Monday 29 June 2015

June Dress Week: Corporate Style - Polka Dots and Floral Print - Monthly Purchases

Sharing my June purchases and the final two outfits for the June Dress Week Style challenge, two work outfits. I enjoyed playing along with Kiki during this challenge, but I do think it was extremely challenging for me wearing so many dresses in winter. It definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone though, which is a nice benefit from a style challenge.

June Purchases:





With all of these purchases this month it's easy to see why I've decided to do a #noBuyJuly15 challenge! I definitely don't need to be adding any more to my wardrobe. I still have completely unworn items from my May purchases, as well as things I bought and have only worn once! I didn't hit my goals of wearing things twice in a month after buying them...because of this I returned all of the tops from my Jeanswest order. I think I need a bit of space to wear and use what I own instead of buying more in July and compounding the problem.


What I wore:

corporate style: navy shirt dress worn as top with grey jersey pencil skirt winter

Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote in moon navy
ScarfAlexander McQueen magenta skull scarf in roses print
DressAtmos&Here Polly navy polka dot shirt dress
SkirtAtmos&Here grey marle jersey pencil skirt (same in navy or in black)
ShoesWittner 'Bloomy' black heels
BagRebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote in moon navy (on sale!)


Why I wore it:

The style challenge for the day was 'shirt dresses or wrap dresses' so I wanted to wear my newest shirt dress purchase. Wearing a dress as a top isn't a new thing for me (I've done it here and here before) but I actually really hated it this time! I don't know if it was the lack of a belt or just the mix of the materials with the dress, tights and skirt. It didn't stay in place and I kept tugging at it all day. The jersey pencil skirt wasn't very forgiving when the dress bunched up underneath it either.

I like the idea behind this outfit and all the pieces, but not how it all worked together. If I was to try this again I'd wear a different skirt, add a belt and pull the dress down. I think part of the problem was that I tried to let the dress drape a little over the top of the skirt to disguise that I didn't add a belt. See how Kiki had a better outfit for the challenge here.


Last wornmetallic jacket, roses skull scarf, polka dot shirt dress, grey marle pencil skirt, ankle strap heels, Rebecca Minkoff navy MAB tote.

Other ways to wear: metallic blazer with a sequin tank, skull scarf with spring dresses, polka dot shirt dress with Converse, grey marle pencil skirt with Converse in spring, ankle strap heels and bare legs, Rebecca Minkoff MAB tote with printed pieces for work.









What I wore:

Purple and black layered winter office outfit foggy Brisbane day

Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote bag in moon navy for office
Jacket: Temt black trench coat 
ScarfMarc by Marc Jacobs print scarf in croc-print
Cardigan: Jeanswest Peggie long sleeve line kimono in purple mulberry marle (new purchase)
DressJeanswest floral wrap dress
TankJeanswest Jenni basic singlet in Royal Lilac purple
ShoesAsos Aggie leather western ankle boots in black
BagRebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote in moon navy (on sale!)


Why I wore it:

This was what I wore for the 'Floral Friday' challenge. I did think of wearing this wrap dress for the previous day's challenge, but as it was one of the few floral print dresses I own I wanted to save it for this day instead. I've worn it a few times in the blog, during pregnancy and post-baby too. I've never worn it layered up quite so much, even pre blog I kept it as mainly a warm-weather dress. Was good to try something different and wear it in winter. See how Kiki wore the floral Friday theme on her blog.

I really liked this outfit to wear, but I think the photo shows how rushed I was that morning - everything was kind of thrown on and I didn't even have time to try straighten anything out before I took the photo. Taking daily outfit photos will never be more than something I quickly do before I go out each day, I'm not trying to and never will be perfectly posed and styled. I figured a rushed photo was better than nothing, as I was doing the style challenge I felt I had to get a picture. Still pretty pleased I managed get ready and take photos and get to work on time though, I was really running late that morning.

Leaving My Wardrobe: Asos Aggie Black Ankle Boots


This is the last wearing of these ankle boots too. The heel just limits the amount of time I can wear them, and I've already bought a pair of flat ones to replace these as shown in the video. They were comfortable and did well in my wardrobe, I just need things that are a little more suited to life with baby. From the first wear to now, I've worn them 36 times. Not bad for a sale buy 3 years ago!





Last worn: trench coatcroc print scarfpurple tankfloral wrap dress, black ankle boots, Rebecca Minkoff MAB tote (above). First time I've worn the cardigan as it is a new purchase.

Other ways to wear: black trench coat with a different printed wrap dressprinted scarf with striped maxi skirt in third trimesterpurple tank with a pencil skirt in summerfloral wrap dress in summer with a baby bump, ankle boots in spring with a floral dress.




