Christmas Outfits: Casual and Dressy Maxis

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas with your friends or family! We hosted Christmas this year, which always makes things a little more hectic, but it's always fun.

Below I'm sharing two Christmas outfits - a casual one for Christmas eve and then a dressier one for Christmas day. Also the first time in a couple of years I've bought a new dress just for Christmas!

What I wore:

Top: festive glitter Santa tee
Skirt: Jeanswest Luxe jersey maxi skirt
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bracelets: the usual plus Christmas bow bracelet (with bells!)
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff red micro Avery cross body bag

Why I wore it:

Christmas eve in my family is always a casual day, the purpose being to relax and spend time together. We all meet up at my parent's place, and commence our yearly traditions. Christmas cookie making, craft making, Christmas movies and a lot of laughter. Definitely the best way to begin Christmas, spending time with people you love.

We've been wearing these Christmas tees to celebrate for 6 years - we each have one, and although I have to keep buying the boys new ones as they grow, this green Santa tee has been worn regularly every year, through both my pregnancies! It's another fun tradition to have.

I couldn't resist adding this red Rebecca Minkoff Avery bag to my outfit - it's such a festive bag it was a frequent go-to over December.


Last worn: green Santa tee, black jersey maxi skirt, Havaianas, Rebecca Minkoff micro Avery bag.

Other ways to wear: green Santa tee and shorts, black jersey maxi skirt in autumn, Rebecca Minkoff micro Avery bag and other festive outfits.

Perfect for pregnancy: green Santa tee in second trimester.

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Christmas Celebrations:

All the family fun from Christmas and a few days before it.

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What I wore:

Earrings: gifted navy tassel statement earrings
Necklace: gifted navy and silver circle pendant tassel necklace
Dress: Jeanswest Sophia high-low maxi dress (new purchase)
Shoes: Novo Tawny rose gold sandals (new purchase)
Bracelets: the usual plus silver charm bracelet
Bag: Chanel vintage quilted lambskin flap

Why I wore it:

While Christmas eve is dressed down, on Christmas day we love to dress up! I'd seen this maxi dress at Jeanswest a few weeks before Christmas, and with some left over gift card to spend decided to treat myself to a new dress for Christmas, something I haven't done for a couple of years.

Christmas day was also a fun and family filled, with presents, putting our new Christmas crafts to good use, and marvelling over the kid's excitement with their gifts. There was a little stress as I hosted Christmas lunch, but so worth it in the end when you get to sit down and eat together! Even if I did mess up the cooking a little bit.... This maxi dress was perfect, I was so glad to finally get to wear it. It's sure to pop up a lot more often on the blog now!

I did want to curl my hair and be all 'done up' for Christmas, but by the time I finished prepping for Christmas day it was 10.30 pm on Christmas eve so I just decided to go to bed instead of staying up to curl my hair, and ran the straighteners through it in the morning. It's nice to want to do everything on Christmas, and wonderful when you achieve it, but at the end of the day (as it is every day) your sanity is the most important thing! Plus with two boys under five that extra 30 minutes in bed makes a difference when they come wake you up early Christmas morning! 😂


Last worn: first time I've worn the maxi dress and the sandals as they are new purchases. Vintage Chanel bag.

Other ways to wear: Vintage Chanel bag and skinny jeans.

Perfect for pregnancy: Vintage Chanel bag at 40 weeks.

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How You Can Wear It:

Christmas time is a great time to dress up or dress down - there are so many outfit options! You can go for a fun novelty tee (or knit if it's colder where you are) for a casual outfit, or glam it up a little with a maxi dress. Anything goes!


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Printed Tanks and Pencil Skirts For The Office With Rebecca Minkoff MAM Bag

I think the one item of clothing I have most of in my wardrobe is printed tanks! They work so well for my casual stay at home mum days, but also in the office too with a blazer on top. The two I'm wearing below are some of my favourites, gifts from my mum. Keeping things simple and letting the printed tanks be the stars of my outfits, I picked neutrals for everything else, including this grey Rebecca Minkoff MAM bag.

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest grey jersey blazer
Earrings: Jeanswest Evy dangly earring
Necklace: Jeanswest Taryn turquoise tassel bead necklace
Tank: Jeanswest Elissa leaf print tank
Skirt: Jeanswest zip detail ponte pencil skirt
Shoes: Walnut Melbourne 'Ava' black lizard ballet flats (also available in silver)
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff MAB mini in soft grey

Why I wore it:

As much as I loved this outfit, it was my hair that got a lot of love on Instagram 😅 It's day 3 of the curls from when I curled my hair for our annual Christmas family photo. This is the hair curler I use.

