Red Tees, Skinny Jeans, Cardigans and Louis Vuitton Bags

At the end of winter, while the days were warming up in Brisbane, the mornings were still pretty cold. It means layering up, so by the time it reaches 25 / 28 degrees (82 F) in the afternoon, you've shed all of your layers.

Despite wearing a similar outfit formula on both of these days, I had very different experiences with each!

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Alice longline Australian wool cardigan

Scarf: ASOS crinkle oversized leopard print scarf

Tee: Jeanswest Emma woven trim tee in terracotta

Jeans: Jeanswest Cecile dove grey skinny jeans

Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in black

Bag: Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere

Why I wore it:

Wore this for a busy but fun filled day. I had the day off from work to volunteer at the Ekka (Brisbane's royal state show, kinda like the state fairs in the US). I dropped the boys off at daycare, ran a quick errand and started filming some videos before it was time to leave. Just as I was in the middle of filming I got a call from daycare that one of the boys had a fever. I frantically called around, found someone to take care of him, rushed to daycare to pick him up and then dropping him off in safe hands I headed out to the Ekka.

Got to the Ekka with plenty of time to stroll around taking in the sights, get some showbags and then get to work. My volunteer shift finished slightly early so I quickly picked up my bags and headed home to my boys, after quickly texting to make sure all was still okay. By the time I got home he really wasn't in a good state. I rushed him to the doctors (thank goodness for the 24/7 primary care centre nearby!) where the doctor scolded us for bringing him there instead of calling an ambulance and ended up calling the ambulance for us. Ending the night in Lady Cilento hospital was not how I had planned the day to go, but at least he's feeling better now.

Yesterday started out so well, spent some time enjoying the #ekka and volunteering at the CWA stand. Ended with an ambulance ride and trip to the children's hospital though 😥 Today has been a very quiet day. pic.twitter.com/xDNM3y3kr0

— Mica (@AwayFromTheBlue) August 15, 2018

Outfit wise at least I was comfortable! I picked the Converse as I knew I'd be in the kitchen volunteering for most of the day, and the scarf and cardigan were good layers to take off and on as it got too hot, and easily fit inside my Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere bag.

Last worn: grey maxi cardigan, leopard print scarf, red tee, grey skinny jeans, Converse, Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere.

Other ways to wear: grey maxi cardigan and maxi dress, leopard print scarf and shift dress, red tee and pencil skirt, grey skinny jeans for travel, Converse and purple jeans, Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere and maxi dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: Converse for second trimester travel, Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere in third trimester.

---

Louis Vuitton Collection Video

---

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest waterfall drape cardigan in navy night sky marle

Earrings: Kmart blue fringe crescent statement earrings (new purchase)

Scarf: Fashion Scarf Girl large poppy scarf in white (c/o)

Tee: Zalora Basics maroon stepped t-shirt

Jeans: Jeanswest prima denim super skinny jeans in absolute black

Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs

Bag: Louis Vuitton MM damier azur neverfull

Why I wore it:

Same outfit formula as the one above, but a much more relaxed day! I wore this a few days after the incident above, I had scheduled the day off in advance to try give myself some downtime. Thankfully the little one was feeling much better so I didn't feel too guilty leaving him to have some me-time. I spent some time Christmas present shopping, picking up things I'd noticed the boys might like on a previous shopping trip. Yes it's early, but you need to take advantage of any kid-free moments you can get to shop!

As it was supposed to warm up to such a hot day, but I had an early start, I dressed in layers. I thought this poppy print scarf worked nicely with the red tee, but I needed a little something to cover my arms to so went with this navy waterfall cardigan. The navy cardigan also perfectly matched the statement earrings! By the time afternoon arrived and it was 20 degrees warmer than when I first ventured out, the scarf and cardigan had been ditched. Again, it was nice that they could both fit inside my bag, the Louis Vuitton damier azur neverfull this time.

After a busy morning, I had a leisurely lunch and treated myself to a pedicure in anticipation of the warmer weather sticking around. It was nice to enjoy the sunshine and warmth for a bit! I even managed to film a complete video too, after the less than perfect attempt a few days before.

