Maxi Dresses and Quilted Bags

Continuing the feeling of being so behind with blogging, two more maxi dress outfits I wore before Christmas! I actually ended up wearing these both on the same day - one during the day for my local ABA Christmas party, and the other in the evening for my office Christmas party.

What I wore:

Earrings: A Little Bit of North blue mandala earrings (giveaway prize, close up photo)
Necklace: floral lei with Tiffany diamonds by the yard necklace layered with Tai gold alphabet necklaces, gifted frangipani necklace, and For King & Country Priceless Australian coin and crest necklace
Dress: MEV Havana maxi dress C/O Zibibo
Belt: Kmart thin gold glitter belt
Shoes: NineWest "Quicken" wedges in natural
Bracelets: the usual plus Roie Designs waxed leather cream howlite beaded wrap bracelet
Bag: Chanel vintage quilted lambskin flap (same in blue)

Why I wore it:

As you can tell, my office Christmas party had a theme, ha! I'd been looking forward to the party this year. Last December I was on maternity leave, and although my boss invited me to the Christmas party it was when I was in hospital with Baby Boy so I had to turn it down.

It was a bittersweet night. It was wonderful catching up with colleagues outside of work, especially those that have moved teams while was on leave and I no longer get to work closely with. I loved getting to have a good chat again! However it was so sad too as inevitably discussion turned to last year's party, which I missed because of the hospital stay. Made me really miss my boys, and I couldn't wait to get home to them.
There was one funny moment where a colleague said I should have come along to the party last year anyway, and I had to explain that as I was Baby Boy's food source (breastfeeding) I couldn't leave him. While this beautiful pink maxi dress is a nursing dress, we don't need that feature now. Worked perfectly with the floral lei to tie in with the party theme, and I even wore my frangipani necklace (and a few other ones).

This vintage Chanel bag is one of my treasured pieces, and the cross body strap came in handy to allow me to hold food and drinks. I even wore wedges for a bit of extra height (although I regretted it a little when I got home, so used to flats now!).


Last worn: MEV pink maxi dress, gold glitter belt, nude wedges, vintage Chanel bag.

Other ways to wear: pink maxi dress worn 30 ways, nude wedges and lace dress, vintage Chanel bag and jeans.

Perfect for pregnancy: MEV pink maxi dress at 39 weeks, vintage Chanel bag in second trimester.

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More Quilted Handbags:

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What I wore:

Necklace: Nibbly Bits BB plum silicone teething necklace (C/O)
Dress: Jeanswest 'Sierra' embellished black maxi dress (on sale!)
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bracelets: the usual plus Christmas bow bracelet (with bells!) and Roie Designs black leather Swarovski beaded wrap bracelet
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Love cross body bag in grey with Rebecca Minkoff Crystal Star Shoulder Guitar strap

Why I wore it:

This was what I wore during the day - we had our local Australian Breastfeeding Association Christmas party, where we play a sneaky secret santa. Everyone brings a gift under $10, we all draw a number, then the person with number 1 unwraps a gift. The next person can pick another gift to unwrap, or steal the first one. Lots of people involved their toddlers and asked their opinion so they got in on the game too, so much fun. Toddler T had a great time! We enjoyed making the brownies with the kit we won too.

As expected though, all the time with toddlers and yummy morning tea and presents everywhere, my dress looked a little worse for wear so I was glad I'd planned a different dress to wear in the evening!

This was the perfect Christmas party outfit though, dressy but casual at the same time. Maxi dresses work for so many dress codes! Last year I went in shorts and tee, anything goes really. I did feel a little over dressed for my afternoon dentist appointment, with the embellished dress and bag strap, but my dentist ended up complimenting me on it so at least it made her smile! :)


Last worn: embellished maxi dress, black Havaianas, Rebecca Minkoff crystal guitar strap, Rebecca Minkoff quilted love bag.

Other ways to wear: embellished maxi dress with scarf as a belt, Rebecca Minkoff crystal guitar strap and printed shorts, Rebecca Minkoff quilted love bag and skinny jeans.

