Winter Maxi Skirts, Knits and Red Saddle Bag

I love my maxi skirts, even in winter. An easy way to make them winter-appropriate is by adding a cosy knit jumper. My bright handbags are another thing I wear often in winter too, I don't think you need to reserve brighter bags for summer wear.

What I wore:

Scarf: Alexander McQueen red skull-print modal and cashmere-blend scarf

Jumper: Valleygirl blue knit jumper
Skirt: Noisy May long denim maxi skirt
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in white
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff unlined saddle bag in cherry red (on sale in blue!)

Why I wore it:

I decided to wear this knit because as I said in my previous post, I'm trying to wear through more of my winter things before the cold weather disappears. I thought this jumper would look nice in a monochrome outfit with my chambray maxi skirt.

It was a very cold day when I wore this to playgroup though. As we'd have to be outside, I added a few extra layers. A long sleeve top under my jumper, and some leggings under my maxi skirt. The chambray isn't the thickest material to keep me cosy in winter, but the leggings underneath worked perfectly for our time spent at the playground outside.

I've worn red and blue together before and liked the combo, so the red skull scarf and saddle bag seemed like a nice touch with all of the blue.


Last worn: cobalt marle knit, red skull scarf, chambray maxi skirt, white Converse, Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag.

Other ways to wear: cobalt marle knit and pencil skirt, red skull scarf and striped dress, chambray maxi skirt in summer, Converse and printed dress, Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag and printed kimono.

Perfect for pregnancy: red skull scarf in second trimester, Converse and maternity denim shorts.

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Colourful Knits Under $50:

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What I wore:

Jumper: Wildfox Couture rainbow dreamer Lennon distressed knit (from my bestie's wardrobe)

Skirt: Target black and white striped maxi skirt
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in black
Bracelets: the usual
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff unlined saddle bag in cherry red (on sale in pink!)

Why I wore it:

First time I wore this knit I didn't manage to get a blog photo, although I did share a pic on my insta stories. My friend very generously let me have this Wildfox Couture jumper when she had a wardrobe clearout last year. It took a while for the weather to be cool enough to wear it again.

It's a very comfy knit, and it's got a lot of distressing on it. So much so that when I shared it on Insta stories people asked if Cooper had gotten to it, ha! The first time around I found that the rips were a little inconvenient with a toddler, he kept grabbing at them.

This time around I rolled up the sleeves and tucked the jumper in a little to keep the distressing out of the way, and found it a lot more kid-friendly. I wore this to work from home and do the daycare drop off/pickup so it limited the amount of time the boys could tug on it too 😂

Will try pick a fairly kid free day for the next time I wear this jumper too. It's too cosy and pretty to leave in a box until next winter when the boys are bigger and less grabby.


Last worn: striped maxi skirt, Converse, Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag (above). First time I've worn this rainbow knit on the blog.

Other ways to wear: striped maxi skirt worn 30 ways, Converse and printed shirt dress, Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag and denim shorts.

Perfect for pregnancy: stripe maxi skirt and graphic tee in third trimester, Converse for a weekend away in second trimester.

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Maxi Skirts Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

Maxi skirts can be layered up and worn year round. You can add a colourful and cosy knit to be weather appropriate. If it's a really cold day or you plan on being outside a lot, you can add hidden layers with a long sleeve tee or even leggings underneath. I'm wearing Converse in these outfits but ankle boots are another option to keep your feet cosy.

Make these outfits work for breastfeeding by layering a breastfeeding singlet under and just lifting the jumper to feed.


Linking up with Friday Faves, Friday Favourites, Passion for Fashion, Shoe & Tell, Mix It Monday, On Monday We Link Up, Hello Monday, Modest Monday, Mummy Monday.

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Stripe Henleys in Neutral Outfits with Colourful Pink and Purple Accessories

I unpacked all my winter stuff months ago, but even with my #6MonthsWithoutShopping and #noBuyJuly17 and no new things in my wardrobe, I still have winter pieces unworn. Part of this is due to not having a lot of space in my wardrobe and some of my winter things having to go into one of the boy's rooms where I forget to look when picking out things to wear. I've been making more of an effort lately to wear some of my long sleeved winter tops.

The same outfit formula was used to wear each of the striped henley tops below, but I think the outfits look quite different! Striped henley, monochrome jeans and cardigan and colourful scarf and bag is easy winter stay at home mum style.

