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How to pack for a conference when travelling with a baby

August 28, 2014 / Fashion, Style tips / 4 Comments

I’ve seen a lot of blog posts detailing how and what to pack for a conference. The influx of posts on the web has been due to the lead up of a lot of us bloggers going to the Problogger Conference on the Gold Coast this week. I’m bringing along my most prized accessory – Phoebe. I decided to add a new dimension to the posts already being shared on the blogosphere: How to pack for a conference when travelling with a baby.

If you breastfeed, like I do, all outfits need to have good access for feeding. If you don’t breastfeed, you still need to consider what you put on your top half because most babies drool, spew and wipe their boogas on you as they rub their face into your chest or shoulder.

Dresses that cross over at the breast, made out of a jersey material are a great outfit choice. You won’t have to worry about ironing and if they are patterned, no one will notice if you have smears on your shoulder as the print should camouflage them.

Button up shirts with a breastfeeding singlet underneath also work well too. Partner these with a bold print pant and a feature necklace or scarf and you will be feeling confident as you meet new people for the first time.

Pants with an elasticized waist will help you feel comfortable with your post baby belly. There is a lot of sitting at conferences, so you don’t want anything tight around your waist.

Consider packing a few extra tops to change into if a major spew occurs. Wipes are great at cleaning small spills, but not great at mopping up number threes which can take you by surprise at any time.

For night time attire when something a bit more special needs to be worn, dresses with zips or wrap dresses can work well for this too.

When it comes to shoes, flats are best. Carrying a baby around means you need good, supportive footwear. For stylish options try boots, ballet flats, brogues or loafers.

I’ve put together a gallery of items that can work well for a trip away with baby. If you are going to a conference that requires business attire, add a blazer to lift the style up to business standard.

1. Sussan Mini Motif Loop Scarf $39.95

2. Sussan Linen Utility Shirt $79.95

3. Katies Geometric Soft Pant $49.95

4. Witchery Zip Front Blouse $99.95

5. Leona Edmiston Stacy Dress $395.00

6. Styletread Boston Belle Ria Black Ballet Flats $74.95

7. Sussan Spliced Waterfall Jacket $99.95

8. Leona Edmiston Toni Dress $276.00

9. Styletread Gamins Amazings Neutrals Boots $74.97

I have just sorted out my outfits and added some extra tops and dresses for ‘just in case’. Here is a list of what I will be packing for a two night get away which should help give you an idea of what to pack.

Day 1 Arrival

1 pair of maternity jeans + 1 maternity singlet/tee + 1 kimono/cape + 1 necklace + 1 pair of ballet flat shoes

1 Jumpsuit and or Cross over Jersey dress for night time networking + 1 necklace + 1 jacket + 1 pair of wedges

Day 2 – First Day of Conference

1 Pair of printed pants + 1 button up blouse + 1 maternity singlet + 1 necklace + 1 pair of ballet flat shoes

1 Jumpsuit/and or cross over dress with different accessories and jacket + 1 pair of wedges

Day 3 – Second Day of Conference

1 Pair of elasticized pants + 1 maternity singlet + 1 printed button down shirt + loafers

Go home in this outfit.

With the Jumpsuit, I have an alternate cross over dress in the same colour should I need a replacement outfit. I’ve also added two extra nursing tops just in case of baby accidents too.

You can follow me on Facebook or Instagram to see what I wear and I will blog about my outfit choices next week.

How do you go about packing for a Conference? How many shoes do you usually take when you go away?

How to layer your scarves

August 26, 2014 / Fashion, Style tips / 17 Comments

Sometimes I have to think outside the square to create an interesting outfit. There is an art to layering clothes and accessories to make an outfit work and look balanced. One way to create an interesting outfit is to layer your scarves.

The key to layering two scarves is this

The scarves need to be similar in texture/weight/fabric

The scarves need to be similar in pattern.

In my case, I used two scarves from Katies that I purchased for $8 each many years ago. Both scarves are exactly the same, except they are different colours.

I couldn’t decide on which scarf to wear with my outfit, so I decided to wear them together.

One thing to keep in mind is this really only works when you have two lightweight scarves. Thick woolly scarves will add bulk and may be too hot… unless you live in the Antarctic. Like Melbourne. 😉

Some of my favourite shops to purchase scarves from are Witchery, Sussan, Forever New and boutique stores. I always keep an eye out for a new scarf to add to my collection. If you want to add a scarf to your wardrobe that you can wear now and this summer, why not enter my Eb&Ive Scarf giveaway?

Have you ever tried to layer your scarves? What’s your favourite accessory to layer?

I’m linking up with Kimba Likes for Wardrobe Wednesday.

Style It Project: Lee Cooper Chambray Polka Dot Shirt

June 4, 2014 / Fashion, Style tips / 7 Comments

I love a style challenge. When I read about Redcliffe Style and Kimba Likes creating the Style It Project, I knew that I wanted to be involved because sometimes even though I know how to style women and look stylish myself, the mum in me reverts to a boring uniform of a tee and shorts in Summer or jeans and jumper in Winter. I am a bit over my maternity wardrobe at the moment. I am longing for Winter because I feel so hot all the time and I can’t wait to break into my winter wardrobe. Hopefully it will start to get cooler in Brisbane soon… most likely the week I’m in hospital having my baby!!

