The Anorak – Must have jacket for mums on the go

/ Fashion / 18 Comments

I’d never been a fan of the parka jacket. It was the type of jacket my grandparents wore if they headed to London. A wool coat, trench or blazer were the jackets for me, but once I became a mum that went to parks and out and about with my young kids, I realized I needed to invest in a jacket I could wear day in and out while I chaperoned my cherubs. Hello the Anorak.

The Anorak has been trending through Autumn for the last couple of years. Khaki has been the trending colour of choice, however this season has seen the anorak introduced in neutral colours of greys, blues and black.

My Anorak from Dotti has proven to be a great investment for my wardrobe. Especially with the recent cool temperatures and wind. I usually team my anorak over a long sleeve tee and add interest with a scarf. It can also be worn over a light knit for extra warm.

Styled by Bec in Anorak

Here are some current styles available online, although I’d be quick as a lot of size have sold out already.

Do you own an anorak? What’s your favourite jacket to wear during winter?

I’m linking up with Essentially Jess for IBOT.

Disclaimer: There are affiliate links on this post. Should you choose to purchase an item, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Metallic Spot Jumpers

/ Fashion / 14 Comments

Sass and Bide brought out their metallic spot jumper earlier this year which sold out pretty quickly and gave inspiration to other fashion retailers to bring out their own take on the popular design.

Spots, metallic and knits – what’s not to love? I fell in love with the Metalicus knit, but the M/L isn’t available online so I’m off to the shops to see if I can get one for my Birthday.

A light weight knit is perfect for Brisbane winters. And adding a touch of sparkle with a metallic spot means the knit can elevate a simple jean and knit ensemble.

I’m kicking myself for not buying the knit when I saw it come online. Sadly this is not the first time I’ve missed out on a purchase because of procrastination.

 

Have you ever procrastinated on an item and missed out purchasing it because it sold out? Do you have a metallic spot jumper? Which colour would you wear the most?

I’m linking with Essentially Jess for IBOT.

Disclosure: No affiliate links on this post. Just sharing the love.

What to wear to a semi-formal occasion in Winter

/ Style tips / 8 Comments

I had a reader ask me for some outfit ideas for a semi-formal occasion that she has to attend in July. Her work Christmas party has been brought to July so they can celebrate ‘Christmas in July’ style.

The hardest part of wearing a semi-formal outfit in winter is making sure you have enough layers for warmth and that your attire meets the brief.

Here’s a little insider secret – you can make most party, smart casual or corporate style dresses semi-formal by wearing the right accessories. Add a strand of pearls or a glitzy necklace or chandelier earrings and a clutch and you are in semi-formal mode.

But if you still feel that none of your dresses fit the mark, I have done some exploring for you.

There are plenty of sales on at the moment so don’t hestitate to check out Birdsnest and Yeltuor. These are my go to online retailers that I shop from when I need a frock for a semi-formal occasion.

If you have the dollars, I would invest in a Sacha Drake dress as it will be worn time and time again. While it ends up being a big expense in the beginning, you get your money’s worth from the cost per wear. I have also found her dresses rarely date.

If you are on a tight budget  (why does that happen when there are end of financial year sales on?), I have put a budget friendly outfit together. This outfit may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I love that it’s different, it has colour and can work with any existing black shoes and jackets that you may already own in your wardrobe.

 

If this outfit hasn’t inspired you, here are some other dresses to consider. Add a blazer or waterfall jacket and some heels and you will be semi-formal ready.  I should also explain semi-formal is the same as cocktail style dressing. A formal or black tie event is usually floor length gowns. And the ones that I’ve gone to in recent years, usually cocktail dresses have been worn to these.

Do you have a go-to outfit when attending semi-formal occasions? Any of these dresses strike your fancy?

I’m linking up with Essentially Jess for IBOT and Kimba Likes for Wardrobe Wednesday.

Disclosure: There are affiliate links on this post. Should you choose to purchase an item, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

The Most Flogged Dress in my Wardrobe – Black Winter Dress

/ Style tips / 16 Comments

The most flogged dress in my wardrobe during winter is my black 3/4 sleeve draped dress. I bought it a few years ago from Ezibuy on sale. I wear it through Autumn and Winter and layer it to create different looks. It’s my go to dress in Winter.

My black dress drapes at the front so I was able to wear it when I was pregnant last winter and this season it camouflages and skims over my not-so-flat tummy.  If I am having a flat day and need to look stylish, my black dress is what I gravitate towards. Every woman needs a black winter dress in their wardrobe to wear during the cooler months. It’s versatile and becomes a base outfit that can be layered with different pieces that are trending in the season. Here are a few ways how I’ve worn my black winter dress recently.

With a vest and belt

With a vest and belt

 

With a plaid scarf

Layered over tights and a long sleeve tee, accessorized with a plaid scarf and boots

 

Worn with a pleather jacket and scarf

Worn with a pleather jacket and scarf

 

I’ve found a selection of purse friendly black dresses available online. The key to finding a versatile black dress is opting for a 3/4 to long sleeve style. A body con style is great if you intend to layer it with knits and vests, but a draped style dress will skim over lumps and bumps that are often acquired during the cooler months.

Do you have a black dress you wear during winter? What’s your go-to-outfit in winter?

I’m linking with Essentially Jess for IBOT.

* Please note, there are affiliate links on this post. Should you choose to purchase any of the dresses featured in this post, I will receive a small commission at no extra expense to you.

 

What I wore in Melbourne

/ Style tips / 30 Comments

I went to Melbourne for the weekend to attend the Kidspot Voices of 2015 Masterclass. I knew I had to pack warm clothes so I planned on taking a simple black, white and red palette to make packing easier. We were only going away for two nights, but I didn’t want to overpack as whenever I travel with a baby I find I need the extra room to pack baby stuff.

One tip I suggest you do before packing for a trip is to try on the clothes you are going to wear before you pack them into your bag. This proved to be a wise tip as the skirt I was going to wear to the Masterclass wouldn’t do up so I had to think of an alternative. I’m thankful I didn’t just chuck clothes into my case because that would have been a disaster.

Flying down to Melbourne I chose to wear a simple black long sleeved top with my Katies jeans, a tartain scarf and beret.

Melbourne Look 1

On the day of the Masterclass I chose to wear my Charlie Dress from Bohemian Traders with a faux fur vest from Dotti and my brown Sandler boots which I wore down the previous day. I didn’t take any other shoes for the trip.

Melbourne Day 1

Flying home, I work dark denim jeans, a black long sleeve tee and my possum wool jumper from New Zealand. The jumper is too warm to wear in a Brisbane winter so I was glad I got some wear out of it in Melbourne.

Day 2 Melbourne Look

Jacob surprised me with a necklace from Tiffany and Co as a combined wedding anniversary gift and a simple gesture of congratulations for The Plumbette reaching Alumni. I love the length of the necklace and it matches well with the key chain I got for my 30th Birthday.

Tiffany necklace

This was the first time I didn’t specifically buy a new outfit to wear to a blogging function, although I did come to purchase the Charlie dress from Bohemian Traders on a recent spend and save sale. It’s on sale again for 2 days with 30% off the Charlie range online. I love the dress because it is much longer than other dresses from Bohemian Traders which I’ve found have been much too short for my liking. I had a few bloggers check me out because the dress was on their wish list. Now’s the time to purchase it if you are keen on owning this dress in your wardrobe.

How good are you packing for a short trip away? Do you pack too many clothes or not enough?

I’m linking up with Essentially Jess for IBOT.

 

 

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