Showing posts with label dress. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dress. Show all posts

Friday 23 March 2018

Boho Printed Dresses and Denim Jacket: Autumn Layering With Rebecca Minkoff Bags

To try and change things up a little bit, I set my shorts aside and decided to wear some of my dresses that haven't been worn yet this year. I've been neglecting my dresses and skirts lately! With some cooler rainy weather, it was the perfect opportunity to add a light layer. The blue denim jacket works well with both these boho dresses, even though they are different styles. Denim jackets are classics!

What I wore:

Jeanswest 'Chelsea' printed dress boho tie neck with denim jacket purple bag | away from the blue blog

JORD Cora purpleheart wood watch, Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote in plum | away from the blue

awayfromblue instagram rainy day style printed dress denim jacket purple RM mini MAB tote
Jacket: Bubblegum denim jacket
DressJeanswest 'Chelsea' printed dress
ShoesMarc by Marc Jacobs metallic mouse flats (on sale in black!)
Bracelets: the usual plus Cora purpleheart and mother of pearl watch C/O JORD
BagRebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote in plum

Why I wore it:

I like blue and purple together, so of course I've worn this purple mini MAB tote bag and blue dress together before. Although I don't have the baby bump this time!

I bought this dress 4 years ago and loved it so much, I wore it frequently and I was sure I'd be closer to 30 wears with it - this is only it's 14th wear! Having the blog to keep track of how many times I wear things has been eye opening.

No matter how many times it's been worn, I love this each time I wear it, and the blue dress and denim jacket work perfectly together. The purple bag is such a great accessory with it too. Wore this to run a few errands with the boys in the morning, with a trip to the library too.

The nice thing about this dress is that the ties at the neckline mean no necklace is required - really easy to wear!


Last worn: denim jacket, blue printed dress, gold mouse flats, Rebecca Minkoff plum MAB tote.

Other ways to weardenim jacket and pink shorts, blue printed dress layered for cooler weather, gold mouse flats in the office, Rebecca Minkoff plum MAB and maxi skirt.

Perfect for pregnancy: denim jacket in second trimester, blue printed dress in second trimester, gold mouse flats and maternity pencil skirts, Rebecca Minkoff plum MAB in third trimester.



My Rebecca Minkoff Handbag Collection:







What I wore:



Jacket: Bubblegum denim jacket
Necklace: Nibbly Bits Feather pendant in peach (C/O)
Dress: Kmart Aztec print tiered little black dress
ShoesRebecca Minkoff Georgina studded gladiator sandals in blush
Bracelets: the usual plus Cora purpleheart and mother of pearl watch C/O JORD
BagRebecca Minkoff micro Regan satchel in Harvest Gold

Why I wore it:

Another repeat here as it's not the first time I've worn this denim jacket and sundress together! Again, I liked the combo.

After a wet weekend, it was predicted to storm again. We had playgroup in the morning and a specialist appointment in the afternoon. Expecting it to rain, I added the denim jacket. Unlike the day above though, we weren't often in the aircon and I ended up taking the denim jacket off as soon as it heated up. Was such a humid day in the end. I was glad I'd worn such a floaty, light dress when I was sitting outside in the playground with the boys and left the denim jacket in the car.

Not the first time I've worn the mustard bag with the little black dress either, I love the way the mustard pops with the black.


Last worn: denim jacket (above), tiered little black dress, studded gladiator sandals, Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan bag.

Other ways to weardenim jacket in double denim outfit, tiered little black dress and kimono, studded gladiator sandals worn 30 ways, Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan bag and maxi dress.

Perfect for pregnancydenim jacket in second trimester.



Boho Printed Dresses Under $50:








How You Can Wear It:


Denim jackets are a great layer to add to a light sundress if the weather is a little cooler. If it heats up, it can easily be removed. You can even tie it around your waist if you don't want to leave it in the car like I did with the second outfit.


Linking up with Friday Faves, Lizzie In Lace, Shoe & Tell, Mix It Monday, Modest Monday, Hello Monday, On Mondays We Link Up.




