Printed Culotte Shorts With Plain Tops and Mini MAC Cross Body Bags

It's one of the simplest outfit formula rules to follow: if you're wearing a printed piece, pick a plain piece to go with it. I followed that rule for the two outfits below to create some easy summer outfits with very different colour schemes. I accessorised both with a colourful little Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC bag.

What I wore:

Necklace: Kmart gold and navy beaded necklace
Tank: Jeanswest Maya gather back tank in chartreuse
Shorts: Kmart culotte short in navy lemon print
Shoes: slim gold Havaianas
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC in aquamarine with python embossed leather

Why I wore it:

Colourful outfit for a hot and sunny day! We spent the morning by the bayside attending an event in the park. It was really hot and humid, but a lot of fun, and the sea breeze was quite nice. Much better at cooling us than our aircon at home, which had sadly given up during the summer heatwave and we were having troubles repairing. It was out of action for over 2 weeks!

I picked a fun and colourful outfit for the fun day - when I saw these printed shorts in the Kmart clearance sale (they were just $5!) I knew I wanted to wear them with the mustard tank, even though the yellow in the print is more of a pastel. I liked this combination even more than the first time I wore these shorts!

I added a little extra colour with my aqua mini MAC bag - I didn't need to carry much for myself as the event was entirely free. I brought my wallet just in case but didn't need it. I did however decide at the last minute to put my hair up and forgot to then sunscreen my exposed back and neck - that was a painful reminder I need to review my use of sunscreen if I change my hairstyle before I leave the house! I was sunburnt and sore for days.


Last worn: mustard tank, gold and navy beaded necklace, lemon print culottes, Havaianas, Rebecca Minkoff aqua mini MAC bag.

Other ways to wear: mustard tank with black shorts, lemon print culottes with pink, Rebecca Minkoff aqua mini MAC bag and maxi skirt.

Perfect for pregnancy: Rebecca Minkoff aqua mini MAC bag in third trimester.

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What's In My Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAC

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What I wore:

Necklace: navy and silver circle pendant tassel necklace
Tee: Atmos&Here charcoal grey v neck tee
Shorts: Jeanswest Parker printed shirred short
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff neon pink mini MAC

Why I wore it:

This was the day we finally got the aircon repaired, yey! Had a quiet morning at the park with the boys, ran a couple of errands picking up some groceries and some wrapping paper to wrap the birthday presents for a party the next day. I have plenty of Christmas wrapping paper, but was a little low on birthday paper!

Was so thankful for having the aircon fixed that afternoon - it's such a blessing to have aircon in the heat and you really notice when it's gone! (Big thanks to New Venture Brisbane who finally fixed it for us. Not sponsored, just very thankful for them!)

I followed the same outfit formula as above, with a pair of fun soft printed shorts and then a plain top. This grey tee is a firm favourite, and created a nice monochromatic outfit with the black print. It did feel a little flat though, a the navy tassel necklace blended in a bit with the tee. The neon pink mini MAC bag was the perfect touch of colour with it all to brighten it up a bit.


Last worn: grey tee, navy tassel necklace, black printed shorts, Havaianas, Rebecca Minkoff neon pink mini MAC.

Other ways to wear: grey tee and red maxi skirt, black printed shorts and kimono, Rebecca Minkoff neon pink mini MAC and purple cardigan.

Perfect for pregnancy: grey tee in second trimester.

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Printed Culotte Shorts Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

Soft shorts are a summer staple, perfect for a hot and humid day. To keep things simple, pick a plain tank or tee to wear with them. You can go monochromatic like in the second outfit, or bolder and pick a colour out of the print to wear on top. A bright cross body handbag is always a good way to accessorise too.


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Peplum Tanks, Kimonos and Denim Shorts: Summer Mum Style

I've been wearing peplum tanks with pencil skirts frequently recently, so I thought it was time to try something different and pair them with some denim shorts. Like scarves in winter, kimonos are a fun topper to an outfit to add a little extra colour and interest.

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Jamie printed kimono (on sale!)
Necklace: Uniquely Made with Love Sea Change necklace
Tank: Zalora basics ruffle hem tank in black
Shorts: thrifted Jeanswest distressed denim shorts
Shoes: Rebecca Minkoff Georgina studded gladiator sandals in blush
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote in plum (on sale!)

