weekend Link Up.

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Frocktober: Printed Dresses, Sun Hats, Rebecca Minkoff MAM Bag. Weekend Wear

Two more Frocktober dress outfits. Some colourful printed dresses for the weekend, where we spent time out in the sun so my trusty sun hat was needed. I balanced out the bright prints with a neutral bag.

I spent October wearing a different dress every day to raise money for Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation. While I shared a picture every day on instagram, I'm just a little behind with blogging what I wore. I'll temporarily be back to blogging 3 times a week to get through the backlog of daily dress photos.

What I wore:

Hat: Big W bow detail sunhat

Dress: Asos red leopard print dress with dipped hem
Belt: C/O Poppywinkle brown weave belt
Shoes: Ikwetta 'Circles of life' sandals (C/O)
Bracelets: the usual plus Hermes Kelly double tour bracelet in rubis
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff MAB mini in soft grey | Shop more Rebecca Minkoff bags

Why I wore it:

Had been planning to wear a maxi dress, but decided to wear this cute red leopard print dress instead. We are hosting a frock swap in the office to raise more funds for Frocktober, and I figured I could bring this dress to the swap. Wanted to give it one last wear before I did so. It's ordinarily a very flattering cut, but doesn't look the best with a baby bump. Belting it higher over the bump helped a little. I did enjoy wearing this out to a school fete, but I'll take it to the swap anyway and see if there is anything on the racks I prefer more.

I have a little red dress, I have a animal print dress, not really sure if I then need another that combines both of those things! I've gotten 9 wears out of it in the 3 years I've had it, so it's not as frequently worn as my other dresses. If there's one thing that Frocktober is showing me it's that I own many more dresses than necessary, I need to start getting rid of some! Swapping an old one for a new-to-me one is a good start.


Last worn: sunhat, red leopard print dress, braided belt, Ikwetta sandals, Rebecca Minkoff grey MAM.

Other ways to wear: sun hat and denim shorts, red leopard print dress and a striped bag, braided belt with a shirt dress, Ikwetta sandals and a maxi dress, Rebecca Minkoff grey MAM and a maxi skirt.

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Although the Rebecca Minkoff Morning After Bag (MAB) has been continued, there are still some great Rebecca Minkoff bags available (including the 'sister' of the MAB, the MAB tote!).

Get these Rebecca Minkoff bags at Shopbop.

1: Rebecca Minkoff clutch bags | 2: Rebecca Minkoff satchel bags | 3: Rebecca Minkoff tote bags

You can find some Rebecca Minkoff bags in the 40% Shopbop sale on right now too!

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What I wore:

Hat: Big W bow detail sunhat
Necklace: House of Harlow 5 station necklace in black and silver
Dress: JayJays feather print maxi dress
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs (on sale!)
Bracelets: the usual
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff MAB mini in soft grey | Shop more Rebecca Minkoff bags

Why I wore it:

This was the maxi dress I had planned to wear the day before (above) when I picked the red leopard print dress instead. Was perfect for a morning out at a family friendly festival. This dress is one of the ones that the stylist suggested should leave my wardrobe during my wardrobe detox session. I know that I do have plenty of maxi dresses, but I refuse to let this one go. I'm much too attached to it. It's one of the older pieces in my wardrobe - so old I can't remember when I bought it - so I'm going to end up wearing it until it falls to pieces I think! It's one of those pieces that always works and looks great: pre-pregnancy, during pregnancy, post-pregnancy and now in pregnancy again.

Same accessories as the day before. The sun hat protects my face and shoulders nicely from the sun on a day out and the grey bag goes with everything. I have no idea why Rebecca Minkoff discontinued this style, the MAM is a wonderful bag. There are still lots of cute Rebecca Minkoff bags (and I certainly own a few!), I just haven't found anything similar to the MAM.


Last worn: sun hat (above), feather print maxi dress, Havaianas, Rebecca Minkoff MAM (above).

