Print Mixing: Stripes and Kimonos with Denim Shorts & Rebecca Minkoff Bags

To try change things up a little when my shorts are on heavy repeat, I like to add a kimono. This gives me a chance to do some print mixing too, and of course it means I pull out some of my striped tops to pair with the printed kimonos. I feel this has been the summer of shorts, but adding an extra layer makes things just a little different. Which is good as the heat has meant my shorts have been worn into Autumn too!

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Jamie printed kimono (on sale!)
Necklace: Lovisa gold filigree heart pendant
Tee: Atmos&Here oversized stripe tee
Shorts: Thrifted Jeanswest distressed denim shorts
Shoes: slim gold Havaianas
Bracelets: the usual plus Cora purpleheart and mother of pearl watch C/O JORD
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan satchel in Harvest Gold
Nails: OPI Purple With A Purpose

Why I wore it:

Was such a fun day when I wore this. We spent the day with my mum, a little shopping in the morning and then the afternoon at an indoor play place for the boys. They had a wonderful time running around and playing on everything. They are so fearless! There was a 2 storey high inflatable slide and they kept wanting me to take them up over and over again. Hilarious to see their reactions as we slid down. It was also a lovely break from the humidity that had taken hold for most of the week, as it was air conditioned inside. We did a little baking in the evening before dinner too, using a couple of the Caramilk bars I found to make delicious cupcakes.

Accessorising this outfit was easy, I picked the kimono as it was a piece mum got me for Christmas, and the necklace was a gift from her too. The little cross body micro Regan bag meant I could have my phone with me ready to take cute pics of the boys at the playcentre, yet still run around after them when needed.


Last worn: printed kimono, striped tee, distressed denim shorts, gold Havaianas, Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan bag.

Other ways to wear: printed kimono with printed shorts, striped tee and red jeans, distressed denim shorts and print mixing, Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan bag worn 30 ways.

Perfect for pregnancy: striped tee at 40 weeks pregnant.

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My Latest Handbag Reveal:

In case you missed it, I shared my latest Balenciaga handbag reveal on YouTube! A very special one...

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What I wore:

Jacket: Cotton On 'Gemma' cocoon kimono in Laos blossom navy print
Necklace: Roie Designs long freshwater pearl necklace with tassel
Tank: Atmos & Here Oregon stripe tank
Shorts: Jeanswest Trinity Bermuda denim shorts
Shoes: Wittner 'Jasmarie' studded sandals
Bracelets: the usual plus Cora purpleheart and mother of pearl watch C/O JORD
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff metallic silver mini MAC

Why I wore it:

I kept forgetting to share this outfit on Instagram. Not because I didn't like it, just because I wore this on a Wednesday. With the daycare drop off and pickups, a specialist appointment and working from home, I often don't get to look at my phone all day unless it rings. At least on my days in the office I have the commute to spend time on Instagram.

I really like stripes and florals together, although it's not a combination I wear frequently as I don't have that many floral pieces. I do have this awesome floral cocoon kimono through, which I liked with the black striped tank. Made such a comfortable outfit too. This kimono is a slightly thicker fabric than my others (cotton and viscose) so it's really soft, and like being cocooned up in a big lightweight blanket all day!


Last worn: floral cocoon kimono, striped trapeze tank, bermuda denim shorts, studded sandals, Rebecca Minkoff silver mini MAC bag.

Other ways to wear: floral cocoon kimono and flares, striped trapeze tank and red jeans, bermuda denim shorts and wrap top, studded sandals and maxi dress, Rebecca Minkoff silver mini MAC bag and colourful jeans.

Perfect for pregnancy: floral cocoon kimono at 39 weeks, studded sandals in second trimester, Rebecca Minkoff silver mini MAC bag in third trimester.

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Blue Kimonos Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

Stripes are a great print to use for pattern mixing - you can pair them with florals, geometric prints, anything really! When I want a little more interest in an outfit, I'll add stripes as they just seem to go with everything. If you're unsure, pick complimenting colours, like I did in the second outfit where the white stripes in the tank tie in with the white in the floral print.


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What To Wear On Days Out With Kids: Model Railway With Printed Tank, Denim Shorts, Kimono

I titled this post what to wear on days out with kids, but honestly this was my staple stay at home mum style for any days with the boys over summer. Shorts, tanks and kimonos. Perfection!

