Autumn Layering: Prints, Colourful Cardigans and Striped Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAC

Every time I see someone like Lauren from Exploring My Style or Kiki from According to Kiki wearing their cardigans and talking about how great they are, I think of all my hardly worn cardigans. I wore them frequently in the newborn baby days over my breastfeeding singlets, and I've always had one kept in my desk at work to keep me cosy in the office air con, but I don't really wear them out very much. I'm trying to change that this year and take advantage of the milder autumn weather to wear some of my cardigans.

What I wore:

Sunnies: Rayban new Wayfarers
Cardi: Jeanswest long red drape cardigan

Necklace: Tai gold alphabet necklace
Tank: Emerson crochet lace bib print top
Skirt: Target grey marle maxi skirt
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bracelets: the usual plus Disney Couture Winnie the Pooh bangle and Hermes Kelly double tour bracelet in rubis
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff striped coated canvas mini MAC in berry stripe

Why I wore it:

This was what I wore for Mother's Day! (Yes I am that behind with blogging!) This was my first Mother's day with baby T so hubby put a little more effort in than when it was just Cooper helping me celebrate ;) I was spoiled with some delicious and creative gifts, and we went out for lunch and a walk over to King Island. I wore the cardi in case it was a little chilly by the sea, but it was so nice sitting there on the sand enjoying the sunshine.

I've worn this cardigan with a maxi skirt before and didn't like the way it looked untied (I preferred it knotted) but this time around I liked the look and left it hanging down loose. Maybe as the printed top broke the long line up a little it looked a bit better.

Everything I wore worked for the 'channelling the person who has influenced your style the most' theme for the Fox in Flats style dare. The printed tank was a gift from my mum, the maxi skirt I bought on one of my many shopping trips with my mum, and I know my mum would have approved of the cardigan so I didn't catch a cold ;)


Last worn: RayBan wayfarers, red cardigan, red printed tank, grey maxi skirt, Havaianas, Rebecca Minkoff canvas stripe mini MAC.

Other ways to wear: red cardigan with an all-black outfit (1 and a half weeks postpartum), red printed tank in the office, grey maxi skirt with a plain pink top, Rebecca Minkoff canvas stripe mini MAC with a printed navy shirt dress.

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What I wore:

Cardigan: Jeanswest Dana drape knit cardi in Boysenberry

Necklace: Tai gold alphabet necklace
Dress: Jeanswest 'Chelsea' printed dress
Belt: thick brown Vera Moda belt
Shoes: Asos Cleo leather boots in tan
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff striped coated canvas mini MAC in berry stripe

Why I wore it:

I wasn't happy with this bag and outfit together  - but it was what I had wore the day before and had all my things in, so it was the best choice as I was running late in the morning. I tried to cram in rhyme time at the library before going to playgroup with baby T. I managed it and was only a little late. Hopefully I'll be on time next time!

The style dare for the day was 'favourite dress, different'. This dress is one of my favourites - I love the style and the colour. I purchased it last year, and wore it in spring, and in summer. I just layered it up a little this time around with a cardigan and leather boots for autumn. I couldn't decide if the belt looked better over or under the cardigan - I ended up putting it under the cardigan but I think this would look nice both ways, gives me another way to wear it later. I'm hoping to wear this dress through the year and not just have it as a warmer weather piece.


Last worn: purple cardigan, boho printed dress, tan leather boots, Rebecca Minkoff canvas mini MAC(above).

Other ways to wear: purple cardigan with maternity skinny jeans - first day out with a newborn, boho printed dress with ankle boots for spring, leather boots and skinny jeans in winter, Rebecca Minkoff canvas mini MAC with maxi skirts and a baby bump.

Linking up with Let It Shine, Style To Inspire, Modest Monday, Shoe and Tell, Mix it Mondays, Manic Mondays, Sunday Funday, Bless Her Heart, Real Mom Style, Turning Heads, Reasons to Dress, Confident Twosday, Style Sessions, The Wednesday Pants, Wardrobe Wednesday, Because Shanna Said So  today.

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Bare Legs in Autumn - Colours, Prints and Neutral Bags

After the crazy stormy weather, it actually turned into a nice couple of days, warm enough to go bare-legged even though it's nearing the end of autumn. I took the chance to wear some lighter outfits, guided again by what the theme of the day was for each day for the Fox in Flats May style challenge.