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Monday 19 March 2018

Rebecca Minkoff Regan Bag & Tulip Hem Wrap Dresses For The Office

You can't beat a classic wrap dress for easy office style. I love printed dresses as they are instant outfits, with little to no accessorising required. Both of these Atmos&Here dresses have tulip hems. The tulip hem and midi length is something I'd usually worry would make my petite self look even shorter, but I don't feel that with these dresses. I love them both, even when worn with flats.

What I wore:

Atmos&Here Betsy jersey wrap dress in watercolour print, camel flats, Navy Regan satchel | awayFromBlue

JORD watch, rebecca Minkoff navy moon regan satchel bag | awayfromtheblue

awayfromblue instagram Atmos&here jersey wrap dress, Rebecca Minkoff regan satchel
Necklace: turquoise and gold beaded necklace from my mum's wardrobe
DressAtmos&Here Betsy jersey wrap dress in watercolour print
ShoesMarc by Marc Jacobs logo plaque flats in camel
Bracelets: the usual plus Cora purpleheart and mother of pearl watch C/O JORD
BagRebecca Minkoff Regan Satchel Tote in moon
NailsOPI Purple With A Purpose

Why I wore it:

Although I lay my outfit out the night before to make getting ready in the morning faster, I don't always know what accessories I'm going to wear. I was standing in front of the mirror trying to pick a necklace when I saw this turquoise and gold beaded one and realised it would be perfect, and meet the 'matchy matchy' theme for the #AutumnStyleFile challenge on Instagram. Only I got my days mixed up and the challenge for the day was actually 'colour makes me happy'. This dress was still perfect for that theme though with the colourful turquoise print.

With the turquoise dress I thought the navy blue Rebecca Minkoff Regan bag would be a good accessory, and it's such a nice bag for the office with the structured sides.


Last worn: printed wrap dress, camel flats, Rebecca Minkoff Regan satchel.

Other ways to wearprinted wrap dress and ankle boots, camel flats and tights in winter, Rebecca Minkoff Regan satchel and shorts.

Perfect for pregnancyprinted wrap dress in third trimester, camel flats in second trimester.


Rebecca Minkoff Regan Review (And What's In My Bag)






What I wore:

Atmos&Here Arlette jersey wrap dress, navy Rebecca Minkoff Regan tote bag for the office | away from blue

bracelet stack, JORD Cora wood watch, Rebecca Minkoff moon navy regan satchel bag | away from the blue

awayfromblue instagram atmos&here zig zag wrap dress classic office outfit with navy Regan bag
DressAtmos&Here Arlette jersey wrap dress
ShoesMarc by Marc Jacobs metallic mouse flats (on sale in black!)
Bracelets: the usual plus Cora purpleheart and mother of pearl watch C/O JORD
BagRebecca Minkoff Regan Satchel Tote in moon

Why I wore it:

This was my 'I don't know what to wear' outfit solution. The beautiful zig zag print wrap dress always gets compliments. It's the perfect dress to wear as it goes with any colour of accessories, although again I went with the navy Rebecca Minkoff Regan bag.

There was no style challenge this day to help me pick out what necklace to wear like there was with the first outfit, so I went with this pretty gold beaded necklace that my bestie gave me, I thought it tied in nicely with the gold mouse flats.

Whenever I wear these mouse flats they always get a reaction when someone spots them - usually causing a debate over what animal they are meant to be. They are Marc Jacobs mouse flats, the animal is in the name, but someone suggested they look more like wombats. I'm tempted to call them my golden wombat shoes now next time anyone asks about them! 😂


Last worn: chevron print wrap dress, gold mouse flats, Rebecca Minkoff Regan bag (above).

Other ways to wearchevron print wrap dress in winter, gold mouse flats and flare jeans, Rebecca Minkoff Regan bag and sheath dress.

Perfect for pregnancygold mouse flats in second trimester.


