Showing posts sorted by relevance for query "Zara tunic dress". Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query "Zara tunic dress". Sort by date Show all posts

Friday 26 April 2019

30 Ways To Wear: Zara Navy Printed Shift Dress

I'm thrilled I've hit 30 wears with this dress so I can finally dedicate a post to it! An impulse buy from Zara during a trip to Sydney, before we had a Zara here in Brisbane. This dress is something I love wearing.


30 Ways To Wear: Navy Shift Dress


30 ways to wear #30wears challenge: Navy Zara printed tunic shift dress


Cost Per Wear

I can't calculate cost per wear with this dress sadly as I forget how much it cost. I did buy it back in September 2012! It's taken me around 6 and a half years to hit 30 wears with it, despite really wanting to hit 30 wears back in 2018, as it's not the best length for days with toddlers. If you're running around and bending over and picking things and children up the tunic style can feel a little short. Of course there are some ways I can work around that, that I've shown below.

Another factor affecting the cost per wear calculation is that I actually managed to tear this dress a few years ago. I had to have it repaired, so that cost would factor in as well. I can't remember how much that cost though either! 😂



30 Ways To Wear A Navy Shift Dress: Video Style







Navy Shift Dress With A Pop Of Colour


4 ways to wear a navy printed tunic dress with a pop of colour | awayfromblue

I'm all for adding a little extra colour to an outfit with accessories. And this navy dress is the perfect neutral piece to really let the bright accessories pop! A necklace, bag or jacket, all look great with the neutral navy backdrop. I like red with the navy, but green works well too.


Belting a Printed Shift Dress


3 outfit ideas with a printed shift dress belted | away from the blue

This is probably one of the simplest ways to change up a dress, just add a belt! It's a nice way to make an old favourite feel a little fresher, just by adding another accessory.


Tunic Dress Worn As A Top


5 ways to wear a navy printed shift dress as a top work and casual | away from blue

As mentioned above, this tunic length can feel a little short some days. The longer sleeves and modest neckline mean this top is great for the office, just too short to meet the dress code guidelines. Adding a pencil skirt over the top solves that problem and instantly creates a professional outfit from a casual dress. It works well for stay at home mum days by tucking the tunic into some shorts too!


Navy Printed Shift Dress With More Blue


3 ways to wear a navy printed shift dress with blue accessories monochromatic style | awayfromblue

It's no secret blue is my favourite colour - I love wearing every shade of it! A neutral navy shift dress is a great excuse for me to add more blue to my outfit - even if the shades don't match, the blue on blue colour combination is one I really enjoy wearing. Denim jackets, or blue bags, anything goes!


Shift Dress With Ankle Boots


outfit ideas navy shift dress and ankle boots awayfromtheblue

A dress and ankle boots is a great way to extend the life of your summer dresses into spring and Autumn - it's a classic combo and one that works so well with a shift dress like this.


Printed Tunic Dress With Converse


navy printed tunic dress and converse worn 3 ways | away from the blue

Of course if boots aren't your thing, a dress and Converse works well too! They are a really practical choice for mum life and like the boots above it's a combination I wear in spring and autumn quite  a bit.


Shift Dress In Winter


how to layer up a summer shift dress for winter 4 outfit ideas | awayfromtheblue

You can extend the life of your favourite summer dresses by wearing them in winter too! With a cosy pair of tights or leggings underneath, and a few more winter layers. This is a great option for running around with the kids too, you aren't as worried about the tunic length if you have a pair of leggings underneath.


Printed Shift Dress In Pregnancy


4 ways to wear a printed shift dress in pregnancy | away from the blue

This dress was the best in all trimesters! It was simple and fuss free and as you can see the print is great at hiding a baby bump for the early second trimester. It was nice and light to wear when pregnant in heatwaves. Although it did get a little short in the third trimester with the bump pulling it up, nothing a pair of leggings couldn't fix!




Where To Buy Navy Printed Shift Dresses Under $50:








Similar Posts In The 30 Wears Series:


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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Friday 26 January 2018

Navy Printed Dresses and Red Saddle Bag

Blogging does influences my outfits. I try to plan my outfits the night before, but sometimes I'll think ahead and plan them out a little more in advance. I wasn't sure at first how I'd wear this new dress I got from Shein, but an evening out seemed like the perfect time. As we were going out for dinner again a few days later, I thought I'd wear my navy Zara dress, and create an easy post with navy dinner dresses. Simple.

