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:

Necklace: gifted silver heart long pendant necklace
Dress: Atmos & Here Willow printed tee dress
Skirt: Jeanswest zip detail ponte pencil skirt
Shoes: Walnut 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 wear: botanical 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 pregnancy: botanical print tee dress for pregnancy announcement, black pencil skirt in first trimester, black ballet flats in second trimester.

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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!

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What I wore:

Necklace: Lovisa gold filigree heart pendant
Dress: Zara printed bib front tunic dress
Skirt: Jeanswest black ponte pencil skirt
Shoes: Marc 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 wear: navy shift dress and denim jacket, black pencil skirt and tan accessories, MbMJ ballet flats and little black dress, Rebecca Minkoff Regan bag and tee dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: navy shift dress in third trimester, black pencil skirt in second trimester.

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Printed Dresses Under $50 great for layering with:

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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!





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June Dress Week Style Challenge - Summer Dresses in Winter With Leather Jackets, Skull Scarves and Boots

Sharing more of my June Dress Week Style challenge outfits, this time for #JuneDressWeek2. I'm doing this challenge with my blog buddy Kiki from According to Kiki. You can follow along with us on instagram @kikimincks and @awayfromblue, or through our blogs. I'm posting a little more closely to the actual days with this one, as I went ahead and did the second challenge right after the first so I was a week ahead!


First, the Shopbop sale has just gotten even better! Get an extra 25% off sale items with the code '25MORE' for the next 3 days only! I keep the Sales and Discounts page updated regularly, but this sale is so good I had to include it in a post too. Perfect time to buy all those items you had added to your cart waiting for a justification to buy. Or is that just me? ;)

What I wore:

Jacket: Wittner 'Santa Fe' cobalt blue leather jacket

Scarf: Alexander McQueen modal and cashmere skull scarf
Dress: Zara printed bib front tunic dress
Shoes: Asos Cleo leather boots in tan
Bag: Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere

Why I wore it:

The challenge was 'oldie but fave', and this was Kiki's take on it. This dress is only 3 years old (I bought it on a trip to Sydney), so it's certainly not the oldest dress I own. It's definitely one of my favourites though! I was actually surprised to see that I hadn't worn this dress with these tall boots before, in all the (15) times I've worn it. It's one of those pieces that is perfect in summer or layered up in winter, a great all-rounder and I'm so pleased I bought it all those years ago.

This is probably one of my shortest lived outfits that has ever been on the blog though, despite how much I liked it. As usual, after a busy morning everyone was fed, clothed and ready to go out the door. I stopped to take photos and then after putting the tripod away I turned to baby T to go put him in his car seat....and he vomited! My first instinct was to scoop him up and cuddle him, which didn't work out nicely for my outfit as he wasn't quite finished!
I had been debating wearing this jacket that morning, as it is one of my most expensive items of clothing (more expensive than some of my hand bags!). Lydia left a comment last time I wore the jacket suggesting it would look nice with this dress, so I was eager to try the combination. I foolishly decided that as it was only a short morning out, going to the library and then playgroup, my jacket would be okay. I had wanted to give it its first wearing in a while, after not wearing it a lot last year when baby T was still a newborn as I was worried about him spitting up on it!

Had to text my friends to tell them we wouldn't be seeing them, and I spent the rest of the day at home with a sick baby after getting us changed out of our messed up clothes. My outfits for looking after a sick baby are never blog-worthy, and they never tend to stay clean for long!

I might wear this exact outfit again another day as I didn't get a chance to wear it for long and I really liked it. I wonder if this disappointment is what people who have 'professional' fashion blogs feel, getting all dressed up in something you like and it only lasts for a few camera clicks? I prefer actually wearing my clothes, and enjoying them!


Last worn: cobalt blue leather jacket, Alexander McQueen skull scarf, zara printed tunic dress, tan boots, Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere.

Other ways to wear: leather jacket, skull scarf with stripes and metallic denim, printed tunic dress in summer hiding a first trimester baby belly, tall boots with skinny jeans, LV speedy bandouliere bag for the office.

