Wearing A Colourful Bag to the Office with Textured Pencil Skirts and Black Shirts

After I completed 7 months without shopping, I celebrated in my usual fashion and bought a new bag! 😂 Although it's big and purple, I still think it's perfect for the office - you don't have to stick to neutral bags for work.

I wore it to the office the other week with a classic black shirt and textured pencil skirt outfits, wearing more of my office pieces that were packed away while I was on maternity leave.

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Dixie collarless jacket

Necklace: freshwater pearl necklace and long freshwater pearl strand necklace
Shirt: French Connection verity voile black short sleeve shirt (with Target grey marle tank top underneath)
Skirt: Cotton On 'Mica' mesh spot skirt in dusty pink
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs black logo plaque ballet flats
Bracelets: the usual plus Roie Designs howlite and hematite beaded bracelets
Bag: Balenciaga raisin purple 2009 giant silver G21 hardware work bag (from my bestie's wardrobe!)

Why I wore it:

I felt really lady-like in this outfit! Which helped counteract some of the awkwardness I felt when I stepped back from setting my tripod up in the morning to get a blog photo and realised I'd just been standing in my bemused neighbour's way (you can see them jogging away in the background!). So awkward. I never know what to say when people see me taking outfit photos so I just kinda smile and shrug.

I've worn this top and pencil skirt together before. Back then I was hiding an early baby bump, this time around I'm using the outfit to disguise my mum-tum 😉
This pencil skirt was one I saw in a magazine a few years ago and thought it was nice, so I checked out the price details. When I saw it was called the 'Mica' skirt I just had to get my namesake. It's perfect for the office and one of those pieces I'm glad I impulsively bought. Despite the top layer being textured polka dots on a fine mesh, it's held up well over the years and I'm impressed by the quality, considering I bought it 5 years ago.

I hadn't planned a necklace to wear with this, I'd set out the clothes and thought I'd pick one at the last moment. I was still unsure as I was getting dressed until I added the tweed blazer I knew I had to go for my pearls. They are actually two different freshwater pearl necklaces! The shorter one is from my jewelry designer friend and I've worn it as a bracelet before.

Last worn: tweed blazer, French Connection shirt, grey target singlet, pink polka dot pencil skirt, Marc Jacobs black flats. First time I've worn the bag as it's a new purchase. 

Other ways to wear: tweed blazer and skinny jeans, black shirt and peplum skirt, grey target singlet and striped maxi, pink polka dot pencil skirt and striped tee, Marc Jacobs black flats and skinny jeans.

Perfect for pregnancy: boucle blazer in third trimester,grey singlet in third trimester, shirt and pencil skirt hiding first trimester bump.

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Textured Pencil Skirts Under $50:

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What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Monica Mac coat in Indigo

Scarf: Marc by Marc Jacobs mauve square scarf
Shirt: Forever 21 sheer black ruffle detail shirt
Skirt: Warehouse navy jacquard pencil skirt
Shoes: Walnut Melbourne 'Ava' black lizard ballet flats (also available in silver)
Bag: Balenciaga raisin purple 2009 giant silver G21 hardware work bag

Why I wore it:

I've been wearing blue and purple together often recently! I really like the combination. This purple scarf was the perfect topper to my black and navy outfit, and tied in nicely with my purple bag.

This black shirt is another one that hasn't been worn for a while. It's button up so would work for breastfeeding, but it feels a bit 'fancy' for stay at home mum wear so it was packed away with all my office clothes while I was on maternity leave. It's a little hard to see in the pictures with all the layers but it's got a fun ruffle detail down the front. You can see it better when I previously wore it here, again with the same skirt!

This jacquard pencil skirt is one of my favourite textured ones - it's a very pretty design, even if the skirt rides up a little as I walk! A ruffle shirt, textured pencil skirt and purple accessories might sound a bit much for the office, but I think all the pieces work well together.


Last worn: navy macintosh, purple blanket scarf, sheer ruffle shirt, jacquard pencil skirt, Walnut Melbourne ballet flats, Balenciaga work bag (above).