I changed my mind last minute and wore something else to dinner instead of my Zara dress. Still wore it a few days later so I could still group both dress outfits together in this post though!

What I wore:

Shein navy flower print flowy dress with Rebecca Minkoff accessories red saddle bag | away from blue

navy swing dress, Rebecca Minkoff unlined saddle bag in cherry red | away from the blue

awayfromblue instagram rebecca minkoff sandals saddle bag, Shein navy flower print flowy dress
Necklace: Lovisa gold filigree heart pendant
Dress: Shein navy flower print flowy dress (C/O)
ShoesRebecca Minkoff Georgina studded gladiator sandals in blush
BagRebecca Minkoff unlined saddle bag in cherry red (on sale in blue!)

Why I wore it:

When I ordered this dress from Shein, I wasn't sure about the sizing. Most people said it ran true to size, with a few saying it was on the larger size. As it was a relaxed fit, I decided to order my usual small size instead of a medium. I'm so glad I ordered a small as this swing dress is so perfectly loose and floaty, the medium would have been much too big. It was actually tricky trying to get a good photo of the dress with the evening breeze blowing it around, but I managed in the end!

Since there was red in the print of the dress, I thought my red Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag would pair nicely. I was going to wear a new red necklace I got for Christmas too, but it didn't work with the neckline of the dress, so I went for my rose gold filigree heart pendant instead.

As I got this dress C/O, my thoughts on it: unlike the crochet trim kimono I got in the same order, there were no stray threads on this dress at all. The material is thin and light as expected, but not see-through. It's ideal for summer, even with the slightly longer sleeves. While bigger than I expected, it makes the dress a nice length on my petite self and based on all the compliments this dress got I'm not the only one that likes it. Not bad for a dress that's less than $22!


Last worn: studded sandals, Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag. First time I've worn the dress as it's a recent addition to my wardrobe.

Other ways to wearstudded sandals worn 30 ways, Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag and jeans.




Rebecca Minkoff Saddle Bags:









What I wore:

Zara navy printed bib front tunic dress summer studded sandals saddle bag | awayfromblue

mixed metal bracelet stack, navy dress, Red Rebecca Minkoff studded saddle bag | awayfromtheblue

awayfromblue instagram navy printed shift dress Zara with red Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag
Necklace: gifted ZuriCollections blue polymer clay necklace
Dress: Zara printed bib front tunic dress
ShoesWittner 'Jasmarie' studded sandals
Bracelets: the usual plus Lovisa rose gold beaded bracelet stack
BagRebecca Minkoff unlined saddle bag in cherry red (on sale in blue!)

Why I wore it:

While I'd had this in mind to wear to a new year's dinner, I changed my mind at the last moment and went with another outfit. I'd really liked the navy dress with red bag combo above though, so wanted to wear it again. It's not the first time I've worn this Zara dress with a red bag (see here and here) but it's the first time I've worn this saddle bag with the dress. Just like the outfit above, I really liked this combination.

Wore this for a busy day with hubby. We both had the day off and the boys were in daycare so we ran around running a few errands and getting things done. While this dress isn't that short, it feels that way when I'm rushing around with the kids and bending down every few minutes, so I try wear it on days I'm not spending all my time with the boys. Just as nice for going out for dinner as it is for a kid-free day of errands.


Last wornnavy printed shift dress, studded sandals, red saddle bag (above).

Other ways to wear: navy printed shift dress and denim jacket, studded sandals and embroidered shortsred saddle bag and maxi skirt.

Perfect for pregnancynavy printed shift dress in third trimester, studded sandals and maternity shorts.



Navy Printed Dresses Under $50:







How You Can Wear It:

Navy printed dresses are so easy to accessorise. If you're unsure what colour of bag to chose, you could pick a colour from the print like I did in the first outfit. Or you could just pick a bright pop of colour that doesn't match with the print like I did in the second outfit. Red and blue are such a nice colour combination, you can't go wrong with a red bag and navy dress.