I felt with the relaxed hair and long tassel necklace, the grey blazer was the perfect way to dress this outfit up a bit more for a busy day with a few big meetings. I had a bit of a giggle when I went to write this post and realised everything is from Jeanswest, except the shoes and bag! The jersey blazer and pencil skirt were comfortable and perfect for the cooler office, despite the warmer day outside.

With the pastel pink, red and blue in the print of the tank and the turquoise tassel on the necklace, I thought this grey Rebecca Minkoff MAB bag was the perfect neutral accessory to wear with it. And it felt like a while since I last wore the bag, it was definitely overdue a wear!

Last worn: grey jersey blazer, dangly earrings, tassel necklace, fern print tank, black pencil skirt, Walnut Melbourne ballet flats, Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAB.

Other ways to wear: grey jersey blazer and striped dress, fern print tank worn two ways, black pencil skirt over a dress, Walnut Melbourne ballet flats and skinny jeans, Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAB and denim shorts.

Perfect for pregnancy: black pencil skirt in first trimester, Walnut Melbourne ballet flats in third trimester, Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAB in second trimester.

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What's In My Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAB

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What I wore:

Necklace: silver heart long pendant necklace
Tank: Emerson crochet lace bib print top
Skirt: Jeanswest black ponte pencil skirt
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs silver tuxedo flats
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff MAB mini in soft grey

Why I wore it:

This tank always makes me smile when I wear it. Red is a cheerful colour to wear,  and I also like this as I've had it for a few years and wore it through my pregnancies with my boys. It's nice being able to enjoy a piece in your wardrobe you've had for years.

I've worn this top casually with jeans and a few times to the office with pencil skirts. Like the printed tank above, I think it looks lovely tucked into a classic black pencil skirt. I picked a simpler silver heart pendant necklace to wear with this, and silver ballet flats to match the necklace and hardware on the MAM bag. I did have a cover up for in the office too, but it was much too hot and humid in the morning to want to take a pic with it on. I shared a pic with my cosy cardi on Twitter.

Of course I couldn't stop at just the shoes, bag and necklace matching, I had to add a red hair tie to my hair to tie in with the print on the tank! I bought a huge bunch of colourful hair ties in a Priceline sale a while back and every now and then I'll be able to match the hair tie to my outfit!


Last worn: red crochet print tank, silver heart necklace, black pencil skirt, silver ballet flats, Rebecca Minkoff MAM bag (above).

Other ways to wear: red crochet print tank and shorts, black pencil skirt and printed shirt, silver ballet flats and jeans, Rebecca Minkoff MAM bag and maxi skirt.

Perfect for pregnancy: red crochet print tank in third trimester, black pencil skirt in second trimester, silver ballet flats in third trimester, Rebecca Minkoff MAM bag in third trimester.

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Printed Tanks Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

A printed tank can easily work for a business casual office. It's a fun way to add a little colour to a neutral suit or suit separates. If you need to dress a little more formally, you can cover up the casual tank with a blazer to make it look more office appropriate. The blazer has the added bonus of keeping you warm in the cold air con too!


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Plain Tees and Printed Maxi Skirts With Rebecca Minkoff Bags

When the heat hits, I look for simple easy outfits that don't have any unnecessary layers. A plain tee and a printed maxi skirt is simple summer style. And spring style, as I wore these a few weeks ago when it was still spring!

What I wore: 

Necklace: Jeanswest Taryn turquoise tassel bead necklace
Tee: Atmos & Here black essential v-neck tee
Skirt: thrifted Billabong red printed maxi skirt
Shoes: Rebecca Minkoff Georgina studded gladiator sandals in blush
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff unlined saddle bag in cherry red (on sale in blue!)

Why I wore it:

I adore this skirt so much and it was the first one that came to mind when picking an outfit to wear to meet Sasha. It's so light in the heat and swishes beautifully when you walk, kind of creating its own breeze. The day was forecast to be extremely hot, so we ended up spending more time indoors than anticipated.

Sasha is another Brisbane blogger and while she lives a little distance away from me, we caught up at a mid point in the city, at the state library. The cafe there was lovely and very quiet until I showed up with the boys! In the end we ducked into the kids play area at the library so the boys could run around a little more and we could continue chatting. Always so nice meeting another blogging friend in person, even more so when they are as interesting as Sasha. We spoke for a couple of hours, which seemed to be over in a few minutes, before I took the boys for lunch in the city and headed home.