Other ways to wear: sun hat for sightseeing, feather print maxi dress on the beach, Havaianas and skinny jeans, Rebecca Minkoff MAM in the office.



Linking up with Fun Fashion, Fabulous Friday, Flashback Fashion, Friday Favourites, Passion For Fashion, Fab Favourites.


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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Frocktober: 31 Days, 31 Different Dresses. Prints and Marc By Marc Jacobs Bags

Getting around to blogging my Frocktober outfits now! (I've been posting everyday on the #Frocktober2015 tag on instagram). For a while my posts will be nothing but dresses.

What is Frocktober?
Frocktober is a month where you can set yourself a challenge involving a dress (or dresses) to raise funds and awareness for Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation.

Why fund-raise?
One woman dies every 10 hours from ovarian cancer. There is no early detection test, so people are often diagnosed when it is too late and the cancer has spread.

What's the challenge?
There are 31 days in October, so for Frocktober I've decided to wear a dress each of those 31 days. To really challenge myself, I'm going to be wearing a different dress every day. #31Days31DifferentDresses. Makes it a little less boring and repetitive on the blog here too, and I'm hoping along the way to identify a few of my many dresses that no longer need to stay in my wardrobe.

How can I help?
I would love for you to donate - you can donate through my fundraising page here (I have a goal of reaching $200). It's not too late to get on board yourself either! What about a girls night in/out or a morning tea in your office, where everyone has to wear a frock and make a donation to the cause?


Now, kicking off my Frocktober outfits.

What I wore:

Jacket: Zara cream jersey blazer

Necklace: old pink bead necklace I don't recall where I bought it
Dress: Jeanswest animal print dress
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs metallic mouse flats
Bracelets: the usual
Bag: Marc By Marc Jacobs Classic Q Fran bag with gold hardware in carob brown

Why I wore it:

My first frock: this lovely Jeanswest printed one that I like wearing to the office. Paired with a blazer as it was a little chilly in the morning, and it's good to have my shoulders covered from the cold air conditioning at work. I've used this dress in the past to hide a second trimester baby bump in the office, and was pleased to find it hid the early second trimester bump this time around too.

I knew I hadn't worn this dress in a while, but didn't realise it had been over a year and a half! I am definitely keeping this in my wardrobe, but I need to get rid of some other dresses so this comes up in the rotation more frequently.


Last worn: Zara blazer, animal print dress, metallic mouse flats, Marc Jacobs Fran bag.

Other ways to wear: Zara blazer and flared jeans, animal print dress in summer with orange and yellow, mouse flats and jeans, Marc Jacobs Fran bag and printed pants.

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Shop more Marc by Marc Jacobs Bags:

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What I wore:

Jacket: Bubblegum denim jacket

Dress: Rivers Aztec print dress
Belt: brown weave belt
Shoes: RMK Chester black ankle boots (on sale here!)
Bracelets: the usual plus Roie Designs waxed leather cream howlite beaded wrap bracelet
Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs Little Ukita bag in Rock Lobster

Why I wore it:

A more casual outfit for my second dress of Frocktober. This one again, hasn't been worn in a while. it's been a little over a year since I last wore it. It's cute and comfortable and really should be worn more! It was perfect for a hot spring day. Toddler T and I spent the morning visiting family on the coast and then had lunch with my mum.

I thought the denim jacket looked nice with this, although I took it off pretty quickly as the day heated up. This jacket only really seems to get worn in spring, so I'm making the most of it now before it's neglected in my wardrobe over summer!


Last worn: denim jacket, Aztec print dress, black ankle boots, Marc Jacobs Lil Ukita bag.

Other ways to wear: denim jacket and a maxi dress, printed dress with yellow accessories, black ankle boots and skinny jeans, Marc Jacobs Lil Ukita bag and a maxi skirt.


Linking up with The Ultimate Rabbit Hole, Shoe and Tell, Let It Shine, More Pieces of Me, Sincerely Jenna.

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