Linking up with Friday Faves, Lizzie In Lace, Shoe & Tell, Modest Monday.



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Friday 18 May 2018

Layering Navy Dresses In Autumn: Light Scarves and Different Shoes

It took a while for autumn to arrive here in Brisbane! But when we started getting cooler mornings I was excited to add some layers and autumn pieces to my dresses - even if they are just lightweight scarves! I find summer dresses easy to layer up for cooler weather just by adding an extra piece or two and swapping out your shoes for something cosier.

What I wore:

 Shein navy flower print flowy dress  layered for autumn scarf tan chelsea boots denim jacket | awayfromblue

Balenciaga truffle brown RH classic day bag with denim jacket | awayfromtheblue

awayfromblue instagram | shein navy flower print flowy swing dress scarf denim jacket Balenciaga tan day bag
Jacket: Bubblegum denim jacket
Scarf: gifted blush metallic rose gold shimmer scarf
DressShein navy flower print flowy dress (C/O)
ShoesAsos leather Chelsea boots in tan
BagBalenciaga truffle brown RH classic day bag

Why I wore it:

It was a really cold morning when I wore this so I added a scarf, denim jacket and ankle boots to my dress. After a busy day working from home, rushing around in the evening meant I'd gotten warm and quickly taken both the scarf and jacket off. I picked the boys up from daycare to take the little one to his specialist appointment.

I like how comfortable this flowy swing dress is - and even though it's a light viscose fabric it is sure to be worn more as the weather cools down further as it layers well. Writing this post made me smile as I realised the last time I wore this dress it was also with a Balenciaga day bag, and it was again for a specialist appointment!

This shimmery scarf was a gift from my mum last year and I love how nice it looked with the navy dress. Even if I didn't keep all the layers on in the warm afternoon, I did enjoy this outfit for the short time I wore it all together in the morning for daycare drop off and the denim jacket came in helpful in the evening.


Last worn: denim jacket, shimmer scarf, navy floral swing dress, Chelsea ankle boots, Balenciaga brown day bag.

Other ways to weardenim jacket worn 30 ways, shimmer scarf in the office, navy floral swing dress in summer, Chelsea ankle boots, Balenciaga brown day bag and shorts.

Perfect for pregnancydenim jacket in second trimester, Chelsea ankle boots in second trimester, Balenciaga brown day bag for second trimester travel.



My Latest Video: Winter Clothing Haul For The Boys




With the cooler weather, I was excited to start buying winter clothes for the boys! Cooper helped me to share what I've been buying.




What I wore:

long sleeve printed shift dress with crochet scarf and balenciaga day bag in autumn | away from blue

Balenciaga truffle brown RH classic day bag 09 worn on shoulder long tassels | away from the blue

awayfromblue instagram | Zara printed bib front tunic dress in autumn with crochet scarf and Balenciaga day bag
Scarf: white Target crochet detail scarf
Dress: Zara printed bib front tunic dress
ShoesConverse Chuck Taylor All Star low in white
BagBalenciaga truffle brown RH classic day bag

Why I wore it:

This was such a productive day, although I wasn't completely happy with my outfit. I love the crochet scarf with the navy dress. I was unsure at first with the pattern on the dress and the texture of the scarf but being similar colours I think it worked really well. It was a little chilly so as well as the scarf I added some Converse. Converse are a go-to for me in spring and autumn and are a nice alternative when it's not cold enough for boots. On the surface, a great outfit.

We dropped the boys off at their grandparents for the morning to get some stuff done and it was a productive morning. I did wish I'd added a denim jacket to this outfit though once the rain showers hit. Then we had lunch with the boys and their grandparents which made me regret my outfit even more as this dress felt much too short. If I'm spending time with the boys it's better to go with a maxi length or something like shorts! I was happy to get home and change after lunch. I chucked on some PJ pants under my dress so I was a bit more comfortable to lounge around and play with cars and setup train tracks with the boys!

This dress is one of the ones that works so perfectly in summer, layers well for autumn or winter, and it doubles as a professional looking top for work sometimes too. I was really hoping to have hit 30 wears on it by now, but I do find the length tricky to wear when trying to sit and play on the floor with the boys which limits how much I can wear it right now.


Last worn: crochet scarf, Zara navy shift dress, Converse, Balenciaga day bag (above).

