Printed Tops, Black Pencil Skirts and Balenciaga Day Bags

With the warmer spring weather, I had some lovely spring weather outfits planned to wear my new shoes. Unfortunately we were in for a wet week, and I didn't want to ruin my new shoes in the rain. So I went back to basics for workwear, with black pencil skirts and printed tops.

What I wore:

Earrings: Ana Luisa 'Olivia' tassel earrings in pink (giveaway prize)
Scarf: Alexander McQueen magenta skull scarf in roses print
Top: Target ruffle sleeve dog print blouse
Skirt: Jeanswest black 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:

You know I love a bit of matchy-matchy! This magenta Alexander McQueen skull scarf and Balenciaga day bag are frequently worn together. With the purple outlines on the dashounds on my top, it felt like a great matchy-matchy outfit for the office. Kept the rest of my outfit simple with the black pencil skirt and the black ballet flats.

Did end up regretting this outfit in the afternoon though! Around lunch time the rains arrived and I was very cold and wet by the time I got home after work that evening. Probably should have picked tights or a cosier jacket (I just had a blazer in case any meetings came up).

Despite the less than perfect weather conditions, I did like this outfit. I even had a rare opportunity before the rain started to pop out for lunch and have a browse at the Jeanswest store in the city.

Had fun yesterday trying on some of the new dresses at #Jeanswest in my lunch break! Decided to buy a new dress for Christmas this year, been a while since I have! Dresses are on #sale too! Get 30% off: https://t.co/KleQLQQYHA pic.twitter.com/oVDMBKEGEG

— Mica (@AwayFromTheBlue) October 12, 2018

Last worn: Ana Luisa earrings, roses print skull scarf, dachshund print top, black pencil skirt, Walnut Melbourne ballet flats, magenta Balenciaga day bag.

Other ways to wear: roses print skull scarf and striped dress, dachshund print top and burgundy pants, black pencil skirt over a dress, Walnut Melbourne ballet flats and olive pants, magenta Balenciaga day bag and maxi skirt.

Perfect for pregnancy: roses print skull scarf in third trimester, dachshund print top in first trimester, black pencil skirt in second trimester, Walnut Melbourne ballet flats in second trimester, magenta Balenciaga day bag in third trimester.

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What's In My Bag: Balenciaga Day Bag

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What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Dixie collarless jacket
Earrings: Jeanswest Evy dangly earring
Tank: Jeanswest 'Ricky' ruffle front top in midnight
Skirt: Jeanswest zip detail ponte pencil skirt
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs black logo plaque ballet flats
Bag: Balenciaga giant hardware Day bag in 2009 tempete

Why I wore it:

I didn't like this outfit as much as the one above. It was something I'd picked as a second choice because of the forecast rain which meant it was already off to a bad start! I wasn't sure about this boucle blazer and the polka dot print tank, but in the mirror that morning it looked good enough for me to pick the boucle jacket over a plain black blazer. When I reviewed the photos later though I regretted my decision - a plain jacket would have looked better over this.

Bad jacket choice aside, it was an otherwise okay outfit. The Balenciaga day bag doesn't look as nice with it as I thought as the shades of blue are so different, but it's definitely not the worst thing about this outfit! I really don't know why this top is worn so little, I get compliments when I wear it and it is always so fun to wear.


Last worn: boucle jacket, statement earrings, polka dot ruffle tank, black pencil skirt, Marc By Marc Jacobs ballet flats, Balenciaga tempete Day bag.

Other ways to wear: boucle jacket and a-line skirt, polka dot ruffle tank and jeans, black pencil skirt for YouTube creator day, Marc By Marc Jacobs ballet flats and striped dress, Balenciaga tempete Day bag and printed shorts.

Perfect for pregnancy: boucle jacket in second trimester, polka dot ruffle tank in second trimester, black pencil skirt in first trimester, Balenciaga tempete Day bag in third trimester.