Other ways to wear: navy macintosh and striped dress, purple blanket scarf and chambray dress, sheer ruffle shirt and pink skirt, jacquard pencil skirt and grey tee, Walnut Melbourne ballet flats and wrap dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: jacquard pencil skirt in first trimester, ballet flats and maternity jeans.

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Purple Tote Bags Under $200:

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How You Can Wear It:

Neutral bags are a good choice for the office, but if you have a relaxed work environment with a business casual or smart casual dress code, it's easy to add a little extra colour to your outfit with a bright bag. While there are some exceptions, my general rules for picking a bag for work are to:
Carry a neutral bag if -  I'm going to be travelling for work, either across the city or to another state, and I'll need to carry my bag into meetings.
Carry a bright bag if -  I'm going to be in meetings in the same building all day leaving my bag behind at my desk and I'd like something fun to look as I work.

Don't be afraid to add a little colour to your office wear with a bright bag.


Linking up with Style Sessions, Turning Heads, On Trend, Confident Twosday, What I Wore, Style on the Daily, Oh Hey Girl, Fashion Files.

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Monochrome Winter Office Outfits: Pencil Skirts and Matching Knits

Returning to work in winter has meant I not only get to wear my neglected pencil skirts that were packed away in pregnancy, but also some of my winter knits I haven't seen in a while! I had a little fun trying to create monochrome outfits, even if one of the outfits wasn't my first choice for what to wear.

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Monica Mac coat in Indigo

Scarf: Marc by Marc Jacobs bright blue stole
Knit: Warehouse grey bead front jumper
Skirt: Asos tailored tab front pencil skirt in grey
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs silver tuxedo flats
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote in moon navy (on sale in pink, or in white)

Why I wore it:

To help make things easier with my return to work, I've gone back to laying out what I want to wear for work the night before. I used to do this a lot before kids came along - now I usually plan it out in my head before falling asleep. Despite a tough and tiring day, I decided to actually try on what I'd set out the night before, and I'm glad I did. Although it's 16 months post-baby, the fixed waist zipped pencil skirt I wanted to wear still didn't fit! 😂

It had always been a bit of a snug fit and my diastasis recti wasn't helping the situation. I was able to take the time to find something else that fit, this lovely pencil skirt. Hooray for elasticated waists! Still managed to achieve a monochrome look liked I'd first planned by picking this lovely grey beaded knit to wear with it. Not a bad outfit, one that looks quite nice in the photos actually, just not what my first choice had been!


Last worn: navy mac, cobalt scarf, beaded jumper, grey pencil skirt, silver ballet flats, Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote.

Other ways to wear: navy mac and striped dress, cobalt scarf and maxi skirt, beaded jumper and skinny jeans, grey pencil skirt and floral cami in summer, silver ballet flats and purple jeans, Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote and plaid shirt.

Perfect for pregnancy: embellished jumper in first trimester, grey pencil skirt and hidden 20 week baby bump, Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote and wrap dress in third trimester.

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Knits Under $50 for a Business Casual Office:

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What I wore:

Jacket:  Jeanswest Monica Mac coat in Indigo

Necklace: Eye Candy LA 'Sasha' statement necklace
Jumper: blue Mossman knit jumper
Skirt: Asos blue textured lace pencil skirt
Shoes: Walnut Melbourne 'Ava' black lizard ballet flats (also available in silver)
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote in moon navy (on sale in pink, or in white)

Why I wore it:

Unlike the outfit above, this planned outfit worked perfectly. This pencil skirt is stretchy and has an elasticated waist - it worked quite far into my pregnancies too!

No scarf with this outfit so I took the chance to wear my favourite statement necklace. I didn't need the scarf as it was supposed to get up to summer temperatures in the middle of the day. I did however need the cosy knit to keep me warm on my very early morning commute. I'm usually up and out the door early, but had to leave just as the sun was starting to rise, which is the reason for the colours being slightly off in the photo. You can see the lights still on behind me in the dark! Thankfully my camera copes okay with low light settings and the photo doesn't look too bad. I also got to see a beautiful sunrise while waiting for the train, so a pretty good morning overall.


