Saturday 30 August 2014

August roundup


First month back to work after 11-months on maternity leave. A very busy month, emotionally and physically. Experiencing anxiety (of returning to work), excitement and celebration (of Baby D's first birthday), stress-out (by house chores and childcare), loss of family and grieving, exhaustion etc. Still trying to figure out a routine for life really. 

Outfit style wise, I have been opted for more smart casual than business casual, I suppose. And a lot of black and blue colours! - I shall try to wear more colours, and perhaps more dresses in September

There will be some more formal occasions (and public speech!!) toward end of September, so I will probably be following the combination of {blazer x blouse x black suit trousers} dress code. So how many colourful blouses have I got?? (lol)  


AA xxx



animal prints, jeggings, Marc Jacobs diaper bag, real mum style


top: animal print long sleeves shirt
blue jeggings
blazer: F&F
shoes: Hush Puppies
bag: Marc Jacobs Pretty Nylon Eliz-A-Baby diaper bag (see my review) & Marc Jacobs Petcy Turnlock crossbody bag in indigo colour


[three things]
1. as you can see, I have decided to keep my Marc Jacobs diaper bag! feel good about carrying it, especially it goes well with my any outfit. 

2. I tend to have a smaller cross body bag inside my diaper bag. so if husband and I decide to do separate things when we are out and about and meet at certain time later, which we often do, I could just go with the little bag. I bought Marc Jacob turnlock bag for exactly this purpose, and it has been working out well. 

3. I need a pair of skinny jeans. 


AA xxx

Friday 29 August 2014

flowery blouse, blazer, jeggings, Balenciaga city


  
top: French Connection 
jeggings
blazer: F&F 
bag: Balenciaga city in violet 
shoes: Hush Puppies


What I wear today are all new purchases on eBay in July and August (not the handbag and the shoes).  It often surprises me what you can get/find on eBay. 

I really like this flowery top, it brightens up my all black outfit. And again it can be dress up or dress down. Plus, it matches my violet city! 

AA xxx




dress, heels, Balenciaga city


dress: Oasis black dress with antique key prints
cardi: Mamas & Papas maternity cardi
shoes: ASOS safari leather heels
bag: Balenciaga city in Violet colour
trench coat: Uniqlo in beige colour (not in picture)

AA xxx



Wednesday 27 August 2014

Balenciaga City travels with the pram, animal print and blue chino



How do you travel home from work when you have to pick up your little one from the nursery? I mean, what bags arrangement/solutions do you come up with? 

Today is the second day of the week that I have to travel with the baby, a pram and two bags. The commute time is around 1.5 hours: 30 mins on the train, 10 mins on bus and waiting time before/after train and bus. (Baby D's nursery is near my office). 

And because it's a long journey home, I'd like to have some essentials with me just in case, so nibbles, toys, nappy, water etc all go in..

Depending on the weather (forecast) and how my day plays out, I come up with these solutions: I alter between Balenciaga city and Salad bag for work; CiPU bag and Longchamp bag (small size) for baby. 


About this Salad bag, although it has been used a lot recently (not always in the #OOTD pictures), I don't like it as much as any of my Balenciaga collections (city, part-time and work). The reason it gets plenty of use is because it is my only cross body bag I own, plus the fact that I don't like it that much so it can be dumped on the floor, if must, without me frowning. So, it becomes the default IT bag for a raining day, either with or without traveling with the pram. I will want to find a replacement, which is smaller and lighter though - I am torn between a Marc Jacob bag or from a high street shop.

Are you in a similar situation? Do you pick up children from work and then travel home by public transport? What is your bags solution??


top: Oasis animal print
trousers: Next chino in blue colour
cardi: Linea waterfall cardi
shoes: Hush Puppies
bag: Balenciaga city in violet colour; Salad bag; CiPU diaper bag. 


AA xxx



Knitted top, black jeggings, ankle boots



top: purple knitted top from Dorothy Perkins
black jeggings
boots: Forever 21 (new purchase in July on eBay)
scarf: ASOS
trench coat: Uniqlo in black colour
bag: Salad bag 

[two things]
1. a day of picking up Baby D from nursery and taking him home on train and bus. So I deliberately wore this outfit to be comfortable for the commute. The weather forecast predicted the day as a very raining day, but thanks God it didn't happen! 

