June Dress Week Style Challenge: Black Maxi Dress and Plaid Office Wear

I'm jumping ahead a little with outfit pics as I want to post as closely as I can with my blog buddy Kiki. I'll just put the rest of the Fox in Flats style dare pictures on hold and get back to posting them later in June. I'm a few days behind Kiki's posts, but we are both participating in the JuneDressWeek challenge on instagram! You can follow along with #JuneDressWeek1 for this week, and of course go check out Kiki's blog or instagram and give her some encouragement for her first ever style challenge!

What I wore:

Sunglasses: Rayban new Wayfarers (on sale!)

Cardigan: JeansWest knit cardi in long sleeve zig zag

Necklace: Tai gold alphabet necklace

Singlet: Supre green singlet under dress
Dress: thrifted black Jeanswest halterneck maxi dress (new purchase)
Shoes: Acne pistol boots in "skin"
Bracelets: the usual
Bag: Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere

Why I wore it:

The challenge for the day was 'maxi Monday'. You can see Kiki's take on the challenge here. It was a public holiday Monday, so we planned a stroll on the beach and the in-laws came over for a while. I had wanted to wear the new teal printed maxi dress I bought again, but I felt I should wear this black maxi dress I picked up from the same sale instead as I hadn't worn it yet. As I mentioned when I bought this dress, I had previously decided I only needed one black maxi dress in my wardrobe but bought this one anyway (bringing me up to 2 black maxi dresses) as it was 'fill a bag for $2' so it made no difference in price if I added the dress to the bag or not. Plus it was Jeanswest and NWT....

I'm not really seeing a need for this dress in my wardrobe though. I don't think I'll end up wearing it twice in a month after buying it (as per my shopping goals) so it really wasn't the smartest purchase. On the other hand, it was such a bargain and there's not anything wrong with it other than the fact that I don't see myself wearing it an awful lot. So I'm keeping it, but going to pay close attention to how much wear it gets.


This cardi has only been worn three times on the blog (here, here and here), and only a handful of times before I started blogging. It's been in the donate bag twice and twice I've pulled it out. I took it out of the donations pile recently as I wanted to wear it with something, and I ended up picking another outfit instead. When I wore it this time, I remembered why I keep trying to get rid of it. I really don't have any scarves that go with this, so it's tricky to wear and as nice as the print is, I just don't wear it enough.  I only ever wear it with black and grey. It's pretty to look at but not easy to wear for me, so it's going back in the donate pile and staying there!

Leaving My Wardrobe: chevron cardi

Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarers, chevron cardi, Acne pistol boots, Louis Vuitton Speedy B. First time I've worn the black maxi dress as it was a recent purchase.

Other ways to wear: chevron cardi with stripes and a baby bump, similar black maxi dress in summer, Pistol boots and a red shift dress, speedy bandouliere and denim.

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What I wore:

Jacket: Barkins beige trench coat 

Scarf: Alexander McQueen magenta skull scarf in roses print
Dress: ValleyGirl navy plaid peplum dress
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs two tone flats in blush and black
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote in moon navy (on sale, 40% off!)

Why I wore it:

The style challenge for the day was 'a great deal' and I wasn't sure I would be able to find a dress that would fit the theme and still work for the office. (My fill a bag for $2 maxi dresses were certainly deals, despite being too casual for work!) Then I remembered this gem hiding in my wardrobe. I bought it about 6 years ago I think. It's been a great dress for the office, and it's lasted a lot longer than I expected a $7 dress to! Check out Kiki's great deal dress.

I had a personal training session in the park the evening before so my legs weren't up to wearing heels. I had actually wanted to wear black flats with this, but I couldn't find them when rushing out the door in the morning, so wore these pink and black ones I hadn't tidied away after their last wear. I think it looked okay, added some more colour, and I wore them like that with this dress last time too.


Last worn: trench coat, Alexander McQueen skull scarf, plaid peplum dress, MbMJ colour block flats, Rebecca Minkoff MAB tote.