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What I wore:

Jacket: Asos Black by Markus Lupfer printed leather jacket

Scarf: Alexander McQueen pink pashmina in skull and floral print
Dress: Ezra chambray shift dress
Shoes: Asos Aggie leather western ankle boots in black
Bag: Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere

Why I wore it:

This chambray challenge was the hardest one for Kiki and I! We spoke about it quite a few times, as we were unsure how to pull it off. I was a step ahead of Kiki as I already owned a chambray dress, but I have never been to sure about how to style it for cooler weather! A chambray dress is also the Style It Project challenge for June, so I got a few ideas about how to make my chambray dress work for winter from Kimba's blog.

My first thought was to try leggings and ankle boots with this, as that was the outfit idea I liked the most, but I don't have any full-length leggings. With the darker denim panel at the hem of the dress and the leggings cutting off above the ankle boots...it was not a flattering look. So I wore exactly the same thing, but with tights instead. I think it looks nice this way. It does make me wonder why I keep holding onto this dress though as I always find it hard to wear. I'm not letting go of it just yet, will wait until spring comes around again and see how I feel about it then before I decide. It is easier to wear in the warmer weather.


Last worn: printed leather jacket, pink skull scarf, chambray shift dress, Asos black ankle boots, Louis Vuitton Speedy bandouliere (above).

Other ways to wear: leather jacket in spring, pink skull scarf with yellow tee, chambray dress with converse, ankle boots in spring.

Linking up with Whatcha Wearing Wednesday, Because Shanna Said So, What I Wore Wednesday, Style Me Weekly, What I Wore, The Wednesday Pants, I Feel Pretty, Style Me Wednesday, Oh Hey Girl, Trendy Wednesday, Thursday Fashion Files, Thursday Favourites today.

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Silicone Teething Necklaces and Printed Dresses

The most frequent comment on the blog or Instagram is around my accessories. Lots of love for my handbags, but at the moment the most commented on thing is whatever necklace I'm wearing.

While Baby Boy is so small, I'm doing the same thing I did with his older brother and putting aside all my regular necklaces and just wearing baby-friendly pieces. I have a little collection of teething necklaces I rotate through.

What's a teething necklace?

They are called teething or silicone necklaces as they are made out of nontoxic food safe silicone and designed for babies to chew. I've bought necklaces from Nibbly Bits (who I highly recommend) and received some from Ruby Olive in a subscription box. I'm wearing one from each brand with some printed dresses below.

Why wear a teething necklace?

• Entertainment for baby - they are brightly coloured and perfectly positioned around your neck for playing with during feeds. Useful for both breast and bottle feeds.
• Perfect for teething - both my boys love gnawing on the bright beads to soothe their gums.
• Easy to clean - you can wash them in hot soapy water and as they stay on you they don't get as dirty as other toys that roll around on the floor with baby.
• Always nearby - it can be hard digging around in a baby bag to find a toy when you have a toddler and a baby to keep hold of!
• Safe - the ones I own have a quick release clasp so if baby gets tangled or tugs too strongly they unfasten for safety. They are also made from BPA free food-grade silicone.
• They look good! I like being able to wear an accessory that adds something to an outfit I'm wearing and is also useful for baby. Pretty and practical!

You get a lot of unsolicited advice in motherhood and I'm wary of recommending something as what works for one baby doesn't work for all, but when anyone asks about my necklaces I always rave about how good teething necklaces are! They are a nice touch to an outfit too.

What I wore:

Sunglasses: Ray-Ban new Wayfarers

Necklace: Nibbly Bits Abacus teething necklace in pop
Dress: Atmos&Here Nigella collarless shirt dress
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bag: Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere

Why I wore it:

I was in a rush this morning as usual so wanted an easy outfit - this simple printed shirt dress was perfect. It met a lot of style challenges on Instagram too. The polka dot dress is a red, black and white print but it 'reads' like a neutral piece so I thought the pink and purple teething necklace was lovely with it. Wore this for a lot of running around with swim lessons for Toddler T, a few errands and getting lunch.

