Maxi Dresses For Different Events: Wedding and Kids Birthday Party

I love maxi dresses, for everyday wear and for special events. They never look over or under dressed for any occasion! Wearing two pretty blue ones below, dressed up for a formal event and dressed down for a casual kid's birthday party.

What I wore:

Earrings: Ana Luisa 'Olivia' tassel earrings in pink (giveaway prize)
Scarf: Louis Vuitton monogram shawl in bleu
Dress: Jeanswest Heather textured maxi dress in eggshell (C/O)
Shoes: NineWest "Quicken" wedges in natural
Bracelets: the usual plus silver charm bracelet
Bag: Chanel vintage quilted lambskin flap

Why I wore it:

I had been looking forward to this day for so long! One of my oldest friends was getting married and we were so thrilled to celebrate with the couple. While his wife is someone I've only gotten to know over the past few years, I met him all the way back in uni so hubby and I are good friends with him. (I met my hubby in uni too, a couple years later!).

It was literally the only sunny day in over a week of rain and storms, they couldn't have had a better day. The sun came out for the ceremony (overlooking the beautiful water) and when the breeze started to pick up and get cooler in the evening I had my Louis Vuitton shawl in my bag. It's the first time I've worn this shawl as an actual shawl and not just as a scarf!

The bag was another accessory I love - a vintage Chanel flap I don't get to wear often, but treasure the times I do!

The shoes I was not too happy with. You might have seen on my Insta stories that taking a few steps out the door to leave resulted in the sole of one of my shoes flying off! So I ran back inside and superglued it together, hoping it would hold out for the party, and trying to ignore the fact that I put it on a little crooked....thankfully, it held together well. The other shoe on the other hand decided to fall to pieces in the same way, as I walked through the middle of the tables at this small and intimate wedding. I've had them for a few years, and I got them pre blog, but in the 6 years I've been blogging this is their 7th wear so it's not like I've overly worn them! I suspect the heat / humidity has got to the glue holding them together while they've spent most of their life stored in a box.

On the plus side, the wedding was wonderful, the ceremony so moving, the food delicious, the speeches both hilarious and heartwarming, and the dancing wonderful. Even if it was a bit of a challenge dancing with lopsided shoes after consuming a couple of glasses of champagne! 😂 I ended up copying the mother of the groom and going shoe-less in the end.


Last worn: Louis Vuitton shawl, pink tassel earrings, grecian maxi dress, nude wedges, vintage Chanel flap.

Other ways to wear: Louis Vuitton shawl woth jeans and tee, grecian maxi dress for birthday party, nude wedges and lace dress, vintage Chanel flap for Christmas day.

Perfect for pregnancy: nude wedges in first trimester, maxi dress in second trimester, vintage Chanel flap at 40 weeks pregnant.

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What's In My Bag: Vintage Chanel Flap

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What I wore:

Jacket: Bubblegum denim jacket
Scarf: Jeanswest Lucille golden yellow scarf
Dress: Jeanswest 'Chantelle' crochet detail blue printed maxi dress
Shoes: Asos leather Chelsea boots in tan
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan satchel in Harvest Gold

Why I wore it:

The weekend before the wedding was a bit cold and wet, so I ended up layering my maxi dress up a little more, with the mustard scarf, denim jacket and ankle boots. Had a bit of a busy day, with swim lessons in the morning, followed by a birthday party for one of little T's friends, then a trip down the coast to spend time with my parents.

The ankle boots were a perfect choice for the wet weather and my layers kept me nice and cosy. I thought this maxi dress would be perfect as I've never been to a birthday party at McDonalds before and wasn't sure what to wear! It was interesting seeing what the other mums were wearing, so many different outfits - and I saw a few similar outfits to other things I was thinking of wearing! - but of course the best dressed was the birthday girl.

It was a lot of fun, getting to chat to the parents of some of the kids I have only heard about from the boys stories after daycare. It was also very noisy, as the kids had a great time running around and playing together.


Last worn: denim jacket, mustard scarf, blue printed maxi dress, Chelsea ankle boots, Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan bag.

Other ways to wear: denim jacket and skinny jeans, mustard scarf and olive pants, blue printed maxi dress in summer, Chelsea ankle boots and swing dress, Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan bag and skinny jeans.

Perfect for pregnancy: denim jacket in second trimester, blue printed maxi dress at 39 weeks pregnant, Chelsea ankle boots in second trimester.

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Maxi Dresses Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

A maxi dress is a wardrobe staple as you can really make it work for you, for any event or season! You can dress it up with luxe accessories or down with a denim jacket, and you can easily add an extra layer if it gets chilly.