Perfect for pregnancy: embellished maxi dress at 39 weeks, Rebecca Minkoff quilted love bag in third trimester.

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Maxi Dresses Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

Maxi dresses are a great option for a busy mum - they are grab and go outfits! You can accessorise them with layers of delicate necklaces, or stick with a practical teething necklace for time with toddlers. Quilted bags look great with them, and a cross body option allows you to go hands free.  Maxi dresses work for many different dress codes as they can be as formal or casual as you want. Nice to wear in the summer heat too.


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Maxi Dresses and Printed Kimonos with Rebecca Minkoff Bags

I love maxi dresses and I love kimonos, so it just makes sense to wear them together! I thought that these printed kimonos would be a nice touch with the plain maxi dresses, to add a little more fun to my outfits.

What I wore:

Jacket: Somedays Lovin' Yakuza print kimono
Necklace: Nibbly Bits Feather pendant in peach (C/O)
Dress: black Jeanswest halterneck maxi dress
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC in aquamarine with python embossed leather (on sale!)

Why I wore it:

This is one of my most worn kimonos, but it's still not at 30 wears yet, this is only it's 26th wear! I'm hopeful I'll hit 30 wears on it by the end of the year, so you'll probably see it being worn a lot more often, just like I did with my purple cardigan when I was so close to 30 wears with it. Nice and comfortable outfit for a busy morning, taking Baby Boy for his weigh in session and getting my tax done and picking up groceries.

The only downside to this outfit was that it was a very windy day. I had so many issues trying to get a good photo, as the kimono kept getting caught in the wind!

Windy #dressOfTheDay #OOTD! 😂 Really hard getting a pic this morning from any direction! 🌬https://t.co/GFn08LTwKV #liketkit #LTKItBag pic.twitter.com/sXM6Mo3jNm

— Mica (@AwayFromTheBlue) October 27, 2017

Last worn: Somedays Lovin' kimono, black maxi dress, Havaianas, Rebecca Minkoff aqua mini MAC.

Other ways to wear: Somedays Lovin' kimono and denim shorts, black maxi dress and denim jacket, Rebecca Minkoff aqua mini MAC and pencil skirt.

Perfect for pregnancy: printed kimono and maternity tank, maxi dress in third trimester, mini MAC in third trimester.

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Maxi Dresses Under $50:

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What I wore:

Jacket: thrifted Edited floral and bird print kimono

Necklace: Nibbly Bits BB plum silicone teething necklace (C/O)
Dress: MEV Havana maxi dress C/O Zibibo
Belt: Kmart thin gold glitter belt
Shoes: Wittner 'Jasmarie' studded sandals
Bracelets: the usual plus House of Harlow sunburst wrap bracelet in cobalt
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote in plum (on sale in pink, 43% off!)

Why I wore it:

I grabbed this maxi dress, my favourite, out of my wardrobe to try break a bit of an outfit slump I was in after our Sydney trip. It always makes me feel good when I wear it.

In an effort to try change this up a little, I decided to try belting a kimono over it. I've belted things over it in pregnancy before so I figured I'd try the look without the bump. While I liked this in the mirror, I think it looks a little off in the photo as the belt slipped down. Was a nice and colourful, comfortable outfit for playgroup though. I really liked the colours with the pink dress, purple bag and blue kimono together.

Last worn: navy printed kimono, gold glitter belt, pink maternity maxi dress, studded sandals, Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAB Tote bag.

Other ways to wear: navy printed kimono and shorts, gold glitter belt and little black dress, pink maxi dress for a first birthday party, studded sandals and black shorts, Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAB Tote bag and leopard print jeans.

Perfect for pregnancy: belted dress in second trimester, pink maxi dress at 39 weeks, studded sandals and maternity shorts, mini MAB tote in third trimester.

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Printed Kimonos Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

A printed kimono is a great layer with a plain maxi dress. It's perfect for spring or autumn, as kimonos are so lightweight. It's a nice way to add some extra colour or print to your outfit, and you can belt it to try something a little different too.