Why I wore it:

After getting badly sunburned a couple days before, I needed a light outfit that provided sun protection for a quick trip out with the boys to run essential errands and pickup some groceries. This black peplum tank is so soft and just what my sore shoulders needed. It's a shame that the peplum hem of this tank doesn't show up well in the photos as I thought it looked really cute! I was grateful for the kimono adding a little extra colour and print to the outfit as it also offered some good sun protection for my tender shoulders.

I've recently worn this purple Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote bag with the blue printed kimono before - since I liked the combination I thought I'd wear it again, just swapping the white tee for this black tank and a different necklace. I also appreciated the thin cross body strap on the bag being easy to wear without aggravating my sunburned neck and shoulders!

Simple, fuss-free outfit for a hot day.


Last worn: Jamie cocoon kimono, blue beaded necklace, Zalora peplum tank, distressed denim shorts, studded gladiator sandals, Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote bag.

Other ways to wear: Jamie cocoon kimono with stripes, Zalora peplum tank and jeans, distressed denim shorts and polka dot knit, studded gladiator sandals worn 30 ways, Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote bag worn 30 ways.

Perfect for pregnancy: Zalora peplum tank hiding second trimester bump, Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote bag in third trimester.

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Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAB Tote Bag and Mini MAC Compared:

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What I wore:

Jacket: New Look Petite print kimono
Necklace: Kmart pink multi-colour beaded necklace
Tank: Kmart black sleeveless frill hem peplum tank
Shorts: Jeanswest Trinity Bermuda denim shorts
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff neon pink mini MAC

Why I wore it:

Despite not having sunburn to contend with when I wore this, it's a very similar outfit to the one above. Longer shorts and longer tank, but still just denim shorts, peplum tank and a fun blue printed kimono with a colourful pink Rebecca Minkoff bag this time.

I picked up this peplum tank in the Kmart clearance sale and wanted to wear it another way to meet my 'wear twice in the month I buy it' goal for all my new purchases. Since I wore it with a pencil skirt last time, I wore it more casually this time with the bermuda denim shorts. The pink beaded necklace and mini MAC bag were fun accessories to pop against the blue printed kimono too.

Had quite a busy day. A relaxed morning browsing the opshop after dropping off another couple of bags of donations, and of course picking up a couple of things for myself too! Then had an appointment for the boys in the afternoon. With the heat and humidity, I liked this light kimono addition to my outfit as it kept me sun-safe and didn't add to the heat.


Last worn: printed kimono, pink beaded necklace, Kmart peplum tank, bermuda denim shorts, Havaianas, Rebecca Minkoff hot pink mini MAC.

Other ways to wear: printed kimono and burgundy pants, peplum tank and pencil skirt, bermuda denim shorts and scarf, Rebecca Minkoff hot pink mini MAC and dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: printed kimono in third trimester.

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Peplum Tanks Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

A peplum tank is a nice twist on a basic tank - just as easy to wear, but with a little ruffled hem to add a point of difference to your outfit. If the outfit still seems a little plain, why not add a kimono for colour and interest in summer, or a scarf in cooler weather. A brightly coloured bag is another fun accessory that works year-round!


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Soft Shorts, Tees And Colourful Rebecca Minkoff Micro Regan and Mini MAC Bags

You know I love my bright handbags, and I have quite a few colourful Rebecca Minkoff bags. Making the most of the lovely summer weather here in Brisbane at the start of January, I headed to some different parks with the boys, and accessorised the plain shorts and tee outfits with some fun bags.

What I wore:

Necklace: gifted Kmart pink multi-colour beaded necklace
Tee: Jeanswest black scoop neck tee
Shorts: Jeanswest Parker printed shirred short
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff neon pink mini MAC

Why I wore it:

This is one of those outfits that looks nice in the photos but really wasn't good to wear. I'd planned it the night before, while in the aircon, and decided that this plain black tee would look so good with the printed black shorts. They do look nice together, and the pink accessories were such a fun touch with all of the black - the hot pink mini MAC bag really pops against the neutral outfit.

However monochrome black was not such a good choice for a hot summer day on one of the local walking trails! Especially as I forgot my water bottle.

If I'd been inside for more of the day, or wore this on a cooler day or on a shadier trail, I would have liked it more than I did.


Last worn: black printed shorts, Havaianas, Rebecca Minkoff neon mini MAC. First time I've worn the tee as I recently got it from my sister's wardrobe, and the necklace was a Christmas present.

Other ways to wear: black printed shorts and kimono, Rebecca Minkoff neon mini MAC and printed dresses.