Other ways to wearcrochet scarf and chambray dress, Zara navy shift dress and winter layers, Converse and denim shorts, Balenciaga day bag and maxi skirt.

Perfect for pregnancycrochet scarf in second trimester, Zara navy shift dress in third trimester, Converse in second trimester, Balenciaga day bag and hidden baby bump.



Navy Printed Dresses Under $50:




How You Can Wear It


You don't have to pack your favourite dresses away when the cooler weather arrives! Swapping sandals for Converse or ankle boots and adding a scarf helps keep the chill away and lets you wear your favourite pieces more often. When it's really cold, you could add tights, leggings, and cosier scarves. But mild autumn and spring days are perfect for lightweight scarves like these.


Linking up with Friday Faves, Lizzie In Lace, Shoe & Tell, Mix It Monday, Hello Monday, Modest Monday.



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Wednesday 17 May 2017

Dresses, Denim Jacket and Louis Vuitton Speedy Bandouliere

Dresses and denim jackets are starting to become a go-to outfit combo for autumn. While winter is only a couple of weeks away, the days are still warm enough for a denim jacket to be a good topper for an outfit. I'm also trying to squeeze in as many wears as I can of bare legs and dresses before I need tights!

What I wore:


autumn style zara printed bib front tunic dress denim jacket LV speedy bandouliere | AwayFromBlue

Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere | AwayFromTheBlue
Jacket: Bubblegum denim jacket
NecklaceUniquely Made with Love Sea Change necklace
Dress: Zara printed bib front tunic dress
ShoesMarc by Marc Jacobs metallic mouse flats (on sale in black, and super cute in cherry print!)
BagLouis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere


Why I wore it:

Wore this for a physio appointment. As I was kid-free, I thought it was another good excuse to get this pretty yet definitely not baby friendly necklace out! I really liked the blue beads with the navy printed dress and denim jacket.

Since I was going to do some exercises at the physio I did put on a pair of workout leggings under this (I shared a pic on my Insta stories). I took the leggings off after the session, as while they are great for exercising in, the 3/4 length is a little odd on my petite self. I'm not really an activewear person if I'm not working out.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer, denim jacket, Zara printed tunic, gold mouse flats, Louis Vuitton Speedy Bandouliere bag.

Other ways to weardenim jacket and denim shorts, Zara printed tunic layered for winter, gold mouse flats and skinny jeans, Louis Vuitton Speedy Bandouliere bag and pink vest.

Perfect for pregnancy: denim jacket in second trimester, printed tunic belted over a baby bump, speedy bandouliere and maternity pencil skirts.


More Denim Jackets Under $50:







What I wore:

aztec print dress denim jacket and ankle boots for autumn | Away From Blue

cheeky Cooper rescue Shih Tzu, Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere | Away From The Blue
Jacket: Bubblegum denim jacket
Necklace: Nibbly Bits Wilma teething necklace in pale daffodil
Dress: Rivers Aztec print dress
Belt: Kmart thin gold glitter belt
ShoesRMK Chester black ankle boots (on sale!)
Bag: Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere


Why I wore it:

Cooper looks so funny in that last picture I had to crop it to show the bag and his fluffy little face!

This outfit is very similar to the one above, with a different print, an added belt and ankle boots instead of ballet flats. As you can probably tell by the yellow teething necklace, I wasn't kid free when I wore this.

Took Baby Boy to his weekly weigh and ran a couple of errands before spending time with my mum in the afternoon. I was excited to wear this dress, it's not easy to breastfeed in (although you could just tug the neckline down you'd have to stretch it too much) so it's been out of rotation for a while. I did regret my choice a little that morning when I bent over to get Baby Boy and worried the dress was a little too short...maybe will wait until I'm wearing leggings or tights before I get this dress out again!


Last worn: denim jacket (above), Aztec print dress, gold glitter belt, black RMK ankle boots, Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere (above).

Other ways to weardouble denim with denim jacket, Aztec print dress at the beach, gold glitter belt and a little black dress, black RMK ankle boots and tights, Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere and skinny jeans.

Perfect for pregnancydenim jacket in the third trimester, printed dress hiding a baby bump, belted baby bump at 38 weeks pregnant, speedy bandouliere and wrap dresses in third trimester.