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Black Pencil Skirts Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

A black pencil skirt is a corporate office wardrobe essential! It's so easy to throw on a printed top with a plain black pencil skirt and feel ready for work. As you can see from my lessons above though, it pays to put a little more thought into the weather for the day and your accessories when picking such a straightforward outfit!


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Dresses and Leather Jackets With Scarves and Balenciaga Day Bags

I'm always excited to get my leather jackets out. They are the perfect pieces to keep me warm in our Brisbane winters, and they look great with everything. I wore them recently with dresses to the office. I get to work early so the extra warmth from a leather jacket is appreciated in the cold winter commute. I did swap the jackets for a cosy cardigan when I got to my desk though.

What I wore:

Jacket: Wittner 'Santa Fe' cobalt blue leather jacket
Scarf: grey and gold embroidered feather scarf
Dress: Jeanswest Aztec print dress
Belt: Rebecca Minkoff Liv double wrap velvet belt
Shoes: Walnut Melbourne 'Ava' black lizard ballet flats (also available in silver)
Bag: Balenciaga truffle brown RH classic day bag

Why I wore it:

While this dress only gets worn to the office, it is one of my favourite dresses. I love the colour and print, and it was definitely overdue a wear. I knew the cobalt of the leather jacket would go so nicely with the navy on the dress, but I was undecided about the scarf. I set aside a few to try in the morning and see which looked best, but as soon as I put this one on I knew I wasn't going to have to try any others - the grey scarf with gold embroidered feathers works so well with this printed dress!

There was nothing I'd change about this outfit - I did think of ankle boots in the morning but the ballet flats were fine. My legs were kept warm with my fleece lined tights, another winter must-have for me!


Last worn: cobalt leather jacket, feather embroidered scarf, velvet double wrap belt, Ikat print dress, Walnut Melbourne ballet flats, Balenciaga Day bag.

Other ways to wear: cobalt leather jacket and maxi dress, feather embroidered scarf with black and white, velvet double wrap belt over a vest, Ikat print dress in summer, Walnut Melbourne ballet flats and printed skirt, Balenciaga Day bag and denim shorts.

Perfect for pregnancy: Ikat print dress in third trimester, Walnut Melbourne ballet flats in second trimester, Balenciaga Day bag for second trimester travel.

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What's In My Bag: Balenciaga Day

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What I wore:

Jacket: Asos Black by Markus Lupfer printed leather jacket
Scarf: Louis Vuitton monogram shawl in bleu
Dress: Target Dannii Minogue Petites printed wrap dress
Shoes: RMK Chester black ankle boots
Bag: Balenciaga giant hardware Day bag in 2009 tempete

Why I wore it:

While I liked this outfit, I didn't like it as much as the one above. I thought that the blue bag and scarf would look nice with this faux wrap dress. The dress is such a fun mix of colours, but I do wear blue with it frequently. Even this black moto jacket has a little bit of blue print on the sleeves, as you can see in the close up shot of the bag.

With the dress being such a bold and colourful print, again I was unsure what scarf to go with it. I decided on this blue monogram shawl. While it does have a monogram print on it, like the leather jacket it's so subtle I think it worked really nicely with this dress.

Might not have been my favourite outfit, but it was still nice for a busy meeting filled day at the office. I just loved the first outfit more!


Last worn: printed leather jacket, Louis Vuitton monogram shawl, Dannii Minogue Petite faux wrap dress, black ankle boots, Balenciaga tempete Day bag.

Other ways to wear: printed leather jacket and flares, Louis Vuitton monogram shawl and pencil skirt, Dannii Minogue Petite faux wrap dress and pink bag, black ankle boots worn 30 ways, Balenciaga tempete Day bag and pencil skirt.

Perfect for pregnancy: Dannii Minogue Petite faux wrap dress in second trimester, black ankle boots in second trimester, Balenciaga tempete Day bag in third trimester.

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Faux Leather Jackets Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

Just because you're heading into the office, it doesn't mean you have to leave your leather jacket behind. A tougher moto jacket works well with a feminine dress and keeps you cosy for the commute. It's so easy to throw your jacket over your chair when you get to your desk, and swap it for a cosy cardigan if the office aircon is a little chilly, or a blazer if you want to look more formal.