Last worn: navy waterfall cardigan, poppy print scarf, red tee, black Prima skinny jeans, Havaianas, Louis Vuitton neverfull.

Other ways to wear: navy waterfall cardigan and dress, poppy print scarf in monochrome outfit, red tee and shorts, Prima skinny jeans and kimono, Louis Vuitton neverfull worn 30 ways.

Perfect for pregnancy: Prima skinny jeans in second trimester, Louis Vuitton neverfull at 38 weeks pregnant.

---

Red Tees Under $50:

---

How You Can Wear It:

A red tee is a versatile piece to have in your wardrobe! It's a fun pop of colour against neutral layers like in the first outfit, or works well with other colours like navy as in the second outfit. When in doubt, pair a red tee with neutral skinny jeans.

Linking up with Shoe & Tell, Mix It Monday, On Mondays We Link Up.

Follow Away From the Blue on:
Bloglovin : Twitter : Instagram : Youtube : Facebook : Google Plus : LikeToKnow.It 

SAHM Life: Navy Dresses, Colourful Scarves and Mater Nappies

Talking about Mater nappies today, and sharing some dress outfits I wore recently. Because sometimes it's nice to break out of the stay at home mum default outfit of jeans and pull on a pretty dress!

Bright scarves make accessorising a printed dress really fun. As a bright and colourful scarf is bold enough on it's own, I try to wear it with a nice neutral outfit. In both of the outfits below I've layered up a navy printed dress with tights, ankle boots, and then a bold pop of colour with a scarf and my mustard Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan bag.

What I wore:

Scarf: Fashion Scarf Girl plain crinkle scarf in orange (c/o)
Dress: Zara printed bib front tunic dress
Shoes: RMK Chester black ankle boots
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan satchel in Harvest Gold

Why I wore it:

This is what I wore to go to the closing down sale of my favourite opshop. There was a big 'fill a bag for $2' sale which I was lucky enough to wrangle the morning browsing at while hubby stayed home with the kids. It was supposed to be a warm day, but it was a cold early morning start for me so I wanted a nice cosy scarf to add to my outfit. I thought this one was perfect, the orange really pops with the navy and the little mustard micro Regan bag was another touch of colour that worked so well with the dress.

Had a fun morning browsing, filling two bags full of things for the boys and I. You can see what we got here. After I headed to Kmart, picked up a pair of shoes I'd been lusting over, and was back home in time for swim lessons. We ended up going out for lunch after, so I was glad I dressed up a little in this dress. Although I was grateful for the tights underneath, this dress can seem a little short when you're constantly bending down to toddler level!


Last worn: Zara navy printed dress, black ankle boots, Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan bag. First time I've worn the orange crinkle scarf on the blog as it's a recent addition to my wardrobe.

Other ways to wear: Zara navy printed dress in summer, black ankle boots and maxi skirt, Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan bag and skinny jeans.

Perfect for pregnancy: Zara navy printed dress in third trimester, black ankle boots in second trimester.

---

Mater Nappies Review

Full disclosure - I received these nappies to try from Mater for the purposes of reviewing them, after chatting with the brand at the Blogger's Brunch a few weeks ago. I've also used these nappies before when my little one was a baby.

What Are Mater Nappies?

Nappies developed by Mater Mother's Hospitals! They are part of Australia's first product range developed by a hospital. Welcoming over 10,000 babies a year into the Mater Mother's Hospitals around Australia, they know babies well!

Benefits

The nappies are made from ultra-soft breathable material, dermatologically tested and proven not to cause skin irritation. The toddler nappies have double leg cuffs and provide triple protection against leaks, as well as a super-absorbent core.

Our Experience

As mentioned above, I've tried Mater nappies before. When my youngest was hospitalised as a baby almost 2 years ago (see pic above). During our extended stay at the Mater the hospital provided the nappies for us to use. I liked them and had no issues with them. When we went home though, we also went home with a bunch of medical equipment and a baby with a NG tube - both things we needed training on before we were discharged. We went back to our usual nappy brand we had lying around as it was easier and life continued on. Talking to the ladies from Mater during the Bloggers Brunch, I told them a little about my son's story and decided to give the nappies another try now he's bigger.