Last worn: navy mac (above) cobalt knit, lace pencil skirt, black ballet flats, Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote (above).

Other ways to wear: navy mac and burgundy dress, cobalt knit and teal maxi dress, lace pencil skirt worn casually, black ballet flats with blush and olive, Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote and printed dresses.

Perfect for pregnancy: cobalt knit in early first trimester, lace pencil skirt and third trimester bump, ballet flats in third trimester, Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote and wrap dress in third trimester.

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Elasticated Waist Pencil Skirts for Work Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

If you're unsure how to wear your pencil skirts to the office in winter, add some cosy tights (mine are fleece-lined!) and a matching knit. It's an easy, monochrome outfit that will keep you warm. If your office dress code is more formal or corporate, it's easy to layer a button up shirt under your knit and take your jumper off when you reach your desk.


One final thing: I'm thrilled my latest office wear post for World Breastfeeding Week was selected for Links A La Mode! 😃

Links à la Mode, August 3rd

• Adorned in Armor: Reclaiming My Time
• Aesthetic Distance: Real Talk: When You Are A Jack Of All Trades, You Are A Master Of SOME
• Away from the Blue: Outfits for Expressing Breastmilk at Work: Pumping Friendly Dresses
• Eyes on Style TO: Floral Shorts and Mid-Length Vests
• Five Foot Nothing Shopping: Summer Dress Essentials
• Green Acres Meets Paris: Patricia Nash Designs “Enjoying the Moment” in Knoxville
• Girl in Betsey: How to Date in the Digital Era
• Hampton Roads Fashion and Style: Maternity Style | Lace Midi Dress
• Have Clothes, Will Travel: An Ever Elusive Dress
• Jessica Sheppard: Nordstrom Anniversary Sale
• Life in the Fash Lane: Re-Purposed Maxi
• Modernly Michelle: What to Wear to Summer Time Brunch
• Sifa's Corner: 5 Fashion Tips That Will Never Go Out of Style
• Tales of Two: Manly to Spit Walk - Exploring Sydney's Isolated Beaches
• T and Tour: My Mykonos Travel Guide
• The Chic Machine: 6 Pieces to Include in Your Anti Capsule Wardrobe

SPONSOR: Shopbop Vince, KORAL ACTIVEWEAR, Etre Cecile, Alpha Industries, Maggie Marilyn, NUDE, Patent Pumps, Plaid Pants, Mini Bucket Bags, Men's Club Monaco

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Third Trimester Pregnancy Outfit Inspiration: 55 Outfit Ideas

Third trimester pregnancy dressing comes with it's own set of challenges! A lot of the regular wardrobe options that could be worn in the second trimester are outgrown in the third trimester, reducing the outfit possibilities and making getting dress rather uninspiring.

For my recent pregnancy, I implemented a third trimester pregnancy capsule wardrobe to try make it a little more fun.

The third trimester is definitely the time to repeat outfits that make you look and feel good, and to do so unashamedly! Find things that work for you and wear them as many times as you like. I've included 55 outfit ideas for the third trimester below, from both of my pregnancies. You can click on the links under the images to view more info about them.

Office Outfits:

In the third trimester, I still wore my ASOS maternity pencil skirts often, but the standout pieces were my wrap dresses. They were such an easy outfit that always fit the growing bump and never failed to look good. I wore wrap dresses a lot! I was able to find some regular non-maternity dresses in my wardrobe that still accommodated the baby bump too.