***

More Printed Dresses Under $50:








How You Can Wear It:


Autumn and spring are the perfect seasons to wear your favourite dresses. A denim jacket is a good layer that's easy to take off and on through the day as the temperature changes, and goes with anything so you can wear a busy printed dress if you like. On cooler days, swap out your ballet flats for ankle boots for a little extra warmth, or add tights or leggings if it's really chilly.


Linking up with Fashion Frenzy, Style on the Daily, Oh Hey Girl, Fashion Files, Fun Fashion, Fabulous Friday, Flashback Fashion, Weekend Wear.



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Wednesday 13 December 2017

Long Sleeve Dresses For Summer And Louis Vuitton Speedy Bandouliere

Thanks to my friend who gave me the idea for this post! I take photos every day, and you can always see on Instagram what I'm wearing, but for my blog posts I like to try group my outfits together into a similar theme. When my friend told me she had to snap up a similar piece to my floral dress, I realised it would be a good theme for a post.

Both of the outfits below feature long sleeve dresses for summer. I've included where to find similar pieces under $50 too.

What I wore:

Zaful floral print ruffle hem dress in ginger with LV speedy bandouliere and converse sightseeing theme park outfit | away from blue

Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere bag | away from the blue

Sea World Gold coast outfit yellow floral dress Converse LV speedy bandouliere | awayfromtheblue Instagram

Toddler T's first rollercoaster Sea world gold coast
DressZaful floral print ruffle hem dress in ginger
ShoesConverse Chuck Taylor All Star low in white
BagLouis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere

Why I wore it:

We had a planned day out at Seaworld, and it was supposed to be a warm day, but we woke up to it being cold and wet in Brisbane. I decided instead of sandals to wear my Converse to keep my feet warm. I regretted that decision when we got to Seaworld, it turned into a glorious sunny day! This dress is a loose, swing style so it's perfect for not overheating, but socks and shoes was a bit much for my feet! Very comfortable for a day walking around at Seaworld though.

The boys had a blast going on all the kids rides. Toddler T even went on his first roller coaster (after settling for the kid's coaster despite him asking many times to go on the big rides). It was so sweet to see him so excited - he dragged all of us on it with him and kept wanting to go on again and again.

It's the second time I've worn this dress, and I do a purchase review with everything after I wear it twice. My usual rule is to wear something twice in the month I buy it, but with this dress it took over a month to arrive and got here right at the end of October so there wasn't enough days left to wear it then! I did manage to squeeze in this second wear by November though. I'm just very behind with blogging.

When the dress arrived I was unsure if the quality was worth the $28.93 I paid for it given all of the threads it had coming off of it. It also arrived crushed, so I had to spend a while ironing it before I could wear it, and I hate ironing. The more I wore it though, the more it grew on me. And I was thrilled to find after that first wear that when you wash it and leave it to air dry (as I do with most of my clothes) it actually has a nice crinkled texture you can see here - no ironing required! This dress is definitely a winner, even if I will have to spend time cutting loose threads off as they appear! I'm looking forward to wearing this more over summer, and it will layer up beautifully in autumn and winter too.


Last worn: yellow floral dress, white Converse, Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere.

Other ways to wearyellow floral dress and aqua bagConverse and maxi skirt, Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere for travel.

Perfect for pregnancy: Converse and maternity shorts, Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere and maternity pencil skirts.


Long Sleeve Dresses for Summer Under $50:







What I wore:

zara navy tunic printed dress with louis vuitton speedy bandouliere bag Converse high tops | awayfromblue

navy printed tunic dress with Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere worn crossbody | awayfromtheblue
Necklace: Happiness Boutique turquoise and coral pendant necklace (C/O)
Dress: Zara printed bib front tunic dress
ShoesPurple high top Converse look-a-likes
Bracelets: the usual
BagLouis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere

Why I wore it:

Not as fun of a day when I wore this, no theme park trip! I just did the daycare dropoff and pickup and worked from home in between. A nice comfortable dress like this was just what I needed.

I don't often wear this dress with the sleeves down like this - it has little tabs so I can roll up the sleeves and keep them in place and that's my preferred way to wear it. For something different though, I thought I'd leave the sleeves down.