We found that the Mater nappies didn't leak - I think that's the biggest plus right there! During some of the time we were trialling the nappies, my little one was on a course of antibiotics so you can be assured they were tested to the max!

Will I Repurchase?

Yes! They are not only a product that works for us, I also like that the proceeds from the sale of the Mater Baby Products go to support Mater Little Miracles, funding specialist life-saving care and research for babies in Australia. If you're interested, you can get them online here or find a stockist here.

---

What I wore:

Scarf: Love Quotes knotted tassel linen scarf in sunshine yellow
Dress: Atmos&Here navy stripe tee dress
Shoes: RMK Chester black ankle boots
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan satchel in Harvest Gold

Why I wore it:

Since I liked the outfit formula above so much, I repeated a similar one again, as I like to do! This time, I picked a bright yellow Love quotes scarf to go with the striped navy tee dress, but I kept the bag and ankle boots the same. These ankle boots are the most comfortable I've ever owned, I was sad to see the brand shut up shop a couple of years ago!

While the linen scarf is a bold bright yellow and the Rebecca Minkoff Regan bag is more mustard, I think the two different shade worked well together in this outfit.

Wore this for a fun day out shopping with my mum and the boys. I got some early Christmas present ideas for the boys as we went around the stores. It was such a good day out, even if I didn't buy anything for myself. I'd been eyeing a dress in Jeanswest for an upcoming wedding, but I was a bit disappointed when I saw it in person. I did like this outfit a little more than the one above - the dress is a more mum-friendly length, with the hem longer in the back!


Last worn: yellow Love quotes scarf, navy stripe tee dress, black ankle boots (above), Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan bag (above).

Other ways to wear: yellow Love quotes scarf and tie dye maxi dress, navy stripe tee dress in spring, black ankle boots worn 30 ways, Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan bag worn 30 ways.

Perfect for pregnancy: yellow Love quotes scarf in second trimester, navy stripe tee dress, black ankle boots in second trimester, Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan bag and maxi skirt.

---

Orange and Yellow Scarves Under $50:

---

How You Can Wear It:

It's easy to stick to neutral outfits in winter, as you're guaranteed all your layers will go together! But it's nice to add a touch of colour through bright accessories. I love my colourful handbags, but a bold and bright scarf is another fun way to accessorise. Bright citrus colours like orange and yellow are a great pop against navy outfits.


Linking up with Oh Hey Girl, Fashion Files, Fun Fashion, Fabulous Friday, Weekend Wear, Fancy Friday, Friday Faves, Trend Spin.

Follow Away From the Blue on:
Bloglovin : Twitter : Instagram : Youtube : Facebook : Google Plus : LikeToKnow.It 

Some items in this post were provided to me for review purposes. As always: all thoughts, opinions and photographs are my own.

30 Ways to Wear A Tie Dye Maxi Dress (#30wears Challenge)

If you look at all the 30 wears posts I've done so far you'll see a lot of maxis! I love my maxi skirts and dresses, and I definitely think you can still wear them if you're petite like me. I've already shared 30 ways to wear a pink maxi dress before, now it's another much-loved maxi dress, this beautiful jersey tie dye one from Jeanswest.

30 Ways To Wear: Grey Jersey Tie Dye Maxi Dress

Cost Per Wear

Unfortunately, this is another one of those pieces I can't calculate cost per wear on, as it was a present! With 30 wears and lots of life left in it though, I'm definitely getting value from it, so it was a great gift from my mum. I first wore it back in 2012, for Christmas day. Almost 6 years, 2 pregnancies and 30 wears later, it's still a firm favourite in my wardrobe.

---

30 Ways To Wear a Tie Dye Maxi Dress: Video Style

---

Jersey Maxi Dress Worn Knotted

A go-to petite hack, if a maxi is too long, just knot it. You can secure over the knot with a hair tie to keep it in place too! As I've never had this dress shortened, wearing the elastic lower down where it should sit makes the dress too long, so tying a quick knot in it is an easy solution. It's a good way to make a maxi dress seem more casual, and it also works if you're at the beach and need to keep the hem out of the way as you walk on wet sand!

