Took advantage of the "casual" aspect of casual Friday and wore a maxi dress to the office! This outfit is actually an idea I'd had for a while, but had saved for the third trimester when I knew I'd be finding it difficult picking what to wear to work. I really like the drape on this jacket, and thought it kept the maxi dress from looking too informal. Got a few compliments, and a few "wow your bump is huge!" comments so I consider it a good outfit, haha.
Can't believe I've only worn this jacket once before on the blog though - definitely should be wearing it more often!
Another maxi dress! I think my pregnancy dressing is getting even more theme based than before. If something worked one day, I want to wear something really similar the next! It does make figuring out what to wear easier :)
This is what I wore this evening, for a family birthday dinner. I wore a similar outfit during the day, without the belt and with my Louis Vuitton neverfull. We spent the day with my father in law, and test drove another car. In the evening we went out for dinner with family and friends, then had cake and champagne (of course I skipped the champagne!). Was a really nice way to end the day.
Father's day weekend celebrations at the start of September meant the chance to dress up a little with my favourite maxi dresses. Maxi dress and denim jacket is a frequently worn outfit combo for both spring and autumn for me.
Wore this for to celebrate Father's day with the family and then the in-laws in the afternoon. I got lucky and even though we ate out for lunch we had takeaway for dinner. It was nice not to have to cook anything other than breakfast all day!
This dress is so beautiful, always gets a lot of love when I wear it. Pleased to have it in my wardrobe after my bestie tired of it and gave it to me. I liked how well the feather pendant matched the peach of the dress, and the silver mini MAC bag was a good neutral too.
I wore silver ballet flats with this too but they are a little tricky to see as the breeze kept catching the hem of the dress.
I wore this the day before as we had an early Father's Day brunch with my dad and family. We ended up sitting outside at the restaurant and it was such lovely weather I really didn't need my denim jacket on. A good start to spring.
You'll probably already know that this maxi dress is my favourite given how much I wear it! One of those treasured maternity pieces that works perfectly for breastfeeding too and so pretty that I continue to wear it even though those days are behind me. Nothing new here with this wearing! It's been worn many times with this denim jacket, and the colourful Louis Vuitton bandeau scarf as a belt is a favourite go-to outfit combination.
Just like the outfit above I wore the metallic silver mini MAC bag with this, silver was a good neutral with the colourful dress.
The good thing about maxi dresses is that they work for so many occasions - later that afternoon we had to go grocery shopping, no need to change into a different outfit!
Maxi dresses are perfect for summer, but it's so easy to wear them on a warm spring or autumn day by simply adding a denim jacket. A denim jacket is a classic outfit topper which looks good with all styles of dresses, definitely a must have piece for spring.
While baby has arrived, I've got a few more pregnancy outfits scheduled to share on the blog. Being behind with blogging has worked out well, I still have posts to share while I'm spending the majority of the newborn days in my PJs!
First up, although it's April I won't be doing a budget post wrap up. I didn't buy any new clothes or accessories in March, instead shopping for a few things for baby.
Since I didn't buy anything, I won't be sharing my purchases and just doing a my regular post with what I've been wearing. I tried to schedule as much as possible at the beginning of my maternity leave, so I had a busy couple of days of appointments and running errands. My Louis Vuitton Neverfull was a great bag to just throw everything in, and maxi dresses were easy fuss-free outfits.
I may have been a little over enthusiastic with fitting everything in on this day! I had scheduled 4 appointments and spent the morning rushing around between them. Wanted something easy and simple to wear so a maxi dress was my first choice - instant outfit, no further thought needed. At 38 weeks pregnant I can't help but wonder if the next time I'll be wearing this dress I'll be picking it as it allows for easy breastfeeding.
Unlike the outfit above, this dress wasn't my first choice for this day. I'd planned to wear my maternity denim shorts but rain got to the washing outside before I could and my shorts were too wet to wear that morning. Again I picked a maxi dress for simplicity.
It was nice to be a little dressed up for dinner with my parents at least, and this dress is great to wear, even if not what I had planned. I've used the Louis Vuitton Neverfull as a baby bag before, but this time I tried it out with just the bare essentials and it was much more comfortable.
I'm trying to go out now and then with just a little pouch inside my handbag with everything toddler T needs, instead of carrying the baby bag as well as my handbag. While a newborn will mean I'll definitely need to carry the baby bag around with me, limiting what I carry will be helpful with needing to take things for a newborn and a toddler. I'm terrible at over-packing and carrying more than I need!
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.
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:
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.
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!
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.
As much as I love a good singlet and shorts combo for being pregnant over summer, you can't beat the simplicity of a maxi dress for looking put-together. They are perfect for feeling dressed up enough for going out for dinner, while still being incredibly comfortable and accommodating to a baby bump.
This is what I wore to hubby's work Christmas party. We went out for dinner, and I had planned to wear one of my dressier non-maternity maxi dresses, but quickly found I couldn't squeeze the bump into it! Clothes that zip up are generally are not pregnancy friendly. Tried on a few and settled on this one instead. Stretchy jersey so I knew it would fit (I wore it through the third trimester last time) and I just added some glam accessories with my vintage Chanel bag.
