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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Corporate Style: Pencil Skirts Layered Up for Winter with Tights,Trench Coats and Rebecca Minkoff MAB Tote

Despite recently sharing that I was trying to resist wearing tights to work as much as possible, it's just gotten too cold in the mornings. Even in Brisbane. So I've got my fleece lined tights out now. It means I can continue to wear all of my pencil skirts for work while still keeping cosy. The only problem is that I've had these tights so long I can't remember where I bought them. Anyone have good recommendations for replacements?

What I wore:

Jacket: Barkins beige trench coat 

Scarf: Marc by Marc Jacobs scarf in Island pine-print
Cardigan: Jeanswest grey knit cardigan
Shirt: Jeanswest Helene sleeveless textured shirt in berry (on sale, extra 30% off!)
Skirt: Warehouse navy jacquard pencil skirt
Shoes: Wittner 'Bloomy' black heels
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff medium MAB tote in moon navy (on sale, 40% off!)

Why I wore it:

After finishing the Fox In Flats style challenge, I was looking forward to wearing this outfit I'd had in my head for a while. I thought the plain pink shirt would look really nice with the printed blue pencil skirt. This scarf wasn't the first one I had in mind (I was going to wear my newest one, the Marc by Marc Jacobs stargazer scarf) but it was my second choice after I realised that morning whilst rushing around that I couldn't find the one I wanted! After panicking that it had fallen on the ground as I put baby T into his car seat I called and confirmed I had left it behind by accident at playgroup. Thankfully one of the ladies had kept it aside for me. Phew!

I was really happy with this outfit - the cardigan I layered under the trench kept me cosy in the office with the sleeveless shirt too. You can't really see it in the first picture but you can in the close-up with my bag.

As it's the second time I've worn this shirt, my purchase review:
I really like this shirt, but I haven't worn it as much as I expected to after buying it. It's one of those pieces I want to 'save' in my wardrobe. I know I'm not the only one who thinks something is too special for everyday wear and has to be 'saved' for a special occasion. I'm really trying to challenge that thinking and just wear and enjoy what I own! I'm pleased I bought this top, I just hope I don't always wait for an ideal outfit to wear it. It will probably get worn a lot more in spring/summer as I did have to layer it up a little for this cold winter day.


Last worn: trench, printed scarf, grey cardigan, pink sleeveless shirt, jacquard pencil skirt, ankle strap heels, RM MAB tote.

Other ways to wear: printed scarf with a black dress, grey cardi with a printed dress, sleeveless shirt with skinny jeans (and fewer layers!), jacquard pencil skirt with a purple tee, black heels with a monochrome outfit, navy MAB tote and print mixing outfit.

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What I wore:

Jacket: Temt black trench coat 

Scarf: Cotton On animal print scarf in blue
Top: Jeanswest 'Melanie' Stripe henley in black/coconut
Skirt: Review 'Ziggy' polka dot pencil skirt
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:

In contrast to the outfit above, I spent much less time thinking about this outfit - I quickly put it together the night before as I was feeling unsure about what to wear. This shirt I'd been eyeing off in my wardrobe for a while, waiting for a chance to wear it again and I figured a cold day was good! I have a few long sleeve tops in my wardrobe that only get worn in the cooler months - yet every time the cold weather rolls around I think I have 'nothing to wear' and go on a shopping spree for long sleeve pieces. I'm hoping to stop that this winter, I really have enough tops already!

It's also the first wearing of my black trench this winter. As I mentioned on instagram, I've had it for years, a $30 sale buy as I didn't want to spend too much buying a warm coat for a trip to Europe I didn't see myself wearing much in Brisbane. At the time I didn't have any long coats, preferring cropped styles and I thought I'd rarely wear it in future. Of course now I think it was one of my most practical purchases - worn 26 times in the 3 years I've had this blog and countless times before then.

I don't like how this looked in photos so much, but I liked the way it felt when I wore it - this shirt is so soft and comfortable and the print mixing with the leopard print scarf was nice. I did worry the top might be a little too casual in the office, but it was cold and this kept my arms warm.


Last worn: black trench, blue leopard print scarf, stripe top, polka dot pencil skirt, cap toe flats, RM MAB tote (above).

Other ways to wear: black trench with a printed dress, leopard print scarf with stripes again, stripe henley a few days postpartum, pencil skirt hiding a tiny first trimester baby bump in the office, cap toe flats with a maternity wrap dress, Rebecca Minkoff MAB tote with printed pencil skirts.

Linking up with Let It Shine, Modest Monday, Styled Up, Shoe and Tell, Style To Inspire, Bless Her Heart, More Pieces of Me, Daily Express, On Trend Tuesdays here and here, Real Mom Style, Turning Heads, Confident Twosday, Style Sessions, Wardrobe Wednesday today.