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No shopping haul this month! I only spent $2 on this Kmart dress. Spent a lot of money finishing my Christmas shopping though!



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Navy Tops and Green Pants: Spring SAHM Style (And Instagram Giveaway!)

I've been embracing green and blue together more often recently. It's a colour combination I only started wearing a few years ago. I decided to try it again with green pants and navy tops, this time wearing my olive jeans with navy. I really liked the combination!

What I wore:

Necklace: Jeanswest Taryn turquoise tassel bead necklace
Top: Kmart navy bird print peplum frill hem tank
Jeans: Jeanswest Vicki skinny pant in moss green
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC in aquamarine with python embossed leather

Why I wore it:

I had the vague idea for this outfit in my head, I hadn't planned it out the night before like I usually do as we were at a wedding. In the morning I was feeling slightly worse for wear after a couple of glasses of champagne and not having drunk anything alcoholic for a couple years due to pregnancy / breastfeeding! I just wanted simple and easy as there were groceries to buy and kids to amuse. I decided to wear the outfit idea I had anyway, without spending time to see if it looked good. I was pleased to find out I really liked the combination.

Was a nice easy outfit, printed tank and skinny jeans. Perfect for a quiet Sunday, or as quiet as a Sunday can be when you have two boys under 5!

It's not the first time I've worn this Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC bag with olive, I liked the combination of the aqua and olive together. The necklace was a nice matchy-matchy touch, even if the hardware on the necklace is gold and silver on the bag. I've worn this necklace and tank together before too so I knew I'd like the result.


Last worn: bird print tank, tassel necklace, olive skinny jeans, Havaianas, Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC.

Other ways to wear: bird print tank and pencil skirt, olive pants in the office, Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC and maxi dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC in third trimester.

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What's In My Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAC

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What I wore:

Necklace: ZuriCollections blue polymer clay necklace
Tee: Jeanswest Flavia foil printed polka dot tee deep iris
Jeans: thrifted ASOS petite green skinny jeans
Shoes: black slim Havaianas thongs
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC in aquamarine with python embossed leather

Why I wore it:

Another nice and simple outfit. Jeans and a tee to take the boys to the local library for music time and to let them have a play at the playground. Again, I'm wearing the Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC with gold pieces even though the chain strap on it is silver. I think the gold foil polka dots on the tee didn't look bad with it!

It's not the first time I've worn these green jeans with a blue top, and I've been wanting to try this particular jeans and tee outfit combination for a while. I really liked it, pleased I finally gave it a wear.


Last worn: polka dot tee, beaded necklace, green jeans, Havaianas (above), Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC (above).

Other ways to wear: polka dot tee and maxi skirt, green jeans and grey tee, Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC and printed shorts.

Perfect for pregnancy: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC in third trimester.

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Green Pants Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

Blue and green should be seen! It's a fun and bold colour combination to try. For something different, you can try other shades of green and blue together, like navy and olive or navy and forest green. Picking a blue top with a print is another fun way to add more interest to your outfit too.


In case you missed it, I have a giveaway on Instagram for fellow Aussies at the moment - you could win a fun red Santa print scarf like mine!

View this post on Instagram

GIVEAWAY- win a beautiful red Santa print scarf from @fashionscarfgirl (RRP $10)! Win this week and recieve it before Christmas! 🎅🎄 I love mine and have got a brand new one to giveaway to a lucky winner! 🎅 To enter: 1. Follow @fashionscarfgirl on Instagram 2. Follow @awayfromblue on Instagram 3. Tag a friend who might want to enter in a comment on this pic. One comment = 1 entry. Terms and conditions: Entry is open to Australian residents only. Giveaway runs from 28/11/18 to 11:59pm 30/11/18 AEST To enter participants must be following @awayfromblue and @fashionscarfgirl on Instagram, and have left a comment tagging a friend on this picture. Winner will be notified via instagram on 01/12/18. Prize is one red Santa print scarf from Fashion Scarf Girl, valued at $10. Prize is not transferable or exchangeable and cannot be taken as cash. This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Instagram. Instagram is released from any or all liability in connection with this giveaway. Giveaway is a category 4 promotional game. Each player who enters has a fair and equal chance of winning the random draw prize.

A post shared by Mica (@awayfromblue) on Nov 27, 2018 at 1:45pm PST

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Mulberry Bayswater and Wrap Dresses For the Office

I still think a printed dress is the easiest, simplest outfit for work. Add some neutral accessories like this classic Mulberry bayswater bag and some ballet flats and you have easy spring office style. No further accessorising required, although you can always add a bright necklace on top like I did with these outfits to feel like you put a little effort in!