Tulip Hem Wrap Dresses Under $50:







How You Can Wear It:


A wrap dress is one of those classic wardrobe 'must-have pieces' I completely agree with and think everyone needs in their wardrobe. They work in pregnancy, although you may need to size up to continue to cover an expanding bump. The turquoise printed wrap dress above is a size larger than normal and I wore it through my third trimester. The wrap style is perfect for breastfeeding post-baby too, flattering on any leftover baby bump and something you know will fit even with all the postpartum body changes! And of course, they work in an office setting. A great all-rounder!



Linking up with Trend Spin, On Trend, Confident Twosday, Wardrobe Wednesday, What I Wore, Style On The Daily, Oh Hey Girl, Fashion Frenzy.




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Friday 9 March 2018

Floral Swing Dresses For Summer and Balenciaga Tempete Day Bag

It's officially autumn now in Australia, but I'm calling this post 'swing dresses for summer' as I wore these dresses in the summer heat just a few weeks ago to work from home. The mustard dress and the navy dress both look great with my blue Balenciaga day bag too.

I'm a fan of splurging on accessories and saving on clothes - as you can see from both of these bargain dresses, which are less than 2% of the cost of the bag as they are both under $30!

What I wore:

Zaful floral print ruffle hem dress in ginger mustard swing with Balenciaga tempete day bag | awayfromblue

Balenciaga giant hardware Day bag in 2009 tempete with mustard dress | awayfromtheblue

awayfromblue instagram mustard floral ruffle hem swing dress balenciaga tempete day bag
Necklace: silver heart long pendant necklace
DressZaful floral print ruffle hem dress in ginger
Shoesblack slim Havaianas thongs
BagBalenciaga giant hardware Day bag in 2009 tempete

Why I wore it:

With the statement bell sleeves, this dress isn't a practical choice for being around the boys all day, with all the spills you have to clean up and food you have to prepare! It did feel a little over-dressed to work from home, but hubby and I had an appointment in the evening so I took advantage of the babysitting offered by the grandparents had the chance to dress up a little.

This was one of those days where it started out so promisingly. I won't go into it, but I was so upset after the appointment and it just added more stress to an already stressful week. I was glad when the day was over, even though the week didn't improve after that.

At least I felt good in this outfit - the mustard yellow of this dress is such a lovely shade and the blue Balenciaga day bag looks great against it. This was also the first photo I took with my new tripod! I upgraded the tripod I was using for blog photos to something a little lighter and more portable than the one I'd borrowed from my Dad.


Last worn: floral ruffle hem dress, black Havaianas, Balenciaga tempete day bag.

Other ways to wearfloral ruffle hem dress and mint bag, Balenciaga tempete day bag and maxi dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: balenciaga tempete bag in third trimester.



Balenciaga Day Bag Review:




Where to Buy the Balenciaga Day Bag:







What I wore:

Shein navy flower print flowy swing dress with red necklace and Balenciaga day hobo bag | away from blue

balenciaga 2009 giant g21 hardware tempete storm day hobo bag | away from the blue

Awayfromblue instagram | Shein navy flower print flowy swing dress with Balenciaga tempete day bag
Necklace: Diva long red heart necklace
DressShein navy flower print flowy dress (C/O)
ShoesMarc by Marc Jacobs silver tuxedo flats
BagBalenciaga giant hardware Day bag in 2009 tempete

Why I wore it:

Another easy swing dress for another work from home day! Also had to take baby boy to a specialist appointment in the afternoon. Luckily I had my mum helping to entertain the eldest while we were in the appointment. As I'd been carrying my Balenciaga day bag a lot, I kept it on this day too. I like the two blues together, the navy blue of the dress looks so nice with the tempete (blue/grey) colour of the bag.

As rain was forecast, I went with the closed in shoes just in case. It didn't rain and turned out to be another hot and humid day. Did majorly storm that evening though. Luckily, this long sleeve dress is quite light. It's viscose, so despite the long sleeves and length, it was wonderfully cool to wear.


Last worn: navy floral print dress, silver ballet flats, Balenciaga tempete day bag (above).

Other ways to wearnavy floral print dress and little red bag, silver ballet flats and wrap dress, Balenciaga tempete day bag and embroidered blouse.