2. I hereby declare, the British summer is official over now..... 


AA xxx



Tuesday 26 August 2014

Review: Marc by Marc Jacobs ‘Pretty Nylon Eliz-A-Baby’ diaper bag



Although this bag never made its appearance on my blog, this is definitely my favourite diaper/baby changing bag among my collection of 6 (yes, I own/owned 6 diaper bag although I only have one baby)!

I did a lot of research on diaper bags as I was determined to be an elegant new mum(what a dream!!)  I am in love with this bag from the very first sight when I saw it on internet.  Guess what, I am still in love with it, but I am also letting it go.


As a bag lover, I treasure my collection like another baby (babies, in this case). When I was out and about with it, it was never left/put on the floor in a shop.  On a raining day, it is protected under the rain cover along with the baby and the pram while I was wet through. I treasured it too much to a degree that it is an inconvenience for me!  This is when I decided to put it in the wardrobe for the time being until the day I may feel differently about carrying it around. Six/seven months on, I still love it so much, and/but I never took it out from the wardrobe! – I think I am insane.


So, I have decided to put it on eBay for sale because it deserves better!! period.

Then, I am finding myself re-discovering my love toward it and difficult to really say good-bye. I feel I might just quietly take down the listing in the next few days…..




Enough about my passions and let’s do some reasoning, shall we…

The reasons I LOVE IT:

  • The weight.  It is light for a diaper bag, although the metal chains/logos on the strip do add extra weights.
  • The size. It is a good size for a bottle-fed baby and an always over-prepared mum.  During the first six months of Baby D’s life, I hardly went out, mostly between home and the baby clinic every other two/three weeks. Occasionally, we jumped on a train to visit his dad at work. And because I didn’t know how the day would play out, I normally had two or three feeds with me (so that is two or three sterilised bottles, milk cartons and bibs) as well as two sets of outfits for emergency (Baby D was often sick on milk). And it is amazing how much it can hold!  
  • The style. For a diaper bag, it is really elegant, not boring at all. I was planning to use this bag as my gym bag once Baby D no longer needs a bag of this size to hold his stuff.


The reasons I DONT LIKE IT THAT MUCH:

  • The strip and the handles. For someone who always wear at least two layers, the handles are just not long enough to carry on shoulders – if you live in a warmer place and always wear short tops, this won’t be a problem. Alternatively, I tried to wear the strip on my shoulder, but it always came loose and so the length of the strip didn’t stay as how I would have wanted it to be.  And when you had it on the back of the pram, same issues again, it just came looser and looser throughout the day. And eventually, it was too far down to reach out in an emergency (like when Baby D was sick on milk when we were on the bus/train).
  • It is not water-proof.  Occasionally, water from baby’s mug leaked or when it got rain on, it was wet. Now come to think about this, in fact none of my diaper bags are water-proof! (does this mean I should buy another one??)


Oh no, the process of reasoning is supposed to help me let go, but why I feel it just justifies the reasons to keep it and start wearing it more often….


Wanting to see more pictures of this bag in action?? Veronika's Blushing and Away From Blue 

AA xxx  
   


Wednesday 20 August 2014

dotty top, jeggings, trench coat, a British summer


top: Oasis
jeggings: Mark & Spenser
necklace: Topshop
trench coat: Uniqlo in beige colour
bag: Salad bag

A day of low on energy, and feeling chilled all day.....
Being a full time working mum makes it really hard to stay organised. 

Last worn: top, jeggings


AA xxx

Monday 18 August 2014

Grey dress, black blazer, what I wore to a funeral



dress: Oasis (new purchase on eBay in Aug)
blazer: Mango 
shoes: Clarke black low heels
bag: Marc Jacob in indigo colour


A very sad day. Still found it hard to accept the loss.

ps. Second photo is from the original eBay listing.

AA xxx

Sunday 17 August 2014

Purple x black for a family day out


top: French Connection
black jeggings
blazer: George at ASDA
bag: Marc Jacobs in indigo colour
shoes: Clarke black heels

[three things]
1. a family day out with the in-laws and ended in Toby's calvery. 