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Winter Outfits for Returning to Work After Maternity Leave - Fit and Flare Dresses

After an extended maternity leave, I'm back in the office and sharing my business casual office style again. It's been a while! Thanks for all your sweet comments when I hinted at my return earlier, and for the encouragement on Instagram as I've been sharing my office wear and return to work struggles.

Just like last time I returned to work, I'll clear up a few things first.

• In Australia you are legally allowed a minimum of a year's maternity leave. You have the option to extend it to 2 years if it suits the company you work for, or go back sooner if you wish. My team, boss and workplace is flexible, understanding and supportive.
• Yes I took a longer maternity leave this time around than last time. (If you followed me in December you'll know why).
• I am back in the office part time again, so I'll continue to have SAHM outfits and corporate style outfits on the blog.

And although it's completely repetitive as I said it last time: "Everyone does the right thing for them and their child (or children) at that point in time. Mums always know best. And that means for me, that I've returned to work. "

Now that's out the way, the simple fuss-free outfits I wore for my first days back:

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Monica Mac coat in Indigo

Scarf: navy bird print scarf
Necklace: Eye Candy LA 'Sasha' statement necklace
Dress: Jeanswest 'Rita' stripe jersey dress
Shoes: RMK Chester black ankle boots
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote in moon navy (on sale in pink, or in white)

Why I wore it:

No surprise, I went with my comfort colour and wore blue for my first day back. I also took advantage of being child free and wore the biggest most non-baby friendly statement necklace I have. I missed wearing it, last time I wore it I was very, very pregnant! The scarf kept me cosy for my early morning commute and I ended up keeping it on in the office too. A big blanket scarf is the closest you'll get to cosying up to a blanket at your desk!


My first day back was much like my return to work two and a half years ago - lots of emails to sort through and trying not to cry when I thought about being away from my boys. It took me a lot longer to go through my emails - I could delete all the meeting requests and event related emails, but there were a lot of changes while I was away so it was helpful to read the emails covering the changes, and there are so many colleagues that moved around the organisation or even left so it was good to try wrap my head around what it all looks like now.


As much as I missed the office and enjoyed being able to do things in peace and quiet for a change, I was so pleased to come back to my boys and my mum in the evening.


Last worn: navy mac, bird print scarf, striped fit and flare dress, black ankle boots, Rebecca Minkoff MAB tote.

Other ways to wear: navy mac and chambray dress, bird print scarf with jeans and blazer, striped fit and flare dress for a baby shower, black ankle boots and monochrome jeans outfit, Rebecca Minkoff MAB tote with the same dress 2 years ago!

Perfect for pregnancy: stripe fit and flare dress hiding a second trimester bump, ankle boots in second trimester, Rebecca Minkoff MAB tote in third trimester.

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Fit and Flare Dresses For The Office Under $50:

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What I wore:

Jacket: Barkins beige trench coat 

Scarf: Forever New Skye Foil Feather scarf in berry / gold (on sale!)
Dress: Jeanswest tucked ponte black dress
Belt: Kmart thin gold glitter belt
Shoes: Asos leather Chelsea boots in tan
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote in moon navy (on sale in pink, or in white)

Why I wore it:

Another day in the office, another fit and flare dress. I have this dress in the stripes above and in black here and I have no plans to get rid of either of them - they are perfect for work. Easy to wear in summer with less layers too.


The only thing these dresses aren't suitable for is expressing breastmilk at work. I don't have to do that as Baby Boy's older, but would that be something you'd want to see me call out with my office outfits, which ones would work for expressing/pumping? While I've not had to do it at work I have had to do it at home and occasionally on the go for both my boys so I have a little experience there. Shea has a wonderful guide on how she makes exclusive expressing work for her that could be helpful too.


Last worn: burgundy feather foil scarf, camel trench, black fit and flare dress, gold glitter belt, Chelsea ankle boots, Rebecca Minkoff MAB tote (above).

Other ways to wear: burgundy feather foil scarf and flared jeans, camel trench and print mixing, black fit and flare dress in spring, gold glitter belt and maxi dress, Chelsea ankle boots and skinny jeans, pencil skirts and Rebecca Minkoff MAB tote.