Perfect for pregnancysilver ballet flats and maternity pencil skirt, Balenciaga tempete day bag in second trimester.


Swing Dresses For Summer Under $50:






How You Can Wear It:

Swing dresses are perfect for a hot day. The loose, relaxed shape helps counteract the hot sticky feeling you get when the humidity is high, and the swing hem can catch the breeze quite nicely and help keep you cool.


Linking up with Lizzie In Lace, Fabulous Friday, Style Wise.



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Monday 19 February 2018

Balenciaga City Compared To Rebecca Minkoff Regan (with Sheath Dresses For The Office)

I love my Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan bag, but held off buying the bigger Regan satchel as I wasn't sure if it was too similar to the Balenciaga city bag. After extra reductions in the Rebecca Minkoff sale, I snapped it up. It's interesting seeing the similarities and differences between the city and the Regan bags. Both look great for work with some printed sheath dresses!

What I wore:

jersey blazer, scarf, orange print sheath dress, navy rebecca Minkoff regan satchel | awayfromblue

Rebecca Minkoff Regan Satchel Tote in moon with orange dress | awayfromtheblue

awayfromblue instagram orange sheath dress layered scarf jersey blazer office wear
Jacketthrifted Zara black blazer
Scarf: gifted blush metallic rose gold shimmer scarf
Necklace: Lovisa gold filigree heart pendant
DressFrench Connection 'Woodblock wonder' panache dress in white/geranium rose
ShoesMarc by Marc Jacobs black logo plaque ballet flats
Bracelets: the usual plus Lovisa rose gold beaded bracelet stack
BagRebecca Minkoff Regan Satchel Tote in moon (on sale!)

Why I wore it:

No, it isn't scarf weather yet in Brisbane! This scarf I got from my mum is so pretty though, a lovely blush shade with rose gold thread running through it. I added it in the morning as I'd lost my voice the afternoon before, and thought it best to keep wrapped up in the office air con. Thankfully my voice (mostly) made it through to the end of the day.

I forgot that this necklace hangs at an awkward length and bangs noisily on my work pass when I wear it, but the scarf did help muffle it a litte.

I usually pick neutral bags to wear with this colourful orange sheath dress. Although there was one time I paired it with an orange bag. I like blue and orange together, so the navy Regan satchel was a nice addition and a change from my usual grey. With the blazer and ballet flats, it's a classic office outfit combo, and one that I relly on a lot. Especially when life gets hectic, as happens often with two little ones. I wonder how full time office workers with kids do it all sometimes!

This dress is on it's eighth wear, even though this year marks 5 years since I bought it. I do tend to keep it to spring/summer as I prefer to wear it without tights. Other than not getting worn a lot (which is even harder to do now I'm only in the office a couple of days a week), there's nothing wrong with it. I feel bad keeping pieces like this that are so rarely worn in my wardrobe, but given the choice again today I'd still buy it if I saw it in a store so it's staying, even if it will be a while before it gets worn again!


Last worn: jersey blazer, orange sheath dress, ballet flats, Rebecca Minkoff Regan satchel.

Other ways to wearjersey blazer and a-line skirt, orange sheath dress layered for winter, ballet flats and printed shorts, Rebecca Minkoff Regan satchel and shorts.

Perfect for pregnancyjersey blazer in third trimester, orange sheath dress hiding a baby bump.




Balenciaga City and Rebecca Minkoff Regan Side By Side Comparison:





What I wore:

French Connection paisley print sheath dress, jersey blazer pink Balenciaga city bag | away from blue

Balenciaga RH classic city in 2010 sorbet | away from the blue

awayfromblue instagram paisley print dress jersey blazer pink Balenciaga city bag summer office wear
Necklace: freshwater pearl necklace and long freshwater pearl strand necklace
DressFrench Connection blue Paisley print dress
ShoesMarc by Marc Jacobs metallic mouse flats (on sale in black!)
Bracelets: the usual plus Cora purpleheart and mother of pearl watch C/O JORD
BagBalenciaga RH classic city in 2010 sorbet (more affordable preloved)

Why I wore it:

Unlike the orange sheath dress above, this blue paisley print one has been worn a lot more often. One of my favourite work pieces, it just makes me feel pulled together and confident. I've worn blue bags with this dress in the past, but this is the first time I've worn the dress and Balenciaga city bag together. I've worn it with a pink blazer in the past, but never a pink bag. I really liked the combination - I'm sure it will come up again in my quest to get to 30 wears with this dress this year!