What I wore:

Jacket: Shein lace trimmed crochet inset white kimono C/O
Necklace: Lovisa gold filigree heart pendant
Tank: Atmos&Here 'Florida' tank in Aztec print
Shorts: Thrifted Jeanswest distressed denim shorts
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in white
Bracelets: the usual plus Cora purpleheart and mother of pearl watch C/O JORD
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan satchel in Harvest Gold
Nails: OPI Koala Bear-y

Why I wore it:

Despite the heat, I had to wear closed in shoes, so I went with my trusty Converse. I don't like wearing closed in shoes on hot days, but those were the rules! We surprised the boys with a trip to the local model railway club, Brisbane Bayside Steam Railway Society. It had been a tough few weeks so I thought a day out was a nice idea.

I've included the video below, the model railway society have a track set up at a park (1900 Wynnum Road) and you can ride on miniature versions of trains. For my train mad boys, it was perfect. We went around a few times, trying out the different trains. So much fun for them. There's a little model race track setup for remote control cars too so we spent some time there before heading away to get lunch.

I knew I'd need a bit of physical sunblock too for being out in the sun, so I added this white kimono over the top of my printed tank and denim shorts. With the gold in the tank, the rose gold filigree heart necklace seemed like a good accessory, as well as the 'harvest gold' / mustard micro Regan bag.

While I did take the Converse off as soon as I got home, the rest of the outfit stayed on. I wore it to film a couple YouTube videos while hubby occupied the boys.


Last worn: crochet trim kimono, Aztec print tank, distressed denim shorts, Converse Chucks, Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan bag.

Other ways to wear: crochet trim kimono and printed shorts, Aztec print tank and skinny jeans, distressed denim shorts and stripes, Converse Chucks and pencil skirt, Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan bag and maxi dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: Aztec print tank and hidden baby bump, Converse Chucks and maternity shorts.

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Day Out Vlog

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What I wore:

Jacket: Shein lace trimmed crochet inset white kimono C/O
Necklace: Nibbly Bits Abacus teething necklace in pop
Tank: Jeanswest 'Rowena' print tank
Shorts: Jeanswest Trinity Bermuda denim shorts
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bracelets: the usual plus Cora purpleheart and mother of pearl watch C/O JORD
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff metallic silver mini MAC

Why I wore it:

Since I liked the outfit above so much, recreated it again with the same kimono, but different tank and shorts. And different shoes! Havaianas are much better suited to the hot Queensland weather! Swapped the micro Regan bag for my silver mini MAC bag too.

We had a few things to do on this day. I took the boys to a messy play day at playgroup in the morning, then we had the doctors in the afternoon. Not quite as much fun as the day out on the miniature railway, but the boys always enjoy playgroup, especially if it's a messy play day!

Unlike the outfit above, I expected to be holding squirming kids on my lap at least some point in the doctor's waiting room, so I went with a more kid friendly necklace! My boys are passed the teething stage but I still like these silicone teething necklaces as they are safe for them to play with and tug on and I know they won't break them!


Last worn: crochet trim kimono (above), animal print tank, bermuda denim shorts, Havaianas, Rebecca Minkoff silver mini MAC bag.

Other ways to wear: crochet trim kimono with monochrome outfit, animal print tank and maxi skirt, bermuda denim shorts and wrap top, Rebecca Minkoff silver mini MAC bag and embroidered shorts.

Perfect for pregnancy: animal print tank hiding 20 week bump, Rebecca Minkoff silver mini MAC in third trimester.

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Printed Tanks Under $50

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How You Can Wear It:

Printed tanks and denim shorts are a comfortable stay at home mum outfit for me in the warmer weather. If you need to add a little physical sunblock, try adding a plain kimono. It's breezy fabric won't overheat you, even on a warm day. The beauty of a printed tank outfit is that just by swapping one tank for another, you change the whole outfit by just changing the print you're wearing. A good way to keep your outfits feeling fresh and new without buying anything extra.


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30 Ways to Wear a Grey Maxi Skirt: #30Wears Challenge Outfits

A 30 wears post with this classic grey marle jersey maxi skirt is so overdue. It's been worn nearly 50 times (48 exactly!) since I bought it in my third trimester four years ago.

The #30wears challenge is committing to wearing things you buy at least 30 times. As I take daily outfit photos, I have over 6 years of outfits to look back on and see all the different times I've worn things. Blog labels and searches in the archives come in helpful for pulling these posts together, and it's fun to see how many things I've hit 30 wears on.