Keeping things simple with the outfit, I went with a neutral black tee, a red bag to match the red skirt, and my latest necklace purchase to match the gold hardware on the bag. You can see why I enjoy Sasha's blog so much, we have very similar style! Thanks to Mr 4 who kindly took the photo for us.


Last worn: black tee, tassel necklace, red printed maxi skirt, studded sandals, Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag.

Other ways to wear: black tee and olive jeans, red printed maxi skirt and Christmas tee, studded sandals worn 30 ways, Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag worn 30 ways.

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Rebecca Minkoff Handbag Collection

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What I wore:

Necklace: silk beaded baby-friendly necklace
Tee: Jeanswest Emma woven trim tee in terracotta
Skirt: Target navy side split maxi skirt
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Love cross body bag in grey

Why I wore it:

Thankfully this day wasn't as hot as the one above. As you can see, there was even a bit of a breeze! I kept to the simple outfit formula I'd liked so much above, going a little more colourful this time with the basic red tee and navy striped maxi skirt. I accessorised with the baby friendly necklace as we spent the morning at our local ABA group, the topic was baby / toddler massage.

The last time I did a baby massage class my now 2 and a half year old was a tiny little 3 week old, so I was really looking forward to it! I went in with two very eager to help little boys, which quickly turned into me chasing kids around the room in between attempting to practice the massage techniques. I definitely don't do the massage techniques as often as I should, but there are so many benefits to it so I'm going to try do it more often. It's a lot more fun to do when the boys are big enough to give feedback on what they like too!

Stuck with this neutral Rebecca Minkoff Love bag as I still had it out after wearing it a few days before and the grey was a good pairing with the brighter red and navy outfit.


Last worn: red tee, silk necklace, navy striped maxi skirt, Havaianas, Rebecca Minkoff Love bag.

Other ways to wear: red tee and jeans, navy striped maxi skirt worn two ways, Rebecca Minkoff Love bag worn 30 ways.

Perfect for pregnancy: Rebecca Minkoff Love bag in second trimester.

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Printed Maxi Skirts Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It

Printed maxi skirts can be a little daunting as they are such large pieces of print! You can keep things easy and simple by picking a plain tee to wear with them. You can go with a neutral black like I did in the first outfit, or try something different and add a little more colour like in the second outfit. You can't go wrong pairing a plain basic with a fun printed piece!



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Peplum Tanks and Pencil Skirts With Pink Handbags

For something a little different, I paired some peplum tanks and pencil skirts together. It's not the first time I've worn the combo, and I'm wearing it in two different ways below. For a casual work from home day and for a day in the office.

What I wore:

Earrings: Kmart blue fringe crescent statement earrings
Necklace: Jeanswest Taryn turquoise tassel bead necklace (new purchase)
Tank: gifted Kmart navy bird print peplum frill hem tank
Skirt: Asos tailored tab front pencil skirt in grey
Shoes: Walnut Melbourne 'Ava' black lizard ballet flats (also available in silver)
Bag: Balenciaga RH classic city in 2010 sorbet (more affordable preloved)

Why I wore it:

I was excited to give my new tank a wear! My mum kindly picked this up for me in Kmart when we were browsing together. It's perfect for summer, and I could see it working with a pencil skirt and blazer or plain pants as well as with jeans and shorts. Really looking forward to wearing this more! Decided to pair it with my pink Balenciaga city bag to bring out the pink bird print.

The necklace is new too, I picked it up at Jeanswest recently during one of their sales.

The grey pencil skirt was a great neutral to wear it with, although I did wish I'd taken a blazer - the rain set in for most of the day and it was a little chillier than I expected. The black ballet flats were a good choice for the rain with the rubber soles.


Last worn: statement earrings, grey pencil skirt, Walnut Melbourne flats, Balenciaga sorbet city. First time I've worn the tank and necklace as they are recent additions to my wardrobe.

Other ways to wear: grey pencil skirt and polka dot tank, Walnut Melbourne flats and green pants, Balenciaga sorbet city with monochrome outfit.

Perfect for pregnancy: grey pencil skirt in second trimester, Walnut Melbourne flats in second trimester, Balenciaga sorbet city in third trimester.

