Weekday Wear Link Up: Printed Maxi Dresses, Denim Jackets and Balenciaga Bags

For today's Weekday Wear Linkup I'm sharing how I made these spaghetti strap maxi dresses more suitable for autumn days when I wore them recently (or not so recently as one I wore to celebrate Easter Sunday with the family last month!).

What I wore:

Jacket: Bubblegum denim jacket
Necklace: Kmart blue multi-colour beaded necklace
Dress: Jeanswest Sophia high-low maxi dress
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star coast blue
Bracelets: the usual plus Cora purpleheart and mother of pearl watch c/o JORD
Bag: Balenciaga Day bag in 2005 magenta

Why I wore it:

This mandala print high-low maxi dress is so very pretty! With the fabric, print and little ruffle on the hem, it's quite dressy. Tried to make it a little more casual for this outing to the beach with my mum and the boys one day during the school holidays. 

It was a chilly morning too and I wasn't sure how windy it would be near the sea. I shouldn't have worried though, ended up taking this jacket off for most of the day as I sat in the sun watching the kids play.

The Converse were another attempt, like the denim jacket, to dress this outfit down a little and I really liked the combination! The blue went so well with the purple mandala print on the dress. So did the magenta Balenciaga day bag that was overdue another wear.


Last worn: denim jacket, wooden bead necklace, mandala print ruffle hem maxi dress, blue Converse, Balenciaga magenta day bag.

Other ways to wear: denim jacket worn 30 ways, mandala print ruffle hem maxi dress for Christmas day, blue Converse and striped shorts, Balenciaga magenta day bag and pencil skirt.

Perfect for pregnancy: denim jacket in second trimester, Balenciaga magenta day bag in third trimester.

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Favourite Bag In My Balenciaga Collection:

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What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Kitty denim biker jacket
Earrings: Piper glass beaded chandelier earring in cream and gold
Necklace: Tiffany diamonds by the yard necklace
Dress: Kmart Tropicana sleeveless tiered maxi dress
Shoes: Atmos&Here tan Lola leather ankle boots
Bag: Balenciaga envelope clutch in 2012 mangue with giant 12 RGGH

Why I wore it:

Wore this for a colder and wetter Easter Sunday than expected! I had planned to wear this maxi dress, I wore it last year when we had Easter in lockdown so I was determined to wear it again to have a proper Easter celebration with the family. Even if the rain meant I needed a few more layers! As well as the denim jacket I added ankle boots too, to keep my feet cosy and dry.

Tried to dress this up a little more with the fun beaded statement earrings and the mango Balenciaga envelope clutch. We were only heading over to my parents so a clutch really wasn't needed as I didn't need to carry much, but it did fit my wallet, car keys and phone nicely! 

It was so good having a big traditional Easter again, especially as we'd spent 3 days that week in lockdown and I was worried about them extending it! Thankfully it ended early instead of being extended.


Last worn: denim jacket, beaded statement earrings, diamond necklace, floral print maxi dress, tan ankle boots, Balenciaga mango envelope clutch.

Other ways to wear: denim jacket and jeans, floral print maxi dress worn 30 ways, tan ankle boots and swing dress, Balenciaga mango envelope clutch with pink.

Perfect for pregnancy: Balenciaga mango envelope clutch in third trimester.

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How You Can Wear It:

A maxi dress is so easy to dress up or dress down depending on the occasion. A denim jacket, Converse and a big hobo bag can dress it down for the day time, but accessories like an envelope clutch and statement earrings can dress it up for a formal occasion too.

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Weekday Wear Linkup #120

Welcome to the Weekday Wear linkup! A linkup for you to share your weekday outfits - whether that is office wear or stay at home mum wear - if you wore it on a weekday, you can link it up!

Guidelines:
1. Please link to a specific outfit post, not your blog homepage.
2. Link back to this post so others can find the link up.
3. Follow your host Away From The Blue on Bloglovin, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or YouTube.
4. Add up to two posts and be sure to visit and comment on as many other posts as possible to get some weekday outfit inspiration!
Optional: tweet the post you linked up with the hashtag #weekdayWearLinkUp so I can retweet!

Subscribe for The Weekday Wear Linkup reminder emails

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Adding Colour to Monochrome Black Stripe Outfits

Adding a little touch of colour to otherwise monochromatic black and white striped denim outfits for autumn. Wore these back in April when a light layer is all you need for Brisbane's autumn weather.