2. I've swapped the shoes in the picture to my walking companion, Hush Puppies brown flat in the last minute. And it proved to be a very smart idea as I was walking and holding hands with Baby D in the car park while waiting for a table! 

3. now, looking at the #OOTD photo, this outfit would actually work for work!!


AA xxx

What to wear to a funeral, some ideas


In preparation of the incoming funeral, I start to collect ideas on how to put myself together. These are what I came up (and very similar to what I am going to wear actually).

It is a sad occasion, so the idea is to not draw attention to myself. It doesn't have to be all black, any dark colors or neutral colors would be as appropriate. 

A smallish bag is a must as tissues may be needed. A pair of steady and elegant heels or flat, again, in neutral colour would go a long way.


AA xxx

Friday 15 August 2014

navy week :: animal print and blue chino trousers


top: Oasis 
trousers: Next navy chino cropped trousers
shoes: ASOS safari leather heels
bag: Salad bag (not in the picture)
trench coat: Uniqlo (not in the picture)

[three things]
1. this ASOS safari shoes AGAIN! I wear it almost every single working day! - perhaps it is really time to buy another pair in black now.

2. animal print is always like a statement piece, and can be wore stylist without any accessories. I do find myself not wearing accessories these days as that is one less thing to worry about when I am trying to rush out of the house in the morning. Also, baby D always goes for necklace or belt etc and puts into his mouth.... he tore off my favourite necklace few weeks ago and that's when I think to myself, perhaps no more necklace for a while.

3. After a couple of wash, the navy chino trousers looks more casual. Do I need to invest on another pair, but in different fabric?? - I am never a ironing person, so ironing is not an option to rescue the look.



this post is a link-up to Kate's navy week theme.



AA xxx  

Thursday 14 August 2014

Navy week :: navy stripes and patterns dress


dress: Debenhams (new purchase on eBay in July)
grey cardigan: Label Lab (not in picture)
bag: Salad bag (not in picture)
shoes: ASOS safari leather heels (not in picture)

[three things]

1. starting the day in a rush and leaving my phone at home, so this #OOTD photo is from the original eBay listing. This silky dress is very summery, and can be dressed up as a formal work wear or dress down as a casual mum style. And, it sits well above knees, so isn't too short to wear for me (I am 168cm tall). 

2. wanting to dress in a more cheerful pattern or colour to work is the first in my mind this morning. I need to get dressed well, so that I can process the sad news of family loss in a positive way. And I hope mum-in-law would feel the same way too waking up on her first day alone in the family house. 


3. happened to come across the navy week theme on Kate's blog here. So, here it is, the link-up.   




PS had few days off from blogging #OOTD earlier this week as I have been wearing jeggings with long tees in my in-laws in the last few days. 



AA xxx

Friday 8 August 2014

Stripes casual Friday

top: bought in Taiwan
jeggings: George at ASDA (new purchase today!)
shoes: Hush Puppies flat (not in the picture)
bag: Salad (not in the picture)

[four things]
1. a quite day at work, and a very early start involving me pushing Baby D in the pram shopping in ASDA at 8am! this is followed by a breakfast date in a cafe before walking to & arriving at the nursery at 9ish. So, my hush puppies is on duty again - I really recommend their shoes for walking (on the streets.). I am thinking of buying another pair in a more formal style myself. 

2. I was actually wearing a pair of black leggings when we set off from home, but I had a change of mind and bought the jeggings in ASDA. 

3. I would only wear this sort of casual style to work in summer, when there isn't any students around and when it is more acceptable to wear jeans at work. And with a blazer on, it looks more formal too. 

4. I need to practice my poses more and look out for a better place, or method, for better quality of #OOTD selfies. 


AA xxx

Thursday 7 August 2014

Hearty top, black trousers, heels



top: Oasis hearty blouse
trousers: Next 
blazer: George at ASDA
shoes: ASOS safari leather heels
bag: Salad bag (not in the picture)

[three things]
1. {black trousers x blouse} is probably my default office wear style and the dress code for HE. I used to only wear this sort of style every working day when I first started to work in HE. I feel safe, secure and fit-in in wearing them somehow. 

2. The red hearty top and leather heels make the outfit less boring. 

3. Next trousers is a new purchase in June before I returned to work from maternity leave. It fits really well, making me look thinner. I am thinking of buying another the same pair (and a black ASOS safari heels) now. 