#30Wears: Grey Marle Jersey Maxi Skirt

It's no secret that I love maxi skirts, and I've posted a few #30 wears posts featuring some of my maxi skirt collection (see them at the end of the post).

Maxi skirts are for petites too! I got lucky with this Target one, the perfect petite friendly length with no hemming required. It was $25, so that's 52 cents a wear so far on it. It's got a lot of life left in it still, and it's not going anywhere from my wardrobe. Not bad for an impulsive pregnancy buy four years ago!

Maxi Skirt and Graphic Tees (and a Tank)

A plain grey maxi skirt makes it easy to wear fun printed graphic tees, as it's a great neutral base. Even though one of these is a graphic tank instead of a tee, you can see it's still just as simple to wear. A nice easy outfit to pull together, the graphic top adds interest that the plain skirt lacks.

Maxi Skirt and Long Sleeve Tops

Maxi skirts work well in cooler weather with long sleeve tops. The long skirt protects your legs from the cold and keeps you cosy, and a longer sleeved top is an extra layer for a cooler day. If it's really cold, a scarf makes you even warmer. Again, you can see in these three outfits that the plain maxi skirt base means you can add fun printed scarves, bright colours, or even a top with embroidery detail, without your outfit feeling too overpowering.

Maxi Skirt and Layers

Sometimes you need a little more than a long sleeve top with a maxi skirt. As I wear my maxi skirts year-round, I've worn them with all kinds of layers. You can see the variety in these outfits, with a denim jacket, cardigans, a blazer, and a kimono. I've also worn this skirt in the middle of winter with a leather jacket when it's been really cold. These layering options are great pieces to add in spring or autumn when it's too cool to wear a skirt and top on it's own.

Grey Maxi Skirt And Summer Outfits

A maxi skirt is really made for summer though, it makes summer dressing easy. And if you have babies or toddlers, the long maxi length means you can run around with them and not worry about things being too short or showing more than you intended when you bend over to pickup the kids, or something they've dropped for the tenth time that day, ha!

Grey Maxi Skirt and Monochromatic Outfits

Lots of colourful outfits so far, but you can go completely neutral with a grey skirt and create a monochrome or monochromatic outfit. I like the two shades of grey together on the end there, but with the black v-neck tee is my favourite. I'm still sad that tee didn't survive through too many incorrect wash cycles on the washing machine and had to leave my wardrobe.

Jersey Maxi Skirt In Pregnancy

Since I bought this maxi skirt while I was pregnant, it makes sense that the most frequent way to wear it has been with a baby bump. It's been so nice having this piece that I could wear through my third trimesters with both my boys - and still be wearing and loving it afterwards. I'm impressed the elastic has held up too, they were pretty big baby bumps near the end!

Jersey Maxi Skirt Postpartum

Forgiving jersey material, a soft stretchy elastic waistband, all the things I loved about this skirt in pregnancy make it a great postpartum choice too. Much nicer pulling this on in the newborn days than attempting to squeeze into something with buttons, a zipper, or zero stretch! Having something you know will still fit and make you feel great makes getting dressed easy after being up all night with a newborn, and anything to make parenting easier is a winner!

Grey Maxi Skirt for Travel

I've gone on about how great this jersey maxi skirt is to wear, but the material is perfect to travel with too! It's comfortable for a long day of sightseeing, it can be crumpled up in a carry on bag and doesn't need ironing at your destination. For pregnancy travel (the middle pic) it was wonderful, and for running around Sydney with two toddlers (the left and right photos) it works just as well.

It makes me happy to have a piece in my wardrobe that's wrapped around my baby bump for both boys that's still going strong. It's nice to put together a post like this and see the bumps at different stages. So many fun memories attached to the times I've worn this skirt. I'm enjoying continuing the 30 wears challenge this year as it's great putting these posts together.

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Grey Jersey Maxi Skirts Under $50:

This Target skirt is no longer available, but above are some great alternatives, all under $50!

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30 Ways to Wear a Grey Maxi Skirt (In Video Format):

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More Posts in the #30Wears Series:

Perfect if you're looking for more ways to wear outfit inspiration! Alternative, see all the 48+ ways I've worn this skirt in my blog archives.

