Wednesday 16 May 2018

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:

Kindness Collective printed kimono with chambray dress and Balenciaga part time | Awayfromtheblue

chambray dress with Balenciaga part time in black 2010 with SGH on arm | awayfromtheblue

Tesalate 'The Swell' sand free towel at the pool | away from blue blog
NecklaceZuriCollections blue polymer clay necklace
DressJeanswest Rachel Lyocell chambray dress (C/O)
Shoesblack slim Havaianas thongs
BagBalenciaga 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 wearprinted kimono and shorts, button up chambray dress for breastfeeding, Balenciaga Part Time bag in the office.

Perfect for pregnancychambray dress in second trimester, Balenciaga Part Time bag in second trimester.


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!)



What I wore:

printed kimono, chambray maxi skirt: boho autumn playgroup style with grey tee | away from blue

Balenciaga giant hardware Day bag in 2009 tempete, Coach rainbow charm | away from the blue

awayfromblue instagram navy printed kimono chambray maxi skirt grey tee playgroup SAHM style
JacketNew Look Petite print kimono
NecklaceZuriCollections blue polymer clay necklace
TeeAtmos&Here grey v-neck tee with rolled sleeves (also in black)
SkirtNoisy May long denim maxi skirt
ShoesConverse Chuck Taylor All Star low in white
BagBalenciaga 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 wearnavy 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 pregnancynavy kimono in second trimester, grey tee for second trimester travelConverse in second trimester, Balenciaga tempete day in third trimester.


Chambray Dresses and Maxi Skirts Under $50:







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.


Linking up with Fashion Frenzy, Style On The Daily, Oh Hey Girl, Fashion Files, Fun Fashion, Weekend Wear, Flashback Fashion, Fabulous Friday.


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

Monday 14 May 2018

Dressing Up Tees For The Office: Business Casual Style With Pencil Skirts and Blazers

The benefit of working in a business casual environment is that it's perfectly acceptable to wear a tee to work. It was a staple for casual Fridays for me (back when I worked 5 days a week) but I thought I'd give it a go again recently. With some heels, a pencil skirt and a blazer, I felt my tees were dressed up perfectly for my office - particularly when my boss is wearing jeans. I do have a very casual business casual office.

What I wore:

grey v-neck tee in office with cream blazer heels pencil skirt and purple balenciaga work bag | away from the blue

Balenciaga raisin purple 2009 giant silver G21 hardware work bag | away from the blue

awayfromblue instagram | office outfit with grey tee jersey blazer pencil skirt and heels
Jacket:  Zara cream jersey blazer
Necklace: Lovisa wooden statement bead necklace
Tee: Spectrum basic v-neck tee in grey marl
SkirtAsos blue textured lace pencil skirt
ShoesWittner 'Mimi' heels in mushroom
BagBalenciaga raisin purple 2009 giant silver G21 hardware work bag

Why I wore it:

I didn't like this outfit as much as I'd hoped. Last time I wore this cream blazer with grey I wasn't very impressed with the final outfit. I decided to try it again with a grey tee this time, one of my favourite grey pieces, so I was sure I'd love it. I really didn't like this combo though. It was a comment from Sheila that explained it to me: the grey tee is a cool neutral, the cream blazer a warm neutral, and they are both a similar intensity of colour, so they don't look great together.

It's definitely not going to be a combination I repeat again in a hurry. I did think about a bright necklace with this in the morning to add some more colour, and think that or a scarf would have helped. I thought the purple Balenciaga work bag would be bright enough but it really wasn't.

It was a really busy day at work though, so it flew by and I didn't have much time to question my outfit choices, other than to kick myself for not taking an extra minute or two to try something different when I looked in the mirror that morning before leaving the house! I forgot my lipstick and mascara that morning too - I think I was still half asleep for a while! 😂


Last worncream jersey blazergrey v-neck tee, ASOS lace pencil skirtmushroom heelsBalenciaga purple work bag.

Other ways to wearcream jersey blazer and a-line skirtgrey v-neck tee and kimono, ASOS lace pencil skirt, mushroom heels and flaresBalenciaga purple work bag and wrap dress.

Perfect for pregnancycream jersey blazer in second trimestergrey v-neck tee in second trimester, ASOS lace pencil skirt.



Review and Contents of the Balenciaga Work Bag






What I wore:

purple tee with statement necklace jacquard pencil skirt jersey blazer and Bal work | awayfromblue

purple raisin 2009 balenciaga work bag giant silver GSH hardware bag | purple tee with statement necklace jacquard pencil skirt jersey blazer and Bal work | awayfromtheblue

awayfromblue instagram lilac tee purple work bag jacquard pencil skirt blazer and heels
Tee: Spectrum basic v-neck tee in washed lilac

Why I wore it:

Was a little unsure about the lilac tee with the darker purple bag when I was planning this in my head, but I really liked this outfit! Unlike the outfit  above, I think this black blazer matched the outfit nicely, with the black texture on the skirt.

It's really interesting how even if you follow the same outfit formula you can have such different results with the outfits you create! Definitely shows me I still have lots to learn about style :)

What also helped I think was the bright colourful statement necklace to make me look more awake this time, as well as remembering to put my lipstick on! 😂


Last wornblack jersey blazerlilac v-neck teejacquard pencil skirtpatent heels, Balenciaga purple work bag (above).