Other ways to wear: trench with an Aztec print dress, skull scarf in spring with a LBD, plaid dress in summer, cap toe flats and skinny jeans, RM MAB tote with pencil skirts for office wear.

Linking up with Passion for Fashion, Casual Friday, That Friday Blog Hop, Favourite Fashion Friday, Fashion Friday, Fab Favourites, Mix It Up Friday, Fashion Friday, The Ultimate Rabbit Hole, Friday Favourites, Modest Monday, Let It Shine today.

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Corporate Style: Scarves and Rebecca Minkoff MAB Tote

I've only been back at work a few months, so I have lots of summery work outfit ideas. I'm trying to wear them and go bare-legged as long as possible. It's certainly warm enough to do during the day, but it is pretty cold in the mornings!

Two autumn work outfits, one that got a lot of love on instagram despite how much I hated it in person, and another I really liked!

What I wore:

Jacket: Barkins beige trench coat 

Scarf: Grey and pink leopard print scarf from Paddy's Markets in Sydney
Dress: Leona Edmiston Jemima fern print dress
Shoes: Wittner 'Bloomy' black heels
Bracelets: the usual plus JORD black Fieldcrest wood watch (C/O)
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote in moon navy (on sale, 40% off!)

Why I wore it:

I really did not like this outfit. I liked the idea in my head, and it met the style challenge theme of 'a hint of pink' with both the dress and scarf...but it just felt really bulky on. It was all too much with the layers and the print mixing. Cosy with all the layers, just didn't feel very confident in it, felt a bit 'bleh'. Thankfully I didn't need the scarf indoors, and I was able to change as soon as I got home.

Everyone on instagram really seemed to love this outfit though! It even got more likes than Baby T's newborn photo! Maybe the print mixing didn't look as bad as I thought.


Last worn: trench coat, leopard print scarf, Leona Edmiston printed dress, ankle strap heels, Rebecca Minkoff navy MAB tote.

Other ways to wear: leopard print scarf with skinny jeans, trench coat with jersey dress, ankle strap heels with pencil skirts, navy MAB tote with a monochrome blue outfit.

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What I wore:

Jacket: Zara cream jersey blazer

Scarf: Alexander McQueen modal and cashmere skull scarf
Tee: Thrifted valleygirl blue 3/4 sleeve tee (new purchase)
Skirt: vintage pencil skirt from The Thrifty Kitten
Shoes: Wittner 'Lumen' heel in patent leather
Bracelets: the usual plus JORD black Fieldcrest wood watch (C/O)
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote in moon navy

Why I wore it:

The next style challenge was 'powerful' and I don't really think I have any clothes that make me feel powerful. Confident I do though! Like most people, I tend to think heels make me feel more confident. Heels, a pencil skirt and a blazer is a staple work wear combination for me so I feel pretty confident in it.  Just might have been a little cosier with the trench coat on top rather than the blazer, as I was bare-legged. Winter temperatures are definitely here in the mornings!

This top is one of the new-to-me ones I got from the 'fill a bag for $2' op-shop sale. I wanted to wear it like this as I remembered the comment Kiki had made last time I wore this skirt about how nice it would look with cobalt blue. I've worn it with white, brown and purple before but this is the first time I've tried it with blue. This top isn't cobalt, but I did really like the blue with the printed skirt.


I'm always so grateful when you leave constructive criticism or outfit suggestions - it's good to get some ideas from an impartial third party about how things look, and some different things to try. As I learnt in my wardrobe detox session with the personal stylist, I'm not always using my wardrobe to it's full potential or dressing in the most flattering outfit combinations. But just like the terrible outfit above, I'll still share what I wore anyway - and think of different ways to wear things in future so I am back to feeling confident and happy with what I'm wearing.


Last worn: cream blazer, skull scarf, printed pencil skirt, nude heels, Rebecca Minkoff MAB tote (above). First time I've worn the tee as it's a new purchase.

Other ways to wear: blazer with skinny jeans, tan skull scarf with red, printed pencil skirt in summer, nude heels with a printed dress, navy tote with printed dress and pink blazer.