1: tartan skirt, blush pink blazer | 2: grey tee, tartan pencil skirt | 3: black maternity tank printed pencil skirt | 4: print mixing in the office

1: monochrome pencil skirt outfit | 2: grey and blue | 3: printed pencil skirt, pink accessories | 4: layering with a graphic print pencil skirt

1: wrap dress and Chloe Marcie bag | 2: pink and purple accessories, black wrap dress | 3: black wrap dress, orange bag | 4: maternity wrap dress, LV Speedy bag

1: Atmos&Here wrap dress | 2: paisley print dress | 3: lace LBD | 4: Aztec print dress

Second Trimester Pregnancy Outfit Inspiration: 38 Outfit Ideas

I've been blogging for over 4 years and through two pregnancies, so I thought a wrap up of my favourite maternity outfits would be a great resource for anyone looking for pregnancy outfit inspiration!

As well as sharing my second trimester travel essentials I previously did a series about my wardrobe changes in each trimester you might find helpful too. I spoke about what worked and what didn't in my second trimester.

This will be a very photo-heavy post as I share a few of my favourite second trimester outfits. 38 different pregnancy outfit ideas! There are links below all the photos if you want more details.

Office Wear:

I bought two ASOS maternity pencil skirts and they got a lot of wear in the office.

My single maternity wrap dress was a real wardrobe workhorse, being worn almost weekly, although I continued to wear my regular non-maternity dresses in the second trimester as well. Fit and flare or empire waist dresses were perfect for this.

Asos maternity panelled pencil skirt in tartan check (non-maternity version here)

1: red bag, grey tee, tartan pencil skirt | 2: red shirt, tartan pencil skirt | 3: orange bag, printed skirt

 Asos maternity graphic print pencil skirt (non-maternity version here)

1: grey tee, printed pencil skirt | 2: wrap front top, printed pencil skirt | 3: teal henely, black and white skirt

1: paisley print dress | 2: striped dress with pink accessories | 3: Aztec print dress and blazer

1: Soon Maternity wrap dress, Chloe Paddington | 2: floral wrap dress | 3: printed wrap dress, pink bag

Maxi Dresses:

I only needed one maternity maxi dress for both pregnancies, the majority of my existing maxi dresses were stretchy enough to work through all three trimesters. There were a few I outgrew in the second trimester though.

1: black maxi dress and denim jacket | 2: Black and white printed dress | 3: feather print maxi dress

4: maxi dress and glitter belt | 5: Mothers En Vogue maternity maxi dress | 6: maxi dress for Christmas

Maternity Denim - Jeans and Shorts:

I added a second pair of maternity denim shorts to my wardrobe for my most recent pregnancy as I was heavily pregnant over summer and it was too hot for jeans. Previously I was doing a full work week and with the cooler temperatures and dressing for casual Friday, my maternity jeans were worn a lot more.

1: pinstripe shirt and skinny jeans | 2: casual travel outfit | 3: printed top and skinny jeans

4: print mixing and jeans | 5: floral top and denim | 6: printed kimono and skinny jeans

How to Hide a Baby Bump In Photos: A Guide For Bloggers

One of the best things about being pregnant is watching a tiny baby bump grow day by day. For any number of reasons though, you might want to hide that little baby bump for a while, especially if you're a blogger. I thought I'd put this guide together to show you how to hide a baby bump.

Hiding the baby bump with a printed dress | Hiding a baby bump with an empire waist

When I was pregnant with toddler T, I was keeping the baby bump hidden until after 20 weeks, once we had shared with our families and friends over Christmas and I had returned to the office from extended leave and told my boss. With my most recent pregnancy, I wanted to participate in the Frocktober fundraising challenge which meant I couldn't hide the bump for quite as long. My limited wardrobe (a different dress every day for 31 days) wasn't most conductive to hiding a bump, unlike when I was pregnant with toddler T and could select from my entire wardrobe.

Top three tips for hiding a baby bump:

• Continue to wear your regular pants/skirts for as long as possible. Use the hair tie trick, or invest in a belly band for clothes without elastic waists. Some skirts with elastic waists can be worn a little higher over the baby belly if it doesn't make them too short.
• Favour clothes that skim over any emerging baby bump. Think empire waists, trapeze tops, skater skirts and fit and flare dresses. Anything that flows rather than clings.
• Accessorise! Use scarves to hide bumps, and prints and layers to distract attention from your belly.

