Friday, 1 January 2016

Happy New Year! Festive Maxi Dress Outfits With a Sequin Scarf and Quilted Bags

Happy new year!

I can't believe this post marks 4 years of blogging! 863 posts, countless outfits... thank you all for following along and supporting me. Thank you to everyone who reads what I write, who leaves a sweet comment, and who adds value to my blog. It's readers like you that have encouraged me to keep this blog going each year. I truly value your friendship and thoughtful comments.

I've enjoyed being able to share my real everyday style with you over the years. In a world of perfectly posed, professionally shot and photoshopped pictures, I've enjoyed sharing my quick little snaps taken before I leave the house each day, puppy and toddler photobombs sometimes included! It's been wonderful reading along with all my blog friends too. I highly recommend you check them out.


While trying to wear more of my wardrobe and think more about what I buy, I hope I've inspired you to try to wear more of your wardrobe and to re-wear and remix what you already own. Through my numerous outfit fails, I've shown that not every outfit is perfect. Not everything is or has to be perfect, despite appearances on social media. Fashion is all about fun - or we wouldn't have so many pretty things stuffed in our wardrobes! So enjoy what you own, have fun with what you wear, and remember that at the end of the day clothes are only clothes. We get to take them off each night and start fresh every morning.

Here are your favourite OOTD shots from 2015 too, my #2015bestnine:

Outfit posts:
purple maxi dress: still to be blogged | pink and burgundy | maternity shorts and maxi cardi


2015 has been a big year, here's hoping 2016 is bigger and better and full of everything you wish for!



Figured now was a good time to share my Christmas outfits - I added some sparkle to them with my sequin scarf worn as a belt. A great accessory for a maxi dress, and anything with sequins seems so perfectly festive for Christmas and New Years.

What I wore:

Away From Blue | Second Trimester Christmas Maxi dress outfit RM Love bag MEV Havana

AwayFromTheBlue | Rebecca Minkoff Love cross body bag in grey silver tiffany charm bracelet stack
NecklaceTai gold alphabet necklace layered with Tiffany diamonds by the yard necklace
DressMEV Havana maxi dress C/O Zibibo
Belt: white and silver sequin scarf worn as a belt
Shoes: Asos 'five star' leather sandals
Bracelets: the usual plus silver charm bracelet
BagRebecca Minkoff Love cross body bag in grey (get an extra 40% off at Rebecca Minkoff with code 'BYE2015'!)

Why I wore it:

We were lucky enough to celebrate Christmas twice this year! For previous years we've visited both sides of the family on the same day, but this year was just like last year and more relaxed with each family celebrating on a different day. This is what I wore to celebrate early with hubby's side of the family. I wore this maxi dress last year on Christmas day, without the baby bump, but as we didn't visit hubby's family that day I figured I could re-wear it for this year. I made it a little different by swapping the belt for my sequin scarf. Accessories are so great for making 'new' outfits out of old favourites!


Last worn: purple maxi dress, sequin scarf, Asos leather sandals, Rebecca Minkoff love bag.

Other ways to wearmaxi dress layered up for winter, sequin scarf as a headband, Asos leather sandals and skinny jeans, Rebecca Minkoff love bag and skinny jeans.



Where to buy pretty sequin scarves:



And pretty sequin snoods:






What I wore:

AwayFromBlue | Second Trimester Pregnancy Christmas Day Maternity Outfit black embellished maxi dress

AwayFromTheBlue | Chanel vintage quilted lambskin flap mixed metal bracelet stack
NecklaceTai gold alphabet necklace layered with Tiffany diamonds by the yard necklace
DressJeanswest 'Sierra' embellished black maxi dress (on sale!)
Belt: white and silver sequin scarf worn as a belt
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs silver tuxedo flats (new purchase)
Bracelets: the usual plus silver charm bracelet and Disney Couture Winnie the Pooh bangle
BagChanel vintage quilted lambskin flap

Why I wore it:

This was what I wore for Christmas day. I had really liked wearing the sequin scarf as a belt previously, so thought I'd add it to this dress too. It already has a pretty embellished neckline, but Christmas is a time for sequins and shimmer and glitter! I gave it a go and was pleased that it didn't feel like too much sparkle. We spent the morning at home together and then headed over to my parents for lunch and more present opening.


Last worn: embellished maxi dresssequin scarf, vintage Chanel bag. First time I've worn the flats as they are a recent purchase.

