Monday 23 May 2016

Postpartum Outfits: Rebecca Minkoff Saddle Bag, Jeans and Printed Tanks

It's always a good feeling fitting back into pre-pregnancy jeans post baby! As someone who loves wearing denim, I feel a little happier getting dressed each day having my go-to jeans as an option. It means I'm reaching for them a lot though, so I ended up with two very similar outfits with printed tanks and my cute red Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag. Both of these were worn in April, when Brisbane's autumn temperatures were more like summer and layers weren't needed.

What I wore:

AwayFromBlue | Striped tank flared jeans Converse all star Rebecca Minkoff saddle cross body bag

AwayFromTheBlue | Rebecca Minkoff red studded saddle bag and flared jeans
SunglassesRay-Ban new Wayfarers
TankAtmos & Here Oregon stripe tank
FlaresJeanswest 'spoylt' flared jeans
ShoesConverse Chuck Taylor All Star low in black
BagRebecca Minkoff unlined saddle bag in cherry red

Why I wore it:

Flared jeans were really trendy last year, so I was glad I'd kept these in my wardrobe although I didn't get a lot of wear as the baby bump quickly outgrew them. I'm happy I get a chance to jump on the trend again now. This was a nice casual outfit for the daycare pick up / drop off.


It's the second wear of this top since I bought it. I'm reviewing everything I buy after wearing it twice in a month to make sure I'm buying things I'll actually wear and not just add to my overflowing wardrobe unnecessarily. My purchase review for this striped tank:

This was an impulse buy to get me over a free shipping threshold. I have quite a few striped tops so this wasn't special enough for me to have bought it otherwise. I like how it's a slight trapeze shape - skims over the postpartum belly nicely. While it's not something I needed, I still see it getting a fair bit of wear, as stripes do go with everything. Not the smartest of purchases wardrobe-wise as it doesn't fill a gap I had, but definitely better than paying the same amount just for shipping, as this way I got a top too.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarers, striped tank, flared jeans, Converse, Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag.

Other ways to wearstriped tank and a maxi skirt, flared jeans and ballet flats, Converse and colourful jeans, Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag and a maxi skirt.



More Great Saddle Bags:







What I wore:

Away From Blue | two under two postpartum errands outfit printed tank skinny jeans mouse flats

AwayFromTheBlue | Rebecca Minkoff unlined saddle bag in cherry red
Tank: Sass and Bide "For Easy Reference" tank
JeansJeanswest Super Skinny Jeans in Mid Indigo
ShoesMarc by Marc Jacobs metallic mouse flats
BagRebecca Minkoff unlined saddle bag in cherry red

Why I wore it:

Every time I wear this tank I realise how much I love it and wish I'd wear it more. Definitely need to make more of an effort to wear it and not just 'save' it for perfect occasions that never seem to arise.

Similar to the outfit above, another casual jeans and printed tank combination for a morning when I attempted to run multiple errands with two under 2. It didn't go as well as I hoped, but I did like my outfit at least!

It's the third time I've worn this Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag since I bought it, so my purchase review:
I love this bag. I'd had my eye on it for a while thinking it would be great post-baby but held out for it to go on sale. I already had a couple of red bags, so sold them on ebay to justify getting this one. It's a great size for holding my essentials and the cross body strap is perfect for running around with the boys. I'm really pleased I bought this and I'll have to do a proper video review on youtube.



Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarer (above), Sass and Bide tank, skinny jeans, gold mouse flats, Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag (above).

Other ways to wearSass and Bide tank and pink accessories, skinny jeans and a pastel blazer, gold mouse flats and a wrap dress, red saddle bag and a monochrome outfit.






Linking up with Style Nudge, Hello Monday, Modest Monday, Colour & Grace, Classy Monday, Mix It Monday, Turning Heads, On Trend, Style Sessions, Confident Twosday, Wardrobe Wednesday, What I Wore.




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Friday 20 May 2016

Postpartum Outfits: Maxi Dress, Maxi Skirt and Cross Body Bags

A mix of outfits - slightly dressier outfit with a maxi dress for a birthday dinner, and a more casual maxi skirt outfit to run errands and do the day care drop off / pick-up.

What I wore:

Away From Blue | easy postpartum style breastfeeding friendly nursing maxi dress LV speedy bag

AwayFromTheBlue | pink maxi dress  Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere
ShoesMarc by Marc Jacobs black logo plaque ballet flats
BagLouis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere

Why I wore it:

I adore this maxi dress, I really do! It's a maternity/nursing dress, and I wore it heavily in the second and third trimesters of both pregnancies, as well as wearing it post-baby too. It was the last pregnancy outfit I got photos of for the blog. It's nice to wear it again without the bump, and appreciate the ease of breastfeeding in it! In the early weeks, your wardrobe needs to accommodate your changing postbaby body as well as being easy to pull up or down or sideways to allow for easy breastfeeding too while you and baby master the art.

Wore this out to a family birthday dinner.  I'd usually pick a clutch or smaller bag, but I had all my stuff in the speedy bag from the last time I wore it and didn't have the energy to swap out for an evening bag I'd have to juggle with a newborn and toddler. No extra accessories either, just a simple pull on and go outfit.


Last worn: Mothers En Vogue maxi dress, Marc Jacobs ballet flats, Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere.

Other ways to wearpink maxi dress and LV neverfull, Marc Jacobs ballet flats with black and grey, Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere and denim shorts.








