Wearing Maxi Dresses In Winter With Scarves, Ankle Boots and Cardigans

My maxi dresses aren't packed away to wait for the warmer weather, I try to wear as much of my wardrobe year-round as possible. Adding a cosy scarf, cardigan and ankle boots makes them appropriate for a cooler day.

I did wear these outfits at the start of winter, when a thin cardi was all that was needed against the cold. If you follow me on Instagram you'll see I've upgraded to cosier jackets now it's the middle of winter.

What I wore:

Jacket: Paper Scissors grey wrap cardigan

Scarf: Love Quotes knotted tassel linen scarf in sunshine yellow
Dress: Kmart Tropicana sleeveless tiered maxi dress
Shoes: Asos leather Chelsea boots in tan
Bag: Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere
Nail Polish: OPI Russian Navy

Why I wore it:

Wore this for a playdate at an indoor playground with the boys. It was a little tricky trying to split my time between the big kids area with toddler T and the baby area with Baby Boy, but they had a great time and there was even a few moments where I could sit down and chat with the other mums and enjoy my hot chocolate.


This dress is one I loved over summer so I'm eager to make it work in winter too. It was a little chilly when the wind picked up in this, as each tier has a little crochet detail the wind went right through. I think I'll try leggings underneath next time I wear it. Seeing this outfit and writing this post has given me another outfit idea to try with this dress as well. There is a benefit to being so behind with blogging, ha!

It's not the first time I've worn yellow accessories with this dress but since I liked the combination so much last time I tried it, decided to try it again with this yellow scarf. Worked well to keep my neck and chest covered and cosy too. A much brighter winter outfit that I'd normally wear, but one I loved.


Last worn: grey cardigan, Love Quotes scarf, floral print maxi dress, Chelsea ankle boots, Louis Vuitton Speedy Bandouliere.

Other ways to wear: grey cardigan and flares, Love Quotes scarf and red dress, floral print maxi dress and mint accessories, Chelsea ankle boots and chambray dress, Louis Vuitton Speedy Bandouliere and colourful jeans.

Perfect for pregnancy: yellow scarf and shift dress in second trimester, ankle boots and second trimester bump, speedy bandouliere and maternity shorts.

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More Floral Maxi Dresses Under $50:

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What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Peggie kimono cardigan in purple mulberry marle

Scarf: Nali feather print pashmina scarf
Dress: JayJays feather print maxi dress
Shoes: RMK Chester black ankle boots
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff metallic silver mini MAC (on sale, 20% off!)
Nail Polish: OPI Russian Navy

Why I wore it:

Another maxi skirt, cosy cardi and scarf combo. Just like the maxi skirt above, the low neckline isn't the best for winter so I bundled up with another cosy blanket scarf to keep my chest and neck warm. I thought I was being quite clever wearing the feather print scarf and dress together, but even with the Instagram close up you can't see the print on the scarf very well.

The darker print on this dress makes it perfect for winter so it was good to get it out again and layer it up in the cooler weather. The dress is more blue than purple but I still think the purple cardigan goes nicely with it.


Although previously I've worn this dress for a wedding, this time around it was just a casual outfit to go to playgroup. I really do think maxi dresses work for so many different events - I've never felt out of place wearing a maxi dress, in any season.


Last worn: purple cardigan, feather print pashmina, feather print maxi dress, ankle boots, Rebecca Minkoff metallic silver mini MAC.

Other ways to wear: purple cardigan and graphic tee, feather print pashmina and office wear, feather print maxi dress in spring, skinny jeans and ankle boots, Rebecca Minkoff metallic silver mini MAC and denim shorts.

Perfect for pregnancy: purple cardi and hidden first trimester bump, feather print maxi dress in second trimester, ankle boots and dress in second trimester, mini MAC worn as a clutch in third trimester.

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More Feather Print Maxi Dresses Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

Layering is one of the best things about winter. It keeps you cosy and allows you to wear clothes that you'd ordinarily set aside until the warm weather returns. Both of these maxi dresses are perfect summer pieces but with a scarf, cosy cardi and ankle boots they work perfectly in the cooler winter weather.

Don't leave your favourite summer pieces unworn, find the right layers you need to make them work year-round. Leather jackets and maxi dresses are another good winter weather outfit option!