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Layering Tees Over Maxi Dresses With Balenciaga Bags (Plus Updated Handbag Collection Video)

Layering a tee over a maxi dress is a nice way to add just a touch of warmth to your outfit, and to change up the look of a dress you wear frequently. I've been wearing my tees over maxi dresses a lot lately! I've also been wearing my Balenciaga bags often too, and for those who are interested I've shared an updated video of my collection below!

What I wore:

Earrings: A Little Bit of North blue mandala earrings (giveaway prize, close up photo)
Jacket: Bubblegum denim jacket
Necklace: Lovisa gold filigree heart pendant
Tee: Atmos & Here Avery marle tee in navy
Dress: Jeanswest 'Elodie' tie dye grey jersey maxi dress (worn as skirt)
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs metallic mouse flats
Bracelets: the usual plus Disney Couture Winnie the Pooh bangle
Bag: Balenciaga envelope clutch in 2012 mangue with giant 12 RGGH

Why I wore it:

Wouldn't change a single thing about this outfit - I loved it all! We went down the coast for a family birthday celebration. It was a warm day but I thought it might get cooler at night, as I picked my denim jacket to layer with. With the blue tee and grey tie dye maxi dress, I thought that this yellow Balenciaga envelope clutch would be a fun pop of colour.

The night didn't go quite how I expected. We were out in the morning and got back late, which meant nap time was late, which meant we were late for heading down the coast, so that we were badly affected by the traffic. I managed to find a rather roundabout route to avoid the traffic and get there in the end though, and even if we didn't get to spend a relaxing afternoon together as planned we did manage to get there in time to enjoy dinner, which was good.

The little gold touches though this outfit worked so nicely together I thought, with the gold mouse flats, heart necklace and bracelet complimenting the Balenciaga envelope clutch. Even if the clutch did stay in the baby bag for most of the night! Mum life 😅


Last worn: denim jacket, navy tee, tie dye maxi dress, gold mouse flats, Balenciaga envelope clutch.

Other ways to wear: denim jacket and skinny jeans, navy tee and printed shorts, tie dye maxi dress and purple cardi, gold mouse flats and wrap dress, Balenciaga envelope clutch and printed jeans.

Perfect for pregnancy: denim jacket in second trimester, tie dye maxi dress at 38 weeks, gold mouse flats in second trimester, Balenciaga envelope clutch in third trimester.

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My Complete Balenciaga Handbag Collection

Yes, I have a lot of Balenciaga bags!

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What I wore:

Earrings: Jeanswest Evy dangly earring
Necklace: Uniquely Made with Love Sea Change necklace
Tee: Spectrum basic v-neck tee in grey marl
Dress: Kmart Tropicana sleeveless tiered maxi dress (worn as skirt)
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bag: Balenciaga giant hardware Day bag in 2009 tempete

Why I wore it:

Another tee over a maxi dress, another Balenciaga bag! As you can see from the video above, I have a lot of Balenciaga bags in my wardrobe. I love this tempete Balenciaga day bag, such a unique colour.

Wore this for a blogger date with Rachel from A Nesting Nomad. Now living in Sydney, she was up in Brisbane for the weekend and we took the opportunity to catch up and go grab a yummy gluten free brownie together. After a bit of a tough week, I was looking forward to a couple of kid free hours, but unexpectedly had to take the boys along with me. I regretted the long dangly earrings with the boys grabbing and tugging at them often. They were quite boisterous too, but Rachel was a sweetheart about it! So very sweet!

I did like this outfit, despite the earrings not being a very kid-friendly choice, as it was good to come up with another way to wear this beautiful summer dress and make it work for cooler weather.


Last worn: grey tee, floral maxi dress, Havaianas, Balenciaga tempete day bag.