Last worn: blazer, shoes, bag

AA xxx

Blue and blue

 


top: White Stuff
trousers: Next Chino Cropped Trousers
shoes: Hush Puppies flat
bag: Salad (bought on eBay) & Longchamp style bag as diaper bag (a gift)

[three things]
1. Ended up walking in a park with Baby D at 8am for an hour before he was dropped off in the nursery and I went to work. And another hour of walking and playing in the playground again at 4.30pm before daddy picked us up. So, very glad I had my hush puppies on!! So, I think this is a sensible style for a working mum who need to pick up, drop off kids straight from work.

2. Love this Next trousers. It can be dress up as smart work wear, or dress down for casual weekend. 

3. {Blue x blue} seem to be my favorite work style at the moment, like the below #OOTD photo I took in July.

top: Mango
trouser: Next Chino Cropped trouser 
shoes: ASOS safari leather boots
necklace: Laura Ashley (my favourite but already broken by Baby D)



AA xxx


Tuesday 5 August 2014

Blue top, green skirt, airport style



[outfit]
top: bought in a charity shop
skirt: bought in Taiwan
shoes: Hush Puppies flat
bag: CiPU Jumbo CT diaper bag (not in the picture)

[three things]
1. a very sad day - last day of my mother's 1-month stay. #OOTD photos were taken in the airport when Baby D and grandma had their last cuddles. (it is even more sad when you don't know when you will be seeing each other next time, and I had a little cry in the car on the way home.)

2. this green skirt is bought in Taiwan few months ago as a newly discovered style that suits me. but I have totally let myself down since the purchase as I don't know how to put it together!!! 

3. still a hot, humid summer day, we are very lucky this year. As British summer isn't always this nice, I ran out of things to wear that is comfortable, summery, functional and motherly! 


[a special note]
I am following the same format from Dash Dot Dotty. I have been following her blog for a while now, I adore her styles!!!  She is one of the many blogs that influence me to start documenting/sharing my outfit in the blog world. Having three things to write about gives me a structure to focus on, rather than just rumbling about fashion, style (and mostly criticism of myself), and I wonder if this structure would serve me better in the long term. 


last worn: shoes, CiPU bag

AA xxx


Sunday 3 August 2014

Maxi dress, Real Mum Style


dress: Primark
bag: CiPU Jumbo CT Bag (similar)
shoes: Dorothy Perkins
parka: (bought on eBay)



Today is Baby D's first birthday! Happy Birthday my little baby! 

'Real Mum Style' for me is something super functional, and I would normally go for a oversize tee with a pair of jeggings. Since the discovery of maxi dress on Friday, I knew it would be a good choice to wear on Baby D's birthday party. And I wish I had tried on some maxi dress a lot earlier during my maternity leave as they would have been great for a trying-to-look stylish, or decent, staying home mum.




In case you didn't notice, we three are wearing black-white matching style..... 

Anyway, I think I would probably keep this maxi dress for casual wear than for work in the future. 


AA xxx


Friday 1 August 2014

Maxi dress for work

maxi dress: Primark (new purchase) 
blazer: George
bag: Balenciaga cross perforation anthracite work 
shoes: Hush Puppies flat
necklace: House of Harlow style sunburst (not in the picture) 

[outfit]
This is my first time ever, trying on a maxi dress! And, because I don't know whether this style will suit me or not, I bought a second-hand one on eBay for the experiment.  

I'd normally like to wear something more formal when I am teaching. Although today is one of those occasions, I just cannot wait to wear my first maxi dress and get a feeling of what it is like to have it on all day. 

It feels very good, like every inch of my skin is breathing, and I don't need to worry about big wind as well.  But, I am not sure if I will wear it again when I am teaching. Even if I do, I will certainly have it on with a different pair of shoes, something more leathery or with heels for formal occasions, and with a different blazer too.  

It is a very comfortable outfit, especially going to work with my personal driver, aka hubby. AI feel each inch of my skin is breathing.... But, I think it is too casual for teaching, especially when I had to take off the blazer because of the stiff room temperature. And it will not be a good choice if I have to commute on public transport, especially not with a pram! 



AA xxx