Despite a dress being an easy and quick outfit option, I did spend a few minutes in the morning worrying about what necklace to wear. Tried on a few but none of them looked quite right so I settled on this one. A compliment from Ruth on Instagram made me happy as I hadn't been loving the combo, I was pleased to see someone liked it.


Last worn: navy printed tunic dress, purple high tops, Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere (above).

Other ways to wearnavy dress and denim jacket, purple high tops and skinny jeans, Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere and maxi dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: tunic dress belted in third trimesterLouis Vuitton speedy bandouliere and maternity denim.




More Long Sleeve Dresses For Summer Under $50:








How You Can Wear It:

Long sleeves in summer has the benefit of extra sun protection, and if you pick light fabrics, they are still very breathable despite the heat. Cotton, viscose (the blue dress), rayon (the floral dress) or linen are good options. You can also roll the sleeves up too if you find them too warm. Light long sleeve dresses also work perfectly for bikini cover ups at the beach.



Want a Long Sleeve Dress to Wear On Christmas Day?

There's still time to order and get your purchase before next week!





Linking up with Style on The Daily, Fashion Frenzy, Oh Hey Girl, Fun Fashion, Fabulous Friday, Weekend Wear.


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Friday 15 August 2014

Winter Outfits: Dresses and Leggings

Here's what I wore to go to a doctor's appointment and visit friends:
zara printed tunic dress leggings owl print scarf converse baby bag outfit
SunglassesBali sunglasses C/O Kameleonz (20% discount with code 'MICA')
ScarfLiquorish owl print scarf in grey (on sale!)
Dress: Zara printed bib front tunic dress
Leggings: Cotton On
ShoesConverse Chuck Taylor All Star low in black
BagMarc by Marc Jacobs pretty nylon Eliz-A-Baby bag


Wore this to take baby T to the paediatrician for his regular check-up and to visit some friends to hand out baby's birth announcement cards.

Last time I wore this tunic it was belted over my large third trimester baby bump, with leggings to keep things modest as the bump was pulling the dress up quite a bit! Decided to try a more winter version of that look, minus the baby belly and the belt. The previous time I wore this tunic dress unbelted I was hiding my little second trimester baby bump, and sweltering in the heat. Wearing Converse, rolling the sleeves down and adding a big cosy scarf made the dress more suitable for winter weather, but I did wish I'd added a jacket too when it got chilly near the end of the day.


Last worn: Kameleonz sunniesprinted tunic dress, owl print scarf, grey leggings, Converse, Marc by Marc Jacobs baby bag.



Here's what I wore stop by the clinic:
cobalt blue leather jacket striped tee dress leggings
Jacket: Wittner 'Santa Fe' cobalt blue leather jacket
DressAtmos&Here navy stripe tee dress
Leggings: Cotton On
ShoesConverse Chuck Taylor All Star low in black


Another dress and leggings combo! A daytime outfit with this dress as I headed to our local clinic. I wore it for an evening out previously. I don't like this outfit as much as the one I wore above despite it following the same formula. I think with the three quarter length leggings and the jacket and the stripes the proportions are a bit off. Maybe if I'd belted the dress? As I'm getting better at falling into a routine with baby and taking daily photos, I have more photos stacking up than I have time to write blog posts for, so I was considering just not posting this photo at first. I learn from all the photos I take though and sharing what I wore here on the blog means I can get other points of view or suggestions for improvements, so I kept it. How would you change this outfit to make it less of a fail?

As it's the second wear of the dress during my "wear my latest purchases" challenge, the final verdict:
Although I don't like this outfit, I love this dress. Really happy I bought it and I can think of lots of ways to wear it more in winter and when the weather starts to warm up. I'm actively trying not to wear it so I can wear some of my other July purchases!


Last worn: cobalt leather jacket, stripe tee dress, black leggings, Converse (see above).

Linking up with Fashion Item Friday, Friday's Fab Favourites, Passion for FashionCasual Friday, Sunday Funday today.



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Monday 29 January 2018

Making Casual Dresses Work For The Office With a Pencil Skirt

One way I like to get more wear from my dresses is to layer a skirt over them and wear them as tops. I've done that with both of the dresses below before. Putting a pencil skirt over a dress is the perfect way to make a dress on the shorter side work-appropriate!