Other ways to wear: grey tee and printed kimono, floral maxi dress in winter, Balenciaga tempete day bag and swing dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: grey tee in second trimester, Balenciaga tempete day bag in third trimester.

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Maxi Dresses Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

If you have a tee you love and a maxi dress you love, wear them together! If your tee is cropped it might sit perfectly over your dress, as you can see in the first outfit. If your tee is a little longer, you can knot it like the second outfit to have it sit at just the right point.




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Grey Knits and Soft Shorts In Autumn With Balenciaga Tempete Day Bag

When you want to wear all your autumn/winter knits but the weather isn't cooperating, try wearing them with shorts! With our extremely warm start to autumn I wore this outfit combination a few times to wear some cosier pieces without overheating.

What I wore:

Necklace: ZuriCollections blue polymer clay necklace
Knit: Warehouse grey bead front jumper
Shorts: Jeanswest 'Scarlette' printed shorts
Shoes: RMK Chester black ankle boots
Bag: Balenciaga giant hardware Day bag in 2009 tempete

Why I wore it:

The perfect opportunity to wear one of my recently unboxed winter knits. While I keep my summer pieces in my wardrobe year round, I have no need for winter knits and scarves and leather jackets most of the year here in Brisbane, so I box them away. Unboxing them when the weather changes is always so fun, even if it does lead to the inevitable 'I have no space in my wardrobe' and 'why do I have so many clothes?!' freak outs when I try find a spot in my wardrobe for it all.

It was a cooler morning and we were spending the day playing outside in the shade at playgroup, so I thought this knit would work well with shorts and ankle boots. It was the perfect weather and outfit and I loved wearing this. With the embellishment on the knit I wasn't sure at first if it would work with the printed shorts, but with a lot of white in the print I thought they tied together nicely when I put them on. I really enjoyed wearing this outfit.


Last worn: embellished jumper, printed shorts, black ankle boots, Balenciaga tempete day bag.

Other ways to wear: embellished jumper and jeans, printed shorts and embroidered blouse, black ankle boots worn 30 ways, Balenciaga tempete day bag and swing dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: black ankle boots in second trimester, Balenciaga tempete day bag in third trimester.

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Review and Contents of Balenciaga Tempete Day Bag:

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What I wore:

Necklace: Silk beaded baby-friendly necklace
Knit: Jeanswest Kara foil pullover in smoke marl and silver
Shorts: Jeanswest Tessa olive embroidered shorts
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bag: Balenciaga giant hardware Day bag in 2009 tempete

Why I wore it:

Since I enjoyed the outfit above so much, I thought I'd try the formula again. I should have checked the weather before I did so, it was a warmer than usual day and I did regret the knit at a few points. Fun day though! We had our local ABA mother's group in the morning, a little shopping in the afternoon and then I got changed and we headed down the coast for dinner with my family.

It's the first time I've worn this necklace, an item sold as a fundraiser for ABA. With the silver beads and print I thought it would match nicely with my silver foil knit and tempete Balenciaga day bag.
Last time I wore a normal necklace to the ABA I regretted the decision - spending my stay at home mum days at playgroup or mother's group means baby-friendly necklaces are the best choice! While my boys are past the teething stage, my friend's baby adored chewing on this necklace as I held him for a moment while my friend was busy with her other son. I think I'll be wearing baby friendly necklaces for a while, even though my boys are toddlers now!

I did think that the necklace, knit and bag all worked well together but I'm not too sure about the olive shorts. I usually find green a tricky colour to wear, I think a neutral bag might have been better with this outfit.


Last worn: polka dot foil knit, olive embroidered shorts, Havaianas, Balenciaga tempete day bag (above).

Other ways to wear: polka dot foil knit and denim, olive embroidered shorts with mustard, Balenciaga tempete day bag and maxi dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: Balenciaga tempete day bag in second trimester.

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More Grey Knits Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

Thin knit jumpers like these are great pieces that you can wear by themselves in spring and autumn or layered up with things over or under them in winter. If the weather isn't the perfect coldness, you can still wear them with shorts as I have above. Definitely pieces you can get a lot of wear from outside of winter.