Linking up with Let It Shine, Modest Monday, Styled Up, Budgeting Bloggers, Bless Your Heart, Mix It Mondays, Manic Monday, Daily ExpressOn Trend Tuesday, Confident Twosday, Style Sessions, Reasons To Dress, Wardrobe Wednesday, The Wednesday Pants, What I Wore today.




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Friday 26 June 2015

June Dress Week: Printed Maxi Dress Day and Night with Ankle Boots

Two different outfits with the same printed maxi dress! Showing you what I've recently worn for the June Dress Week style challenge, and what I wore for a house cooling party on the weekend.

I'm doing the #JuneDressWeek2 challenge with my blog buddy Kiki from According to Kiki. You can follow along with us on instagram: @kikimincks and @awayfromblue, or through our blogs.

What I wore:

Printed Maxi Dress in Winter layered with blue knit pink skull scarf ankle boots

Rebecca Minkoff aquamarine mini MAC with teal printed maxi dress
Jumper: thrifted blue Mossman knit jumper (new purchase)
Dress: Thrifted JayJays teal paisley print maxi dress
ShoesAcne pistol boots in "skin" (on sale!)
BagRebecca Minkoff mini MAC with python embossed leather in aquamarine (on sale here!)


Why I wore it:

The style challenge for the day was 'take me away'. You can see how Kiki interpreted the theme here. I went with a maxi dress as it's the perfect piece for a holiday, take me away to the sun! Unfortunately it's cold, rainy and winter in Brisbane so I layered up a little with a cosy knit and a scarf. Comfortable for working from home and doing the day care drop off/pickup too.

As it's the second time I've worn this maxi dress since I bought it, my purchase review:
I'm so glad I bought this. I mentioned when I bought it and when I last wore it that I used to have something really similar when I was younger, in black. Every time I look at this dress I become more and more convinced I have owned it before, just in black and in a smaller size. I haven't had any luck finding an old photo of it though!
I love this dress. It's hard to say if it's because this dress is a great piece on its own or if it reminds me of the black one I outgrew years ago, but I love it either way. I wasn't really looking to add another maxi dress to my collection but I am so glad I did pick this one up, I can see it getting lots of wear in the warmer months especially. It's not a colour I'd normally go for, but since my wardrobe detox and getting 'my colour palette' done I've been branching out a little more with colour and this dress is perfect. So happy with this purchase.


Last worn: pink skull scarfteal maxi dress, Acne pistol boots, Rebecca Minkoff aqua mini MAC.

Other ways to wear: skull scarf in spring with chambray dresscolourful maxi dress with a bright pashmina, pistol boots and printed shorts, aquamarine mini MAC bag with skinny jeans.








What I wore:

Teal printed maxi dress black cardi vintage Chanel flap ankle boots layered necklaces

Chanel vintage quilted lambskin flap bag
Necklaces: silver spiral necklace layered with Tai gold alphabet necklace and Dogeared silver wishbone necklace (on sale!)
Cardi: no label black long cardi
Dress: Thrifted JayJays teal paisley print maxi dress
Shoes: RMK Chester black ankle boots
BagChanel vintage quilted lambskin flap


Why I wore it:

I wasn't sure what to wear for a 'house cooling' party on the weekend. I didn't want to be too cold but I didn't want to dress too casually in jeans. I have been wearing maxi dresses a lot lately, and not just because I'm doing dress week style challenges. They are the perfect option for 'there is no dress code' events. They work for kid's birthday parties as well as grown up house parties.

It gave me another excuse to wear this printed maxi dress too, and although I wore it a few days after the outfit I posted above, I thought it would be a nice side-by-side post to show a day and evening look with the same dress. I did wish I'd worn a scarf or a thicker jacket with this - it was quite chilly in the evening, although we were warm enough once we got inside. Since I had the cardigan on I layered up some necklaces instead of bracelets, to add some accessories.

Leaving My Wardrobe: Black Cardigan

This cardigan has never been seen on the blog, that I could find. It's a piece I used to have in my desk at work for when the air conditioning got cold. Unlike my other cardigans, I don't enjoy wearing this one. It's not the best quality and it isn't the most comfortable to wear. I do have another black cardigan I haven't worn in years, despite enjoying wearing it, so there is no point keeping this one I don't like wearing. It is leaving my wardrobe.


Last worn: teal printed maxi dress (above), vintage Chanel flap bag. First time I've worn the boots as they are a new purchase, and first time I've worn the cardigan on the blog.

Other ways to wear: colourful maxi dress with a bright pashmina, vintage Chanel bag with another printed maxi dress at 39 weeks pregnant





Linking up with Friday Favourites, Passion For Fashion, Feature Friday, Fashion Friday, Mix It Up Friday, Favourite Fashion Friday, Casual Friday, Flashback Fashion Friday, Fashion Friday, Fab Favourites, Shoe and Tell today.


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