Dressing Up Denim Shorts - Casual Summer Outfits with a Hat and Headscarf

Two more #JaNEWary style challenge outfits and two different ways to dress up denim shorts. I'm still enjoying being a stay at home mum a little longer before I return to work, so I'm always dressing for comfort first. I'm trying to put a little more effort into what I wear and be a little dressed up now and then, so I don't fall into a rut of the same outfits over and over.

In the winter, I was looking for ways to try dress up my jeans, now in summer I'm looking for ways to dress up shorts. Just like before, I find accessorising is the best way to do that. And it's easy to do, just add a little something before I step out the door. Denim is a great option for life with baby, but it's good to be able to dress it up now and then.


It's the Australia day long weekend, don't forget to take advantage of all of the extra sales and discounts in between your celebrations :)

• 20% off full priced items at Asos with code 'BBQSHRIMP'
• Extra 20% off The Iconic Sale items with code 'AUSDAY20'
• Extra 30% off sale items at Jeanswest

Here's what I wore to spend the day by the sea:

Scarf: gifted Paris print silk scarf
Necklace: Nibbly Bits Abacus necklace in pop
Singlet: Zalora basics ruffle hem tank in black (on sale!)
Shorts: Jeanswest black denim cuff shorts
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bag: Louis Vuitton MM damier azur neverfull


The style challenge for the day was to 'wear black'. Which was not my first choice for a sunny day, I'll be honest! Kept cool with denim shorts and a sleeveless tank. I like the ruffle detail on this tank, and it was nice and loose for a hot day.

My new scarf fit the challenge theme too. My mum bought it for me in Paris, it's beautiful. I thought wearing the scarf in my hair added a nice bit of interest to the outfit and dressed it up a little. Unlike the last time I wore a scarf in my hair, it wasn't tugged on too much by baby T which was good. We took a road trip up the coast, and had lunch by the sea followed by a bit of shopping. Baby T even had time for a paddle in the waves.


Last worn: peplum tank, denim shorts, Havaianas, Louis Vuitton Neverfull. First time I've worn the scarf.

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Here's what I wore to spend the day at Southbank with my family:

Hat: Big W bow detail sunhat
Shirt: River Island floral print sleeveless shirt
Shorts: Jeanswest denim cuff shorts
Shoes: Asos 'five star' leather sandals
Bag: Louis Vuitton MM damier azur neverfull


When I wore this, the style challenge was 'try something different with your makeup'. I am not a beauty guru at all. I have the products I use, and just one of each of them. While I was younger I'd have a few different eyeshadows and lippies, but it's never really been something I've been as interested in as I am in clothes or accessories. Over the years, I've downsized to my staple products and so my options are makeup on, or makeup off! I spent the day without any makeup, and hid it under a big hat.

I like how the hat worked with this outfit. I'm not a hat person, but being out so often during the day lately I am loving hats just for the sun protection aspect! The nice wide brim helps keep baby T shaded a little when I baby wear too. Plus a bad hair day is really easy to hide....I might be converting to being a hat person!

Wore this out for a day at Southbank with my grandparents and family, and felt appropriately dressed up enough for a lunch at the restaurants nearby. It helps that the sleeveless shirt has a few sequins woven in too. Isn't it pretty? Another cute piece my mum brought back from Europe for me.


Last worn: sun hat, denim shorts, leather sandals, Louis Vuitton Neverfull bag (see above). First time I've worn the shirt.

Linking up with Let It Shine, Modest Mondays, Shoe & Tell, Mix It Mondays, Manic Mondays, Real Mom Style, Style Sessions, Trend Spin Linkup, Confident Twosday, Celebrate Southern, What I Wore, Wardrobe Wednesday today.

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Pink! Choies Strawberry Print Shirt, Satin Singlet and Suede Flats

Two more JaNEWary style challenge outfits, and a Choies review featuring one of the items from my first order with them.


Here's what I wore to go sightseeing:

Shirt: Choies pink chiffon shirt with strawberry print (C/O Choies)
Shorts: Jeanswest printed denim shorts
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs logo plaque flats in camel
Bracelets: the usual plus beaded neon and gold and black and gold bracelet set
Bag: Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere (with Coach feather bag charm)


This cute strawberry print shirt is the first item I ordered from Choies recently. I'll be honest, I'd never thought of ordering from them before until I was contacted by Sussi who asked me if I wanted something from them to review.  I didn't pay anything for the order. So for something free, it's fantastic!

I'm always wary of the sizing when ordering clothing from somewhere new, so I measured a similar shirt I had to check I was ordering the correct size from Choies. This is a small, equivalent to an Aussie 8 based on their size chart, and fits exactly as I expected. I'd say it's true to size. I think checking the measurements against a similar shirt I own helped me get the right fit. The shirt isn't as sheer as I worried it may be either, I didn't have to layer a nude cami underneath. There were a couple of loose threads but that's the only negative, and for something so cheap I wasn't exactly expecting perfection. The free delivery is a great plus too, no matter where you are in the world you don't have to worry about delivery fees. I ordered just before Christmas and got my parcel less than 3 weeks later. Pretty good! I ordered another shirt from Choies too in the same order, so I'll be wearing that soon. I'm already thinking about my wardrobe for when I return to work later in the year. I don't want any more casual clothes for the time being, after doing my wardrobe inventory I think I have enough! I thought the shirts would be a good thing to get as I can wear them to the office.

And shirts are good for life with baby too! Wore this out to go out for the day sightseeing with my grandparents and baby T. Despite the rain, it was a hot day, so I wore shorts.


Last worn: printed shorts, camel flats, damier ebene speedy bandouliere. First time I've worn the strawberry print shirt.

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Here's what I wore to go to the doctors and spend the afternoon with family:

Tank: Asos satin singlet in pink
Skirt: Minkpink grey and black paisley print skirt
Shoes: Novo Carmina fuschia suede flats
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Love cross body bag in grey


The style challenge was to 'wear your best shoes on an ordinary day'. I thought of my super high wedges right away, they are the best shoes I own but they are also the most impractical. I decided to pick my best flats instead. Much more practical for the day! They are a pink suede pair I got as a gift from my mum a while ago, and I haven't worn them often. They are beautiful - and generated a lot of love on Instagram - but I am conscious not to wear them too much as I don't want to ruin the delicate suede.

Had the doctors in the morning and then dinner and time with my grandparents in the afternoon. I'd had this outfit in mind with the pink tank and shoes, and then when I put it on the pinks didn't match like I'd thought they would...I wore it out anyway and felt quite happy with it, until baby T spat up all over the tank....changed into a black tee after that.


Last worn: pink singlet, paisley print skirt, suede flats, Rebecca Minkoff Love bag.

Linking up with Fab Favourites, Casual Friday, Passion for Fashion, Skirtista Diaries today.

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