While I love the Rebecca Minkoff Regan above and think it's a great classic option for work, there's something so cheerful about the pink Balenciaga city bag that makes me smile when I wear it. Paired with my favourite blue sheath dress, it's a great mood booster for a tough week.

The pearl necklaces were a last minute choice, I'd planned to wear another necklace but changed my mind that morning. I'm not completely happy with them. I did try knot the longer chain of pearls but when I couldn't get the knot to sit right and I was in a rush I just left it. I think knotting it would have looked better though, like this time I knotted the necklace.


Last worn: cream jersey blazer, Paisley print sheath dress, gold mouse flats, Balenciaga sorbet city bag.

Other ways to wearcream jersey blazer and pencil skirt, Paisley print sheath dress and purple bag, gold mouse flats and flares, Balenciaga sorbet city bag and denim shorts.

Perfect for pregnancyPaisley print sheath dress in second trimester, gold mouse flats and maternity wrap dress, Balenciaga sorbet city bag at 37 weeks.


Sheath Dresses For The Office Under $50:







How You Can Wear It


Sheath dresses are a classic cut and style for the office. They work in many different office dress codes. Fun printed ones like these two are perfect for business casual offices, but if you have a more formal dress code you could go with a plain version.




Linking up with Creative Mondays, Trend Spin, Turning Heads, Confident Twosday.



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Wednesday 7 February 2018

Maxi Dresses and Balenciaga Bags with Giant G21 Hardware

When you're not feeling your best, a dress is an easy outfit. Just pull it on and you're done, no need to try think about what pieces look good together. Printed dresses like these make it even simpler. Just pick a handbag that matches one of the colours in the print and you look like you spent a lot more time and effort getting dressed than you really did.

Both the maxi dresses worn below were when I wasn't feeling the best, and looking after a sick baby meant I had even less energy.

What I wore:

tie dye jersey maxi dress knotted hem teething necklace Bal part time bag | awayfromblue

Balenciaga part time in black 2010 with SGH | awayfromtheblue

awayfromblue instagram | knotted tie dye maxi dress balenciaga part time bag
NecklaceNibbly Bits Abacus teething necklace in pop
DressJeanswest 'Elodie' tie dye grey jersey maxi dress
Shoesblack slim Havaianas thongs
BagBalenciaga part time in black 2010 with SGH

Why I wore it:

Despite being unwell, we had an appointment to get to though that morning, so I threw on this maxi dress. It's not the first time I've knotted this maxi dress, it's a good way to change it up a little. I did it on this day as I didn't want to do the 'grab the skirt when walking up the stairs' bit I usually have to do, haha! Tying it up made it easier to move around in.

Added the teething necklace so I'd have something to amuse the boys with as we waited at the appointment. It did help keep baby boy entertained for a few minutes. They might have passed the teething stage, but they still find these necklaces to be fun toys!

Picked my Balenciaga bag as it went with the Havianas and the black in the tie dye print of the dress, but also because I was feeling lazy. It had been the bag I'd used previously so I didn't have to move everything over into a new bag.


Last worn: tie dye maxi dress, Havaianas, Balenciaga Part Time bag.

Other ways to weartie dye maxi dress for a Christmas party, Balenciaga Part Time bag and jeans.

Perfect for pregnancytie dye maxi dress at 38 weeks pregnant, Balenciaga Part Time bag in second trimester.