What I wore:

Jacket: Cotton On black knit wrap cardigan

Scarf: Alexander McQueen magenta skull scarf in roses print
Top: Jeanswest 'Marina' stripe henley
Jeans: Nobody Denim Siren skinny super high-rise jeans in power black denim (C/O, on sale!)
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in black
Bag: Balenciaga Day bag in 2005 magenta (20% off with code 'REAL')

Why I wore it:

You can tell that this scarf has been sitting unworn in a storage box for a while as it's so crumpled! I probably should have ironed it, but I barely have time to iron my clothes (#mumLife!) so accessories are probably never going to get ironed! 😂

I liked the addition of the magenta Balenciaga bag and skull scarf together with the black and white - really made the outfit more colourful and cheerful.

Wore this for a little bit of a busy day - had my local ABA group meeting in the morning, then lunch, a quick shopping trip and a doctors appointment. The shopping trip was very special! It was back when I was still doing my #6MonthsWithoutShopping, but as I've shared previously, I was treated to a pair of jeans! Thanks to a special someone doing the $5 challenge and deciding to surprise people with the money they saved. I went into Jeanswest 'just for a look' and found the perfect grey jeans to replace my old pair.

The $5 challenge is where you save all the $5 notes you get as change for the year. Even as someone who doesn't use cash often, they saved a lot! I think I'll give it a go next year!


Last worn: black wrap cardigan, magenta skull scarf, navy stripe henley, Nobody Denim jeans, Converse, Balenciaga magenta day bag. 

Other ways to wear: black wrap cardigan and flares, magenta skull scarf and grey tee, navy stripe henley and maxi skirt, Nobody Denim jeans and ankle boots, Converse and printed dresses, Balenciaga magenta day bag and printed jeans. 

Perfect for pregnancy: black cardigan and hiding an early baby bump, skull scarf and plaid shirt in first trimester, stripe henley for an obstetrician appointment, Converse for a weekend trip in the second trimester, magenta day in the office in third trimester.

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Striped Henleys Under $50:

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What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Alice longline Australian wool cardigan

Scarf: Alexander McQueen pink pashmina in skull and floral print
Top: Jeanswest 'Melanie' Stripe henley in black/coconut
Jeans: Jeanswest Cecile dove grey skinny jeans (on sale, 25% off!)
Shoes: Purple high top Converse look-a-likes (from my sister's wardrobe)
Bag: Balenciaga Day bag in 2005 magenta (20% off with code 'REAL')

Why I wore it:

These are the wonderful jeans I was treated to as part of the $5 challenge - I was surprised to see them in store as I'd been wanting a pair of grey jeans to replace my old ones, and actually had just finished a phone call with my sister asking if she had any grey jeans from her massive wardrobe clearout!

The purple Converse-like high tops I'm wearing are from my sister's wardrobe clearout. I've always wondered if I should add a colourful pair of Converse to my shoe collection, given how much my black and white Chucks are worn, but never been sure what colour to add. This made the decision for me, perfect! I like the purple shoes with the pink skull scarf and magenta bag. Just the right amount of colour for a grey outfit, and perfect for a morning at playgroup.

Last time I wore this scarf I wore it with this striped top too, I really like the combination!


Last worn: wool cardigan, neon pink skull scarf, grey stripe henley, grey skinny jeans, magenta Balenciaga day bag (above). First time I've worn the shoes as they are a recent addition from my sister's wardrobe to mine!

Other ways to wear: wool cardigan and flared jeans, neon pink skull scarf and chambray dress, stripe henley in the office, grey skinny jeans with animal print, magenta Balenciaga day bag and graphic tee.

Perfect for pregnancy: stripe henley in first trimester, skull scarf in third trimester, magenta Balenciaga bag and novelty pregnancy tees.

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Pink and Magenta Skull Scarves Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

Bright accessories aren't just for summer! Don't be afraid to add a little (or a lot!) of colour to a winter outfit with a bright scarf, bag or even shoes. Neutral outfits are so easy to wear in winter as you know all the pieces look good together. Adding a bright accessory or two really pops against the neutrals and is a quick and simple way to add a little colour to all your grey or black layers.


Linking up with Thursday Fashion Files, Fabulous Friday, Flashback Fashion, Weekend Wear.

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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

Linking up with Turning Heads, Confident Twosday, Style Sessions, Wardrobe Wednesday, Style On The Daily.

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Maxi Dresses In Winter: Leather Jackets, Scarves and Ankle Boots

When I did my 30 wears post with one of my leather jackets, I mentioned that I'd been looking forward to wearing the maxi dress and leather jacket outfit combination more over winter. Add some ankle boots, a big scarf and a leather jacket to a summer maxi dress and you have an easy and cosy winter outfit - and you get more wear from your summer dresses.