Anyhow.

The last time I owned a Chambray Shirt was when I was around 13 and I bought it from Big W. It was back when the knotted shirts were a big thing and crop tops were like so on trend. One of my favourite, early teen casual outfits was my short sleeve chambray shirt and my short denim shorts. Double denim. I don’t think I could pull it off now. But Rachel from Redcliffe Style does it very well.

Big W at Mt Ommaney had none of these Lee Cooper Shirts in stock, so I visited the one at Browns Plains and there were only a handful left. I grabbed a size 16, knowing that it wouldn’t fit over my bump, but could be worn openly with a white tee underneath.

I know that I will get a lot of wear from this shirt after I have my baby because button down shirts are so handy when breastfeeding and I love a layered look.

I styled my new shirt with a white maternity tee from Kmart, maternity cargos from Big W, a yellow scarf from Sussan and caramel loafers from Wittner shoes. I am also wearing a pair of yellow rose stud earrings that I bought from the Australian Red Cross store at Coolangatta.

Denim, white and yellow are a great colour combo.

The shirt is still available at most Big W stores if you want to take part in the challenge. It retails for $25.

What is your favourite colour combo when wearing denim or chambray?

I’m linking up with the Style It Project and Kimba Likes for Wardrobe Wednesday.

How to get what you want within a budget

April 1, 2014 / Style tips / 15 Comments

I am on maternity leave which means our household has been living off one wage. There isn’t a lot of cash left over for personal spending, but I do try and put a little bit of money aside for clothes and shoes because they are a need.

Last winter, ankle boots were a big trend and they are making their season debut. Since clothes aren’t really on my radar due to my fluctuating size, a new pair of boots have been.

I fell in love with these Zoe Kratzmann Boots which are $289. I loved the colour and style, but not so much the heel height and they only go up to a size 10.

I researched boots online by looking at other shoe retailers and I loved these boots by Nine West and they were cheaper than my Zoe Kratzmann boots at $179.95. I even became quite partial to the orange boots (which were reduced by $20) but reasoned the beige colour would get much more cost per wear value.

Last week I went to Nine West at Robina to try the HippyChic boots on and their size 10 was a bit too snug for my foot. The sales assistant said that the leather would stretch but I’m not a fan of wearing shoes in while creating blisters on my feet. The assistant advised they didn’t go up to a size 11, although now looking online they actually did, but she mustn’t have had the size available.

I was disappointed because most of my online research and even window shopping hadn’t been successful for what I was looking for.

I decided to head to Harbour Town at Southport which is a factory outlet shopping mall, to see if I could find what I was looking for and low and behold, every shoe store I went into didn’t have my size (I’m a 10.5-11) or didn’t have the colour or style.

I then walked into Joanne Mercer and found these two pairs of boots.

The Orange Suede Boots were a size 10 and were reduced from $179.95 to $49.95. They were a generous size 10.

The Natural Tan Boots were a size 11 and were reduced from $169.95 to $69.95.

There was also an extra 30% off sale prices while I was in the store. I ended up with two new pairs of boots for $85. I was very pleased with my purchases and can’t wait to wear them this winter.

To get what you want within a budget comes down to good research and sometimes compromising on style and colour. It’s important to remember when buying shoes, a good fit is much more important than style, so don’t go and buy a style you love that doesn’t fit your foot properly. My natural colour boots aren’t beige like the original style boots I was intending to purchase, but I know they are a workable colour within my wardrobe.

In the end my compromise saved me money, and I got two pairs of boots.

How do you go about getting items to suit your budget? Had any good bargains lately?

I’m linking up with Essentially Jess for I Blog on Tuesdays.

What to wear on Christmas Day

December 17, 2013 / Fashion, Style tips / 44 Comments

Christmas is next week! The all important question regarding fashion and Christmas is what to wear on Christmas Day?

It depends on the type of function, the weather and what kind of impression you want to make if you are wanting to make one at all.

In Brisbane, Australia, it will be hot. But I’m hosting and our house has ducted air con so we will be all cool.

I always opt for a stylish, casual and comfortable ensemble. A dress or jump suit have been my choices in the past. This year, I am going to wear a pair of colourful harems that I bought on sale from Erin Louise with a tee and a statement necklace.

The thing is, dresses aren’t practical if you’re going to be sitting on the floor with young kids helping them unwrap their presents. Pants will be practical and they need to have an elasticized waist so I can comfortably eat as much Christmas fare that I can stuff into my gob (and stomach).

But if you don’t have young kids and don’t want to wear pants, a dress is a great option. Here are my suggestions on what to wear on Christmas Day. These are all casual options as the majority of Aussies tend to have a get together that only requires smart casual dress.