Monochrome Office Outfits: Navy Tops and Textured Pencil Skirts With Rebecca Minkoff MAM

Monochrome outfits are a quick and easy way to get dressed for the office. Blue is my favourite colour, and while I'm managing to stay away from the blue jeans rut I am still wearing blue often as I have so much of it in my wardrobe. Both of those pretty blue textured pencil skirts, although I just wore them the week before, work so nicely with blue tops that I pulled them out again when I wanted to wear some navy.

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest grey jersey blazer
Blouse: Jeanswest chana long sleeve stud top in night sky navy
Skirt: Asos blue textured lace pencil skirt
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs silver tuxedo flats
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff MAB mini in soft grey

Why I wore it:

This outfit is a combination of pieces I love so it's no surprise that I really liked it! I love this top, one of my purchases last month, and paired with this pretty lace pencil skirt is was such an easy outfit. The grey blazer matched the bag nicely, and grey and blue is a combination I frequently employ when wearing this blazer.

I felt suitably attired in this for an early start at the office, a quick coffee date and filming/photographing session with a friend in King George Square (See Chloe's video for the clip I filmed), a leaving lunch for a colleague and then an afternoon full of meetings. I started to get a bit flustered at the end of the day when the printer started acting up, but overall it was a good day in a good outfit!


Last worn: grey jersey blazer, studded blouse, lace pencil skirt, silver ballet flats, Rebecca Minkoff MAM.

Other ways to wear: grey jersey blazer and fit and flare dress, studded blouse and shorts, lace pencil skirt in summer, silver ballet flats and jeans, Rebecca Minkoff MAM worn 30 ways.

Perfect for pregnancy: lace pencil skirt in third trimester, silver ballet flats in third trimester, Rebecca Minkoff MAM in second trimester.

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Rebecca Minkoff MAM Review and Contents

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What I wore:

Jacket: thrifted Zara black blazer
Necklace: Starfish Project Veronica short yellow multi strand necklace
Shirt: Jeanswest Tory textured shirt
Skirt: Warehouse navy jacquard pencil skirt
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs black logo plaque ballet flats
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff MAB mini in soft grey

Why I wore it:

Unlike the outfit above, I really didn't like this one. It was more of a frustrating than productive day at work, and even spending some time out with my friend in the Brisbane Botanic Gardens at lunch time didn't really lift my spirits. I'd been in a rush that morning and scraped my hair up into a messy bun for ease, but felt bad about it all day. I tried to add some cheerful colour to my outfit with the yellow necklace. Yellow and blue is a colour combo I usually enjoy, but on this day I just wasn't enjoying my outfit.

I'm also aware I'm harsher on my outfit when I had a bad day like this one!


Last worn: black jersey blazer, navy button up shirt, jacquard pencil skirt, black ballet flats, Rebecca Minkoff MAM (above).

Other ways to wear: black jersey blazer and a-line skirts, navy button up shirt and shorts, jacquard pencil skirt and purple accessories, black ballet flats and sheath dress, Rebecca Minkoff MAM and burgundy pants.

Perfect for pregnancy: black jersey blazer in third trimester, Rebecca Minkoff MAM in third trimester.

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5 Ways To Wear The Rebecca Minkoff MAM

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Textured Pencil Skirts Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

Pencil skirts and blazers are default office outfits as they fit into most office dress codes. Printed or textured pencil skirts like these add a bit of fun to an outfit, but they are also so easy to wear when you pick similarly coloured tops, for a quick and professional office outfit. Neutral blazers, shoes and a classic bag like the Rebecca Minkoff MAM keep it simple as they will go with whatever colour you pick out.


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Layering Navy Dresses In Autumn: Light Scarves and Different Shoes

It took a while for autumn to arrive here in Brisbane! But when we started getting cooler mornings I was excited to add some layers and autumn pieces to my dresses - even if they are just lightweight scarves! I find summer dresses easy to layer up for cooler weather just by adding an extra piece or two and swapping out your shoes for something cosier.