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Chambray Shirt Alternatives: Dress and Maxi Skirt With Balenciaga Bags

A chambray shirt is a blogger staple, and is on so many 'wardrobe essential' lists. I've never found the perfect one for me, but I do love the chambray dress and maxi skirt I have. Pairing something chambray with a printed kimono makes an easy autumn outfit.

What I wore:

Jacket: The Kindness Kimono 'Dream Catch Me' print

Necklace: ZuriCollections blue polymer clay necklace
Dress: Jeanswest Rachel Lyocell chambray dress (C/O)
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bag: Balenciaga part time in black 2010 with SGH
Towel: Tesalate 'The Swell' sand free towel (C/O)

Why I wore it:

Another warmer than expected autumn day! I actually managed to spend some time in the pool in morning, before the rain and a storm blew in in the evening. While it was a little frustrating having summer continue well into autumn, it's been good to take advantage of the heat and get in more pool time before it's too cold!

I had the chance to use my new Tesalate towel too, you might have seen my review of my first Tsalate towel on the blog before. This time around I enjoyed its absorbency features more than its sand-repelling features! Especially after a rather rigorous paddling session from the boys, who thought it was too cold to join me for a swim in the pool but had fun splashing on the sidelines.

While I had a relaxed morning, it was a busier afternoon getting groceries and doing my eye test. So funny chatting to the optician as last time I was there I was very heavily pregnant with Baby Boy, we were amazed how quickly things change. Luckily no new glasses needed for me!

It's not the first time I've worn this dress with a kimono. I love the way prints look against the blue chambray dress, it's a nice combination. It was a good layer to have when it did start getting cooler in the evening too.


Last worn: Kindness Collective kimono, button up chambray dress, Havaianas, Balenciaga Part Time bag.

Other ways to wear: printed kimono and shorts, button up chambray dress for breastfeeding, Balenciaga Part Time bag in the office.

Perfect for pregnancy: chambray dress in second trimester, Balenciaga Part Time bag in second trimester.

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My Balenciaga Handbag And Accessory Collection:

(This video is from 2012! I've filmed an updated Balenciaga collection video that will be on my YouTube channel soon, so subscribe to my channel if you don't want to miss that!)

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What I wore:

Jacket: New Look Petite print kimono
Necklace: ZuriCollections blue polymer clay necklace
Tee: Atmos&Here grey v-neck tee with rolled sleeves (also in black)
Skirt: Noisy May long denim maxi skirt
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in white
Bag: Balenciaga giant hardware Day bag in 2009 tempete

Why I wore it:

A slightly more autumnal outfit here! I added the kimono and the Converse as we were running a few more errands and going to playgroup. The playground is mostly in the shade and can be cooler in the mornings so I thought the extra layers and cosier shoes would be useful! Of course by the time we left playgroup I was wishing I'd stuck with my trusty Havaianas, it turned into another really warm day.

I do find this chambray maxi skirt tricky to layer with sometimes, as it is a fuller skirt. Usually it's better to pair more fitted pieces with it, but I wanted comfortable loose layers so picked this slouchy grey tee and then added another voluminous piece with the kimono on top. Thought it turned out okay though, the perfect relaxed outfit for a relaxed morning.

We stopped at the opshop, spent time at playgroup and picked up some groceries (that I'd forgotten to get on the previous day!). The highlight of the boys' day was definitely the huge bag of toys we got from the opshop for $4 - plenty of trains to keep them happy!


Last worn: new look navy kimono, grey v-neck tee, chambray maxi skirt, Converse Chucks, Balenciaga tempete day bag.

Other ways to wear: navy kimono and burgundy pants, grey tee and skinny jeans, chambray maxi skirt and leather jacket, Converse and denim shorts, Balenciaga tempete day bag and pencil skirt.

Perfect for pregnancy: navy kimono in second trimester, grey tee for second trimester travel, Converse in second trimester, Balenciaga tempete day in third trimester.