Perfect for pregnancy: trench coat in first trimester, fit and flare dress hiding an early baby bump, gold belt over a baby bump, Chelsea boots and belted dress in second trimester, MAB tote and plaid shirts in first trimester.

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More Fit and Flare Dresses Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

Returning to work after maternity leave is an emotional time - no matter what length of maternity leave you had! Pick easy, fuss-free outfits for your first few days back. Plan them out beforehand and have them hanging in your wardrobe ready for you to grab and go.

I like fit and flare dresses as they nip in at the waist without being too tight and flow flatteringly over the stomach if you have a leftover mum tum like I do. Plus a dress is an instant outfit, you didn't need to think about how pieces will look together.

If something makes you feel happy, comfortable and confident, it's the perfect outfit for your return to work.


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Colourful Maxi Dresses, Blue Balenciaga Tempete Day Bag and ABA

I've been wearing my maxi dresses a lot lately! They've just been the easiest option as they are instant outfits. I have a few black ones but the bright and colourful ones definitely get more wear.

This Balenciaga tempete day bag is one of my favourites too. It looks great with pink or worn in a monochrome blue outfit. Sharing it with both below, and talking a little more about my experiences with the Australian Breastfeeding Association.

What I wore:

Sunglasses: Ray-Ban new Wayfarers

Necklace: Nibbly Bits Abacus teething necklace in pop
Dress: MEV Havana maxi dress C/O Zibibo
Belt: Kmart thin gold glitter belt
Shoes: Rebecca Minkoff Georgina studded gladiator sandals in blush (on sale, 44% off!)
Bag: Balenciaga giant hardware Day bag in 2009 tempete

Why I wore it:

If you follow my insta stories, you'll know it was a big day for me when I wore this! I had the chance to help out at the Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) stall at the baby expo. While I'm still on maternity leave from my office job, it was nice to have a little bit of 'work' for the day for something different, especially as I waited for my re-application for Church Online to be approved so I could get back to working there.

I'm not the best at public speaking (my youtube channel is a way for me to practice!) and I don't like talking in a group or crowd situation, but it was nice being able to talk one-on-one to the people at the expo who stopped by the stall and tell them a little more about the ABA.

It was bittersweet meeting so many people who had a similar experience that I did. So many people didn't breastfeed their eldest as much as they had wanted to (for various reasons) and so were looking for some support or information to reach their goals the second time around. One of the breastfeeding counselors I worked with on the day was the same lady who had answered that exact query for me a little over a year before when I was pregnant with Baby Boy! She was wonderful and it was good being able to refer people onto her when they had questions outside of membership that I couldn't answer.

Hubby and the boys came to the expo in the morning with me and then after lunch I went to help out at the stand when the boys went home. This nursing maxi dress was a pretty and practical outfit, with the added benefit of my teething necklace generating a lot of enquiries from people. Although I hadn't known it beforehand, we had a little shop within the stall with teething necklaces for sale for fundraising. I showed the selection to a few people. This Balenciaga day bag easily held my water bottle and things inside while sitting in a corner of the stall too.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer, pink maxi dress, gold glitter belt, gladiator sandals, Balenciaga tempete day bag.

Other ways to wear: pink maxi dress at 39 weeks, gold glitter belt and Aztec print, gladiator sandals worn 30 ways, Balenciaga tempete day bag and red skinny jeans.

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More Balenciaga Day Bags:

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What I wore:

Sunglasses: Ray-Ban new Wayfarers

Necklace: Ruby Olive Softies Ava elephant pendant teething necklace
Dress: Jeanswest 'Chantelle' crochet detail blue printed maxi dress
Shoes: Wittner 'Jasmarie' studded sandals
Bag: Balenciaga giant hardware Day bag in 2009 tempete

Why I wore it:

This was another ABA-related outfit! Blue everything to meet the 'matchy matchy' style challenge on Intagram. Except the black and tan sandals. Sometimes I think I'd like blue sandals...I already have a few colourful flats I don't wear nearly enough though. I've worn this Balenciaga day bag together with the maxi dress before, it's a great combination.

