Frocktober: Jeanswest Black Maxi Dresses, Purple Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAB Tote Bag

Getting closer to the end of October, I started to wear all the maxi dresses I'd been 'saving' for later in the Frocktober challenge. I ended up wearing my two black maxi dresses back to back.

What I wore:

Jacket: Bubblegum denim jacket

Dress: Jeanswest 'Sierra' embellished black maxi dress (on sale!)
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs metallic mouse flats
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote in plum | Shop more Rebecca Minkoff bags

Why I wore it:

I really like this maxi dress for the little embellishment along the neckline and the side split, it makes it just a little different from a plain black maxi dress. I used to have a plain black maxi dress, but I got rid of that one in my wardrobe when I bought this one.

This was a nice outfit for song time at the local library with toddler T and then dinner with the in-laws after Church Online. I picked the denim jacket as I needed another layer to keep me warm in the air conditioning, and it also met the #myStyleOctober prompt of 'old faithful', as I bought this jacket such a long time ago, when I was a uni student! I'd wanted to participate in more prompts for #myStyleOctober as well as doing my own #31Days31DifferentDresses challenge, but with a limited wardrobe of dresses and trying to make sure I had enough to wear that would accommodate the baby bump, it wasn't always possible.


Last worn: denim jacket, embellished maxi dress, metallic mouse flats, Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote.

Other ways to wear: denim jacket with a maxi skirt, embellished maxi dress with short hair in autumn, metallic mouse flats and flares, Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote and a colourful maxi dress.

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Shop more black maxi dresses at Shopbop (starting from $26.40!):

1 & 2: Bop Basics maxi dresses | 3 & 4: Three Dots maxi dresses | 5: Lovers + Friends maxi dress
(All above are under $200!)

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What I wore:

Sunglasses: Rayban new Wayfarers (on sale!)

Cardi: Jeanswest brown marle waterfall cardigan
Necklace: thrifted pearl and heart long necklace
Dress: thrifted black Jeanswest halterneck maxi dress
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bracelets: the usual plus Nicole by Nicole Miller bracelet
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote in plum | Shop more Rebecca Minkoff bags

Why I wore it:

Despite wanting to reduce the number of dresses I own during this challenge, like the majority of the other dresses I've worn, I really liked wearing this and so it's staying in my wardrobe. Was perfect for a morning at playgroup with the toddler, although I did end up taking the cardi off when the sun came out for the day.

Unlike the maxi dress I wore the day before (above) this is a very plain black maxi dress. As I thought last time I wore it, I didn't get to wear it twice in a month after buying it, which indicates it wasn't a needed addition to my wardrobe. It was part of a $2 bag in the fill a bag for $2 sale at the local op-shop though so I've held onto it. As it's only it's second wear now and I bought it in May.... my purchase review:

I know I don't need this dress, I already have a black maxi dress I love (above) and this one I just like, so I should let it leave my wardrobe. But the bargain price and the fact that it's a classic black maxi dress are making me want to keep it. It's staying in my wardrobe. Even if it's not going to be a forever piece, it's definitely going to fill a need during my pregnancy! Not the smartest or most necessary purchase, but one I'm happy to have.


A quick video review of my Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote too, as I forgot to do it on it's second wear:

Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer, brown marle cardigan, black maxi dress, Havaianas, Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote in plum (above).

Other ways to wear: cardigan and skinny jeans in autumn, black maxi dress layered up for winter, Rebecca Minkoff mini MAB tote and a printed maxi dress.


Linking up with Pleated Poppy, Fresh Fashion Forum, Style Me Wednesday, Oh Hey Girl, Throwback Thursday, Fashion Files, Fun Fashion, Shoe and Tell, Let It Shine, Hello Monday, Modest Monday.



This post was created in partnership with Shopbop. Occasionally, Away From The Blue blog may receive vendor or brand sponsorships for mentioning their products or services. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own.

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Frocktober: Casual and Classy Dresses

Another two of my Frocktober fundraising challenge outfits. A nice casual shift dress for working from home and a fancier lace LBD for the office to tie in with our team fundraising theme for the week.

What I wore:

Scarf: Love Quotes knotted tassel linen scarf in sunshine yellow (Get Love Quotes scarves at Shopbop)

Dress: Zara printed bib front tunic dress
Shorts: (under dress) Cotton On blue denim shorts
Shoes: Ikwetta 'Circles of life' sandals (C/O)
Bracelets: the usual plus Balenciaga coated stud wrap bracelet in icy blue
Bag: Balenciaga giant hardware Day bag in 2009 tempete

Why I wore it:

I wore this the same day I took the video of my Shopbop sale purchases. I was so excited to wear the scarf right away! It does look a bit big though....hoping I can figure out how to tie it better and get some more wear out of it (it's only linen) before the weather heats up too much here in Brisbane. I'd bought it without checking the measurements as it reminded me of a scarf I had my eye on in the July sales, when I was doing #noBuyJuly. That scarf sold out before July was over and I could shop again. I'd been looking for a yellow scarf since, so was excited to pick this one up!

I worked from home and had an OB appointment in the morning, so I had to put some shorts under the dress so I had a little bit of modesty intact when the OB was checking baby's progress.


Last worn: Zara navy shift dress, denim shorts, Ikwetta sandals, Balenciaga day bag. First time I've worn the scarf as it is a recent purchase.

Other ways to wear: Zara navy printed dress layered up for winter, denim shorts with a striped dress, Ikwetta sandals and a maxi dress, Balenciaga day bag with shorts.

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Casual dresses and classy dresses from Shopbop under $100:

1, 2, 3, 5: BB Dakota dresses | See more casual shift dresses 

4: Free People lace dress | 6: WAYF lace dress | See more classy lace dresses

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What I wore:

Necklace: freshwater pearl necklace layered with Tai gold alphabet necklace

Dress: Jeanswest 'Gisele' contrast lace dress
Shoes: Walnut Melbourne 'Ava' black lizard ballet flats
Bracelets: the usual plus Roie Designs waxed leather cream howlite beaded wrap bracelet
Bag: Mulberry regular Alexa bag in foggy grey

Why I wore it:

Although I'm only in the office 2 days a week, I've managed to get quite a few of my colleagues excited about Frocktober. We've been trying to get group pics as we go along, as we email them around to the department with updates on our dress wearing and fundraising progress. This day, someone suggested we should all try wear our best LBDs, and the final picture was awesome. Wish we had come up with a weekly theme sooner! Maybe next year.

I'd worn this dress in the third trimester before so I was confident I'd still be able to fit into it, and so I'd been keeping it in reserve for the later days of the end of the challenge when I suspected I'd be running out of dresses that fit! Was grateful to have something I knew I would be able to wear.


Last worn: black lace dress, black ballet flats, Mulberry foggy grey Alexa bag.

Other ways to wear: black lace dress for a work party, black flats and skinny jeans, Mulberry Alexa with jeans and a tee.

Linking up with Let It Shine, Shoe and Tell, Hello Monday, Classy Monday, Mix It Monday, Turning Heads, On Trend Tuesday, Style Sessions, Confident Twosday, Wardrobe Wednesday, Wednesday Blog Hop, Whatcha Wearing Wednesday, Pleated Poppy.


This post was created in partnership with Shopbop. Occasionally, Away From The Blue blog may receive vendor or brand sponsorships for mentioning their products or services. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own.

Follow Away From the Blue on:
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