What I wore:

Away From Blue | monochrome black post baby maxi skirt outfit red cross body bag

AwayFromTheBlue | Rebecca Minkoff unlined saddle bag in cherry red printed maxi skirt
SunglassesRay-Ban new Wayfarers
TeeAtmos&Here rolled sleeve oversize tee in black (also in grey)
Skirt: Izabel London Aztec print maxi skirt (C/O)
ShoesMarc by Marc Jacobs black logo plaque ballet flats
BagRebecca Minkoff unlined saddle bag in cherry red (new purchase)

Why I wore it:

I finally swapped my handbags over! I wore my Balenciaga day bag for a while post baby as that's the bag I had everything in when I went into labour. It was a bag that was easy to continue using while hubby had some time off from work to help us settle in. Now it's just me and the boys, a cross body bag like the Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere I wore above is an essential to keep my hands free. I'd had my eye on this saddle bag at Shopbop for a while and with the recent friends and family sale it was the perfect time to buy it.

It's a great size, so easy to wear when spending the day with two under 2, and really pops against a monochrome black outfit like I've worn it here. A nice easy outfit to do the day care drop off / pick up and a chance to wear my new bag.


As it's the second and third times I've worn my Marc by Marc Jacobs black logo plaque ballet flats, and I'm trying to reflect on everything I buy after wearing it twice to make sure I'm making thoughtful purchases, my purchase review:

I have a few pairs of Marc by Marc Jacobs flats now. They are comfortable, look cute and are easy to pick up on sale, just like I got these ones. I have this same style in silver so it was an easy choice to get it in black too when they were reduced and available in my size. I'm really pleased with them. Although I already have a pair of black ballet flats, I tend to favour neutral coloured shoes so I know I'll get a lot of wear out of these. Happy I bought them.


Last worn: Ray-Ban Wayfarers, black tee, printed maxi skirt, black ballet flats (above). First time I've worn the saddle bag as it is a recent purchase.

Other ways to wearblack tee and printed jeans, printed maxi skirt layered up for winter, black ballet flats and a grey maxi skirt






Linking up with Flashback Fashion, Fab Favourites, Passion for Fashion, The Ultimate Rabbit Hole, Shoe & Tell, Let It Shine, Modest Monday.




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Wednesday 18 May 2016

Postpartum Outfits: Stripes, Stretchy Skirts and Speedy Bandouliere Bag

Postpartum dressing is tricky, as your body reverses some of the changes that happened in pregnancy. You can't bounce back to your regular wardrobe right away, so stretchy and accommodating fabrics and waistbands are ideal for 'fourth trimester' post baby style!

What I wore:

AwayFromBlue | 2 weeks postpartum oxblood tee striped maxi skirt Louis Vuitton speedy bag

AwayFromTheBlue | Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere with stripes
Skirt: Target black and white striped maxi skirt
Shoesblack slim Havaianas thongs
BagLouis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere

Why I wore it:

I really liked this outfit. Simple, comfortable, and perfect for our daily walk around the neighbourhood and having some friends over to meet and cuddle baby boy.

Every time I wear this tee I love it, I should wear it more. While it accommodated my bump in pregnancy, I much prefer the way it looks without a baby belly. The tee doesn't need ironing either so it is likely to be worn a lot more often now as I let some household tasks (okay, most of them...) slide as I adjust to life with two under 2.


Last worn: wine tee, striped maxi skirt, Havaianas, Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere.

Other ways to wearwine tee and skinny jeans, striped maxi skirt with a graphic tee and baby bump, Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere in the office.



Elastic waist maxi skirts under $50:








What I wore:

Away From Blue | Autumn Maxi Skirt Postpartum Outfit stripes purple cardi LV bag

Away From The Blue | Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene speedy bandouliere and a maxi skirt
JacketJeanswest Peggie kimono cardigan in purple mulberry marle
SingletAtmos & Here Oregon stripe tank (new purchase)
Skirt: Target grey marle maxi skirt
ShoesMarc by Marc Jacobs black logo plaque ballet flats (new purchase)
BagLouis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere

Why I wore it:

A slightly cooler morning meant a chance to layer, although I took the cardigan off fairly soon in the day. Brisbane is taking a while to welcome autumn temperatures.

Wore this out to check out a possible house. We started house hunting last year before baby boy was born and never found the perfect place. We didn't expect to resume house hunting so soon after baby was born but we'd found and viewed a promising place and asked some family to come along on our second visit to check it out and get some non sleep deprived opinions. We ultimately decided that while it was close to perfect, it wasn't quite perfect enough. So the house hunt continues, although at a much slower pace than before. Trying to attend open houses with two under 2 isn't the most relaxing thing to do and we are being a lot pickier about what we go to see.

The highlight of the day was seeing my sister and realising she was wearing a very similar outfit. We were both wearing singlets, stripes and a maxi skirt!


Last worn: purple cardi, grey maxi skirt, Louis Vuitton Speedy bandouliere (above). First time I've worn the shoes and the tank on the blog as they are recent purchases.

Other ways to wearpurple cardi and skinny jeans, grey maxi skirt for travel in the second trimester, Louis Vuitton Speedy bandouliere and a wrap dress.








Linking up with Fresh Fashion, What I Wore, Oh Hey Girl, Style Me Wednesday, Throwback Thursday, Fashion Files, Fabulous Friday, Fun Fashion, Weekend Linkup, Weekend Wear.




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