What I wore:

botanical print tee dress for the office layered under black pencil skirt | awayfromblue

silver bracelet stack and Rebecca Minkoff moon navy Regan medium satchel tote bag | awayfromtheblue

awayfromblue instagram botanical print tee dress made office appropriate with pencil skirt layered over
Necklace: gifted silver heart long pendant necklace
DressAtmos & Here Willow printed tee dress
SkirtJeanswest zip detail ponte pencil skirt
ShoesWalnut Melbourne 'Ava' black lizard ballet flats (also available in silver)
Bracelets: the usual
Bag:  Rebecca Minkoff Regan Satchel Tote in moon

Why I wore it:

My first day back after an extended leave over Christmas time meant picking bright colours to cheer me up. Especially after spending the week before I went back to work feeling sick. I knew it would be a day of catching upon emails and everything else I missed, so wanted to pep myself up as much as possible with this bright and colourful dress worn as a top. It's not the first time I've layered a skirt over this dress, I've done it before here with a maxi skirt and with a pencil skirt again. Way back when I first bought this I fell in love with the print and couldn't decide between getting the dress or tee in the print. I'm glad I picked the dress, as it's so easy to wear it as a top too to mix things up a little.


Last worn: botanical print tee dress, black pencil skirt, Walnut Melbourne ballet flats, Rebecca Minkoff Regan satchel.

Other ways to wearbotanical print tee dress and Converse, black pencil skirt in winter, black ballet flats and fit and flare dress, Rebecca Minkoff Regan satchel and shorts.

Perfect for pregnancybotanical print tee dress for pregnancy announcement, black pencil skirt in first trimester, black ballet flats in second trimester.


Pencil Skirts Under $50:



Both pencil skirts I'm wearing in this post are Jeanswest, and they've just released a new office wear collection!



What I wore:

zara printed tunic dress for the office work layered under a pencil skirt easy business casual outfit | away from blue

Rebecca Minkoff Regan moon navy satchel tote bag for the office | away from the blue

awayfromblue Instagram zara navy printed dress under black pencil skirt Rebecca Minkoff regan stachel
Necklace: Lovisa gold filigree heart pendant
Dress: Zara printed bib front tunic dress
SkirtJeanswest black ponte pencil skirt
ShoesMarc by Marc Jacobs black logo plaque ballet flats
Bag:  Rebecca Minkoff Regan Satchel Tote in moon

Why I wore it:

Another day in the office, another dress as a top. This dress has been worn with a pencil skirt before too. I'd planned to wear this outfit after the one above, but after wearing that and dragging myself to the office, I made myself much worse and the doctor sent me back home to rest for a few more days. It did make getting ready for work when I was eventually well enough to go back really easy though, just pulled on this outfit I'd had sitting planned for a few days!

The only thing I didn't like about this outfit was the necklace. I love the way it looks, but I didn't consider that when I wore my work security pass around my neck on the long lanyard like I usually do, it would hit and jingle with the necklace all day. It was a little frustrating as I moved around between meetings, as I didn't always have a hand free to separate the two. Might need to save this necklace for weekend wear, which is a shame as it's so pretty!


Last worn: navy shift dress, black pencil skirt, MbMJ ballet flats, Rebecca Minkoff Regan bag (above).

Other ways to wearnavy shift dress and denim jacket, black pencil skirt and tan accessoriesMbMJ ballet flats and little black dress, Rebecca Minkoff Regan bag and tee dress.

Perfect for pregnancynavy shift dress in third trimester, black pencil skirt in second trimester.


Printed Dresses Under $50 great for layering with:






How You Can Wear It:


Not all dresses are work appropriate lengths, even though they might be ideal for weekend wear. If you're worried a dress is too short for the office, try turning it into a top by putting it under a pencil skirt. A pencil skirt works so well for different office dress codes, and it's a fun way to remix a dress and make it less casual.



Have you seen my latest YouTube video? Top 3 must-have bags for mums!





Linking up with Modest Monday, Mix It Monday, Hello Monday, Creative Monday, On Mondays We Link Up, Style Sessions, On Trend, Turning HeadsConfident Twosday.


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