What I wore:

Jacket: Asos Black by Markus Lupfer printed leather jacket
Scarf: Sportsgirl animal scarf in violet
Tank: Jeanswest 'Jenni' basic singlet in festival fuchsia
Dress: black Jeanswest halterneck maxi dress
Shoes: RMK Chester black ankle boots
Bag: Balenciaga Day bag in 2005 magenta (20% off with code 'REAL')

Why I wore it:

Wore this for a day out with my boys, my last official day of maternity leave. (I've already blogged my return to work outfits but haven't shared this pic yet!). We spent the morning running a few quick errands and attending rhyme time at the library.

After liking the maxi dress and leather jacket combo I was eager to try it again. I thought that printed leather jacket would be nice with the black maxi dress but it all just looked a little too dull and black - so bright accessories were perfect for adding some colour! I really liked the purple scarf with the magenta Balenciaga day bag and pink tank.


Last worn: printed leather jacket, leopard print scarf, pink tank, black halter neck maxi dress, black ankle boots, Balenciaga magenta day bag.

Other ways to wear: printed leather jacket worn 30 ways, purple leopard print scarf with blue outfit, pink tank and striped skirt, black halter neck maxi dress and kimono, black ankle boots worn 30 ways, Balenciaga magenta day bag in the office.

Perfect for pregnancy: leopard print scarf and stripes in third trimester, pink tank in second trimester, maxi dress in the third trimester, ankle boots for baby bump reveal, magenta day bag and graphic tee in third trimester.

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More Leather Jackets Under $100:

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What I wore:

Jacket: Wittner 'Santa Fe' cobalt blue leather jacket

Scarf: Marc by Marc Jacobs scarf in Island pine-print
Dress: Jeanswest 'Elodie' tie dye grey jersey maxi dress
Shoes: RMK Chester black ankle boots
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff unlined saddle bag in cherry red (on sale in pink!)

Why I wore it:

I went much more colourful for the next time I wore the maxi dress and leather jacket outfit. Had a crazy busy day. After being back at work, I'd found all the little errands I'd usually do during the week had to be crammed in on my days off, and so set an optimistic target of stopping in multiple places before lunchtime. Of course the boys were increasingly cranky and fed up being driven around all morning, so it wasn't the easiest of days!


Although we ran out of snacks buy the time we reached the final stop at Priceline, I was thankfully able to keep the boys amused long enough to have a wonderful chat and makeup trial session with Kaitlyn. We picked out all of the below makeup for my return to work.

I'm sharing this as I know a few bloggers gave me advice when I mentioned I needed new makeup that didn't make me breakout. My old stuff was over a year old and not entirely perfect. With the information I'd picked up from beauty blogs and a very patient and knowledgeable Kaitlyn, I managed to pick out things I'm really happy with.

I'm not a beauty blogger but I am impressed with all of this so far! I wear it twice a week to the office and have zero issues. The L'Oreal foundation in particular was expensive but worth every penny!

What I bought:

• Nude by Nature brush
• Nude by Nature mineral cover
• L'Oreal Infallible foundation
• NYX lipstick in Indian Pink 550

Just as well beauty products were exempt from my #6MonthsWithoutShopping challenge, as this was quite a big haul for me! Not sponsored, but I have been visiting the ladies at my local Priceline often (as it has a pharmacy) and I trust their recommendations! :)



Last worn: cobalt leather jacket, Marc Jacobs scarf, tie dye maxi dress, black ankle boots (above), Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag.

Other ways to wear: cobalt leather jacket and printed dress, Marc Jacobs scarf and pencil skirt, tie dye maxi dress and boho fringe bag, black ankle boots and skinny jeans, Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag and printed jeans.

Perfect for pregnancy: print mixing with scarf at 37 weeks, tie dye maxi dress at 38 weeks, ankle boots and baby bump.

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Maxi Dresses Under $50 You Can Wear All Year

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How You Can Wear It:

Don't pack your summer maxi dresses away when the cold weather arrives! You can layer them up for even the coldest winter day with the right layers. they might not be ideal in the snow if the maxi length trails on the ground, but if you have a snow-free day it's a good time to give this outfit idea a try! You can even hide some leggings underneath if it's really cold.


Linking up with Mix It Monday, On Monday We Link Up, Hello Monday, Oh Hey Girl.