Wearing a skirt above the bump | Hiding a belly with a half tucked shirt

Trapeze top to skim a baby belly | Printed tank to disguise a baby bump

As well as following the pointers above, there are a few things you can do if you're a personal style/fashion blogger and you just want to hide the bump in photos. Be aware that while these tricks do work well in photos, they won't always hide the baby belly in person.

Hiding a baby bump in photos:

• Pick your angle. Facing straight on to the camera is the best way to reduce or disguise the size of a baby bump.
• Take photos as early in the day as possible. The more you eat, the bigger your belly gets, especially in the early stages.
• Accessorise. Same as above, you can hide a bump with clever layering, a scarf, or even just hiding behind a handbag!
• Never tuck any tops in. A half tuck hides a little bump quite well, but firmly tucking a top into a skirt or pair of pants just highlights a baby belly.
• Avoid clingy fabrics. You want things that skim over your bump.
• If you have a photographer, get their feedback. If you have a professional photographer, or just someone helping you with photos, ask them for the best angles / views to disguise a baby belly as they are shooting.
• Change your pose. It feels extremely silly, but I found this works well if you're standing straight on to the camera. Not so much if you're standing at an angle! Stand up straight, and push your butt back a bit, letting anything you're wearing fall in a straighter line over the baby belly. Perfect if you're wearing looser clothing, it will skim rather than hug your frame.
• Sit down. It's much easier to hide a bump when you're sitting instead of standing.
• Practice. Take a few more photos than you usually would to make sure you're getting the photos you want, showcasing your great outfit and not the baby belly you aren't ready to spill the beans about yet!

Skinny jeans and a belly band | Hiding a baby bump behind a bag

Hiding a Baby Bump in the office:

I shot this video in the second trimester that might be helpful for anyone wanting to keep a pregnancy secret for a little while longer in the office. 8 different outfits you can wear at work to hide an early bump.

I hope you found this guide helpful! Feel free to pin or share. You can check out more pregnancy outfit inspiration here too.


Linking up with Shoe & Tell, Let It Shine, Hello Monday, Turning Heads, On Trend, Confident Twosday, Wardrobe Wednesday, Weekend Linkup.

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ASOS Maternity Pencil Skirts, Grey Rebecca Minkoff MAM Bag. Third Trimester Corporate Style

With my maternity leave approaching, I wanted to give my ASOS maternity pencil skirts one last wear in the office. They've lasted me well, through two pregnancies. The black and white prints gave me more chance to play along with the #SNScolour challenge on Instagram too.

What I wore:

Necklace: Jeanswest Taki necklace (C/O)

Tee: Jeanswest Sonny maternity tee in lagoon marle (C/O)
Skirt: Asos maternity graphic print pencil skirt (non-maternity version here)
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs studded mouse flats in grey (on sale in black)
Bracelets: the usual plus Balenciaga classic double tour bracelet in pearly grey
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff MAB mini in soft grey

Why I wore it:

The style challenge for the day was metallics. While I have a metallic tee, I certainly can't fit it in the third trimester! I decided to use accessories for this, with the silver necklace, Balenciaga wrap bracelet and studded mouse flats.

I had a quite day in the office without a lot of meetings so a simple tee and pencil skirt outfit was perfect.


Last worn: green maternity tee, graphic print maternity pencil skirt, studded mouse flats, Rebecca Minkoff MAM bag.

Other ways to wear: green maternity tee and skinny jeans, graphic print pencil skirt and grey tee, studded mouse flats and a printed wrap dress, Rebecca Minkoff MAM bag and a red leopard print dress.