Other ways to wearembellished maxi dress and a denim jacketsequin scarf with a printed tankvintage Chanel bag and jeans.




The Asos sale continues, and with further reductions it's now up to 70% off!




Linking up with Fabulous Friday, Fab Favourites, Passion for Fashion, Labour of Fashion, Shoe and Tell, Hello Monday, Let It Shine, Modest Monday.



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Wednesday, 30 December 2015

Purple Tees, Maxi Skirts, Rebecca Minkoff Morning After Mini Bag

Two easy and simple pregnancy outfits. Purple tees, maxi skirts, and my Rebecca Minkoff MAM bag.

Although I've been doing the Fox in Flats style challenge and posting and playing long each day in order on instagram, I'm still trying to pair similar outfits together to post on the blog. I'm much further behind with blogging than I am with instagram so it's easy to organise the backlog of outfit photos into similar pairings.

What I wore:

AwayFromTheBlue | Second Trimester Summer stripe maxi skirt purple tee pregnancy outfit

AwayFromTheBlue | stripe maxi skirt Rebecca Minkoff MAB mini in soft grey 
TeeJeanswest 'Lucy' colourblock tee in orchid/grey marle
SkirtAT by Atmos&Here Mars striped maxi skirt
Shoesblack slim Havaianas thongs
BagRebecca Minkoff MAB mini in soft grey

Why I wore it:

This was a double style challenge outfit! I tried to play along with #summerStyleFile as well as #DAREcember but couldn't meet every day of them both. The challenges were 'buns hun' and 'to the max' so it was easy to achieve them both with a maxi skirt and a messy bun. You can see my hair a lot better on the Instagram pic I shared. It's definitely getting to that point in summer where I'm tying my hair up more and more!

Simple accessories for a comfortable outfit as I worked from home.

This is the last wear of this purple tee too. It's nice, but I was looking up the last time I wore it and saw this is only it's third wear, where the other one I have (that's pink and grey) has been worn 5 times. It's obvious I have a favourite and don't need both, so it's left my wardrobe. I have other purple tees I wear more. If only I could apply the same thinking to my many grey tees!

AwayFromTheBlue blog | one purple tee worn two ways 2 outfits


Last worn: colourblock tee, striped maxi skirt, Havaianas, Rebecca Minkoff MAM bag.

Other ways to wearcolourblock tee without a baby bump, striped maxi skirt and a peach cami, Rebecca Minkoff MAM bag for the office.


More purple tees under $50:






What I wore:

Away From The Blue | Purple tee black jersey maxi skirt second trimester pregnancy outfit

AwayFromTheBlue | Baby belly Rebecca Minkoff MAB mini in soft grey
NecklaceJeanswest Taki necklace (C/O)
Tee: Spectrum basic v-neck tee in washed lilac
SkirtJeanswest plain jersey black maxi skirt
Shoesblack slim Havaianas thongs
Bracelets: the usual plus Roie Designs black leather Swarovski beaded wrap bracelet
BagRebecca Minkoff MAB mini in soft grey

Why I wore it:

I really wasn't such a fan of this outfit! I'd previously worn the grey version of this tee to the office a couple of weeks before and loved the outfit. I felt comfortable and happy all day, so wanted to replicate that feeling by wearing the purple tee. The baby bump had grown though and I tugged at this shirt quite a bit through the day, feeling so uncomfortable in it. At least I was just working from home.

The maxi skirt I enjoyed wearing of course! It was the first thing I thought of for the style challenge of 'swishy', as my maxi skirts 'swish' around when I walk. If I'd just worn a different tee I would have been much happier in this.

I blog my outfit fails as much as the outfits I love though, as otherwise I'd never find an outfit 'good enough' to share. It's also a good way to reinforce to myself what didn't work and how to avoid it in future. After doing this earlier in my pregnancy and wearing something that didn't quite fit right just because I wanted to squeeze in another wear, it's a little silly that I'd do the same thing again. Need to take a few moments more to think through (and try on!) what I've planned to wear as things continuously change as baby grows.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer, purple tee, black jersey maxi skirt, Havaianas (above), Rebecca Minkoff MAM bag (above).

Other ways to wearpurple tee and a lace pencil skirt for the office, maxi skirt and a graphic tee, Rebecca Minkoff MAM bag and a printed wrap dress.






Shopbop have an extra 25% off all sale styles for a limited time only! Just use the discount code 'EXTRAEXTRA'. But hurry, it's just for 3 days!



Shop the sale here.




Linking up with Fun Fashion Friday.



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