Linking up with WIW, Style Me Weekly, What I Wore, I Feel Pretty, The Wednesday Pants, Trendy Wednesday, Oh Hey Girl, Wardrobe Wednesday, Thursday Fashion Files, Throwback Thursday, Thursday Favourites, Look What I Got today.

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First Birthday Party Outfits: Maxi Dresses - Layered Up For Winter

The other week, we had a busy weekend with a couple of first birthday parties to attend for baby T's friends, so I went with my trusty maxi dresses. They always seem to fit any dress-code. And they are easy to wash after the inevitable food-covered baby hands start grabbing at them. Maxi dresses are perfect first birthday party wear!

As it's winter here in Brisbane (and late autumn when I took these pictures) I had to layer up a little. It is possible to wear maxi skirts and dresses year round (and I've shown a few times when I've worn maxi dresses in winter), you just need to wear a little more than you would in summer. It helps if you have snow-free winters like we do here.

What I wore:

Cardigan: Jeanswest Dana drape knit cardi in Boysenberry

Necklace: Tai gold alphabet necklace
Dress: Jeanswest 'Sierra' embellished black maxi dress (on sale!)
Belt: Kmart thin black glitter belt
Shoes: Wittner 'Bolla' black bow detail flats
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Love cross body bag in grey

Why I wore it:

I wore this to a little girl's first birthday party. I shared a picture of the party decor on instagram, as it was done so well, got me thinking about baby T's upcoming party! Her mum had spent a long time planning and had some of her friends help out to create a beautiful party, it was really fun.

Thought the glittery belt and the embroidered neckline of this black maxi dress made it a little dressed up for the occasion, and as well as meeting the 'sparkle' style challenge for the day, it was good for both playing on the floor with baby and standing around chatting to the adults. As much as I wanted to wear sandals, it was a little chilly so closed in ballet flats were the best option.

I've worn the belted cardigan over a maxi dress combination before, here with the same cardi and here and here over a baby bump. I really like it!


Last worn: purple cardigan, Jeanswest black maxi dress, glitter belt, black ballet flats, Rebecca Minkoff Love bag.

Other ways to wear: purple cardigan with leopard print skinny jeans, black maxi dress with studded accessories, glitter belt over a baby bump, black ballet flats with printed skinny jeans, Rebecca Minkoff Love bag with printed shorts.

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What I wore:

Sunnies: Rayban new Wayfarers

Jacket: Bubblegum denim jacket
Scarf: Cotton On fuchsia pashmina
Dress: Thrifted JayJays teal paisley print maxi dress (new purchase)
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs studded mouse flats in grey
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Love cross body bag in grey

Why I wore it:

I shared a little bit about this maxi dress in my monthly purchases video. I got it from the local op-shop (thrift store) in the 'fill a bag for $2' sale. It looked familiar and it also looked like it was my size and in great condition, so into the bag it went. It was when I got it home and tried it and everything else on for the first time that I realised...I used to have a very similar dress when I was younger! Still haven't found a photo of me in the black version though.

I wore a denim jacket with this as I always used to think it was the coolest item of clothing ever when I was younger, to meet the 'hello cool' style challenge for the day. I needed a little more than just the denim jacket with this though as the first birthday party we were attending was outdoors. In the end I settled on the pink scarf, after trying on a few. I thought it looked nice with the teal and it matches the pink in the print well.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer, denim jacket, pink pashmina, studded mouse flats, Rebecca Minkoff love cross body bag (above). First time I've worn the dress as it is a new purchase.

Other ways to wear: denim jacket in summer, pink pashmina with a brown outfit, studded mouse flats with skinny pants, another blue printed maxi dress in summer, Rebecca Minkoff Love bag with denim.

Linking up with Shoe and Tell, Let It Shine, Style To Inspire, Modest Monday, Mix it Monday, More Pieces of Me, Daily Express, Bless Your Heart, Reasons to Dress, Turning Heads, Confident Twosday, Because Shanna Said So, Whatcha Wearing Wednesday, Fun Fashion Friday, Third Thursday Threads today.

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