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Chambray Dresses and Maxi Skirts Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It

If the latest 'must have' item doesn't work for you or your wardrobe, try finding something similar to get the look instead. For a popular fabric like chambray or velvet, you can find a piece that fits a need in your wardrobe. A chambray shirt may be a classic, but I wear dresses and skirts more often than shirts! Much like denim, a chambray piece is a perfect backdrop for a colourful printed kimono, as I've worn in both outfits here.


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Floral Swing Dresses For Summer and Balenciaga Tempete Day Bag

It's officially autumn now in Australia, but I'm calling this post 'swing dresses for summer' as I wore these dresses in the summer heat just a few weeks ago to work from home. The mustard dress and the navy dress both look great with my blue Balenciaga day bag too.

I'm a fan of splurging on accessories and saving on clothes - as you can see from both of these bargain dresses, which are less than 2% of the cost of the bag as they are both under $30!

What I wore:

Necklace: silver heart long pendant necklace
Dress: Zaful floral print ruffle hem dress in ginger
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bag: Balenciaga giant hardware Day bag in 2009 tempete

Why I wore it:

With the statement bell sleeves, this dress isn't a practical choice for being around the boys all day, with all the spills you have to clean up and food you have to prepare! It did feel a little over-dressed to work from home, but hubby and I had an appointment in the evening so I took advantage of the babysitting offered by the grandparents had the chance to dress up a little.

This was one of those days where it started out so promisingly. I won't go into it, but I was so upset after the appointment and it just added more stress to an already stressful week. I was glad when the day was over, even though the week didn't improve after that.

At least I felt good in this outfit - the mustard yellow of this dress is such a lovely shade and the blue Balenciaga day bag looks great against it. This was also the first photo I took with my new tripod! I upgraded the tripod I was using for blog photos to something a little lighter and more portable than the one I'd borrowed from my Dad.


Last worn: floral ruffle hem dress, black Havaianas, Balenciaga tempete day bag.

Other ways to wear: floral ruffle hem dress and mint bag, Balenciaga tempete day bag and maxi dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: balenciaga tempete bag in third trimester.

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Balenciaga Day Bag Review:

Where to Buy the Balenciaga Day Bag:

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What I wore:

Necklace: Diva long red heart necklace
Dress: Shein navy flower print flowy dress (C/O)
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs silver tuxedo flats
Bag: Balenciaga giant hardware Day bag in 2009 tempete

Why I wore it:

Another easy swing dress for another work from home day! Also had to take baby boy to a specialist appointment in the afternoon. Luckily I had my mum helping to entertain the eldest while we were in the appointment. As I'd been carrying my Balenciaga day bag a lot, I kept it on this day too. I like the two blues together, the navy blue of the dress looks so nice with the tempete (blue/grey) colour of the bag.

As rain was forecast, I went with the closed in shoes just in case. It didn't rain and turned out to be another hot and humid day. Did majorly storm that evening though. Luckily, this long sleeve dress is quite light. It's viscose, so despite the long sleeves and length, it was wonderfully cool to wear.


Last worn: navy floral print dress, silver ballet flats, Balenciaga tempete day bag (above).

Other ways to wear: navy floral print dress and little red bag, silver ballet flats and wrap dress, Balenciaga tempete day bag and embroidered blouse.

Perfect for pregnancy: silver ballet flats and maternity pencil skirt, Balenciaga tempete day bag in second trimester.

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Swing Dresses For Summer Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

Swing dresses are perfect for a hot day. The loose, relaxed shape helps counteract the hot sticky feeling you get when the humidity is high, and the swing hem can catch the breeze quite nicely and help keep you cool.


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Balenciaga Tempete Day Bag With Ruffle Camis and Pencil Skirts For The Office

Continuing the 30 wears challenge is one of my goals for this year, but at the same time I want to make sure I'm wearing as much of my wardrobe as possible. It's a balancing act between rewearing pieces that are close to the 30 wears number, and not neglecting the other pieces in my wardrobe that aren't. I'd noticed I hadn't worn any of my camis at all this summer, so it was time to pull them out again! Camis look great work to the office with some textured pencil skirts and a blazer.