Wore this to head out to the local ABA mother's group. The meeting topic wasn't one that was particularly relevant to me as I'm past the newborn stage, but it was good to get out and have some morning tea and a chat with the other mums.

In the afternoon we popped out to grab a few quick groceries too. While maxi dresses can feel a little more formal (and I wear them for evenings out), they are so comfortable and easy to wear that I wear them for everyday too, no special occasions needed.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer (above), blue printed maxi dress, studded sandals, Balenciaga tempete day bag (above).

Other ways to wear: blue printed maxi dress with pink and aqua, studded sandals and denim shorts, Balenciaga tempete day bag and blush pink.

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Colourful Maxi Dresses Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

Don't be afraid to wear bright accessories with a bright outfit. You can pick complimentary colours like pink and blue, or go monochrome and match your bag to your outfit for an easy, fail-safe match.




If you're pregnant or a new mum or both, I'd suggest checking out your local Australian Breastfeeding Association group. You can go to one without becoming a member, if you want to see what it's like first and how good the cakes are. In my experience though, the cake and the conversations are well worth the small $70 annual membership fee. 😂 Not a sponsored post, just wanted to share more about a group that's been a large part of my life this past year.


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Bright Maxi Dresses and Blue Bags

Despite my love for bright bags, I have very few bright clothes. Blue and grey are the main colours in my wardrobe. Over the past few years I've been trying to be more adventurous with colour thanks to reading lots of great blogs and looking up to people like Sheila who wear colour so easily. Now I have a couple of bright maxi dresses. I like maxi dresses as they are fuss-free instant outfits, and colourful dresses are a great way to ease into a more colourful wardrobe.

What I wore:

Sunglasses: Ray-Ban new Wayfarers

Necklace: Ruby Olive Softies Ava elephant pendant teething necklace
Dress: Kmart Tropicana sleeveless tiered maxi dress
Shoes: Rebecca Minkoff Georgina studded gladiator sandals in blush (on sale, 44% off!)
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC in aquamarine with python embossed leather (on sale!)

Why I wore it:

Last time I wore this dress I shared that I bought it after seeing it on Instagram. Quite a few of the #everydaystyle ladies have it, and I always smile when I see it pop up in my feed. It also makes me smile every time I wear it, such a cheerful colour. Perfect for a hot day and I love how the aquamarine Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC bag matches with the print on the dress. We had a fun morning attending rhyme time for some singing and the dancing with the boys, a quiet day.

I don't always go matchy matchy with accessories, but the necklace and bag worked so wonderfully with this print I was glad I did it this time. I'll probably wear this similarly again, I liked it so much. It's only March but this is easily my favourite outfit of the year. Wouldn't change a single thing.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer, coral printed maxi dress, studded gladiator sandals, Rebecca Minkoff aqua mini MAC.

Other ways to wear: coral printed maxi dress for Christmas day, studded gladiator sandals worn 30 ways, Rebecca Minkoff aqua mini MAC and pink vest.

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More Bright Floral Print Maxi Dresses Under $50:

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What I wore:

Sunglasses: Ray-Ban new Wayfarers

Dress: MEV Havana maxi dress C/O Zibibo

Belt: Kmart thin gold glitter belt
Shoes: Balenciaga studded sandals in sorbet RGGH (on sale, 58% off!)
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote in moon navy (on sale in black, or in blue)

Why I wore it:

Unlike the outfit above, I wore this for a much busier day. We had Baby Boy's weekly weigh and then a trip into the city for another specialist appointment, and family visiting in the afternoon. I really like this bright maxi dress as it's a nursing dress, perfect for a busy day and breastfeeding on the go.

I kept thinking of this bag after sharing it (and all my other bags) in my wardrobe inventory post, as it's really only worn in the office. Thought this tote would be a good carry all for the folder of documents I bring along to appointments for Baby Boy. Unlike my neverfull, it's quite a stiff bag and not very flexible or easy to use when you have a baby on your hip. You can't just use one hand to dig around inside when it's on your shoulder due to the inflexible sides. It spent most of the time hooked onto the stroller which I actually didn't mind.