What I wore:

Necklace: Starfish Project Hannah turquoise bead necklace

Dress: Atmos&Here Arlette jersey wrap dress

Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs logo plaque flats in camel

Bag: Mulberry Bayswater in Oak NVT leather (cheaper second hand)

Why I wore it:

I'm not entirely sure the length of this necklace worked with the wrap neckline of the dress and the tie over the waist, but I did like the little touch of colour it added to this outfit! With the black and white printed wrap dress and neutral tan Mulberry Bayswater and Marc Jacobs flats, a little bit of green through the necklace was a nice way to add a pop of colour.

I did consider wearing statement earrings with this outfit too, but felt it was busy enough. It was my first day back at work after a week off sick, and there was so much to catch up on. The simple yet comfortable dress worked well, for meetings and for sitting at my desk reading all the emails I missed!

Last worn: tulip hem wrap dress, green beaded necklace, camel flats, Mulberry Bayswater.

Other ways to wear: tulip hem wrap dress and purple bag, camel flats with olive and mustard, Mulberry Bayswater and pencil skirt.

Perfect for pregnancy: camel flats in third trimester, Mulberry Bayswater in third trimester.

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What's In My Bag: Mulberry Bayswater

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What I wore:

Necklace: Starfish Project Veronica short yellow multi strand necklace

Dress: Target Dannii Minogue Petites printed wrap dress

Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs metallic mouse flats

Bag: Mulberry Bayswater in Oak NVT leather (cheaper second hand)

Why I wore it:

Sometimes I find this dress a little tricky to wear. It 'reads' as blue from a distance, but up close you can see the pink, red, black, green and blue in the geometric print. I decided to try mix things up a bit and wear this bold yellow statement necklace with it. I really liked the combination, and I felt it distracted from how tired I felt and looked. I did manage to get a lovely compliment from a colleague who said I looked just like his niece - and she's 20, so I was very happy with that! I think it was maybe the ponytail, or all the makeup I threw on to try look a bit more perky.

Unfortunately despite feeling much better and just a little tired, my voice sounded terrible! I'd started to loose it the day before when working from home as everyone ended up calling me, and by mid-afternoon it was almost entirely gone. I soldiered through the day though, lots of charades and having others speaking for me and managed to wrap up everything from my to-do list before I left, so I felt productive! Even if I did have to postpone one meeting as the person I was meeting with thought it was too much to try make me talk for 30 mins! 😂 They were probably right!

Last worn: faux wrap dress, yellow statement necklace, gold mouse flats, Mulberry Bayswater (above).

Other ways to wear: faux wrap dress in winter, gold mouse flats with purple skinny jeans, Mulberry Bayswater and chambray dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: faux wrap dress in second trimester, gold mouse flats in third trimester, Mulberry Bayswater in second trimester.

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Wrap Dresses Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

A wrap dress is a classic wardrobe staple that can work for many different occasions. Mine get worn mostly to the office though! They are a fail-safe outfit option that work for a business casual office like mine as well as a more formal business attire dress code. If you're wearing a sleeveless version like I am in the last outfit, a blazer or cardigan is a good option to keep shoulders covered for formal meetings.

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The Ultimate Handbag Gift Guide - For Any Budget!

It's gift guide season yet again! As it's been so well received in previous years, I'm again doing my annual handbag lover gift guide. Lots of different gift ideas at multiple price points for the bag mad person in your life! As I'm only sharing one gift guide for Christmas, I've made it a good one.

No matter how expensive their taste in handbags, you're sure to find something that will fit your budget and make any handbag fan very happy!

Under $50: Stocking Fillers

You might not be able to get them a luxe handbag under $50, but you can get some fun accessories! Think of inside their bag: pouches to organise things inside or mini emergency / first aid kits. You can give them pieces to add to the exterior of their current handbag too, with luggage tags or bag charms. You can always get them a book relating to the brand they love, or a general fashion / handbag one. For someone who has absolutely everything, there's always the raincoat for handbags!

Under $100: Handbag Related Gifts

You might not be able to score a bag for under $100, but you can pick up a SLG (small leather good) from their favourite mid-range designer. Think key holders, coin purses and card holders! Kate Spade, Coach, Rebecca Minkoff, Furla, Sophie Hulme and Tory Burch are good brands to look at. Of course for those same designers you might have luck second hand shopping to find a used bag in this price range. See the note about second hand shopping at the end.