Linking up with The Style File, Confident Twosday, Turning Heads, Fashion Frenzy, Style on the Daily, Thursday Fashion Files, Modest Monday.

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Colourful Winter Dressing: Printed Jeans with Pink and Cobalt

I love blue and pink together, so I like to wear it year-round. While I do tend to wear more neutrals in winter (it makes layering easy as everything goes), it's nice to add a little bit of colour or a fun print to your outfit sometimes. The cobalt leather jacket I'm wearing in the outfits below is both cosy and colourful, and paired with pink it makes for a cheerful winter outfit.

A neutral bag is an essential in both outfits while I have so much else going on with the prints and colour.

What I wore:

Jacket: Wittner 'Santa Fe' cobalt blue leather jacket

Tank: Jeanswest 'Macy' ombre tank in 'very berry'
Jeans: Sass & Bide Playman skinny jeans
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in black
Bag: Balenciaga part time in black 2010 with SGH
Nail Polish: OPI Russian Navy

Why I wore it:

Had a busy but kid-free few hours when I wore this. The beading on this ombre tank is beautiful but I worry about how it will hold up with tiny little grabby hands so it's been a while since it was last worn! I was pregnant with Baby Boy when I last wore it. 😲 Definitely a piece that feels more special and doesn't get worn for everyday stay at home mum duties.

When I was thinking of what to wear and putting this outfit together I worried it maybe had a little too much going on, with the beaded ombre tank, bright cobalt jacket and printed jeans. But I loved this final outfit. The neutral Balenciaga bag was a good choice so it didn't compete with all the print and colour. I was happy and comfortable all day, despite running late to almost every appointment, oops.


Last worn: cobalt leather jacket, ombre beaded tank, Sass & Bide printed jeans, Converse Chucks, Balenciaga part time bag.

Other ways to wear: cobalt leather jacket and pencil skirt, ombre beaded tank and blazer, Sass & Bide printed jeans worn two ways, Converse Chucks and dress, Balenciaga part time bag and striped dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: ombre tank hiding an early baby bump, Balenciaga part time and maternity pencil skirts.

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Printed Jeans Under $50:

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What I wore:

Jacket: Wittner 'Santa Fe' cobalt blue leather jacket

Necklace: Roie Designs long freshwater pearl necklace with tassel
Tank: Jeanswest Maji metallic tank in soft green and silver (extra 30% off sale price!)
Jeans: Portmans pink leopard print skinny jeans
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in white
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff metallic silver mini MAC (on sale, 20% off!)
Nail Polish: OPI Fire Escape Rendezvous

Why I wore it:

This was what I wore for the instagram style challenge prompt of 'shop your wardrobe'. Which applies to every outfit I've worn since my last purchase in December! I didn't plan anything special to meet the style challenge prompt for the day, I just wanted to wear this tank and the leopard print jeans together as I thought it would be a nice combination.

Again I went with a neutral bag, the metallic mini MAC, as my outfit felt quite busy already with the colours and print together. I felt completely different in this outfit compared to the one above though. I'd been so sure about this as I planned it out in my head, only to put it on in the morning and felt it was missing something. I added the necklace but I'm still not sure that was what the outfit needed - maybe a scarf instead.

As we were running late for books and rhymes at the library I just wore it anyway. Not one of the worst outfits I've worn, as I didn't completely hate it, just another of those cases where the outfit doesn't look as good as you think it will in your head! I did really like the cobalt jacket and leopard print jeans together at least - I'll have to try that again soon.


Last worn: cobalt leather jacket (above), metallic tank, pink leopard print jeans, Converse All Star, Rebecca Minkoff metallic mini MAC.

Other ways to wear: cobalt leather jacket and dress, metallic tank and chambray, pink leopard print jeans and blazer, Converse All Star and maxi skirt, Rebecca Minkoff metallic mini MAC and denim shorts.

Perfect for pregnancy: leopard print jeans in early second trimester, Converse and maternity shorts, mini MAC worn as a clutch in third trimester.

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More Printed Jeans Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

While neutral layers are practical and make winter layering easy, you can have some fun with your outfit by adding more colour, as statement print, or both! If you're experimenting with colour and prints in your outfit, you might want to pick a classic neutral handbag that won't compete for attention.