• 30 ways to wear a black maxi skirt
• 30 ways to wear red Balenciaga velo bag
• 30 ways to wear gladiator sandals
• 30 different ways to wear striped maxi skirt
• 30 different ways to wear skinny jeans
• 30 ways to wear a grey Rebecca Minkoff MAM bag
• 30 ways to wear a printed leather jacket
• 30 ways to wear black ankle boots in multiple seasons
• 30 ways to wear mustard yellow Rebecca Minkoff bag
• 30 ways to wear a classic denim jacket
• 30 ways to wear white and navy stripe maxi skirt
• 30 ways to wear a floral kimono
• 30 ways to wear a pink maxi dress
• 30 ways to wear a red Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag

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Green And Gold: Mustard Tanks and Soft Shorts with Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAC Bag

Combining two of my loves together for some colourful summer outfits: soft shorts and mustard yellow. Buying these shorts at the start of summer was such a good idea!

What I wore:

Necklace: Starfish Project Hannah turquoise bead necklace
Top: Jeanswest Maya gather back tank in chartreuse
Shorts: Jeanswest Parker printed shirred short
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC in aquamarine with python embossed leather

Why I wore it:

Wore this for Australia day, so I had to go with the green necklace to have a bit of green and gold with the mustard tank. I've worn this tank and necklace together before too. It was something a little different for Australia Day, as we usually try host a BBQ but skipped it this year. We went to the Yayoi Kusama exhibition at Brisbane's Gallery Of Modern Art before having lunch in the city. I was hopeful we might get to see some more of the exhibition but our main goal was to see The Obliteration Room in the kid's area. You get given a sheet of stickers, walk into a white room and get to stick the stickers wherever you want. Toddler heaven!

The boys are always trying to stick stickers everywhere at home, so I thought they'd enjoy being given free reign and leaving their imprint on a fun work of art. As you can see from the Instagram photo, it was near the end of the exhibition so there wasn't much white left, but it was still a lot of fun. They had an incredible time and although I didn't get to see other bits of the exhibition I'd wanted to, it was so much fun seeing how much they enjoyed the room.

I'd thought of wearing a monochromatic outfit as it would look great in photos, but wanted to wear my mustard tank more. I did feel a little regret when I watched a lady in a black and white dress posing in front of a professional grade camera and realised her shots would look beautiful! But I was happy and comfortable in this outfit, nice for a hot day out in the city. I did dress the boys in white shirts and they looked especially cute in all the photos. Of course I regretted that outfit choice later too when they had ice cream... 😂


Last worn: mustard tank, Parker printed shorts, Havaianas, Rebecca Minkoff aqua mini MAC.

Other ways to wear: mustard tank and blue shorts, Parker printed shorts and grey tee, Rebecca Minkoff aqua mini MAC and boho dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: Rebecca Minkoff aqua mini MAC and mustard tank in second trimester.

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The aqua mini MAC was my first Rebecca Minkoff bag purchase. My collection has grown quite a lot since!

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What I wore:

Necklace: Lovisa wooden statement bead necklace

Top: thrifted Cotton On yellow tank
Shorts: Jeanswest Tessa olive embroidered shorts
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC in aquamarine with python embossed leather

Why I wore it:

I shared this on Instagram for Australia day but I'd worn it a few days before, I just hadn't gotten around to sharing it then. It was a busy day, with the daycare runs, my usual working from home, and then a specialist appointment for the little one. The stress of a busy day and of trying to find and get to a new location on time was quickly forgotten when we stopped to buy milk on the way home and  I picked myself up a well-earned tub of Ben and Jerry's!

Given how high I had to wear these shorts to disguise the mum-tum though, probably could have skipped the ice cream. Still ate and enjoyed it though!

The necklace is gold and the chain on the mini MAC is silver, and the aquamarine doesn't match anything else I'm wearing, but I really liked this outfit. I think the colours all worked so nicely together despite not matching, and it was perfect for a hot summer day.


Last worn: mustard tank, olive embroidered shorts, Havaianas (above), Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC (above).

Other ways to wear: mustard tank and flares, olive embroidered shorts with stripes, Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC and maxi dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: mustard tank in second trimester, Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC and maternity denim.

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Soft Shorts Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

Soft shorts are the best for a hot and humid day. A plain tank is always a good basic to wear with them, especially if they have a print or embroidery as these ones do. Another benefit to a basic tank is that you can be a little more adventurous with your necklace and pick a bolder statement piece if you want.



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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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Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Outfits

Skipping a few outfits I still haven't shared from December to post my Christmas outfits before we get too far away from Christmas day! I've linked to a few of the Christmas day photos I shared too, in case you missed them on social media.