This is definitely my favourite teething necklace - I really like the colours and it does seem to go with everything! I made a #30wears collages with it as I've worn it so much.

Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer, Atmos&Here shirt dress, Havaianas, Louis Vuitton speedy Bandouliere.

Other ways to wear: shirt dress and winter layers, Louis Vuitton speedy Bandouliere and jeans.

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Where to Buy Silicone Teething Necklaces:

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What I wore:

Sunglasses: Ray-Ban new Wayfarers

Necklace: Ruby Olive Softies Charlotte teething necklace
Dress: Zara printed bib front tunic dress
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bag: Balenciaga giant hardware Day bag in 2009 tempete

Why I wore it:

Not what I wanted to wear, but still met a couple style challenge prompts on Instagram. Unlike the shirt dress above, this shift dress is not breastfeeding friendly! I was rushing to get ready as usual and I pulled on my button up shift dress that is breastfeeding friendly. Only to find I couldn't fasten it as somewhere between me taking it off, washing it and ironing it, one of the buttons had popped off.

I'd had my mind set on wearing a dress so I was rummaging through my wardrobe looking for something else to wear. With pregnancy and breastfeeding, it's been a year and a half since I last wore this one! It was nice to get it out again, it is one of my favourite dresses. Even if I was a little stressed about going grocery shopping and getting back before Baby Boy wanted a feed!

With the blue bag and navy shift dress the colourful teething necklace was a good addition to break up the blue a little. Plus it kept Baby Boy amused until I could get home and change into something more suited for feeding him.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer (above), Zara shift dress, Havaianas (above), Balenciaga tempete Day bag.

Other ways to wear: Zara shift dress and leather jacket, Balenciaga tempete Day bag and blush blazer.


Hopefully you found this post helpful! So many people have asked that I thought this would be useful for someone. It's not sponsored. Just wanted to share the revelation I had when I first heard of teething necklaces - what a great idea!

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More Teething Necklaces:

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2 Ways To Wear A Dress As A Top: Work And Weekend With Colourful Balenciaga Bags

I love the dresses I have in my wardrobe, but sometimes I like to try different things with them. This dress below is the perfect casual dress, I've worn it to Bondi beach and I love it as a beach cover-up. It's so easy to make the dress work in other ways too though. Below I'm wearing it as a top in two different ways, one for the office and the other for a day of errands.

What I wore:

Jacket: thrifted Zara black blazer
Necklace: silver ball multi chain long necklace
Dress: Zara printed bib front tunic dress (worn as top)
Skirt: Jeanswest zip detail ponte pencil skirt
Shoes: Walnut Melbourne 'Ava' black lizard ballet flats (also available in silver)
Bag: Balenciaga Day bag in 2005 magenta

Why I wore it:

After a few days signed off sick from work, my voice still wasn't fully back, but I could kind of hold a conversation, so I headed into the office. This was a mistake and I should have stayed home. I ended up getting told to go home by two different bosses. By lunch time I took their advice, called it quits and went home.

While I felt horrible, my outfit was designed to make me feel better, with the colourful and cheerful magenta Balenciaga day bag as a pop of colour with all of the black. The jersey blazer and skirt look a bit 'suit-like' in an attempt to project an air of professionalism with all my coughs and wheezes! Despite having a horrible day and feeling too exhausted to do anything other than order takeaway for dinner, I did like this outfit. It's a shame I wasn't well enough to enjoy it, ha!


Last worn: jersey blazer, printed dress, pencil skirt, Walnut Melbourne ballet flats, Balenciaga magenta day bag.

Other ways to wear: jersey blazer and pencil skirt, printed dress and denim jacket, pencil skirt in winter, Walnut Melbourne ballet flats and skinny jeans, Balenciaga magenta day bag and maxi dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: jersey blazer and maternity pencil skirt, printed dress in second trimester, pencil skirt in first trimester, Walnut Melbourne ballet flats in second trimester, Balenciaga magenta day bag in third trimester.