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Outfits for Expressing Breastmilk at Work: Pumping Friendly Dresses

It can be difficult finding affordable, stylish and professional breastfeeding friendly clothes! If you're returning to work while your baby is small you may need to find things you can wear that allow you to express breast milk through the day.

While I've expressed breastmilk for my babies at home and when out and about (like at a wedding!), I haven't had to express in the office or negotiate any pumping breaks during my day. I do know from my experiences outside the office that these outfits would work perfectly for expressing. They are ideal for attending and facilitating meetings too.


One more thing to note before I get to the outfits is that you have legal rights in Australia that allow you to continue to work and breastfeed - you can read more here to find out how to get the support you need to return to work while breastfeeding. "It is generally against the law to refuse to make arrangements to assist you to breastfeed at work, if these are reasonable". Your rights in more detail.

What I wore:

Jacket: Barkins beige trench coat 

Scarf: star print pashmina
Dress: Atmos&Here Arlette jersey wrap dress
Shoes: Walnut Melbourne 'Ava' black lizard ballet flats (also available in silver)
Bag: Marc By Marc Jacobs Classic Q Fran bag with gold hardware in carob brown

Why I wore it:

This dress is one of the handful of pieces I've bought that failed the 'wear twice in a month after buying it' rule. I bought it while on maternity leave, not wanting to pass on the sale bargain and knowing I'd get a lot of wear out of it when I returned to the office. I do like wrap dresses for easy breastfeeding, but this one seemed a little out of place in summer when I wore it and so it was put aside until my return to work. This is only it's second wear now, 7 months after I bought it!

Glad I bought it though, it is perfect for the office. I layered a colourful tank underneath but you can't really see it with all the layers on top! Really enjoyed wearing this, and I enjoyed getting out this Marc Jacobs Fran bag again too. It only really gets worn to the office so it's been a while since I've worn this too, over a year and a half!


Last worn: camel trench, star print scarf, zig zag print wrap dress, Walnut Melbourne Ava ballet flats, Marc by Marc Jacobs Fran.

Other ways to wear: camel trench and pencil skirts, star print scarf and skinny jeans, zig zag print wrap dress worn outside the office, black ballet flats and printed jeans, Marc by Marc Jacobs Fran and skinny jeans.

Perfect for pregnancy: trench coat and hidden first trimester bump, star print scarf and second trimester bump, black ballet flats and maternity pencil skirt, Marc Jacobs Fran bag in second trimester.

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Wrap Dresses Under $50:

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What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Monica Mac coat in Indigo
Scarf: Marc by Marc Jacobs bright blue stole

Tank: Kmart navy ribbed tank
Dress: Atmos&Here Betsy jersey wrap dress in watercolour print
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs black logo plaque ballet flats
Bag: Marc By Marc Jacobs Classic Q Fran bag with gold hardware in carob brown

Why I wore it:

Unlike the wrap dress above, this one has been worn quite a few times since I bought it while pregnant. Even though I bought it a size larger than normal to accommodate a growing baby bump in my final trimester, being a wrap dress it still fits nicely without the bump.

Decided to go with the blue coat, scarf and tank underneath too. I like all the blue with the turquoise print of the dress. I didn't feel quite as confident in this dress as I did in the same one with a different print above. Only because I kept stopping to realise through the day that the last time I'd been in the office with this dress I was pregnant, and it made me miss my boys. Hopefully it will be easier next time I wear this dress, I'll spend less time caught in my own thoughts.

Returning to work is an emotional time, compounded by baby boy not adjusting to the change well and having disrupted sleep. Walking into a meeting room, or the lift, or the kitchen, or sitting at my desk and realising last time I did those things in this dress I was pregnant made it a bit of a tough day to get through as my boys were always at the forefront of my mind.


Last worn: navy mac, cobalt scarf, navy tank, printed wrap dress, black ballet flats, Marc by Marc Jacobs Fran bag (above).

Other ways to wear: navy mac and chambray dress, cobalt scarf with monochrome maxi skirt outfit, navy tank and printed shorts, printed wrap dress and ankle boots, black ballet flats, Marc by Marc Jacobs Fran bag and burgundy pants.

Perfect for pregnancy: wrap dress in the last trimester, Fran bag at 40 weeks pregnant.

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More Wrap Dresses Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

A wrap dress is a classic wardrobe item that a lot of people have. They are timeless, suit so many different people and are usually pretty affordable. The wrap detail makes access for breastfeeding easy, and it's this feature that makes them a good dress choice for anyone who has to express too. You can easily layer a breastfeeding singlet underneath, or quickly slip them off to put on a pumping bra instead if you have one.