For Christmas Eve, we traditionally do crafts, make and decorate cookies, listen to Christmas songs, and just relax and enjoy spending time together while wearing our Christmas tees. Christmas day was a busy one, we had both sets of grandparents in Brisbane so we split the day between them both. Different activities means two different outfits.

What I wore:

Earrings: Jeanswest Evy dangly earring
Tee: festive glitter Santa tee
Skirt: thrifted Billabong red printed maxi skirt
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bracelets: the usual plus Christmas bow bracelet (with bells!)
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Love cross body bag in grey with Rebecca Minkoff Crystal Star Shoulder Guitar strap

Why I wore it:

As Christmas eve was on a Sunday, we took advantage of the special Christmas service at our local church in the morning, before heading down the coast in the afternoon to spend time with my family.

As you might have seen from my overshare on Insta stories, we all wore our Christmas tees, made and decorated cookies, did some craft, ate a lot of good food and watched Polar Express with the boys for the first time. They loved it!

I often wear this tee with shorts to beat the heat (even while pregnant!) but decided to be a little different this year and wear with a skirt instead. Thanks to everyone who voted on Instagram to help me pick, I went with this red skirt over the chambray one I was also considering. Red and green are perfect Christmas colours!


Last worn: santa glitter tee, red printed maxi skirt, Havaianas, Rebecca Minkoff love bag. First time I've shared the guitar strap on the blog.

Other ways to wear: santa glitter tee and denim shorts, red printed maxi skirt and leather jacket, Rebecca Minkoff love bag and gold jeans.

Perfect for pregnancy: santa glitter tee in second trimester, Rebecca Minkoff Love bag in third trimester.

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Shop The Post:

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What I wore:

Earrings: Jeanswest Evy dangly earring
Necklaces: Tiffany diamonds by the yard necklace layered with Tai gold alphabet necklaces, Silhoupette gold plated Shih Tzu necklace and gifted Lovisa gold filigree heart pendant

Dress: Gypsy 05 orange ombre maxi dress
Shoes: slim gold Havaianas
Bracelets: the usual plus silver charm bracelet, gifted Lovisa rose gold beaded bracelet stack
Bag: Balenciaga envelope clutch in 2012 mangue with giant 12 RGGH
Nails: OPI Breakfast at Tiffany Collection Five and Ten

Why I wore it:

This is what I wore for our family filled Christmas day. We started earlier than expected of course when the boys woke up, and spent the morning exchanging and unwrapping gifts. After playing with the new toys a little and dressing the boys in the new clothes Santa brought them, we headed out to Christmas lunch at the in-laws. Another Christmas tree, more Christmas presents and some yummy food and drink.

Instead of putting the boys down for a now much needed and overdue nap, we hopped into the car to drive to my parents and thankfully they slept a little then.

Another Christmas tree, more presents to be exchanged and so much good food, we a delicious Christmas dinner there. A storm hit in the evening so when it briefly stopped we headed home, perfect timing as once we were home again we got hit with a second storm.

With traveling, unwrapping presents, playing with toys and lots of food, I went with a classic maxi dress. It's my go to for Christmas day as we all like to get dressed up for it in my family. Hubby's family is much more casual, but a maxi dress is perfect for both places. With 36 degree heat too (97 fahrenheit) this light dress was all I could stand to wear.

Although it's been a while since I've bought a new dress for Christmas, I was happy to shop my wardrobe and pick out an existing maxi dress. My bestie gave me this one, and it never fails to get compliments. Added lots of gold and rose gold accessories to compliment the peach ombre maxi dress and colourful yellow Balenciaga envelope clutch.


Last worn: Gypsy 05 ombre maxi dress, gold Havaianas, Balenciaga mangue envelope clutch.

Other ways to wear: Gypsy 05 ombre maxi dress and kimono, Balenciaga mangue envelope clutch and printed jeans.

Perfect for pregnancy: Balenciaga mangue envelope clutch in third trimester.

How You can Wear It

Formal or casual, however you dress to celebrate Christmas, comfort is key. With all of the good food you want something non-restrictive, so an empire waist maxi dress or elasticated maxi skirt is a good idea. Perfect for when the aircon gets too cold as it covers your legs, but loose enough to catch the breeze and keep you cool when it's a hot and humid day. You can wear a maxi in winter too, although snow might make it a little harder!

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas last week and you're having a great start to 2018!


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