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How To Pick The Balenciaga Bag That's Right For You:

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What I wore:

Necklace: silver heart long pendant necklace
Dress: Zara printed bib front tunic dress (worn as top)
Shorts: Jeanswest Trinity Bermuda denim shorts
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in white
Bracelets: the usual plus Cora purpleheart and mother of pearl watch C/O JORD
Bag: Balenciaga regular Pompon bag in Murier

Why I wore it:

Feeling much better, I wore the dress again as a top a few days afterwards. Instead of layering a pencil skirt over the top, I just bundled it up and partially tucked it into my denim shorts, which have been on heavy repeat lately. As the weather is getting cooler here in Brisbane, the longer sleeves from the dress worked nicely with the slightly longer length of the bermuda shorts.

Just like the pink Balenciaga day bag above, I picked this Balenciaga Pompon bag for an extra touch of colour with the otherwise monochromatic blue outfit. I have been enjoying using this Balenciaga bag lately, as you may have seen on Instagram.

Added the Converse as it was a bit of a showery day and as much as I love my trusty Havaianas that you'll see in most of my outfit photos, I don't like them in the rain much! The Converse were much easier for running around chasing after the boys as we attempted to achieve multiple things in one morning.


Last worn: printed dress (above), bermuda denim shorts, Converse. First time I've shown the bag on the blog as it's a recent addition to my wardrobe.

Other ways to wear: printed dress in winter, bermuda denim shorts and kimono, Converse and pencil skirt.

Perfect for pregnancy: printed dress in third trimester, Converse for second trimester travel.

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Navy Printed Dresses Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

Try rewear your favourite dress differently by layering and wearing it as a top. For shorter dresses, you can add a pencil skirt over the top to instantly make them a work-appropriate length. If the dress is a light soft fabric like this viscose one, scrunch it up and tuck it into a pair of shorts for a different casual summer look.


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Dresses and Rebecca Minkoff Bags

Again, more dress outfits! I've been loving the simplicity of dresses lately, Just throw them on and go, minimal to no accessorising needed!


Here's what I wore to go out with my mother in law:

Sunnies: Rayban new Wayfarers
Necklace: Roie Designs long freshwater pearl necklace with tassel
Dress: Three Dots stripe maxi dress
Shoes: Balenciaga studded sandals in sorbet RGGH
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Swing bag in canary yellow


Had a very busy morning! Took the time to stop by the library with my mother in law for the little baby rhymes session. Baby T loves spending time with his grandparents and it's so good watching them play together. Also managed to get some Christmas shopping done, as well as getting some essentials for the house.

Decided to dress simply with a maxi dress - and picked this one as I haven't worn it in a while. It was last worn when I was in the second trimester, then the bump got too big to squeeze into it, hehe. I wasn't sure if the dress should stay in my wardrobe or go. It felt a little bit unforgiving with the leftover baby belly for me when I wore it.....but when I looked up how many times I've worn it on the blog and saw it was my first pregnancy outfit with the baby bump on display, I've decided to keep it a little longer, as it's such a special piece. I shouldn't be so self-conscious about the flabby belly, it gave me a beautiful baby!


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer, striped maxi dress, Balenciaga sandals, Rebecca Minkoff swing bag.

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Here's what I wore to go get my hair cut:

Sunglasses: Rayban new Wayfarers
Necklace: custom Cooper charm by Silhoupette
Dress: Zara printed bib front tunic dress
Shoes: Acne pistol boots in "skin"
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC with python embossed leather in aquamarine


This dress is definitely not going anywhere! It's a keeper! I love this dress, and this outfit. I've worn the exact outfit before in cooler weather, just added a scarf and a slip underneath for a little extra warmth.

Wore this out for a trip to the hairdressers. My first haircut after baby! I managed to find a lovely local lady and mum who was happy for me to bring baby T along to my appointment. Was a bonus to find out that she had a little June baby too, we swapped stories on baby progress and how to handle different situations. Didn't go for a drastic change, as I've been loving my long hair, just a general tidy up. As you can see in this photo, my hair was starting to get really difficult to do anything with. Felt so good to set aside a little time for a trim!