What I wore:

Jacket: Zara cream jersey blazer
Necklace: statement silver plate necklace
Dress: Jeanswest peach ruffle cami
Belt: Asos blue textured lace pencil skirt
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs logo plaque flats in camel
Bag: Balenciaga giant hardware Day bag in 2009 tempete

Why I wore it:

Id' planned this outfit in advance the weekend before. Usually I plan my outfits the evening before, to help me get ready faster in the mornings. I was feeling a bit stressed on Sunday night though before a big Monday so decided to play in my wardrobe a bit to relax, and pulled this together. I've worn orange and blue together before, but this is the first time I've paired this blue lace pencil skirt with peach. I really liked this combination of colours.

Wasn't entirely sure that the cami untucked looked as good as I thought though - I preferred it without the blazer. The spaghetti straps on the cami mean a coverup was required at work, but I didn't check the blazer addition before I left the house. I think tucking in the cami would have looked better. Otherwise, I really liked this outfit. Perfect for a hot day as I took the jacket off whenever I was outside and had it to keep me warm in the aircon at my desk.


Last worn: cream jersey blazer, peach ruffle cami, blue lace pencil skirt, Marc by Marc Jacobs ballet flats, Balenciaga Tempete day bag.

Other ways to wear: cream jersey blazer and sheath dress, peach ruffle cami and jeans, blue lace pencil skirt and purple tank, Marc by Marc Jacobs ballet flats and printed dress, Balenciaga Tempete day bag and maxi dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: blue lace pencil skirt in third trimester, Marc by Marc Jacobs ballet flats in third trimester, Balenciaga Tempete day bag in second trimester.

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What I wore:

Jacket: thrifted Zara black blazer
Necklace: Uniquely Made with Love Sea Change necklace
Dress: Jeanswest 'Maria' cami in cream
Skirt: Cotton On 'Mica' mesh spot skirt in dusty pink
Shoes: Walnut Melbourne 'Ava' black lizard ballet flats (also available in silver)
Bag: Balenciaga giant hardware Day bag in 2009 tempete

Why I wore it:

Another day in the office, another opportunity to wear a cami and textured pencil skirt. After not being too sure about the untucked top above, I tucked the cami into the skirt this time, and I preferred this look.

I continue to be impressed by how well this mesh layer skirt is holding up, coming up to having it 6 years now. It has only been worn 13 times in that period though. It's not the first time I've paired it with this white ruffle cami, I love the combination so it makes sense I'd repeat it. This time, instead of the grey cardigan I wore it with the black blazer.

Kept the blue Balenciaga bag with this, I like blue and pink together and I thought that the necklace tied it in nicely. There was a style challenge on Instagram too and I thought the colour of the day was blue, but I was a day early and it was supposed to be green. I enjoyed the blue accessories anyway.


Last worn: black jersey blazer, white ruffle cami, polka dot pencil skirt, black ballet flats, Balenciaga tempete day bag (above).

Other ways to wear: black jersey blazer and printed tee dress, white ruffle cami and maxi skirt, polka dot pencil skirt with florals, black ballet flats and skinny jeans, Balenciaga tempete day bag and printed shorts.

Perfect for pregnancy: black jersey blazer in third trimester, white ruffle cami in second trimester, polka dot pencil skirt hiding an early baby bump, black ballet flats and maternity wrap dress, Balenciaga tempete day bag and maternity shorts.

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Ruffle Camis Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

A cami is one of those pieces that you can wear for work or weekend! If your office dress code means spaghetti straps aren't an option, you can go for one with thicker straps, or cover up with a blazer. Adding a blazer to anything is my favourite way to make it ready for a business casual office.


Linking up with Hello Monday, On Mondays We Link Up, Shoe & Tell, Turning Heads, Style Sessions, Oh Hey Girl.

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