We had a dinner out with friends booked for a while and I was looking forward to it, but so much more after the Christmas party the night before. There were a lot of 'you're huge!', 'it must be twins!' and 'are you sure it's not twins?' comments from strangers at the party and it was getting to me a little, with all the pregnancy hormones! While my OB reassures me I'm measuring right on track, I still think I look a couple weeks bigger than at the same point in pregnancy with baby T. I know you'll always look bigger in subsequent pregnancies too as your abdominal muscles aren't as taught as they were the last time, but so many comments seem designed to put pregnant women down for the natural and normal weight gain that comes along with growing another human.
I am completely in awe and so grateful for a growing baby, and I'd happily have a belly twice the size if that means baby is growing as it should. Being pregnant is a blessing I am thankful for every day. It still stings a little to be constantly told how huge you are though, especially at a time when emotions are already a little unstable!
I don't want to appear ungrateful, I just want to highlight that there are nice ways to say things and not-so nice ways to say things and that when someone is pregnant suddenly all the weight comments start flying, with very few filters. Commenting that the bump is growing nicely or has gotten bigger since you last saw it is a lot politer than saying that pregnant women swell up like massive puffer fish, haha.
It was awesome to put on a pretty dress I knew I would fit, look good in, and laugh and joke with my friends for the evening. I am so blessed to have friends that know exactly how to compliment a pregnant lady, giant baby belly and all ;)
Just like Friday's post, today I'm wearing more summer pieces in winter. This time around it's my maxi dresses. I like to wear my maxi dresses and skirts year-round. Helped by Brisbane's snow-less winter and a few cosy layers.
Wore this for my first girls night out in a very, very long time! A friend was celebrating her birthday at a rooftop bar so I went for a few hours to celebrate with her. It was nice getting all dressed up again - this dress has been rarely worn since I got it while pregnant as it's not breastfeeding friendly at all. It was my first choice for a night out, as it's so pretty and definitely under-worn!
I was going to wear ankle boots with this but there were a lot of dress code restrictions at the bar...so I wore flats to be on the safe side. Ankle boots would have been warmer though, especially when it rained a little. I really liked the black printed leather jacket with the printed maxi dress, the print on the jacket is subtle enough that it doesn't clash with the dress.
I nearly wore my black vintage Chanel bag, but as I was completely kid-free for the evening I wanted to wear the least kid-friendly bag I own, which would be this handheld Balenciaga envelope clutch. I'd usually get to enjoy my clutches over Christmas but as baby boy was in hospital I spent all the time by his bedside instead of going to the usual parties and events. It was nice to give this a wear again. It was crazy how few things I needed for the night out, and how light the clutch was to hold. Such a difference from the overstuffed baby bag I often have in addition to my handbags each day. I don't think the yellow really goes so well with the print on the dress, but it's such a pretty clutch I wanted to wear it as who knows when my next chance will be! 😂
More pink and purple! I've worn this dress and belt together so many times, it's a frequent go-to for me. I really like pink and purple together too, although it's the first time I've worn the cardigan and dress together.
This is what I wore for Toddler T's third birthday party - no shoes as I stayed home all day and sent hubby out for the last minute things that morning. Picked this dress to wear as I love wearing a maxi dress for a birthday party - easy and quick to throw on while setting up last minute things, and stylish and simple for spending the day running around with two toddlers. Even wore this a couple of months ago for Baby Boy's first birthday! Just crazy to realise Toddler T is 3 now!
I was pretty tired after staying up until 1.30am putting the finishing touches to Toddler T's train cake, but it was worth it in the end seeing his excitement! Next year I might just stick with a simple round cake though...
You don't need to give up your maxi dresses when summer ends! Have a look at the winter layers you have in your wardrobe - a cosy cardigan or a leather jacket can be a simple addition to a dress and make it warm enough for a mild winter day. Leather jackets can be expensive, but if you buy at the end of season sales or take advantage of the opposite seasons when shopping internationally, you can find one that fits your budget. If you have colder winter weather, wear ankle boots and even leggings underneath your dress, with a nice cosy blanket scarf too. When spring arrives you can continue to wear your dress with a light layer like a cardigan. You really can wear most dresses year-round!
With the autumn weather starting to arrive in Queensland, you will be seeing lots of different levels of layered outfits if you follow me on instagram as the weather is quite varied. One thing it thankfully always is though is cooler in the morning and evenings. That means for two early morning starts to attend church I needed an extra layer over my maxi dresses, and this denim jacket was perfect.
I bought this denim jacket either before or during my uni days - can't remember exactly. I'm sure it's clocked up more than 30 wears but I didn't regularly take outfit pictures before I started the blog. I love a maxi dress and denim jacket outfit when it's cooler.
This was my Easter Sunday church outfit! I usually go to (and volunteer at) Church Online. But for special occasions it's nice to go to an actual physical church building. Currently swimming lessons are stopping us from going regularly but I'll want to take the boys more often when they get bigger.
This is easily one of my favourite maxi dresses - it was a perfect pregnancy dress too, and is a dedicated nursing piece. With the denim jacket it was perfect for a morning at church, watching the boys eat chocolate eggs with lunch and then going out for dinner with the family.
This was another church outfit! Wore this to go to a new church that a family friend had started up. It was their first time in a new building and it's kind of close to where we live so we wanted to go and support them on their first day.
Although this maxi dress is a bold and colourful choice on it's own, I decided to branch out a little and pair the mustard yellow micro Regan bag with it. A very colourful outfit for me, but one I really loved!
You don't have to reserve your maxi dresses for spring and summer! Wear them in autumn or any cooler day with a denim jacket for warmth and an easy, simple outfit. Perfect for the days when you're in a rush trying to get yourself and two toddlers organised and out the door.