Last worn: Wayferers (above), Zara printed dress, Acne Pistol boots, Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC.

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Printed Zara Dress, Balenciaga Sang Clutch | Burgundy Tee, Metallic Lace Skirt, Miu Miu Bag

Here's what I wore to spend time with family on Saturday:

Sunglasses: gifted Cotton On 'Risky Business' sunglasses in sky blue
Necklace: custom Cooper charm by Silhoupette
Dress: Zara printed bib front tunic dress
Shoes: Nine West fascinate ballet flats in silver glitter
Bracelets: the usual plus Roie Designs labradorite bracelets, blue beaded bracelet and Disney Couture Winnie the Pooh bangle on other arm
Bag: Balenciaga flat clutch GSH in 2010 Sang


Saturday was the peak of our Queensland heatwave, and it was to get up to 41 degrees Celsius in Brisbane. Wore this light and breezy Zara tunic dress to keep cool, and to look a little dressed up for visiting family and attending a birthday dinner in the evening. We survived the day by staying in air conditioning as much as possible, haha!


Last worn: blue sunglasses, Zara printed dress, glitter flats, Balenciaga sang GH clutch.

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Here's what I wore today:

Sunglasses: gifted Rayban new Wayfarers
Necklace: Roie Designs long freshwater pearl necklace with tassel
Tee: Atmos&Here rolled sleeve oversized tee in wine
Skirt: Cotton On metallic lace tulip skirt in frosted almond/silver
Shoes: Wittner 'Jasmarie' studded sandals
Bracelets: the usual plus gifted Ferragamo double wrap bracelet, Roie Designs leather and pearl bracelet and Disney Couture Winnie the Pooh bangle on other arm
Bag: Miu Miu cammeo studded clutch bag


Today was much cooler than yesterday thankfully. Lots of smoke haze from the Straddie bushfire though. Hope everyone is keeping safe.

Although this skirt has a little bit of volume on it's own, I've paired it with less fitted tops in the past and thought it looked okay, so I thought I would try it again today with the burgundy tee. What do you think?


Last worn: Rayban Wayfarers, burgundy tee, metallic lace skirt, studded sandals, Miu Miu studded clutch.

Linking up with Mix It Monday today.

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Red Asos Dress With Blue, Marco Tagliaferri Bag | Zara Printed Dress Worn As Top, RM Mini MAB

Here's what I wore to work on Tuesday:

Sunnies: gifted Cotton On 'Risky Business' sunglasses in sky blue
Jacket: Zara frayed basket weave cardigan in blue
Necklace: Chanel necklace layered with Dogeared 3 Wishes stardust bead necklace
Dress: Asos tulip skirt dress in red
Shoes: Nine West fascinate ballet flats in silver glitter
Bracelets: the usual plus Hermes Kelly double tour bracelet in rubis
Bag: Marco Tagliaferri first generation Birk bag in navy


Wasn't 100% sure this was the best jacket to wear with the dress, as it does have a very tulip shaped skirt and I don't think the blazer hits it at a very flattering point. It did keep me warm with the cool morning though, so I was happy. :)

Linking up with Spotlight Weekly, Three-fer Thursday, What I Wore To Work, Fashion Informant today.


Last worn: Zara blazer, red Asos dress, glitter flats, Marco Tagliaferri bag.

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Here's what I wore to work today:

Sunnies: gifted Cotton On 'Risky Business' sunglasses in sky blue
Necklace: custom Cooper charm by Silhoupette
Dress: Zara printed bib front tunic dress (worn as top)
Belt: Asos metal keeper skinny waist belt in bright blue
Skirt: Jeanswest zip detail ponte pencil skirt
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs studded mouse flats in grey
Bracelets: the usual plus Kate Spade skinny mini bow bracelet
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff MAB mini in soft grey


Have been wanting to wear this dress as a top for a while. Figured that now was the best time to wear it, before the weather gets too warm! Have had a few cooler weather outfits planned in my head for a while despite the heat, as I was due to fly overseas for work on Saturday, to a cold climate. I'm unfortunately no longer travelling as planned. I know if the chance comes up again though, I've got my outfits planned and my suitcase all packed in my head, ready to go, haha!