What I wore:

Earrings: Ana Luisa 'Olivia' tassel earrings in pink

Jacket: Kmart striped maxi cardigan
Necklace: Lovisa gold filigree heart pendant
Tee: Cotton On deep v tee in washed desert rose
Jeans: Nobody Denim Siren skinny super high-rise jeans in power black denim (c/o)
Shoes: New Balance Coast women's running shoe in black 
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Julian nylon backpack in bright blue

Why I wore it:

Not the first time I've worn this pink tee with black! I really like the combination, and I thought that these blush pink and gold earrings complimented the berry pink shade of the v-neck tee nicely.

Without the pink tee and earrings - and of course the bright blue Rebecca Minkoff Julian nylon backpack, this was a pretty dark outfit with the black Nobody Denim skinny jeans, black New Balance sneakers and the black and white striped duster. The pink lightens it up nicely!

Wore this to visit the markets and tour a pirate ship with the kids. Notorious, a handbuilt replica of a 14th century pirate ship was in our local harbour and we just had to go check it out. Luckily the rain held off until we were getting some lunch at the markets and we didn't get too wet when it did start as we were on our way home.

I thought the bag was a better choice than a handbag to hold all the water bottles and some snacks for the boys. I'm glad I wore it too as it was a tight squeeze on the ship and this sits pretty close when I wear it on my back.

Last worn: striped duster, pink tassel earrings, rose gold necklace, berry pink tee, Nobody Denim skinny jeans, New Balance sneakers, Rebecca Minkoff Julian backpack. 

Other ways to wear: striped duster and skater dress, berry pink tee and maxi skirt, Nobody Denim skinny jeans and blazer, Rebecca Minkoff Julian backpack and shorts. 

Perfect for pregnancy: striped duster in second trimester. 

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What's In My Rebecca Minkoff Julian Nylon Backpack 

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What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Kensley summer tie-dye kimono
Necklace: Colette marble and gold pendant drop long necklace
Tank: Atmos & Here Oregon stripe tank
Shorts: Jeanswest Heather Bermuda short in black
Shoes: New Balance Coast women's running shoe in black 
Bracelets: the usual plus Cora purpleheart and mother of pearl watch c/o JORD
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Julian nylon backpack in bright blue

Why I wore it:

This was a much warmer and thankfully rain-free autumn day so I wore a pair of black denim shorts instead of jeans. With the black and white striped tank and again the black New Balance sneakers it was a very dark outfit. 

The navy tie dye kimono added a nice touch of blue to brighten the tank and shorts up a bit, as did the Rebecca Minkoff Julian backpack and the magenta marble necklace.

Took the kids out to another local trail. This one is a bit longer than our usual ones but with the supportive sneakers on my feet still easily manageable for my injured knee. It was a bit of a windy day so I was grateful for this kimono keeping my arms and shoulders covered but not overheating me when the wind died down and I felt the full force of the humid weather.


Last worn: navy tie dyed kimono, marble and gold necklace, black striped tank, black denim shorts, New Balance sneakers (above), Rebecca Minkoff Julian backpack (above).

Other ways to wear: navy tie dyed kimono with green jeans, black striped tank and maxi skirt, black denim shorts under a dress, Rebecca Minkoff Julian backpack and midi dress.

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How You Can Wear It:

Black and white stripes is a classic combo worn with denim. It's easy to lighten up a little by adding a brighter tee, topper, accessory, or bag to your outfit, like I've done with these ones.

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30 Ways to Wear Kmart Floral Print Tiered Maxi Dress & Weekday Wear Link Up

A 30 ways to wear post for today's Weekday Wear Link Up! So pleased I've hit 30 wears on this Kmart coral floral print tiered maxi dress. I think it's the perfect way to showcase that you don't need to spend a lot of money to have clothes that last. Even if your budget restricts you to buying fast fashion from brands like Kmart you can minimise the environmental impact of your shopping by buying less and rewearing what you own. The most sustainable item of clothing is the one already in your wardrobe.

30 Ways To Wear: Kmart Tropicana Floral Tiered Maxi Dress

This pretty maxi dress was an impulse buy back in 2016, something I'd seen on Instagram on a few Aussie mums and had to get myself! I think it was a great impulse buy in the end! I knew that with all the different colours in the print it would go with so much, and I've been able to dress it up and dress it down over the years.