Under $250: Beautiful Bags For A Bigger Budget

Shopbop and Nordstrom have a wide range of bags and you might be able to score one on sale to bring it down to your budget. Wallets are a good pick at this price point. You can also look at the same mid-range designers above. Kate Spade and Rebecca Minkoff often have bags under $250, as do Madewell.

Under $500: Handbag Splurges For That Special Someone

If they've hinted, or they've outright told you they are saving up for a special bag, this would be the perfect splurge! An idea gift for a close friend or family member who you want to treat. At this price point, you could get a luxe brand like Chloe or Balenciaga second hand, or something a little smaller like a SLG brand new. You could also get a top range bag from the previously listed designers at lower price points. If you're unsure what colour to get, best to stick to a neutral colour so it easily works with the recipients wardrobe and will be a classic they can treasure for years to come.

Second Hand Shopping

Second hand shopping is a great way to find a bag they love at a price more suited to your budget. Do your due diligence on researching condition so you know exactly what signs of wear there will be on the bag of their dreams. Buying from sites like The Real Real or Fashionphile that guarantee authenticity are good ways to go too.

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I hope you found this list useful and it's given you some wonderful gift ideas! There's lots of time to buy now before Christmas and surprise someone with the perfect gift. It's even better to purchase now with the Cyber Weekend and Black Friday sales. I've shared some of the best bag related ones below!

Shopbop Buy More Save More Sale

Use coupon code 'MORE18' for 15% off orders over $200 all the way up to 25% off orders over $800! Includes sale items too, for extra discounts.

Rebecca Minkoff Thanksgiving Sale

Get an extra 25% off orders over $100 at Rebecca Minkoff when you use discount code 'THX25'
Or use code 'THX30' for 30% off your $200+ order!

David Jones Cyber Monday Sale
Get 20% off a selected range of bags, and free standard shipping (Monday only!)

Looking at the higher end handbag gifts? Try these sales!

Luisaviaroma

Get an extra 20% off sale items with the discount code 'BF20'!

The Outnet 

Get up to 80% off in their sale, no coupon code needed!

MyTheresa 

Shop 30% off selected items for black Friday with code 'BLACK30'

Do you have any handbags on your Christmas list this year? Of course I'd be thrilled with anything on this list, I would never say no to another handbag!

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Monochrome Jeans And Tee Outfits With Pink Rebecca Minkoff Small Darren Bag

You might have noticed this Rebecca Minkoff Darren bag popping up in quite a few posts lately, I've been loving it! Mostly I've been sticking with neutrals when wearing it.

What I wore:

Scarf: Fashion Scarf Girl leaf print scarf (c/o)
Tee: Atmos & Here black essential v-neck tee
Jeans: Jeanswest Cecile dove grey skinny jeans
Shoes: Walnut Melbourne 'Ava' black lizard ballet flats (also available in silver)
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff small Darren messenger bag in peony

Why I wore it:

While I'm trying to be more adventurous with colour, I do sometimes like to play it safe and stick with the classics. With a neutral black and grey outfit, I thought this pastel pink small Darren bag was the perfect accessory. I was pleased by how well it matched with my Fashion Scarf Girl leaf scarf as well!

It was a wet day and I was working from home so I just needed a comfortable outfit to do the daycare pickup and drop off and sit in front of my computer. Jeans and a tee were perfect for that. These ballet flats have a rubber sole too, perfect for rushing around in the rain.

While it is a simple outfit, I really liked wearing this.


Last worn: black tee, grey skinny jeans, black ballet flats, Rebecca Minkoff small Darren. First time I've worn the scarf on the blog as it's a recent addition to my wardrobe.

Other ways to wear: black tee and olive pants, grey skinny jeans and navy blouse, black ballet flats and pencil skirt, Rebecca Minkoff small Darren and stripes.

Perfect for pregnancy: black ballet flats in second trimester.

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Unboxing My Rebecca Minkoff Darren Bag

A quick reveal explaining why I bought this bag, first impressions and different ways you can wear it!

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What I wore:

Necklace: Uniquely Made with Love Sea Change necklace
Tee: Spectrum basic v-neck tee in grey marl
Jeans: Jeanswest prima denim super skinny jeans in absolute black
Shoes: Walnut Melbourne Ava White leopard ballet flats
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff small Darren messenger bag in peony

Why I wore it:

Since I liked the outfit above so much, I wore exactly the same one again a few days later. It was a much drier start to the day, and I decided to take my new leopard print ballet flats out for a spin. Keeping them away from the mud the boys seemed to find on our morning walk was tricky, but they were mostly unscathed!