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Rebecca Minkoff Micro Regan Vs Mini MAC

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What I wore:

Necklace: gifted Kmart rose gold and pink beaded necklace
Tee: Jeanswest striped split hem tee
Shorts: Jeanswest Tessa olive embroidered shorts
Shoes: Novo Tawny rose gold sandals
Bracelets: the usual plus gifted rose gold pink and pearl bracelet stack
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan satchel in Harvest Gold

Why I wore it:

This  outfit was much better suited for a day out in the sun! The tee is another new-to-me one from my sister's wardrobe. It's not the first time I've won these olive embroidered shorts with stripes, I really like the combo so when I got this navy stripe tee I knew I wanted to try it with the shorts right away.

The mustard micro Regan bag is another frequently worn option with the olive shorts too, I really like mustard and olive together.

Even with the mustard bag and olive shorts, I added another colour with the necklace and bracelets - I picked some of my new rose gold accessories. I have this Kmart necklace in navy and gold and I am thrilled to have the pink and gold version now too! I thought it matched matched my pink, rose gold and pearl bracelet stack well, especially with the addition of the rose gold sandals. The shiny accessories were a bit more dressed up than a playdate at the park called for, but it was a cute touch of sparkle for the final day of the year.


Last worn: olive embroidered shorts, rose gold sandals, Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan bag. First time I've worn the necklace and bracelet stack as they are recent gifts, and the tee is from my sister's wardrobe.

Other ways to wear: olive embroidered shorts and grey knits, rose gold sandals and maxi dress, Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan bag and skinny jeans.

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Soft Shorts Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

Shorts and a tee is a staple summer outfit. On hot days, soft lightweight shorts like these are a good option for dealing with the heat. A practical outfit for running around a playground with the kids too! Maybe just don't pair a black tee with them if you're out in the sun!


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Navy Tops and Green Pants: Spring SAHM Style (And Instagram Giveaway!)

I've been embracing green and blue together more often recently. It's a colour combination I only started wearing a few years ago. I decided to try it again with green pants and navy tops, this time wearing my olive jeans with navy. I really liked the combination!

What I wore:

Necklace: Jeanswest Taryn turquoise tassel bead necklace
Top: Kmart navy bird print peplum frill hem tank
Jeans: Jeanswest Vicki skinny pant in moss green
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC in aquamarine with python embossed leather

Why I wore it:

I had the vague idea for this outfit in my head, I hadn't planned it out the night before like I usually do as we were at a wedding. In the morning I was feeling slightly worse for wear after a couple of glasses of champagne and not having drunk anything alcoholic for a couple years due to pregnancy / breastfeeding! I just wanted simple and easy as there were groceries to buy and kids to amuse. I decided to wear the outfit idea I had anyway, without spending time to see if it looked good. I was pleased to find out I really liked the combination.

Was a nice easy outfit, printed tank and skinny jeans. Perfect for a quiet Sunday, or as quiet as a Sunday can be when you have two boys under 5!

It's not the first time I've worn this Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC bag with olive, I liked the combination of the aqua and olive together. The necklace was a nice matchy-matchy touch, even if the hardware on the necklace is gold and silver on the bag. I've worn this necklace and tank together before too so I knew I'd like the result.


Last worn: bird print tank, tassel necklace, olive skinny jeans, Havaianas, Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC.

Other ways to wear: bird print tank and pencil skirt, olive pants in the office, Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC and maxi dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC in third trimester.

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What's In My Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAC

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What I wore:

Necklace: ZuriCollections blue polymer clay necklace
Tee: Jeanswest Flavia foil printed polka dot tee deep iris
Jeans: thrifted ASOS petite green skinny jeans
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC in aquamarine with python embossed leather

Why I wore it:

Another nice and simple outfit. Jeans and a tee to take the boys to the local library for music time and to let them have a play at the playground. Again, I'm wearing the Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC with gold pieces even though the chain strap on it is silver. I think the gold foil polka dots on the tee didn't look bad with it!

It's not the first time I've worn these green jeans with a blue top, and I've been wanting to try this particular jeans and tee outfit combination for a while. I really liked it, pleased I finally gave it a wear.


Last worn: polka dot tee, beaded necklace, green jeans, Havaianas (above), Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC (above).

Other ways to wear: polka dot tee and maxi skirt, green jeans and grey tee, Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC and printed shorts.

Perfect for pregnancy: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC in third trimester.