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More great maternity pencil skirts under $60:

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What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Nadine 3/4 sleeve dusky pink blazer
Necklace: Eye Candy LA 'Sasha' statement necklace
Singlet: Jeanswest maternity tank in white
Skirt: Asos maternity panelled pencil skirt in tartan check (non-maternity version here)
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs two tone flats in blush and black
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff MAB mini in soft grey

Why I wore it:

The style challenge for the day was white, so it seemed obvious to wear my white maternity tank. I did worry it would be a little too casual for the office, so added the blazer over the top. I'm looking forward to wearing this blazer more when the autumn weather finally hits Brisbane and it cools down a little! It's great to have a cover-up in the office air-conditioning though. The blazer is a spring item from 2014 I picked up in the Jeanswest outlet last year but it's the perfect pastel pink to be classed as 'Rose Quartz', one of the colours of the year everyone is raving about.

I felt the statement necklace was a nice touch with this outfit - added some colour and sparkle so it didn't look too dull. This ended up being one of my favourite pregnancy office outfits, so a nice way to say farewell to this skirt.


Last worn: pink boyfriend blazer, white maternity tank, Asos tartan pencil skirt, two tone flats, Rebecca Minkoff MAM (above).

Other ways to wear: pink boyfriend blazer and denim shorts, white maternity tank and a printed kimono, Asos tartan pencil skirt layered up for a rainy day, cap toe flats and skinny jeans, Rebecca Minkoff MAM and a maxi skirt.

Linking up with Hello Monday, Modest Monday, On Trend, Style Sessions, Turning Heads, Confident Twosday.

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Plain Maternity Tanks, Printed Pencil Skirts, Louis Vuitton Speedy Bandouliere: Third Trimester Office Wear

I'd fallen into a rut of wearing wrap dresses to the office, so tried to make a little bit of effort and wear my maternity pencil skirts for a change. I do love these skirts, and wore them a lot in my last pregnancy, but this time around I've been so uninspired with facing the summer heat in the third trimester that dresses have just seemed easier!

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Cassandra jacquard jacket

Necklace: House of Harlow sunburst necklace in silver and grey (on sale here!)
Singlet: Jeanswest maternity tank in white
Skirt: Asos maternity graphic print pencil skirt (non-maternity version here)
Shoes: Walnut Melbourne 'Ava' black lizard ballet flats (also available in silver)
Bag: Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere

Why I wore it:

It was a slightly cooler morning so I got excited and wore a jacket. While I liked the extra print mixing it brought to my outfit, I quickly realised that it was still much too hot for wearing layers, and regretted my decision a little.

By the time I went to my OB's appointment in the afternoon, I'd had my jacket off for a while!


Last worn: jacquard blazer, white maternity tank, graphic print pencil skirt, Walnut Melbourne ballet flats, Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere.

Other ways to wear: jacquard blazer and a little black dress, white maternity tank and denim shorts, graphic print pencil skirt and a grey tee, black ballet flats and skinny jeans, Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere and winter layers.

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More maternity pencil skirts under $100:

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What I wore:

Necklace: Eye Candy LA 'Sasha' statement necklace

Tank: Jeanswest Carla maternity cut out tank (non-maternity version)
Skirt: Asos maternity panelled pencil skirt in tartan check (non-maternity version here)
Shoes:  Marc by Marc Jacobs studded mouse flats in grey (on sale in black)
Bracelets: the usual plus JORD black Fieldcrest wood watch (C/O)
Bag: Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere

Why I wore it:

Kept things much simpler with this outfit - no extra layer, I added a statement necklace for a bit of interest instead. I've worn this necklace and tank together before - I love the way the colours look against the black.

I felt really happy and confident in this outfit all day - even though it's just a simple maternity tank and pencil skirt outfit. An outfit doesn't have to be overly fancy or complex to make you feel good :)


Last worn: laser cut detail tank, Asos maternity tartan pencil skirt, studded mouse flats, Louis Vuitton Speedy bandouliere (above).

Other ways to wear: laser cut detail tank and denim shorts, tartan pencil skirt and a grey tee, studded mouse flats and shorts, Louis Vuitton Speedy bandouliere and denim shorts.

Linking up with Let It Shine, Shoe and Tell, Modest Monday, Hello Monday, Mix It Monday, On Trend, Style Sessions, Turning Heads, Confident Twosday, What I Wore to Work.