As well as the different shoes, I flipped the colours around in the outfit so it was a grey tee and black jeans, the opposite of the first outfit. Again I accessorised with the same pastel pink bag.

We had a fun morning after our walk at our ABA mother's group catch-up, then a couple of quick errands to run. For a first wear, these shoes were very comfortable. I've shared them on the blog before, although this was the first time I wore them.


Last worn: grey tee, beaded necklace, Prima skinny jeans, white leopard print flats, Rebecca Minkoff small Darren (above).

Other ways to wear: grey tee over a maxi dress, beaded necklace, Prima skinny jeans and stripes, white leopard print flats and printed dress, Rebecca Minkoff small Darren and pencil skirt.

Perfect for pregnancy: grey tee in second trimester, beaded necklace, Prima skinny jeans in second trimester.

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Basic V-Neck Tees Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

Jeans and a tee is a wardrobe staple, especially as a stay at home mum! These outfits are a great example of how you can still wear the classic combination while staying away from the blue jeans rut, with grey and black denim instead. You can also add a little colour to your jeans and tee outfit with some fun accessories. Sticking with a neutral outfit makes accessorising easy as any colour works!


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Print Mixing: Printed Dresses, Leopard Flats and Pink Bags

When I first bought these leopard print flats, I saw myself wearing them with plain outfits, to let them be the standout print. I decided to try stretch myself a little and wore some printed dresses with the leopard print shoes. Keeping things simple, I stuck with black and white dresses to match the colour of the shoes.

What I wore:

Necklace: Uniquely Made with Love Sea Change necklace
Dress: Jeanswest 'Rita' stripe jersey dress
Shoes: Walnut Melbourne Ava White leopard ballet flats (new purchase)
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff small Darren messenger bag in peony

Why I wore it:

I hadn't been feeling too well when I wore this - I'd been to the doctor the day before and was signed off for the day. I woke up expecting to feel better, still feeling pretty terrible. Got myself and the boys dressed and ready and dropped them off at daycare, where I was promptly asked if I was okay as I wasn't my usual self. Realised that all I wanted to do was go home and sleep so went home, let work know I wouldn't be in, and booked another appointment to see the doctor who then gave me more time off work.

I wouldn't usually be so dressed up for a doctors appointment, but I'd planned my outfit before so it was easy to grab and go, and I had started the day not feeling too sick.

Does feel like this was a bit of a waste of an outfit as I really liked the print mixing with the striped dress and leopard print flats, and the pastel pink Darren bag was a cute addition. Ended up taking everything off when I got home and defaulting to trackie dacks to curl up on the sofa and doze and watch netflix!


Last worn: striped fit and flare dress, bead necklace, Rebecca Minkoff small Darren. First time I've worn the leopard print flats on the blog as they are a recent purchase.

Other ways to wear: striped fit and flare dress and purple bag, Rebecca Minkoff small Darren and pencil skirt.

Perfect for pregnancy: striped fit and flare dress in second trimester.

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More Printed Dress Inspiration: 30 Ways To Wear a Tie Dye Dress

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What I wore:

Necklace: Lovisa silver love knitted heart pendant necklace
Dress: Kmart Aztec print tiered little black dress
Shoes: Walnut Melbourne Ava White leopard ballet flats
Bag: Balenciaga RH classic city in 2010 sorbet (more affordable preloved)

Why I wore it:

Felt much better when I wore this outfit! Unfortunately, the day was not any more fun! Had to go do my taxes. Not very exciting! We did do a little Christmas shopping afterwards, but came home empty handed.

Since I liked the outfit combination above so much, I tried it again, with a black and white printed dress to compliment the black and white shoes. This time I went with a bolder pink bag, my sorbet Balenciaga city. Perfect size for holding all the paperwork I had to take to and from my appointment.

I did just post this dress recently, but I love it in spring and summer. It's so light, fun to wear and it's a nice length for spending time with the boys - not too short! Kmart still sell them too - they have the same style in lots of different designs at the moment.


Last worn: tiered dress, knotted heart necklace, leopard print flats (above), Balenciaga sorbet city bag.

Other ways to wear: tiered dress layered for winter, Balenciaga sorbet city bag and sheath dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: Balenciaga sorbet city bag in third trimester.

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Leopard Print Flats Under $50:

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How You Can Wear It:

It's easy to wear printed shoes with plain neutral pieces, but you can try something different by wearing them with a printed dress. To keep things simple and cohesive, pick a dress that matches the colours in the shoes. You can add a bright and colourful handbag to your outfit also as it can add interest to your outfit without clashing with the prints.


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



Congrats to Jaydee who won the Mater baby product hamper giveaway!

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