V-Neck Tees Under $50:






How You Can Wear It:

A tee is one of those pieces you can easily dress up or down just by changing what you wear with it. If you have a more formal dress code these might be casual Friday only options for you. If you have a business casual environment like mine or aren't in a customer facing role then dressing up a casual tee for the office with a blazer, pencil skirt and heels could be a great mid-week outfit idea for you!


Linking up with On Mondays We Link Up, Turning Heads, On Trend, Style Sessions, Trend Spin, Confident Twosday.


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

Friday 11 May 2018

Two Ways To Wear Rebecca Minkoff Ruana Poncho with Shorts: Adding Autumn Layers to Summer Outfits

When I stumbled across this Rebecca Minkoff knit poncho / kimono in the Shopbop sale I couldn't get it out of my head. I have no shortage of kimonos in my wardrobe, but it is different from any of the ones I already owned. From the fall/winter collection, it's a thick and cosy acrylic knit that I knew would be perfect for autumn or winter outfits when it gets too chilly to wear my thinner kimonos.

I hadn't planned to wear it with shorts, I was thinking of cooler temperatures and jeans! But it was good to take advantage of the cooler mornings and evenings in this mild Brisbane autumn and throw it on as an extra layer with my shorts.


What I wore:

 Rebecca Minkoff Ruana poncho in monochrome shorts and tee outfit print mixing with foil stripes | awayfromblue

tassel poncho and Rebecca Minkoff metallic silver mini MAC | awayfromtheblue

Necklace: silver heart long pendant necklace
TeeJeanswest Anika foil stripe tee in white and silver
ShortJeanswest Sara distressed hot short
ShoesConverse Chuck Taylor All Star low in white
BagRebecca Minkoff metallic silver mini MAC

Why I wore it:

Kept things simple this time I wore the kimono. As it was predicted to rain, I thought this would be perfect to keep cosy as we ran a few errands before and after our Australian Breastfeeding Association mothers group. Picked the Converse as a practical choice too, although we were lucky to get home just before the storms rolled in, the rain and thunder chased us home!

I was going to wear a colourful necklace with this, one of my baby-friendly teething ones, but decided at the last moment to keep things completely monochrome and went with a silver necklace to match the silver foil stripes on the tee and silver bag. I ended up having a conversation with a friend about how I might just stick to baby friendly necklaces for the group in future - this necklace got tugged on quite a few times, and that was just by my boys!

Usually I'll add a little colour to a monochrome outfit, but with the print mixing with the print on the kimono and the striped tee, I felt my outfit was busy enough. I really liked this outfit, and I'm looking forward to wearing this kimono more as the weather continues to cool in Brisbane.


Last worn: foil stripe tee, distressed denim shorts, Converse, Rebecca Minkoff metallic silver mini MAC.

Other ways to wearfoil stripe tee and olive short, distressed denim shorts in capsule wardrobe, Converse and swing dress, Rebecca Minkoff metallic silver mini MAC and purple jeans.

Perfect for pregnancy: Converse in second trimester, Rebecca Minkoff metallic silver mini MAC in third trimester.


What I Bought Last Month:

(Including some action shots of me wearing the kimono in different ways)






What I wore:

Rebecca Minkoff Ruana poncho print mixing with mustard tank shorts autumn SAHM style | away from blue

silver bracelet stack, Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan satchel in Harvest Gold | away from the blue

awayfromblue print mixing Rebecca Minkoff Ruana poncho mustard and blue tank and shorts micro regan bag
JacketRebecca Minkoff Ruana poncho
Necklace: Uniquely Made with Love Sea Change necklace
TankJeanswest Maya gather back tank in chartreuse
ShortsJeanswest 'Scarlette' printed shorts
Shoesblack slim Havaianas thongs
BagRebecca Minkoff micro Regan satchel in Harvest Gold

Why I wore it:

This was a much more colourful outfit to wear with the black and white kimono. This had seemed like a great idea in my head, but I felt it was a little busy when I looked back at the photos. I did really like the mustard tank under the kimono though, I'm going to have to give that a try again.

Was a busy day with daycare drop off and pick up and working from home, but at the last minute Baby Boy's specialist appointment was postponed so that freed up the evening a little and gave me a little more time to do the daycare pickup and get dinner organised.

Although it's the first time I've worn the kimono with these pieces, I have worn the tank and shorts together before. I like wearing these blue shorts with yellow, so cheerful and colourful.


Last worn: Rebecca Minkoff kimono (above), mustard tank, blue printed shorts, Havaianas, Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan bag.

Other ways to wearmustard tank in the office, blue printed shorts in monochrome outfit, Rebecca Minkoff micro Regan bag and little black dress.



More Black and White Kimonos Under $50:



This poncho I'm wearing has just been added to the 75% off Rebecca Minkoff Online sample sale too!


How You Can Wear It:

Cosy knitted ponchos or kimonos make great layers when the weather starts to cool in autumn or when it hasn't warmed up enough in spring. A classic black and white one works just was well with a monochrome outfit as it does with a bold and colourful one, so it's easier to wear more often.


Linking up with Lizzie In Lace, Shoe & Tell, Hello Monday, Mix It Monday.


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