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Maternity Tanks, Prints and Pencil Skirts: Third Trimester Office Wear with Balenciaga Magenta Day Bag

My January purchases and some third trimester office wear. Although I'm trying not to dress too casually for work, my maternity tanks are so comfortable I'm looking for ways to make them work in the office. Adding a blazer on top is a great way to do that!

What I wore:

Jacket: thrifted Zara black blazer

Scarf: Jeanswest Lux paisley print scarf (C/O)
Necklace: Tiffany diamonds by the yard necklace
Tank: Jeanswest maternity tank in white
Skirt: Asos maternity panelled pencil skirt in tartan check (non-maternity version here)
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs silver tuxedo flats
Bag: Balenciaga Day bag in 2005 magenta (new purchase)

Why I wore it:

It was quite cold and rainy - but welcome as it broke the heatwave we'd been having. I did consider wearing pants in the morning and wished I had during the day. I liked the print mixing with the scarf and tartan pencil skirt together. This is my favourite blazer and although I can't button it over the baby bump it works well unbuttoned. Just as perfect for the office as it is with jeans.


Last worn: Zara blazer, printed scarf, white maternity tank, tartan pencil skirt, silver tuxedo flats, Balenciaga magenta day bag.

Other ways to wear: jersey blazer and a printed dress, printed scarf and chambray, maternity tank and a maxi skirt, tartan pencil skirt with brown and orange, silver tuxedo flats and a maxi dress, Balenciaga magenta day bag and a graphic tee.

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What I wore:

Jacket: no label white drape jacket

Necklace: Tiffany diamonds by the yard necklace layered with custom Cooper charm by Silhoupette
Tank: Jeanswest Sol maternity jacquard tank (new purchase)
Skirt: Atmos&Here grey marle jersey pencil skirt (also available in black or stripes)
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs studded mouse flats in grey (on sale in black)
Bracelets: the usual plus turquoise and silver beaded bracelet set
Bag: Balenciaga Day bag in 2005 magenta

Why I wore it:

This tank is another of my post-Christmas sale purchases. You can tell I had some Jeanswest gift vouchers to spend! I wouldn't normally be able to wear this skirt in the third trimester, but as the maternity tank is so long I was able to wear the elastic waist of the skirt under the bump and have the tank cover up all of the baby belly and then some. I was actually able to tuck the tank into the skirt. Benefits of being petite, maternity tanks are quite long.

In contrast to the previous outfit above, this was such a hot day. I took the blazer off after these pictures and just wore it around the office to keep my shoulders covered. It was much too hot and humid to wear it long on the commute.


Last worn: waterfall drape jacket, grey marle pencil skirt, studded mouse flats, Balenciaga Magenta Day bag (above). First time I've worn the tank as it's a recent purchase.

Other ways to wear: waterfall drape jacket and printed shorts, grey pencil skirt layered for winter, studded mouse flats and a printed dress, Balenciaga Magenta Day bag and a maxi skirt.

January Purchases

Continuing on with recording what I buy each month and keeping a track of how many times I wear things, here's what I bought in January and at the end of December in the post-Christmas sales.

• Jeanswest Carla Maternity Cut out tank (non-maternity version)
• Jeanswest Sol Maternity jacquard tank (non-maternity version)
• Jeanswest Florence print long line tank
• Balenciaga Day bag in 2005 magenta
• Cotton On 'Gemma' cocoon kimono in Laos blossom navy print
• Slim gold Havaianas
• Be Free maternity/nursing bras
• Atmos&Here Betsy jersey wrap dress in watercolour print
• Atmos & Here Arlene wrap top in navy

That's a lot! I had some gift cards to spend and there were so many good sales on....so far the most worn items have been the maternity bras. I don't usually talk underwear on the blog but a good maternity bra is a pregnancy and breastfeeding essential and these two are just so perfect!

I don't anticipate buying any more clothing until after baby arrives, so there are likely to be few monthly haul videos for a while. I'm not entirely ruling out getting some accessories though.... ;)



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