Pink and blue is one of those colour combinations I really enjoy, but this bag just isn't practical for stay at home mum life. I was annoyed by this bag most of the day. It's going back to sit in the wardrobe awaiting my return to work in a few months.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer (above), Mothers En Vogue maxi dress, gold glitter belt, sorbet Balenciaga sandals, Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote.

Other ways to wear: Mothers En Vogue maxi dress and denim jacket, gold glitter belt in the office, studded Balenciaga sandals and maternity shorts, Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote and fit and flare dresses.

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More Pink Maxi Dresses Under $50:

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If you want to add more colour to your wardrobe, try a bright dress. You don't have to worry about mixing and matching or clashing with other colours. You can let it shine on its own as the focal piece in your outfit, so it's incredibly easy to wear.


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Maxi Lengths and Balenciaga Bags

Every now and then I'll get a comment that someone who's short (but actually taller than me) wishes they could wear maxi lengths. You can! In some cases you might need to get things hemmed, or buy a petite length, but both the maxi skirt and dress I'm wearing below haven't been altered in any way to fit my petite 5"2 self.

A slightly more formal and more casual way to wear maxi lengths, both with Balenciaga bags.

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest brown marle waterfall cardigan

Necklace: Silhoupette gold plated Shih Tzu necklace layered with Tai gold alphabet necklaces
Dress: MEV Havana maxi dress C/O Zibibo
Belt: Asos metal keeper skinny waist belt in bright blue
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs metallic mouse flats (on sale in black or silver!)
Bracelets: the usual plus silver charm bracelet
Bag: Balenciaga envelope clutch in 2012 mangue with giant 12 RGGH

Why I wore it:

I feel like I say this every time I wear this dress, but I loved this outfit. It is my favourite dress - even in pregnancy it never fails to make me feel good. Wore this to baby boy's dedication ceremony. It's like a christening, the baby wears a traditional gown but there's no baptising. You just thank God for the amazing miracle you have, welcome baby into the family and circle of friends and promise to tell them all about God. It was exciting having baby boy wear the same gown his brother did almost two years ago, it was my dedication gown too and it's been in the family for generations.

Wasn't sure if the weather was going to be as cold and rainy as predicted or not so added this cardigan. It was warm enough to take it off for the ceremony and the rain stayed away until later that afternoon thankfully.

I've worn a yellow bag with this dress before, it's a great combination. The style challenge for the day was 'lighter' so the bright colour and smaller size met the theme nicely. The clutch did spent most of the time in the baby bag though, as if I wasn't holding baby boy or toddler T or Cooper I had a camera in my hand taking pics.


Last worn: brown marle cardigan, cobalt belt, pink maxi dress, gold mouse flats, Balenciaga yellow envelope clutch.

Other ways to wear: brown cardigan and khaki tank, cobalt belt and boho dress, pink maxi dress at 39 weeks pregnant, gold mouse flats and skinny jeans, Balenciaga yellow envelope clutch and a lace dress.

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What I wore:

Sunnies: Ray-Ban new Wayfarers (on sale)

Scarf: Marc by Marc Jacobs mauve square scarf
Top: Dorothy Perkins 3/4 sleeve wrap top
Skirt: Target black and white striped maxi skirt
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in black
Bracelets: the usual plus Cora purpleheart and mother of pearl watch C/O JORD
Bag: Balenciaga giant hardware Day bag in 2009 tempete

Why I wore it:

A much more casual way to wear a maxi! This maxi skirt was an awesome buy when I was pregnant with toddler T. It stretched to accommodate two pregnancies (have to love an elastic waist!) and is still so comfy post baby. With this wrap top it was an easy breastfeeding outfit. Picked the purple scarf as I wanted a little something to keep my chest covered in the chilly morning after all the coughs and colds we've battled the past few weeks, and I really like blue and purple together. Ended up taking the scarf off in the afternoon as it got warmer.