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My Latest Rebecca Minkoff Purchase Revealed:

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What I wore:

Scarf: Fashion Scarf Girl bird and egg print scarf (c/o)
Tank: Zalora basics ruffle hem tank in black
Skirt: Atmos&Here grey marle jersey pencil skirt
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in black
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff small Darren messenger bag in peony  (new purchase)

Why I wore it:

Similar outfit to the one above, but I wore this pencil skirt and peplum tank combo for a much more casual day so I dressed it down a little with the Converse. The jersey material of this pencil skirt is a great relaxed fit with Converse, and I've worn them together in the past.

Had the daycare drop off in the morning and then working from home before doing the pickup and taking my son to his appointment, so this comfortable outfit was perfectly suited for the day.

I really liked the way this pastel pink Rebecca Minkoff small Darren bag worked with the neutral black and grey too.

The fun chook print scarf was a last minute addition, but I felt it worked well too add an extra bit of interest to my outfit, and a little touch of warmth in the cooler weather. The outfit seemed a bit plain without it!


Last worn: black peplum tank, grey jersey pencil skirt, Converse. First time I've worn the scarf and bag as they are recent additions to my wardrobe.

Other ways to wear: black peplum tank and shorts, grey jersey pencil skirt worn two ways, Converse and skinny jeans. 

Perfect for pregnancy: black peplum tank in first trimester, grey jersey pencil skirt in third trimester, Converse for second trimester travel. 

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Peplum Tanks Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

Peplum tanks, like any other kind of tanks, are so easy to wear with pencil skirts. You can dress them up for the office or dress them down for a quieter day at home. If you're in a formal business environment, you might not get away with a peplum tank as you have to wear a button up or collared shirt, but for a business casual environment like my office this outfit formula works perfectly.


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Printed Tops, Black Pencil Skirts and Balenciaga Day Bags

With the warmer spring weather, I had some lovely spring weather outfits planned to wear my new shoes. Unfortunately we were in for a wet week, and I didn't want to ruin my new shoes in the rain. So I went back to basics for workwear, with black pencil skirts and printed tops.

What I wore:

Earrings: Ana Luisa 'Olivia' tassel earrings in pink (giveaway prize)
Scarf: Alexander McQueen magenta skull scarf in roses print
Top: Target ruffle sleeve dog print blouse
Skirt: Jeanswest black ponte pencil skirt
Shoes: Walnut Melbourne 'Ava' black lizard ballet flats (also available in silver)
Bag: Balenciaga Day bag in 2005 magenta

Why I wore it:

You know I love a bit of matchy-matchy! This magenta Alexander McQueen skull scarf and Balenciaga day bag are frequently worn together. With the purple outlines on the dashounds on my top, it felt like a great matchy-matchy outfit for the office. Kept the rest of my outfit simple with the black pencil skirt and the black ballet flats.

Did end up regretting this outfit in the afternoon though! Around lunch time the rains arrived and I was very cold and wet by the time I got home after work that evening. Probably should have picked tights or a cosier jacket (I just had a blazer in case any meetings came up).

Despite the less than perfect weather conditions, I did like this outfit. I even had a rare opportunity before the rain started to pop out for lunch and have a browse at the Jeanswest store in the city.

Had fun yesterday trying on some of the new dresses at #Jeanswest in my lunch break! Decided to buy a new dress for Christmas this year, been a while since I have! Dresses are on #sale too! Get 30% off: https://t.co/KleQLQQYHA pic.twitter.com/oVDMBKEGEG

— Mica (@AwayFromTheBlue) October 12, 2018

Last worn: Ana Luisa earrings, roses print skull scarf, dachshund print top, black pencil skirt, Walnut Melbourne ballet flats, magenta Balenciaga day bag.

Other ways to wear: roses print skull scarf and striped dress, dachshund print top and burgundy pants, black pencil skirt over a dress, Walnut Melbourne ballet flats and olive pants, magenta Balenciaga day bag and maxi skirt.

Perfect for pregnancy: roses print skull scarf in third trimester, dachshund print top in first trimester, black pencil skirt in second trimester, Walnut Melbourne ballet flats in second trimester, magenta Balenciaga day bag in third trimester.

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What's In My Bag: Balenciaga Day Bag

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What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Dixie collarless jacket
Earrings: Jeanswest Evy dangly earring
Tank: Jeanswest 'Ricky' ruffle front top in midnight
Skirt: Jeanswest zip detail ponte pencil skirt
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs black logo plaque ballet flats
Bag: Balenciaga giant hardware Day bag in 2009 tempete

Why I wore it:

I didn't like this outfit as much as the one above. It was something I'd picked as a second choice because of the forecast rain which meant it was already off to a bad start! I wasn't sure about this boucle blazer and the polka dot print tank, but in the mirror that morning it looked good enough for me to pick the boucle jacket over a plain black blazer. When I reviewed the photos later though I regretted my decision - a plain jacket would have looked better over this.