Grey Tie Dye Maxi Dress Worn With Yellow

Part of the reason behind me wearing this maxi dress so often is that it's a beautiful neutral grey colour. The tie dye print isn't too bold, so I love to pair it with bright accessories. I like grey and yellow together, and when I was organising the photos for this post I realised it was a definite trend with this dress. Yellow bag, yellow necklace (or even both!) this grey dress works so well with yellow accessories.

Tie Dye Maxi Dress and Statement Necklaces

The beautiful of a maxi dress is that it's an instant, easy outfit, You don't need to accessorise or try too hard with it, you can just throw it on and go. If you do want to change it up a little though, a statement necklace is a great choice. I love bold and beaded ones like the first and third outfits, or you can just layer them up like in the other two outfits.

Jersey Maxi Dress In Summer

Taking full advantage of the 'throw on and go' benefits of a maxi dress that I mentioned above! I love a maxi dress for summer, you have an instantly pulled together looking outfit you don't need to spend any time planning. The jersey material of this dress is perfect - not too thick, not too thin, so it's a perfect choice on a hot day.

Tie Dye Maxi Dress and Light Layers

Of course I wear my tie dye maxi dress outside of summer too! For spring or autum, or even just a cooler day, it's easy to add a light layer on top. Something like a cardigan, kimono, denim jacket, or even just a cosy scarf helps keep the chill off.

Jersey Maxi Dress Layered Under A Tee

Admittedly, layering a tee over a maxi dress is a fairly new combination for me. It's something I've seen other bloggers doing and decided to really embrace this past year, I love it! If you want to change up the look of a maxi dress you wear frequently, just pull on a tee and turn it into an instant skirt.

Tie Dye Maxi Dress In Winter

Without snow in winter, maxi dresses can be worn year round in Brisbane. When it gets really chilly, I add a leather jacket on top, a big but colourful scarf and some boots underneath. If it's even colder where you are, you could layer tights or leggings underneath too. I like to get wear from my wardrobe most of the time, and layering a summer maxi dress to wear in winter is a good way to achieve that.

Jersey Tie Dye Maxi Dress In Pregnancy

As I mentioned above, I've had two pregnancies in the time I've had this maxi dress. While it's not a maternity dress, the stretchy jersey and elastic that sits above a baby bump made this an easy option for pregnancy wear. Especially on a hot day! It's fun being able to look back on a dress I've worn while pregnant with both my boys that I'm still able to wear it now.

---

Tie Dye Maxi Dresses Under $50:

---

More Posts In The #30Wears Series:

This maxi dress is a much loved piece in my wardrobe. You can see all the 30+ ways I've worn this tie dye maxi dress in my blog archives, or check out more of the 30 wears series below.

• 30 ways to wear a black maxi skirt
• 30 ways to wear red Balenciaga velo bag
• 30 ways to wear gladiator sandals
• 30 different ways to wear striped maxi skirt
• 30 different ways to wear skinny jeans
• 30 ways to wear a grey Rebecca Minkoff MAM bag
• 30 ways to wear a printed leather jacket
• 30 ways to wear black ankle boots in multiple seasons
• 30 ways to wear mustard yellow Rebecca Minkoff bag
• 30 ways to wear a classic denim jacket
• 30 ways to wear white and navy stripe maxi skirt
• 30 ways to wear a floral kimono
• 30 ways to wear a pink maxi dress
• 30 ways to wear a red Rebecca Minkoff saddle bag
• 30 ways to wear a grey maxi skirt
• 30 ways to wear bermuda denim shorts
• 30 ways to wear Louis Vuitton Neverfull tote
• 30 ways to wear a purple cardigan
• 30 ways to wear a cream jersey blazer
• 30 ways to wear Rebecca Minkoff Love bag

Linking up with Confident Twosday, Style Sessions, Turning Heads, Trend Spin, Fashion Frenzy, On The Daily Express.

Follow Away From the Blue on:
Bloglovin : Twitter : Instagram : Youtube : Facebook : Google Plus : LikeToKnow.It