What I wore:

Jacket: no label white drape jacket

Necklace: House of Harlow sunburst necklace in silver and grey
Tank:  Jeanswest 'Jenni' singlet in indigo blue (on sale here!)
Shorts: Jeanswest 'Scarlette' printed shorts (on sale!)
Shoes: Acne pistol boots in "skin"
Bag: Audrey leather clutch in cognac C/O Avalina Leather

Why I wore it:

I had been looking at these shorts in my wardrobe recently, thinking it was a shame I didn't wear them as much as I had hoped to over summer. So when the challenge for the day was 'slick legs - leather, pleather, coated denim or dare to bare' I knew wearing these shorts again would be perfect. It worked out well as I was able to take advantage of the warm weather and go bare-legged, without needing to layer too much on top. I only needed the jacket in the morning and evening.

I chose the blue tank to wear with the shorts as it was an outfit idea the personal stylist suggested to me during my wardrobe detox - I quite liked the monochrome look, but I think a tank that matched the shorts a little closer would have been better. This was the closet match I had from my blue tanks though.

This bag hasn't been worn in a while! I wasn't sure what bag would look best with this, and I've been wearing my Rebecca Minkoff bags a lot lately so wanted to change it up a little. I just needed my wallet and phone as I was working from home and only popping out to day care with baby. I went looking for a nice bag and rediscovered this cute tan clutch, perfect and fit exactly what I needed.


Last worn: waterfall drape jacket, blue tank, printed shorts, Acne Pistol boots, Avalina leather clutch.

Other ways to wear: draped jacket with stripes, blue tank over a third trimester baby bump, printed shorts outfit for a day at a theme park, pistol boots with a little red dress, tan leather clutch with an Aztec print dress.

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What I wore:

Scarf: Asos crinkle oversized leopard print scarf

Dress: Zalora Basics faux leather placket red shift dress (new purchase, on sale!)
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in white
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff MAB mini in soft grey

Why I wore it:

I loved this outfit, but it was a struggle to come up with it, despite how simple it looks! The challenge for the day was 'vamp vixen', and I wouldn't say I'd have anything especially vampish in my wardrobe. It was also a quiet day with baby - a few errands to run but nothing that would need me to put a lot of effort into my outfit.

Had been wanting to wear this red dress again for its second wear of the month, and thought a scarf would look good. Red and leopard print sounds kind of vampish right? Even if I was balancing it out with a loose fit red dress, just a little bit of leopard in the scarf and extremely practical flat shoes. While I'm not entirely sure it met the challenge for the day, I really loved this outfit. This scarf is another one I rediscovered during my wardrobe detox, it hasn't been worn in almost 3 years! far too long between wears.


This is the second time I've worn this dress since I bought it (you can see the previous time here). I'm trying to wear everything I buy twice in a month after I buy it so I can see if it really works in my wardrobe, to make myself think more about what I'm buying and to try and stop buying things I just don't wear.

My purchase review:
I wasn't 100% sold on this dress when I saw it online but bought it because the price was good and it was a similar style to the dress I had been wanting to buy for a while. I am so glad I made this impulse purchase, it's a great dress! The colour is a little different from what I would usually go for, but so wearable. The length is good for being at home with baby too - just above the knees and it doesn't creep up too far when belt the ergo carrier around my waist while babywearing. Plus, it has pockets! The sleeves hit me at an odd point - probably as I'm petite - so I've just rolled the sleeves up a little more, but they stay there all day and that's easy enough to do each time I wear it.

This is one of those impulse purchases I'm glad I made - I knew that since I ordered from the Iconic I could return it if it didn't work out anyway. Even if I am trying to curb my impulse buys, this one was a worthwhile one!



Last worn: leopard print scarf, red dress, white Converse, RM MAM bag.

Other ways to wear: leopard print scarf with Aztec print dress, red shift dress with blue scarf and ankle boots, polka dot shirt dress and Converse, print mixing outfit with a neutral grey bag.

Linking up with Fab Favourites, Casual Friday, Passion for Fashion, Fashion Friday, Mix It Up Friday, The Ultimate Rabbit Hole, Thursday Threads today.

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