Monday 10 September 2018

Monochrome Pencil Skirt Outfits With Long Sleeve Tees And Colourful Scarves

Wearing a few of my recent purchases to the office! I managed to pick up a couple of long sleeved tops at the opshop sale last month. While it was nearing the end of winter in Brisbane and getting warmer, it's still quite chilly when I have my commute to work so I knew the long sleeves would be perfect to wear to the office. I'm lucky my dress code is on the casual side of business casual too so a tee is perfectly acceptable, especially when paired with a pencil skirt as I have here.

Keeping things simple, I stuck with monochrome outfits and added a pop of colour with my scarves, topping off my outfits with the fun tassel statement earrings I also bought last month.

What I wore:


monochrome black winter pencil skirt outfit with cobalt louis vuitton shawl mulberry bays | away from blue

Mulberry oak NVT bayswater heritage bag | away from the blue

awayfromblue instagram | cobalt blue louis vuitton monogram shawl scarf with black pencil skirt trench coat

monochrome black tee pencil skirt ankle boots office outfit with cobalt scarf pop of colour | away from blue
Jacket: Barkins beige trench coat 
Earrings: Kmart blue fringe crescent statement earrings (new purchase)
ScarfLouis Vuitton monogram shawl in bleu
Tee: thrifted Maison Scotch black paint splatter print long sleeved tee
SkirtJeanswest zip detail ponte pencil skirt
Shoes: RMK Chester black ankle boots
BagMulberry Bayswater in Oak NVT leather

Why I wore it:

Keeping things really simple and going completely monochrome with the black long sleeve tee and black pencil skirt. I usually plan my outfits the night before, and figured the print on the top would stop the outfit looking too boring. When I put it all on in the morning though, I realised the print on the top wasn't doing enough to add a bit of lightness, especially paired with the black pencil skirt, black tights and ankle boots. Even the navy earrings weren't lifting this enough, it looked a bit drab.

The bright blue Louis Vuitton shawl was the perfect solution - a great pop of colour against the black. It also kept me nice and cosy in the morning. I like that spring like weather is arriving again here in Brisbane, but it's still extremely wintery in the early hours!


Last worn: camel trench, Louis Vuitton shawl, black pencil skirt, black ankle boots, Mulberry Bayswater tote bag. It's the first time I've worn the tee on the blog as it's a recent purchase.

Other ways to wearcamel trench and sheath dress, Louis Vuitton shawl and floral dress, black pencil skirt in autumn, black ankle boots worn 30 ways, Mulberry Bayswater tote bag in summer.

Perfect for pregnancycamel trench in first trimester, black pencil skirt in first trimesterblack ankle boots in second trimester, Mulberry Bayswater tote bag in third trimester.


Mulberry Bayswater After 7 Years:






What I wore:

colorful winter office wear lace pencil skirt with bright orange scarf | away from blue

Mulberry heritage bayswater bag in oak NVT leather | away from the blue

awayfromtheblue instagram | bright winter pencil skirt outfit with orange crinkle scarf
JacketJeanswest Monica Mac coat in Indigo
Earrings: Kmart blue fringe crescent statement earrings (new purchase)
ScarfFashion Scarf Girl plain crinkle scarf in orange (c/o)
Top: thrifted cobalt blue long sleeve tee
SkirtAsos blue textured lace pencil skirt
ShoesAsos leather Chelsea boots in tan
BagMulberry Bayswater in Oak NVT leather

Why I wore it:

Still a monochrome outfit, but sticking with my favourite colour and going blue with the cobalt tee and the lace pencil skirt. I added even more colour to this with the orange scarf, it really pops against blue and I've worn it that way before with a navy dress.


I love how well the navy earrings coordinated with the blues on my outfit and they got a few compliments! I've admired the statement tassel earring trend on the ladies I follow on Instagram for a while, but with particularly curious and grabby toddlers I was sure it was going to be a trend I'd have to let pass me by. Suddenly realised I could do what I do with all other non-kid friendly pieces in my wardrobe and just wear them to work. Even if I do have to take them off as soon as I get home in the afternoon! They were fun to wear and try out for something different from my usual accessories!

While I loved the blue and orange together I really wasn't happy with the ankle boots I chose for this. I am noticing every time I wear these tan boots with black tights it just emphasises how petite I am and makes my legs look a bit stumpy. The longer length pencil skirt doesn't really help! I thought that with the oak Mulberry Bayswater bag it would tie in nicely, but a few times through the day I wished I'd worn my black ankle boots instead.


Last worn: navy macintosh, orange crinkle scarf, blue lace pencil skirt, Chelsea leather boots, Mulberry Bayswater (above). First time I've worn the tee on the blog as it's a recent purchase.

Other ways to wearnavy macintosh and wrap dress, orange crinkle scarf and shift dress, blue lace pencil skirt and blazer, Chelsea leather boots and maxi skirt, Mulberry Bayswater and chambray dress.

Perfect for pregnancyblue lace pencil skirt in third trimester, Chelsea leather boots in second trimester, Mulberry Bayswater in second trimester.



Bright Scarves Under $50:





How You Can Wear It:

A monochrome office outfit makes getting dressed for work easy - even if you haven't planned out your outfit the night before! For an extra touch, you can add a bright contrasting scarf on top. It makes a simple monochrome outfit seem more interesting, keeps you warm on a cold commute and it's a fun way to accessorise.


Linking up with Confident Twosday, Turning Heads, Style Sessions.


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Friday 7 September 2018

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:

red tee with skinny jeans converse grey maxi cardigan louis vuitton speedy bag | awayfromblue

Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere with heatstamp | awayfromtheblue

awayfromblue instagram grey cardigan skinny jeans leopard print scarf and red tee outfit

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.

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.





Louis Vuitton Collection Video






What I wore:

layered shopping skinny jeans red tee outfit poppy scarf navy cardigan LV neverfull | away from the blue

Louis Vuitton MM damier azur neverfull worn on arm | away from the blue

awayfromtheblue instagram navy and red skinny jeans outfit with poppy print scarf LV NF tote
Earrings: Kmart blue fringe crescent statement earrings (new purchase)

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.





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.




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Wednesday 5 September 2018

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:

navy printed shift dress with orange scarf and mustard yellow micro regan bag SAHM shopping style | awayfromblue

navy printed dress, Rebecca Minkoff mustard yellow harvest gold micro regan bag | awayfromtheblue

awayfromtheblue instagram fashion scarf girl orange plain crinkle scarf navy shift dress, ankle boots
Scarf: Fashion Scarf Girl plain crinkle scarf in orange (c/o)
Dress: Zara printed bib front tunic dress
Shoes: RMK Chester black ankle boots
BagRebecca 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 wearZara navy printed dress in summer, black ankle boots and maxi skirt, Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan bag and skinny jeans.

Perfect for pregnancyZara 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.


Mater Nappies for Toddlers Review | away from the blue blog

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:

navy stripe tee dress with ankle boots and yellow accessories linen love quotes scarf | away from blue

bright yellow scarf with mustard yellow rebecca minkoff micro regan bag in harvest gold | away from the blue

awayfromblue instagram | stripe tee dress with yellow scarf and rebecca minkoff micro regan bag accessories
ScarfLove Quotes knotted tassel linen scarf in sunshine yellow
DressAtmos&Here navy stripe tee dress
Shoes: RMK Chester black ankle boots
BagRebecca 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 wearyellow 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 pregnancyyellow 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 FavesTrend Spin.





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