A wrap dress can make you look and feel good, meet corporate office dress codes and work for you if you're returning to work and breastfeeding or expressing.



Linking up with On Trend, Turning Heads, Confident Twosday, Style Sessions, Style File, Fashion Frenzy, Style On The Daily, Oh Hey Girl, Thursday Fashion Files, On Trend.

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2 Ways to Add Colourful Accessories to Dresses in Winter

When I have a rare child-free day to myself I like to wear a dress. While I've worn dresses in the past with the boys, they aren't always a practical choice when chasing after two toddlers. It was good to have a reason to get these dresses out again. It's been a long time (almost 2 years!) since I've worn both of them as they aren't breastfeeding friendly.

Winter weather doesn't put me off of wearing dresses - fleece lined tights, ankle boots and a cosy cardigan or leather jacket keep me warm. While winter outfits can look a little monochromatic with all the neutral layers together, I've added a different colourful accessory to each outfit.

What I wore:

Jacket: Cotton On black knit wrap cardigan

Scarf: Marc by Marc Jacobs bright blue stole
Dress: Asos grey skater dress
Shoes: RMK Chester black ankle boots
Bag: Balenciaga part time in black 2010 with SGH

Why I wore it:

I loved this outfit. The cobalt blue scarf was the perfect pop of colour with the monochrome outfit. Kept me warm on the cold morning too.

I had a physio appointment, and I find wearing a dress with leggings under it works best for all the exercises. (I just swapped the fleecy tights for leggings when I got there). I wasn't sure how I was going to meet the 'tied at waist' style challenge on Instagram and figured I could wear this dress with a belt. After almost 2 years since it was last worn, it was time to get it out my wardrobe! Changed my mind when I remembered I had this cosy cardigan with a belt, perfect for the challenge. It kept me warm as I rushed around between appointments while my mother in law stayed home with the boys.

I had to have a procedure at the dentist so was feeling a bit sore in the afternoon, it was nice to stay snuggled up in this cardigan.


Last worn: black belted cardigan, cobalt blue scarf, grey skater dress, black ankle boots, Balenciaga Part Time bag.

Other ways to wear: black belted cardigan and skinny jeans, cobalt blue scarf and stripes, grey skater dress in summer, black ankle boots and jeans, Balenciaga Part Time bag with pink tank.

Perfect for pregnancy: cardigan in first trimester, skater dress in second trimester, ankle boots for pregnancy reveal, part time bag and maternity pencil skirt.

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More Blue Blanket Scarves Under $50:

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What I wore:

Jacket: Asos Black by Markus Lupfer printed leather jacket

Necklace: Uniquely Made with Love Sea Change necklace
Dress: Atmos&Here navy stripe tee dress
Shoes: Asos Cleo leather boots in tan
Bag: Balenciaga Day bag in 2005 magenta (20% off with code 'REAL')

Why I wore it:

Although I was feeling under the weather, I still had to get up and get dressed for an appointment so I pulled on one of my old favourite dresses. I wore this so much the year I got it, but pregnancies and breastfeeding has stopped it being worn recently. Like I mentioned on Instagram, I was so happy to unbox this when I got all my winter clothes out of storage.

Even though I wasn't feeling the best, I did love wearing this dress again. Always good to get old favourites out! The magenta Balenciaga day bag was a great cheerful and colourful pop against the navy and black too.


Last worn: printed leather jacket, striped tee dress, tan boots, Balenciaga magenta day bag.

Other ways to wear: printed leather jacket worn 30 ways, striped tee dress and Converse, tan boots and skinny jeans, Balenciaga magenta day bag and denim shorts.

Perfect for pregnancy: striped dress and small second trimester bump, magenta Balenciaga bag and maternity shorts.

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More Pink Bags Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

You can add a little colour to a monochromatic outfit with a bright accessory. Winter is a good time to experiment with this - you can swap out any one of your neutral layers for a pop of colour. In the first outfit I added colour to a monochrome outfit with a bright cobalt scarf. In the second outfit, I was scarf-less but the bright magenta bag was the perfect pop against all of the black and navy.

Layer up your dresses and wear them all year! A cosy cardigan, scarf or leather jacket with boots and tights makes dresses work even in winter.



Linking up with Fun Fashion, Fabulous Friday, Passion For Fashion, Weekend Wear, Friday Favourites.

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