Summer tanks can be a fun addition to your winter wardrobe, and with the right layers can be worn year round. While I'm wearing a colourful leather jacket above, a bright cardigan or scarf would work just as well to add more colour. Printed jeans can also be worn year-round to add another element of interest to your outfits. 

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In case you have missed the 1000 other bloggers posting about it, the Nordstrom sale has kicked off!

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Navy and Burgundy: Dresses In Winter With Tights and Boots

After trying and loving navy and burgundy together a while back, I was looking forward to wearing the colour combination again. I stuck with a brown bag this time too, using my Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere instead of my Chloe Paddington bag. The cold weather gave me a chance to wear and enjoy this Jeanswest Mac at last, after buying it for less than $20 in the Cyber Monday sales last year and setting it aside for winter.

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Monica Mac coat in Indigo (purchased last year)

Scarf: Forever New Skye Foil Feather scarf in berry / gold (on sale!)
Dress: Jeanswest Rachel Lyocell chambray dress (C/O)
Shoes: Asos Cleo leather boots in tan
Bag: Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere

Why I wore it:

While I usually have the 'have to wear it twice in the month after buying it' rule for all new purchases, this jacket is one of the exceptions (along with a dress I outgrew too quickly in pregnancy). With over $120 off, I couldn't resist buying it, knowing it would come in handy for winter as I was selling my old black trench.

Winter weather did take a while to arrive in Brisbane so I waited longer to wear this coat than I expected, but I'm still glad I bought it last year and to be able to wear and enjoy it now, it kept me perfectly cosy.

It was a great topper for my sleeveless chambray dress and the navy is perfect with the burgundy feather print scarf. The style challenge for the day was 'layer player' which worked out perfectly weath-wise as it was a cold and rainy day in Brisbane. We had Baby Boy's weekly weigh in the morning then spent some time with my mum and sister in the afternoon.


Last worn: maroon feather foil scarf, chambray dress, ASOS Cleo boots, Louis Vuitton Speedy Bandouliere. First time I've worn the jacket although it was purchased last year.

Other ways to wear: feather print scarf with stripes, chambray dress in spring, ASOS Cleo boots and skinny jeans, Louis Vuitton Speedy Bandouliere and shorts.

Perfect for pregnancy: chambray dress in second trimester, speedy bandouliere and maternity wrap dress.

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Chambray Dresses Under $50:

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What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Monica Mac coat in Indigo

Dress: French Connection star dancing jersey dress in red rust/almond
Shoes: RMK Chester black ankle boots
Bag: Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere
Nails: OPI Russian Navy

Why I wore it:

No style challenge for this one, but another excuse to wear navy and burgundy together again. Since I liked the dress and boots combo above with the navy jacket, I wore it again with black ankle boots and my burgundy jersey dress. It was a pretty quiet day with just a few errands to run, but I did wish I'd added a scarf to this as it was a little chilly in the morning.

This burgundy dress hasn't been worn in awhile - one of those pieces I had boxed away as it's not breastfeeding friendly. Worked well in pregnancy though!

As it's the second time I've worn this jacket and I try to review everything I buy after I've worn it twice, my purchase review:

I like this jacket. I love the colour, it's cosy for winter, and will be perfect for the early morning commutes to the office. The only thing I don't like is how the lapels kinda stick up a bit - but I'm sure that will settle down with more wear. It looks really nice belted (came with a belt) but I haven't been able to wear it that way and still show what I'm wearing underneath it!

Last worn: Jeanswest Mac jacket (above), jersey dress, ankle boots, speedy Bandouliere (above).

Other ways to wear: jersey dress and pistol boots, ankle boots and printed jeans, speedy Bandouliere and printed jeans.

Perfect for pregnancy: jersey dress and leggings in third trimester, speedy bandouliere and maternity pencil skirt.

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More Jersey Dresses Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

Navy and burgundy look beautiful together, but you could apply this style tip to any colour combination you enjoy. Look at the pieces you have in your wardrobe that will allow you to wear the colours year round. First time I wore navy and burgundy it was with a tank, kimono and pants in autumn. It was easy to wear the same colour combination again in winter with season-appropriate pieces.

While both of these dress and boots outfits include the same navy jacket, by changing the other pieces and sticking to the same colour scheme I've created two outfits that look different while wearing a familiar combination. Thinking of different ways to wear a colour combination you love is a good way to come up with new outfit ideas in your wardrobe, without having to buy anything new.


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