Bad jacket choice aside, it was an otherwise okay outfit. The Balenciaga day bag doesn't look as nice with it as I thought as the shades of blue are so different, but it's definitely not the worst thing about this outfit! I really don't know why this top is worn so little, I get compliments when I wear it and it is always so fun to wear.


Last worn: boucle jacket, statement earrings, polka dot ruffle tank, black pencil skirt, Marc By Marc Jacobs ballet flats, Balenciaga tempete Day bag.

Other ways to wear: boucle jacket and a-line skirt, polka dot ruffle tank and jeans, black pencil skirt for YouTube creator day, Marc By Marc Jacobs ballet flats and striped dress, Balenciaga tempete Day bag and printed shorts.

Perfect for pregnancy: boucle jacket in second trimester, polka dot ruffle tank in second trimester, black pencil skirt in first trimester, Balenciaga tempete Day bag in third trimester.

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Black Pencil Skirts Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

A black pencil skirt is a corporate office wardrobe essential! It's so easy to throw on a printed top with a plain black pencil skirt and feel ready for work. As you can see from my lessons above though, it pays to put a little more thought into the weather for the day and your accessories when picking such a straightforward outfit!


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Maxi Skirts and Printed Tanks With Denim Jacket and Rebecca Minkoff Mini Bags

Felt like it had been a while since I'd worn some of my maxi skirts, so it was time to get them out again! Pairing plain maxi skirts with printed tanks and a denim jacket to make the perfect spring outfit.

What I wore:

Jacket: Bubblegum denim jacket
Necklace: ZuriCollections blue polymer clay necklace
Top: Sass and Bide "For Easy Reference" tank
Skirt: Jeanswest Luxe jersey maxi skirt
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in black
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote in plum

Why I wore it:

A busy day required a comfortable outfit. After doing the day care drop off, I worked from home before heading back to daycare and picking up the boys for an appointment in the afternoon.

As it was a slightly warmer day, I thought it was the perfect time to wear this maxi skirt. It has slits up both sides, so it was a little chilly last time I wore it in autumn, but was perfect for this warmer day. I really liked the simplicity of this outfit, and how comfortable it was! Every time I wear this printed tank I really like the outfit, I should wear it more often.

WIth all of the neutrals, the little purple Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote bag was the perfect pop of colour with my outfit.


Last worn: denim jacket, Sass & Bide tank, drawstring waist maxi skirt, Converse, Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote bag.

Other ways to wear: denim jacket, Sass & Bide tank and metallic jeans, drawstring waist maxi skirt worn two ways, Converse and skinny jeans, Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote bag and blue dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: denim jacket in second trimester, Converse for second trimester travel, Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote bag in second trimester.

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Rebecca Minkoff Handbag Reveal:

(In case you missed it over on YouTube, I bought another Rebecca Minkoff bag!)

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What I wore:

Jacket: Bubblegum denim jacket
Necklace: Kmart gold and navy beaded necklace
Tank: Jeanswest 'Hannah' print tank in paradise pink multi
Skirt: Noisy May long denim maxi skirt
Shoes: slim gold Havaianas
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff red micro Avery cross body bag

Why I wore it:

A colourful outfit with some of my favourite pieces for a sad day! We had a service to close the chapter at our regular playgroup building. After our last week there, I felt it would be good to go and say thank you to everyone who helped us over the years, as lots of the people who worked there over the centre's 20 year history came back for the day.

The boys did so well through the service, although when it drew to a close and they mentioned it was time for morning tea, a certain little boy couldn't contain his excitement any longer and screamed 'MORNING TEA!', much to the amusement of the previously sad and reflective crowd. The funniest part was how many people came up to me afterwards and commented that is was just like him to do that - sums up my son so well, he always brings a smile to people's faces. Of course it wasn't long before the cake the boys were eating made its way onto my outfit!

I wasn't sure how formal the service would be so thought the denim jacket would be best to cover up my shoulders in this sleeveless tank, even if it was a bit warm and I ended up taking it off for the rest of the day. The colourful striped tank and bag were my attempt to bring some cheer to the day - it was a lovely way to have some closure after our time there (over three and a half years!) but sad all the same. I shed a few tears.