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Green Pants Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

Blue and green should be seen! It's a fun and bold colour combination to try. For something different, you can try other shades of green and blue together, like navy and olive or navy and forest green. Picking a blue top with a print is another fun way to add more interest to your outfit too.


In case you missed it, I have a giveaway on Instagram for fellow Aussies at the moment - you could win a fun red Santa print scarf like mine!

View this post on Instagram

GIVEAWAY- win a beautiful red Santa print scarf from @fashionscarfgirl (RRP $10)! Win this week and recieve it before Christmas! 🎅🎄 I love mine and have got a brand new one to giveaway to a lucky winner! 🎅 To enter: 1. Follow @fashionscarfgirl on Instagram 2. Follow @awayfromblue on Instagram 3. Tag a friend who might want to enter in a comment on this pic. One comment = 1 entry. Terms and conditions: Entry is open to Australian residents only. Giveaway runs from 28/11/18 to 11:59pm 30/11/18 AEST To enter participants must be following @awayfromblue and @fashionscarfgirl on Instagram, and have left a comment tagging a friend on this picture. Winner will be notified via instagram on 01/12/18. Prize is one red Santa print scarf from Fashion Scarf Girl, valued at $10. Prize is not transferable or exchangeable and cannot be taken as cash. This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Instagram. Instagram is released from any or all liability in connection with this giveaway. Giveaway is a category 4 promotional game. Each player who enters has a fair and equal chance of winning the random draw prize.

A post shared by Mica (@awayfromblue) on Nov 27, 2018 at 1:45pm PST

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V-Neck Tees, Olive Pants and Printed Scarves

For a quiet weekend with the kids, I kept things really simple with black tees, olive pants and some new printed scarves from Fashion Scarf Girl. (I'm a brand rep and receive some scarves occasionally). Perfect simple spring style for mum life.

What I wore:

Scarf: Fashion Scarf Girl bird and egg print scarf (c/o)
Tee: Atmos & Here black essential v-neck tee (new purchase)
Jeans: Jeanswest Vicki skinny pant in moss green
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bag: Balenciaga part time in black 2010 with SGH

Why I wore it:

This was an absolutely hilarious morning. We had the daycare class mascot to take exploring for the weekend, so decided to head to the petting zoo at Capalaba Produce. I decided I should wear my new rooster, chicken and egg print scarf. Because that would be fun to grab a pic with a bird, and we were taking the camera anyway to document the daycare toy's adventures.

I loved the outfit, was a good chance to wear two of my recent purchases, a plain black tee from Atmos & Here and my olive jeans from Jeanswest. The printed scarf was a fun touch and the black Balenciaga part time bag a nice neutral.

Attempting to get a simple photo near any birds was a bit of a fail though - any time I'd get close the boys would jump in so they could get equally close to the chicken, which lead to it inevitably running away. It was so comical, poor husband trying to take pics and hold back two over eager toddlers did not work. The boys had a great time though! Deciding we were done with attempting to document my bird chasing experience and the daycare toys adventures, we had morning tea at the cafe and then headed home before the predicted storm.

The day then took another turn, not so funny this time, when the sore stomach my son started complaining of on the way home turned out to be a rather bad tummy bug. And the outfit I had loved so much met an unfortunate end when my son proved once again how sore his stomach was in front of the doctor. Baby wipes just weren't cutting it as he missed the sick bag entirely! The walk out of the hospital and drive home was unpleasant.... thankfully just a 24 hour thing and he was quickly back to normal.


Last worn: bird and egg print scarf, olive skinny jeans, Havaianas, Balenciaga Part Time bag. First time I've worn the tee as it's a new purchase.

Other ways to wear: bird and egg print scarf and pencil skirt, olive skinny jeans and mustard scarf, 30 ways to wear Balenciaga Part Time bag.

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

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Balenciaga Bags vs Rebecca Minkoff Bags

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What I wore:

Scarf: Fashion Scarf Girl navy Geo print tassel scarf (c/o)
Tee: Atmos&Here charcoal grey v neck tee
Pants: thrifted French Connection olive skinny cargo pants
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in black
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff metallic silver mini MAC

Why I wore it:

Not such an eventful day when I wore this! Hubby and I spent some one on one time with the boys, hubby tasked with documenting all the daycare mascot's adventures for the day while I took our other son out for a browse in the opshop and a long walk in the sunshine. I underestimated the humidity though on this day, about half way through our walk I was pulling off my scarf and wishing I hadn't worn socks and shoes and stuck with my trusty Havaianas instead!