Wore this for a relaxed day - went to view a house in the morning and then the in laws came over for dinner. The Converse and maxi skirt together met the 'kicks and skirt' Spring Fling style challenge prompt, and the black maxi skirt was perfect for the 'darker' theme of the TRMstyle challenge.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer, purple scarf, blue wrap top, striped maxi skirt, Converse, Balenciaga day bag.

Other ways to wear: purple scarf and pink bag, blue wrap top and printed jeans, striped maxi skirt and skull scarf, Converse and flares, Balenciaga day bag and denim shorts.


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2 Ways To Wear: Printed Shirt Dress in Winter with Rebecca Minkoff Love Bag

First, don't forget to enter my JORD watch giveaway!

I snapped up this Atmos&Here Nigella collarless shirt dress in August, after it went on sale again. I first saw it go on sale in July during my #noBuyJuly16 challenge so I was pleased I had the chance to buy it again when the challenge was over. It was easy to meet my goal to wear it twice in the month after buying it as I'd had my eye on it a while.

What I wore:

Sunnies: Ray-Ban new Wayfarers

Jacket: Cotton On black knit wrap cardigan
Dress: Atmos&Here Nigella collarless shirt dress (new purchase)
Shoes: RMK Chester black ankle boots (on sale!)
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Love cross body bag in grey (on sale in pink)

Why I wore it:

I was, as usual, in a rush to get the boys and myself ready and out the door for playgroup. This dress was the perfect easy option - just add some cosy black layers with a knit cardigan and fleece-lined tights and I was ready to go. The grey bag is the perfect neutral as it goes with everything.

It was so easy to feed baby boy in this dress too! Shirt dresses are great for breastfeeding.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer, black cardigan, ankle boots, Rebecca Minkoff Love bag. First time I've worn the shirt dress as it's a new purchase.

Other ways to wear: black cardigan and printed jeans, ankle boots and a maxi skirt, Rebecca Minkoff Love bag and a blue kimono.

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More shirt dresses for under $50:

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What I wore:

Jacket: Asos Black by Markus Lupfer printed leather jacket

Scarf: star print pashmina
Dress: Atmos&Here Nigella collarless shirt dress
Shoes: Asos Cleo leather boots in tan
Bracelets: the usual plus Cora purpleheart and mother of pearl watch C/O JORD
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Love cross body bag in grey (on sale in pink)

Why I wore it:

I was a lot more leisurely getting ready the second time I wore this dress, a few days later. I tried on a couple of scarves and decided this one with the stars looked okay with the print of the dress. Of course, my leisurely start to the morning meant we were running a little late with getting everything done. I popped round to visit a few friends and drop off some invites for baby boy's upcoming dedication ceremony. I was constantly reminded of how late I was every time I glanced at my new watch, ha!

As I was rushing between people and places I ended up taking the scarf and jacket off as it turned into a really warm day. With it being spring now, I'll probably get to wear this dress bare-legged next time.

As it's the second time I've worn this dress, and I'm reviewing everything I buy after wearing it twice, my purchase review:

I really like this dress. I had my eye on it a while so was determined to buy it. I really like the soft fabric and while its light enough for spring and summer it kept me cosy at the end of winter. The only thing I don't like on this dress is that I noticed the bottom button popping undone a few times. Luckily it seems to the the only button that does that, but was a little annoying having to check it all the time. Especially at playgroup when I kept getting up and down with the boys. I think stitching the button hole closed a little more would help.

Overall, I'm pleased I bought the dress - I see it getting lots more wear, even with the annoying button.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer (above), printed leather jacket, star print scarf, printed shirt dress (above), Asos leather boots, Rebecca Minkoff Love bag (above).

Other ways to wear: printed leather jacket and skinny jeans, star print scarf and floral tank, leather boots and skinny jeans, Rebecca Minkoff Love and a maxi dress.



Linking up with What I Wore, Fresh Fashion, Oh Hey Girl, Fashion Files, Throwback Thursday, Fun Fashion, Edge of the Week, Fabulous Friday, Weekend Wear, Passion for Fashion.

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