Corporate Style: Zara Jersey Blazer and Pencil Skirts with Printed Tops

Another two outfits showing what I wore to work. Black pencil skirts, printed tops and a blazer is a great office wear formula.  Each outfit had a little twist though to make it just a bit different from the normal.

It is just starting to get a little chilly in the mornings, so I needed a jacket. I eneded up wearing my Zara jersey blazer both days! I am feeling completely justified in buying another version of this in a different colour when it popped up on ebay in my size!

What I wore:

Jacket: thrifted Zara black blazer

Dress: Atmos & Here Willow printed tee dress
Skirt: Jeanswest black ponte pencil skirt
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs metallic mouse flats
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)

Why I wore it:

Again, this was a double style challenge outfit. I knew exactly what I wanted to do for the 'classic with a twist' prompt for fox pack style dare, although it took a little bit of thinking for the posh lady indigo 'metallica' idea. I was going to go with a sparkly statement necklace, but figured it would be too busy with the printed top, so when with gold accessories instead.

If you've been reading my blog for a while you might recognise the print of the top. It's not actually a top, it's that tee dress I wore over and over when I first bought it. I've worn pencil skirts over dresses before, and I've worn this dress as a tee with a skirt over it casually too. It's a wonderful way for me to get some more wear out of a dress, especially one I love as much as this. I really liked this outfit, probably because it let me wear one of my favourite casual dresses to the office!


Last worn: Zara blazer, Atmos&Here botanic print dress, black pencil skirt, metallic mouse flats, LV speedy bandouliere.

Other ways to wear: jersey blazer with a dress, tee dress with Converse, pencil skirt with a tiny second trimester baby bump, mouse flats and a maxi skirt, speedy bandouliere with denim shorts.

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What I wore:

Jacket: thrifted Zara black blazer

Headscarf: Louis Vuitton "comete" bandeau scarf
Necklace: Tai gold alphabet necklace
Tank: Jeanswest 'Hannah' print tank in paradise pink multi
Skirt: Jeanswest zip detail ponte pencil skirt
Shoes: Wittner 'Bloomy' black heels
Bracelets: the usual plus JORD black Fieldcrest wood watch (C/O)
Bag: Balenciaga RH classic city in 2010 sorbet

Why I wore it:

Just realised I haven't worn this bag in over a year! When I last wore it, I was in the third trimester!

This was also a double style challenge outfit. It also took forever to come together, despite how simple it is. printed top, pencil skirt, blazer and heels for the office, easy! But I had a heard time deciding on the right top and jacket for this look, as I'd added in the headscarf for the 'mad hatters' theme for posh lady indigo style challenge. I don't have a hat I could wear to the office, just my big sunhat for the beach, so I picked the scarf instead. Because the scarf has a colourful print I couldn't pick a nice top that worked with it. I spent about half an hour the night before - and ended up getting rid of a few tops as I had a try on session through my wardrobe - before I settled on this brushstroke stripe tank. When I wore it the next day I wasn't sure if I should use the headscarf as I had planned for the 'this has a story' prompt for the fox pack style dare challenge, or the fact that the outfit took so long to put together!

I got to work not feeling the best in this outfit. I thought it looked okay, but nothing special. I much preferred the previous outfit (above). But everyone at work loved this. I kept getting compliments all day on it! I had people telling me I looked great, asking me where I got the scarf, that I should wear the scarf more often...one of the most stylish ladies in the office asked if I had bought the top and scarf together as they looked like a set! My friends and I will often compliment each other's outfit choices, but I'm not so used to the input from others. I also had the fun of explaining what an instagram style challenge was to one of my male colleagues, who now asks me each time he seems me what theme I'm dressing for.

It was really nice and unexpected. I ended up feeling a lot more confident than I had that morning when I walked out the door! Reminded me of how just taking a few seconds to give someone a sincere compliment can make their day. I've always been a big believer in 'if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all' like my mum taught me. It's only recently I've realised that I should be making more of an effort to be vocal with my appreciation when there are nice things I could say! Random acts of kindness don't need to be big things, try giving someone an honest compliment to make them smile. :)


Last worn: Louis Vuitton bandeau, black Zara blazer (above), brushstroke stripe tank, pencil skirt, ankle strap heels, Balenciaga sorbet city bag.

Other ways to wear: LV bandeau worn as a belt over a pregnant belly, blazer with jeans and a tee, brushtroke stripe tank and denim, ankle strap heels in winter, Balenciaga city with a maxi dress.