What I wore:

Jacket: Bubblegum denim jacket
Scarf: gifted blush metallic rose gold shimmer scarf
Dress: Shein navy flower print flowy dress (C/O)
Shoes: Asos leather Chelsea boots in tan
Bag: Balenciaga truffle brown RH classic day bag

Why I wore it:

It was a really cold morning when I wore this so I added a scarf, denim jacket and ankle boots to my dress. After a busy day working from home, rushing around in the evening meant I'd gotten warm and quickly taken both the scarf and jacket off. I picked the boys up from daycare to take the little one to his specialist appointment.

I like how comfortable this flowy swing dress is - and even though it's a light viscose fabric it is sure to be worn more as the weather cools down further as it layers well. Writing this post made me smile as I realised the last time I wore this dress it was also with a Balenciaga day bag, and it was again for a specialist appointment!

This shimmery scarf was a gift from my mum last year and I love how nice it looked with the navy dress. Even if I didn't keep all the layers on in the warm afternoon, I did enjoy this outfit for the short time I wore it all together in the morning for daycare drop off and the denim jacket came in helpful in the evening.


Last worn: denim jacket, shimmer scarf, navy floral swing dress, Chelsea ankle boots, Balenciaga brown day bag.

Other ways to wear: denim jacket worn 30 ways, shimmer scarf in the office, navy floral swing dress in summer, Chelsea ankle boots, Balenciaga brown day bag and shorts.

Perfect for pregnancy: denim jacket in second trimester, Chelsea ankle boots in second trimester, Balenciaga brown day bag for second trimester travel.

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My Latest Video: Winter Clothing Haul For The Boys

With the cooler weather, I was excited to start buying winter clothes for the boys! Cooper helped me to share what I've been buying.

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What I wore:

Scarf: white Target crochet detail scarf
Dress: Zara printed bib front tunic dress
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in white
Bag: Balenciaga truffle brown RH classic day bag

Why I wore it:

This was such a productive day, although I wasn't completely happy with my outfit. I love the crochet scarf with the navy dress. I was unsure at first with the pattern on the dress and the texture of the scarf but being similar colours I think it worked really well. It was a little chilly so as well as the scarf I added some Converse. Converse are a go-to for me in spring and autumn and are a nice alternative when it's not cold enough for boots. On the surface, a great outfit.

We dropped the boys off at their grandparents for the morning to get some stuff done and it was a productive morning. I did wish I'd added a denim jacket to this outfit though once the rain showers hit. Then we had lunch with the boys and their grandparents which made me regret my outfit even more as this dress felt much too short. If I'm spending time with the boys it's better to go with a maxi length or something like shorts! I was happy to get home and change after lunch. I chucked on some PJ pants under my dress so I was a bit more comfortable to lounge around and play with cars and setup train tracks with the boys!

This dress is one of the ones that works so perfectly in summer, layers well for autumn or winter, and it doubles as a professional looking top for work sometimes too. I was really hoping to have hit 30 wears on it by now, but I do find the length tricky to wear when trying to sit and play on the floor with the boys which limits how much I can wear it right now.


Last worn: crochet scarf, Zara navy shift dress, Converse, Balenciaga day bag (above).

Other ways to wear: crochet scarf and chambray dress, Zara navy shift dress and winter layers, Converse and denim shorts, Balenciaga day bag and maxi skirt.

Perfect for pregnancy: crochet scarf in second trimester, Zara navy shift dress in third trimester, Converse in second trimester, Balenciaga day bag and hidden baby bump.

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Navy Printed Dresses Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It

You don't have to pack your favourite dresses away when the cooler weather arrives! Swapping sandals for Converse or ankle boots and adding a scarf helps keep the chill away and lets you wear your favourite pieces more often. When it's really cold, you could add tights, leggings, and cosier scarves. But mild autumn and spring days are perfect for lightweight scarves like these.


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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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