I did like the extra touch of colour this navy printed scarf added to the olive and grey outfit though. And while I didn't pick up anything for myself at the opshop, it was 'fill a bag for $5' and I managed to pick up 11 pieces for the boys for just $5!


Last worn: grey tee, skinny cargo pants, Converse, Rebecca Minkoff metallic silver mini MAC. First time I've worn the scarf as it's a recent addition to my wardrobe.

Other ways to wear: grey tee in monochrome outfit, olive cargo pants with mustard, Converse and purple jeans, Rebecca Minkoff metallic silver mini MAC and printed shorts.

Perfect for pregnancy: grey tee in second trimester announcing pregnancy at work, Converse for second trimester travel, Rebecca Minkoff metallic silver mini MAC in third trimester.

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Olive Pants Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

Neutral, basic tees paired with olive pants makes an easy neutral outfit for weekends with the kids. Adding in a fun printed scarf is a great way to elevate your outfit a little, while still keeping it simple and practical for a day with kids. Just make sure to have a backup outfit nearby if you're cuddling a sick kid!


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Dresses, Ankle Boots, Scarves and Rebecca Minkoff Bags For Spring

While the weather is warming up as summer is arriving soon here in Brisbane, I took advantage of a few cooler days to wear a much loved spring outfit formula: dresses and ankle boots. I added some cute scarves for an extra touch of colour too!

What I wore:

Scarf: Jeanswest Lucille golden yellow scarf
Dress: Kmart Aztec print tiered little black dress
Shoes: RMK Chester black ankle boots
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan satchel in Harvest Gold

Why I wore it:

It's not the first time I've worn mustard yellow with this dress and definitely won't be the last - I really like the combination! A nice and simple outfit with the black printed dress, ankle boots and matching mustard accessories for a quiet day with the boys. We ran a few errands. I picked up my Christmas dress at Jeanswest (as the first store I went to didn't have my size!) and grabbed some groceries after spending some time at the library. Nice relaxing day.

As we weren't in a rush to be anywhere that morning and could set our own pace for the day, I decided to try snap another twirl pic with this dress. It twirls so beautifully, it's just not easy to capture on camera! I was pleased with the shot I got.


Last worn: mustard scarf, tiered printed dress, black ankle boots, Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan.

Other ways to wear: mustard scarf and olive pants, tiered printed dress and kimono, black ankle boots worn 30 ways, Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan and maxi skirt.

Perfect for pregnancy: black ankle boots in second trimester.

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Rebecca Minkoff Micro Regan and Mini MAC Compared

Comparing the two handbags I'm wearing in this post side by side in under 4 minutes.

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What I wore:

Scarf: navy bird print scarf
Dress: Jeanswest Rachel Lyocell chambray dress (C/O)
Shoes: Asos leather Chelsea boots in tan
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff striped coated canvas mini MAC in berry stripe

Why I wore it:

Making use of the easy, comfortable outfit formula and wearing a dress and ankle boots again for another quiet day with the boys. I really treasure the SAHM days I get when working part time. On this day, despite the warm sunny weather, we spent the day inside at the library for music time, and then running a couple of errands before heading home. I did kinda wish we'd spent the day outside instead when the rain set it in for the rest of the week, and we were forced to stay indoors, ha!


I was sure that I'd worn this bird print scarf and the chambray dress together before, I was quite surprised to find that I hadn't when I searched through the blog. With the blue dress and scarf together and neutral tan ankle boots, I thought the red striped mini MAC bag waas a cute touch of colour. And a little bit of print mixing.


Last worn: bird print scarf, chambray dress, Chelsea ankle boots, Rebecca Minkoff striped mini MAC.

Other ways to wear: bird print scarf with stripes, chambray dress in winter, Chelsea ankle boots and jeans, Rebecca Minkoff striped mini MAC and denim shorts.

Perfect for pregnancy: chambray dress in second trimester, Chelsea ankle boots in second trimester, Rebecca Minkoff striped mini MAC in third trimester.

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Ankle Boots Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

A simple dress and ankle boots is a quick and easy spring outfit formula, perfect for a busy mum. For a little extra interest to your outfit, you can add a colourful or printed scarf. It helps keep you cosy for the cooler mornings and evenings, and can easily be taken off when the days warm up.


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