Tie Dye Maxi Dresses Under $50:





What I wore:

jay jays feather print maxi dress with purple balenciaga bag SAHM style summer | away from blue

Balenciaga raisin purple 2009 giant silver G21 hardware work bag | away from the blue

awayfromblue instagram feather print maxi dress balenciaga purple work bag
NecklaceZuriCollections blue polymer clay necklace
DressJayJays feather print maxi dress
Shoesblack slim Havaianas thongs
BagBalenciaga raisin purple 2009 giant silver G21 hardware work bag

Why I wore it:

Another day of feeling unwell, another maxi dress! I picked this purple Balenciaga work bag to wear as I've only worn it with office outfits since I got it, need to wear this bag casually as well. It was a good carry all tote to take to the shops with me while the boys were with their grandparents.

I'd planned just a short trip out, to pickup a few groceries and return an incorrectly sized Christmas gift. I got away from the house and realised I'd forgotten the item to return, so turned back to go pick it up. In doing so, I came up to the garage at a weird angle and managed to scrape the car on it. Not a good start. At least the outfit looked good as my day was less than great! Spent the afternoon recovering from the crazy morning, thank goodness for Netflix.


Last worn: feather print maxi dress, Havaianas (above), purple Balenciaga work bag.

Other ways to wearfeather print maxi dress at a wedding, purple Balenciaga work bag in the office.

Perfect for pregnancy: feather print maxi dress in second trimester.



Feather Print Maxi Dresses Under $50:







How You Can Wear It:


In summer a printed dress is a great way to beat the heat. It's an easy instant outfit too. To accessorise, keep things simple and pick pieces that match one or more of the colours in the print. If you're like me and you feel a little better when you get dressed properly, you might find a colourful printed dress a good mood booster too!



Curious about what Balenciaga Bag would be best for you?




Linking up with Style on the Daily, What I Wore, Fashion Frenzy, Fashion Files, Fun Fashion, Fabulous Friday, Weekend Wear, Flashback Fashion, Style Elixir.


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Monday 5 February 2018

Louis Vuitton Neverfull and Blue Printed Dresses For The Office With Blazers

My go-to outfit for the office is a printed dress. You instantly look and feel more pulled together, and it's such a quick outfit. I try to plan my outfits out the night before, so when I've had a tough day or I'm too tired to want to stand in front of my wardrobe, I just grab a dress to wear the next day.

What I wore:

green necklace with navy aztec print dress, jersey blazer and damier azur neverfull MM bag | away from blue

Aztec print dress, Louis Vuitton damier azur neverfull tote bag | away from the blue

awayfromblue instagram Aztec print navy dress cream blazer with Louis Vuitton neverfull tote
JacketZara cream jersey blazer
NecklaceStarfish Project Hannah turquoise bead necklace
DressJeanswest Aztec print dress
ShoesMarc by Marc Jacobs metallic mouse flats (on sale in black!)
BagLouis Vuitton MM damier azur neverfull

Why I wore it:

I actually wore this a couple months ago, but just never got around to posting. I work from home one day a week, and the other two days I'm in the office. This means I can easily group together the two office outfits for a blog post, makes blogging simple.

When I wore this dress, it had been an absolutely crazy week, with the boys and I unwell, so I only made it into the office once. Because of that, this solitary office outfit had sat around for a while until another week where I only went into the office once so I'd have something to post with it.

I picked this dress to wear as I love the colour and print, and blue is always a mood booster for me when having a crazy week. I really like the simplicity of this dress for the office. Blue and green is a colour combination I've been warming to lately, and this necklace looks great with a blue dress.


Last worn: cream jersey blazer, blue Aztec print dress, gold mouse flats, Louis Vuitton neverfull tote.

Other ways to wearcream jersey blazer and jeans, blue Aztec print dress and purple bag, gold mouse flats and wrap dress, Louis Vuitton neverfull tote at the beach.

Perfect for pregnancy: jersey blazer in second trimester, Aztec dress in third trimester, mouse flats and maternity pencil skirt, neverfull tote in third trimester.