Linking up with Whatcha Wearing Wednesday, Style Me Weekly, Because Shanna Said So, What I Wore, Style Me Wednesday, Oh Hey Girl, Get Your Pretty On, Trendy Wednesday, Spotlight Weekly, Throwback Thursday, Thursday Fashion Files, What I Wore to Work, Thursday Threads, Fun Fashion Friday, Feature Friday today.

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Prints! Floral Cami, Pastel Blazer and Skinny Jeans | Polka Dot Shirt Dress and Converse

I was participating in two style challenges on instagram in April, so that gave me the chance to try some different outfit ideas I wouldn't have thought of on my own. After my wardrobe detox also, I'm feeling a lot more inspired to try different things. I'm not completely changing my style (it's all just clothes from my own wardrobe after all), but I'm wearing things differently or trying combinations I might have passed up before. I'm finding that not all of the outfits are winners, but they are only clothes! If I don't like the result in the mirror I can just put something else on...and if the outfits do pass the 'mirror test' in the morning but I end up disliking them after looking at the photos or wearing them all day, well I just know I won't repeat those combinations again :) So below are two outfits where I tried some different things. One I didn't really like, but one I did like, just would have preferred to have worn it on a different day.

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Nadine 3/4 Sleeve dusky pink blazer

Necklace: Tai gold alphabet necklace
Cami: Jeanswest 'Amber' floral print ruffle cami
Jeans: Jeanswest Super Skinny Jeans in Mid Indigo
Shoes: Balenciaga studded sandals in sorbet RGGH
Bag: Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere (with Coach feather bag charm)

Why I wore it:

The style challenge for the day was 'girly' so I went overboard with the pink and added some florals too! I did stop to wonder if the pink sandals were going too far, but figured why not just give it a go. We went for a little walk by the sea. It's embarrassing how little we go to the beach considering how close we live to it! This is another one of those outfits where I like the pieces separately, but together they just don't work. The ruffles on the cami don't look nice with the lapels of the blazer, it's too much.

I did take my camera when we went out so that I could try switch things up a little background wise and take advantage of the great scenery with the sea, but with a dog and a baby in a stroller, that was a bit of a fail too.

Despite this not being a great outfit, it passed my mirror test that morning and I was really comfortable and happy in it all day! It was only after I looked at the photos on the computer I realised that it didn't really work. Colour-wise it's a wonderful idea, but these pieces are not the best way to implement it!


Last worn: blush pink boyfriend blazer, floral ruffle cami, Jeanswest skinny jeans, Balenciaga studded sandals, Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere bag.

Other ways to wear: boyfriend blazer and denim shorts, floral cami with a pencil skirt, another skinny jeans, blazer and pastels look for spring, studded sandals with embellished maxi dress and studded bag, LV speedy bandouliere worn with skirts.

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What I wore:

Sunnies: Rayban new Wayfarers
Scarf: Burberry cashmere tartan scarf

Dress: Atmos&Here Polly navy polka dot shirt dress (new purchase)
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in white
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC with python embossed leather in aquamarine

Why I wore it:

This was another double style challenge day! It was 'mixed materials' for the posh lady indigo challenge, and 'sports luxe' for the fox pack style dare. I took the chance to get a little more dressed up than I usually would for a day of working from home and doing the daycare drop off/pick up. The cosy cashmere scarf wasn't needed in the middle of the day, but I was thankful for it in the cold morning.

I felt very overdressed for the day, but it did meet the challenge prompts, and is the kind of outfit I find so easy and comfortable to wear. I really liked it even if it seemed like a bit of a 'waste' as I worked from home all day!

I was happy to be able to wear my new shirt dress too! So glad I picked this up at the Iconic, I'd had it in my wishlist there for a while just waiting for a sale to justify it. It's really similar to my Zara printed tunic dress but that's one of the reasons why I like it. I figure the polka dots are different enough that I can justify having the two similar cut navy dresses in my wardrobe.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarers, tartan scarf, white Converse, Rebecca Minkoff aqua mini MAC bag. First time I've worn the shirt dress as it is a recent purchase.

Other ways to wear: Burberry tartan scarf with a leather jacket, similar navy dress with a third trimester baby bump, Converse with denim shorts, mini MAC with a maxi skirt.

Linking up with Styled Up, Shoe and Tell, Style to Inspire, Mix It Mondays, Manic Monday, Bless Your Heart, Turning Heads, Reasons to Dress, Style Sessions, Real Mom Style, Confident Twosday, The Wednesday Pants, Wardrobe Wednesday today.

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