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Statement Skinny Jeans - Metallic Gold and Bright Red, Louis Vuitton Damier Handbags

The last two of my Fox in Flats Style Dare outfits for May, two outfits that I really liked. I got to wear some of my brighter, more statement denim. I have a few stand-out pieces in my denim collection, it's good to have something different to step away from the blue denim now and then when jeans are the best outfit choice.

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Cassandra jacquard jacket

Necklace: Roie Designs feather, quartz and love charm long necklace
Tee: Atmos&Here rolled sleeve oversized tee in wine
Jeans: Sass and Bide 'Three Words' metallic gold jeans
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs logo plaque flats in camel
Bag: Louis Vuitton MM damier azur neverfull

Why I wore it:

The style challenge for the day was 'pure gold' so I knew I would be wearing these metallic jeans. They really make a lot more of a statement than normal blue denim, but being jeans they are just as easy to wear! I didn't have a need for anything overly dressed up, so I just wore them with a baggy tee. I needed something to keep my warms warm so decided on this jacket as it has the metallic thread running through it.

It was our wedding anniversary, so to celebrate we had a little picnic in the park and then took baby T to feed the ducks for the first time. It was a little tricky trying to get him to stop eating the bread though, even after his lunch! I thought the neverfull was the perfect picnic bag - easy to throw things in and get things out of as we sat on the grass. It was even warm enough for me to take my jacket off for a little while in the sun.


Last worn: jacquard blazer, burgundy tee, metallic gold skinny jeans, tan MbMJ flats, Louis Vuitton neverfull.

Other ways to wear: jacquard blazer with a printed dress for the office, burgundy tee with a maxi skirt, gold jeans in spring, tan flats with a printed dress, LV neverfull with casual summer shorts outfits.

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What I wore:

Cardigan: Jeanswest brown marle waterfall cardi
Necklace: House of Harlow sunburst necklace in silver and grey
Cami: Jeanswest Audrey tonal print tank
Jeans: Emerson red skinny jeans
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bracelets: the usual plus Roie Designs waxed leather cream howlite beaded wrap bracelet
Bag: Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere

Why I wore it:

The last Fox in Flats Style Dare for May! I've been so behind with blogging it, and not just because I put it on hold to share some of the June dress week challenge pictures first. Only blogging 6 outfits a week means I quickly fall behind in posting if a style challenge means I have to get dressed every day of the week. (Although baby T is older I still like to have a few PJ days at home now and then, and some mornings are so hectic it's good to know I don't have to get outfit photos if I run out of time!)

The challenge for the day was 'nailed it' so I wanted to wear my favourite winter nail polish, OPI's Russian Navy. I had planned to just do my nails, but I had some last minute things to buy for baby T's birthday party so had to get dressed anyway! Used the opportunity to wear these red jeans that I'd been wanting to wear for a while but couldn't fit into a challenge prompt, and a bit of print mixing with the cardigan and cami.

Wearing Havaianas in winter because they are comfortable (and I'm a Queenslander!) and we were just running around the shops in the morning so I was indoors most of the time. I've worn Havaianas and sandals in winter before - as much as I like winter boots I don't like hiding my feet away for 3 months of the year! I'll have another excuse to wear sandals again soon, I've ordered a pair of Ikwetta sandals. I'll be receiving them C/O, so that I can post a review about them. Blogger perks! I wanted to talk about the brand a little before the sandals arrive for two reasons.

First, they are a company doing great thing. They have a kickstarter that I highly encourage you to donate to if you can. The proceeds from their kickstarter will go to build a workshop for their artisans. They have partnered with local people in Kenya who live in slums and make beautiful designs to sell to passing tourists, often only making $1 profit for 4 hours of work. With Ikwetta, they will have a state of the art workshop, high quality tools and environment, and they will be fairly compensated for their hardwork making intricate designs. They want to make a difference in the lives of the talented artisans making beautiful accessories.

And secondly, and rather selfishly, I'm telling you about them as when Sheeni emailed me about a collaboration, it showed that she had actually read my blog and took the time to express her thoughts on it, before explaining how she wanted help to end poverty for the artisans she had struck up a relationship with. I don't have a huge blog so I'm not getting emails every day, but I get a few emails a week from people wanting to collaborate and it's refreshing seeing one from someone who put some effort into their pitch, and that also wants to do some good in the world.

I hope you will check out their kickstarter, even if you can't donate at the moment. It ends 6th July. The products you get from some of the pledges would make great gifts too!


Last worn: brown marle cardi, printed cami, red skinny jeans, Havaianas, Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere.

Other ways to wear: waterfall cardi with a maxi dress, printed cami in summer, red skinny jeans in a similar outfit without the cardi, speedy bandouliere with a dress.

Linking up with Passion for Fashion, Casual Friday, Feature Friday, Mix It Up, The Ultimate Rabbit Hole today.

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