Last worn: denim jacket (above), brushstroke stripe tank, chambray maxi skirt, Havaianas, Rebecca Minkoff mini Avery tote.

Other ways to wear: denim jacket and shorts, brushstroke stripe tank and pink bag, chambray maxi skirt and foil print tee, Rebecca Minkoff mini Avery tote and jeans.

Perfect for pregnancy: denim jacket in third trimester, brushstroke stripe tank in second trimester.

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Maxi Skirts Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

Plain maxi skirts are a nice spring option, especially when paired with a printed tank. it's a simple outfit formula, perfect for a busy mum. If it's a little cooler in the morning or evening, a denim jacket is a great layer.


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Textured Jackets, Grey Pencil Skirts and Rebecca Minkoff MAB Tote

When the weather warmed up a little it was good to leave my trench coats behind and wear some lighter jackets better suited to spring. As both of these jackets are textured I kept the rest of my outfit simple, with neutral shoes, a big navy tote and plain tops with grey pencil skirts.

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Cassandra jacquard jacket
Scarf: Fashion Scarf Girl Family tree scarf in blue and navy (c/o)
Top: Jeanswest chana long sleeve stud top in night sky navy
Skirt: Atmos&Here grey marle jersey pencil skirt
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs silver tuxedo flats
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote in moon navy

Why I wore it:

I knew that this light blue family tree print scarf would work really nicely with the navy blue blouse. I wasn't too happy with how it looked with the busy jacquard jacket though. I knew I'd appreciate the scarf in the cold office air con, so decided at the last minute to accessorise my bag a bit by knotting the scarf on it. I think the blue scarf worked just as nicely with the navy tote as it did with the navy blouse when I wore it to keep warm in the office.

With the metallic thread running through the jacket, the silver ballet flats were an obvious choice, I do like a bit of matchy matchy, with even the top and bag matching too.

This pencil skirt is a comfortable grey jersey I sometimes worry is a little too casual, but for a mostly quiet day with little face to face meetings it was perfect. And it doesn't look out of place when others in the office are wearing jeans!


Last worn: jacquard blazer, family tree scarf, navy studded blouse, grey jersey pencil skirt, silver ballet flats, Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote.

Other ways to wear: jacquard blazer and jeans, family tree scarf and stripes, navy studded blouse worn two ways, grey jersey pencil skirt and Converse, silver ballet flats and purple pants, Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote and sheath dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: jacquard blazer in third trimester, grey jersey pencil skirt in third trimester, silver ballet flats in third trimester, Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote in first trimester.

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More Ways To Accessorise A Bag:

Just like in the outfit above, you can change the look of your bags a little by accessorising them. I share tying a scarf on them and 5 other ways you can accessorise your handbags in this video:

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What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Dixie collarless jacket
Scarf: Fashion Scarf Girl parrot print scarf (c/o)
Top: Jeanswest 'Tilda' black shirt
Skirt: Asos tailored tab front pencil skirt in grey
Shoes: Walnut Melbourne 'Ava' black lizard ballet flats (also available in silver)
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote in moon navy

Why I wore it:

Since I loved the plain top, textured jacket and grey pencil skirt combo, I tried it again the next time I was in the office. This time around, with the black boucle jacket and plain black top, I felt the outfit needed a bit of colour. I decided to wear this colourful parrot print scarf. Despite the busy texture of the jacket, I think the printed scarf worked well as the top of my outfit was all black, unlike the first outfit.

I really enjoyed wearing this - and the more formal fabric of the pencil skirt made me feel suitably attired for a couple of big meetings I had during the day. I was glad when the day was over though, it was such a busy afternoon, I even had to cancel lunch with hubby to get more work done.


Last worn: boucle jacket, parrot print scarf, black blouse, grey pencil skirt, black ballet flats, Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote (above).

Other ways to wear: boucle jacket and a-line skirt, parrot print scarf and blue knit, black blouse and leopard print jeans, grey pencil skirt in winter, black ballet flats and jeans, Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote and fit and flare dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: boucle jacket in second trimester, black blouse in second trimester, grey pencil skirt in first trimester, black ballet flats in third trimester, Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote in third trimester.

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Textured Jackets Under $50

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How You Can Wear It:

Textured jackets are a nice alternative to a plain jacket and add some extra interest to your outfit. To keep things simple, you can wear them with plain, block colour pieces and let the jacket shine and be the statement part of your outfit. They work nicely in the office, fitting in with any dress code.


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