Note that this dress has broken and I have repaired it. One of the straps snapped off. But it was easily reattached and it's pretty impressive that its lasted this long with just that small fault. It really has been a staple in my wardrobe. And while I don't see it being worn and shared on Instagram now by the people who inspired me to buy it in the first place, I know it will continue to be a go-to piece for me for a long time yet, and still frequently reworn. 

Since edging closer to and finally reaching 30 wears with this dress, it's made me realise I'd rather buy less (even at those bargain Kmart prices) and pick pieces I'd be happy to wear over and over again when I do buy. This dress proves even cheap Kmart or fast fashion pieces can go the distance in your wardrobe!

Cost Per Wear

This floral maxi dress was a cheap and cheerful $25 at Kmart back at the end of 2016. With 30 wears so far, that works out to 83 cents a wear, pretty good! I've never had a problem trying to think of more ways to wear this dress, it goes with so much and even though my go-to is to layer over the top of it, it is perfect worn on its own as well. Here are all the ways I've worn it, with the Weekday Wear Link Up at the end.

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Coral Floral Maxi Dress and Yellow

Coral and yellow are a really nice combination! In each of these 3 outfits I'm wearing a slightly different shade of yellow with the coral maxi dress but it works so well, even though there is no yellow in the print.

Coral Floral Maxi Dress and Pink Bag

Coral and pink is a combination I was unsure about trying at first - even with the pretty pink flowers in the print of this dress! But I'm glad I gave it a go. Like the yellow above, all these shades of pink went great with the floral print.

Tiered Floral Maxi Dress With White Layers

If you're ever unsure what colour to wear with a bright printed piece like this, go with neutrals! Again there is no white in the print on this dress but these white toppers (and the white Louis Vuitton damier azur Neverfull) compliment the print nicely.

Matching Accessories To The Print In A Floral Dress

With all the pretty shades of blue in the floral print, of course I was going to bring out my matchy-matchy side and pair this dress with blue accessories! Blue, navy and turquoise are easy choices - from a big bold scarf to a little blue or turquoise tassel necklace.

Tiered Maxi Dress and Light Layers

When it's just a bit too cool for a spaghetti strap maxi dress, a light layer like a denim jacket or a waterfall jacket is perfect for keeping the chill off and keeping your shoulders covered. Ideal for autumn or spring!

Floral Maxi Dress Layered For Winter

This coral maxi dress is a very summery colour, style and print. But with the mild Brisbane winters it's easy to layer this up a little bit for a colder day! Knits, leather jackets, boots, scarves, layer easily with this dress and it's nice to wear something so colourful and cheerful in winter.

Knotted Tees Over Floral Print Maxi Dress

As you've seen from all these outfits, I do love layering a tee over this maxi dress! A knotted tee on top is an easy way to change up the look of a dress no matter how many times you've worn it.

Dressing Up and Down a Coral Floral Print Dress

Sometimes simple is best - this dress looks great worn on its own. Dressed up for Christmas day or a birthday party, or dressed down with converse or over a bikini for the beach. A floral maxi dress like this really is a wardrobe staple! Add a different bag, necklace or shoes and you've got the same dress working again for a different day!

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Where To Buy Similar Floral Print Maxi Dresses Under $56:

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Similar Posts In The 30 Wears Series:

• 30 ways to wear a navy printed jersey maxi dress
• 30 ways to wear a tie dye maxi dress
• 30 ways to wear a pink maxi dress
• 30 ways to wear a navy floral kimono

For more outfit inspiration, you can see all the times I've worn this dress in my archives, or browse the 30 wears series too.

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Weekday Wear Linkup #119

Welcome to the Weekday Wear linkup! A linkup for you to share your weekday outfits - whether that is office wear or stay at home mum wear - if you wore it on a weekday, you can link it up!

Guidelines:
1. Please link to a specific outfit post, not your blog homepage.
2. Link back to this post so others can find the link up.
3. Follow your host Away From The Blue on Bloglovin, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or YouTube.
4. Add up to two posts and be sure to visit and comment on as many other posts as possible to get some weekday outfit inspiration!
Optional: tweet the post you linked up with the hashtag #weekdayWearLinkUp so I can retweet!

Subscribe for The Weekday Wear Linkup reminder emails

Email Address 

Follow Away From the Blue on:
Bloglovin : Twitter : Instagram : Youtube : Facebook : LikeToKnow.It