Where to Buy the Louis Vuitton Damier Azur Neverfull Second Hand:










What I wore:

grey jersey blazer over paisley print sheath dress with Louis Vuitton neverfull, summer office outfit | awayfromblue

Louis Vuitton damier Azur MM neverfull tote bag with paisley print dress | awayfromtheblue

awayfromblue instagram grey blazer, blue paisley print dress and LV neverfull damier azur mm
JacketJeanswest grey jersey blazer
Necklace: gifted statement silver plate necklace
DressFrench Connection blue Paisley print dress
ShoesMarc by Marc Jacobs silver tuxedo flats
BagLouis Vuitton MM damier azur neverfull

Why I wore it:

Another crazy week calling for another simple dress outfit. This blue one is one of the oldies in my wardrobe, bought near the start of my career with my current company. I've been there a long time! I love how it continues to look just as good as it did when I first bought it, and wonderful addition to my wardrobe. It would be nice to have taken more photos of it before the blog, as I'm sure it's over 30 wears. It's only the 6 years I've been blogging that I've been taking regular daily outfit pics though, so I don't have any photos of this before the blog.

Just like the dress above, a blue printed dress boosts my mood, and that was what was needed for this busy day. While I kept the bag the same, I went with silver flats instead of gold, and a different blazer. I may even like this outfit a little more than the first one.


Last worn: grey jersey blazer, paisley print dress, silver ballet flats, Louis Vuitton neverfull (above).

Other ways to weargrey jersey blazer and fit and flare dress, paisley print dress and ankle boots, silver ballet flats and maxi dress, Louis Vuitton neverfull and purple jeans

Perfect for pregnancy: sheath dress in second trimester, silver flats and maternity wrap dressNeverfull at 38 weeks pregnant.



Blue Printed Dresses For the Office Under $50:






How You Can Wear It:


For an instant confidence boots at work, make sure you have a cute printed dress in your favourite colour. Mine is blue of course. You can pull it on when you're feeling rushed or stressed, and feel more confident knowing you look great! If it's chilly in the office air con, it's easy to add a blazer to a short sleeved dress.


Linking up with On Mondays We Link Up, On Trend, Turning Heads, Confident Twosday, What I Wore.



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Monday 29 January 2018

Making Casual Dresses Work For The Office With a Pencil Skirt

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

What I wore:

botanical print tee dress for the office layered under black pencil skirt | awayfromblue

silver bracelet stack and Rebecca Minkoff moon navy Regan medium satchel tote bag | awayfromtheblue

awayfromblue instagram botanical print tee dress made office appropriate with pencil skirt layered over
Necklace: gifted silver heart long pendant necklace
DressAtmos & Here Willow printed tee dress
SkirtJeanswest zip detail ponte pencil skirt
ShoesWalnut Melbourne 'Ava' black lizard ballet flats (also available in silver)
Bracelets: the usual
Bag:  Rebecca Minkoff Regan Satchel Tote in moon

Why I wore it:

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


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

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

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


Pencil Skirts Under $50:



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



What I wore:

zara printed tunic dress for the office work layered under a pencil skirt easy business casual outfit | away from blue

Rebecca Minkoff Regan moon navy satchel tote bag for the office | away from the blue

awayfromblue Instagram zara navy printed dress under black pencil skirt Rebecca Minkoff regan stachel
Necklace: Lovisa gold filigree heart pendant
Dress: Zara printed bib front tunic dress
SkirtJeanswest black ponte pencil skirt
ShoesMarc by Marc Jacobs black logo plaque ballet flats
Bag:  Rebecca Minkoff Regan Satchel Tote in moon

Why I wore it:

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

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


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

Other ways to wearnavy shift dress and denim jacket, black pencil skirt and tan accessoriesMbMJ ballet flats and little black dress, Rebecca Minkoff Regan bag and tee dress.

Perfect for pregnancynavy shift dress in third trimester, black pencil skirt in second trimester.


Printed Dresses Under $50 great for layering with:






How You Can Wear It:


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



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





Linking up with Modest Monday, Mix It Monday, Hello Monday, Creative Monday, On Mondays We Link Up, Style Sessions, On Trend, Turning HeadsConfident Twosday.


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