Lots of people have been asking about my mini MAB on youtube, so I made a short review and 'what's in my bag' video.

Last worn: blue sunglasses, printed Zara tunic, black pencil skirt, studded mouse flats, Rebecca Minkoff MAM.

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Printed Dresses, Gold Sandals and Chloe Paddington Bag: Summer Style

You know I love my outfit formulas! Printed dresses are a great piece to include in an outfit formula as they make each outfit look different. I'm wearing two cute printed dresses below, with green necklaces, rose gold sandals and a Chloe Paddington bag, and because I changed up the dress each time they look completely different.

What I wore:

Necklace: Jeanswest Taryn turquoise tassel bead necklace
Dress: All About Eve striped black tee dress
Shoes: Novo Tawny rose gold sandals
Bag: Chloe Paddington in 2007 Brun

Why I wore it:

This dress is one that I got from my sister (video explanation here) and I'm surprised she wanted to give it away as I associate it with her so much! One of my favourite photos of her and my eldest son together she was wearing this dress. Of course I am extremely grateful to get it!

A striped tee dress has been on my want list for a while, but I figured I'd start shopping when the boys are bigger and there's less bending over and picking the kids up! I found the length on this really nice though. Hubby and I had a rare few hours to ourselves to do some boring bank stuff while the inlaws watched the kids, so it was the perfect opportunity to break out this tee dress. I actually really liked the length and could see myself wearing this around the boys. The slightly dipped hem in the back helps with that!

The style challenge for the day was 'pure gold' so I layered up the gold pendant necklace, rose gold sandals and gold padlock Chloe Paddington bag together. I really liked all of the gold with the black and white stripes.


Last worn: gold pendant necklace, rose gold sandals, Chloe Paddington bag. First time I've worn the striped tee dress as it's a recent addition to my wardrobe.

Other ways to wear: rose gold sandals and maxi dress, Chloe Paddington bag in the office.

Perfect for pregnancy: Chloe Paddington bag in second trimester.

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What's In My Bag: Chloe Paddington

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What I wore:

Necklace: Starfish Project Hannah turquoise bead necklace
Dress: Zara printed bib front tunic dress
Shoes: Novo Tawny rose gold sandals
Bag: Chloe Paddington in 2007 Brun

Why I wore it:

Again, another printed dress with a green and gold necklace, and the same rose gold sandals and Chloe Paddington bag. Despite being the same outfit formula as I wore above, I love how this looks completely different with the navy dress!

This dress isn't much shorter than the one above, but really feels it (especially as the hems are curved and split before they join in the middle. It's strictly a kid free dress, unless I wear it as a top, which I've done a few times in the past.

I wore the dress like this a couple days before Christmas, to get some last minute stocking filler things I hadn't been able to buy before when I had the kids with me, and to make a start on the Christmas food shopping to minimise what I needed to buy the weekend before Christmas. It was a productive few hours, and this dress was a nice light layer for the hot summer day.


Last worn: navy shift dress, green statement necklace, rose gold sandals (above), Chloe Paddington (above).

Other ways to wear: navy shift dress under a pencil skirt, rose gold sandals and maxi dress, Chloe Paddington and burgundy pants.

Perfect for pregnancy: navy shift dress in third trimester, Chloe Paddington in first trimester.

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Printed Dresses Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

A simple printed dress is a staple for a hot summer day. They are so easy to style too. Add some metallic accessories and a fun bag and you're set for the day. You can even repeat the same or similar accessories the next day with another dress for a completely different outfit despite following the same formula and wearing some of the same pieces.



Linking up with Friday Faves, Lizzie In Lace, Sunday Reflections, Shoe & Tell, On Mondays We Link Up, PinkSole and I was featured over at Nancy's linkup!

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