blouse, jeggings, flat, trench coat, Marc Jacobs Hillier Hobo bag, CiPUmini city

same outfit, but wearing Hush Puppies flat today.

Another day of taking baby D home on train and bus after a long working day and having a two-bags system, and unfortunately I will have to commute home with baby D on our own in the next two weeks!

First time this CiPU baby blue stripes diaper bag made its appearance on the blog. This is the smallest diaper bag I own, and from the CiPU city line. This bag has been 'stolen' by my husband for his everyday work bag (he alternates between this stripy bag and the CiPU pink stripy bag) until very recently I bought him his own manly work bag.  As Baby D would have a light tea in the nursery at 4ish before I pick him up, I don't need to carry a lot in my diaper bag, only a spare nappy, changing mat, Baby D's water jug, wet wipe, some snack and a coat.

AA xxx

blue top, black trousers, Marc Jacobs Hobo bag

top: White Stuff cotton top (old)

trousers: Next 12R (2014 s/s)

shoes: ASOS safari leather heels

bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs Classic Q Hillier Hobo bag

blazer: F&F - not in the picture

scarf: ASOS owl print (2014 autumn) - not in the picture

This is what I wear to work on Friday. A day mostly stayed in my office, reviewing student essays and catching up with emails and diary. In other words, a day involved very little social.... After having so many busy days, this is exactly what I needed the most, to catch up with myself. 

I like my new Marc by Marc Jacobs hobo bag very much, and I prefer to wear it on the long strap. And when I went to pick up Baby D, I then changed it to cross body - so, very functional.

AA xxx

pink knitted top, black trousers, ASOS heels, Marc Jacobs Classic Q Hillier Hobo bag

 

top: pink knitted top (last worn here as in real mum style last weekend)

black trousers: Next size 12R (2014 S/S) (last worn here)

shoes: ASOS safari leather heels

bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs Classic Q Hillier Hobo (new purchase on eBay this month!)

necklace: French Connection and sunburst style (last worn here and here)

trench coat: Uniqlo (last worn here as in real mum style last weekend)

This was what I wore to work on Thursday.  

A day commuting to work by bus and train, and walk uphills/downhills for 15 mins to the office/train station. This ASOS safari leather heels always surprises me how comfortable it is considering the height and for such a long walk in a day. 

I've mentioned that I wanted to replace my old Salad hangbag with something that is more functional and baby-friendly for going to the park after work and for walking with a pushchair.  This Marc Jacobs Classic Q Hillier Hobo is the replacement - although I am still half looking for another perfect bag!  It is in a kharki/brown colour, very functional and going well with most of outfits.    

As life gets really busy this week, I am slipping back to my old habits of {top x black trousers} work style. On the grand scheme, it doesn't matter, and in fact, it makes life a lot easier and saves lots of time in the morning. So much so, I am wearing a similar combination today (Friday).....

AA xxx

Oasis grey dress, F&F blazer, Clarke heels

I am really into this habit of keeping a records, either photos or by heart, of what I wear. Even though I didn't get a chance to take outfit photos yesterday, I still wanted to document what I wore....

So, I wore this grey dress to work (last worn here, but without the belt today), with a black tights, black Clarke heels (last worn here) and F&F blazer (last worn there).

Had a presentation to do in the afternoon, and sat in on another presentation in the morning - So, I wanted to wear something more formal, but still quite laid back. I don't think this dress fits into this category in the end, and I felt I was slightly over-dressed for the occasion. A pair of black trousers with a blouse might be better for this occasion - must remember this next time.



AA xxx

blue top, French Connection skirt, ASOS owl scarf, Balenciaga city

top: Dorothy Perkins

skirt: French Connection 

shoes: ASOS safari leather heels

scarf: ASOS owl prints

bag: Balenciaga violet city

trench coat: Uniqlo 

necklace: French Connection 

Since I started this 'what I wore' blog, I have been paying more attention on how to put my outfit together as well as wanting to try out new, different styles. This is definitely the later one - a different style as I haven't worn a skirt like today's for many years, or even never ever. 

I tend to pick up faults on myself, and I am probably struggling with my body image. I also tend to shy away from skirts that don't sit well 'just above knee height'. And because of my height, this is a mini skirt to me and wearing such short skirt to work seems wrong somehow in my opinion. But when I shared this with my hubby, he laughed and said 'hey, are you from the Saudi!' and he clearly likes to see me wearing more skirts in this height. 

Although I can still see all the little things that I am not happy about (see, body image issue!), I didn't feel too bad having this outfit on, except when I needed to bend down putting the baby in his car seat. 

A good start, shall we say....

AA xxx

family day out in Yorkshire Dales

top: pink knitted short sleeves top - not shown in the picture

blue jeggings: F&F @ASDA (July 2014)

trench coat: Uniqlo 

shoes: Hush Puppies 

scarf: ASOS owl print (Aug 2014)

bag: CiPU B-bag in pink/black stripes

Had a fab day out in the Forbidden Corner in Yorkshire Dales today.  So much fun that we decided to have this trip every September from now on, until Baby D is bored by it!! 

my real mum style is fixed to the formula of 'jeggings + trench coat + flat/boots" at the moment.  

AA xxx

jersey dress, blazer, Balenciaga city

 

dress: new purchase this month

shoes: ASOS safari heels

blazer: F&F

bag: Balenciaga violet city

necklace: French Connection (new purchase this month)

received the dress the day before and decided to wear it to work the next day!  

AA xxx

animal print top, chino trousers, sunburst necklace, Balenciaga city

top: Oasis

trousers: Next chino cropped trousers

necklace: sunburst style (not in picture)

flat: Hush Puppies (not in pucture)

bag: Balenciaga violet city

having a very action packed day - GP appointments before work, teaching for 4 hours with a meeting, working lunch in the middle. At about mid afternoon, got a call from nursery saying Baby D was unwell, not eating or drinking all day. So rushed to pick up Baby D, held him to work and walked uphills....

anyway, I am very glad that I had my favourite flat by Hush Puppies on today, so I can run and walk and be fine afterwards. 

So, I didn't have time to take #OOTD selfies. this photo was taken by hubby before we set off in the morning.

last worn: top (identical outfit actually), trousers, necklace, bag, flat

AA xxx

French Connection dress, boots, Balenciaga city

 

dress: French Connection

boots: Forever 21

bag: Balenciaga violet city

trench coat: Uniqlo (not in the picture)

this is what I wore to work today - a day of teaching in the morning and office based teaching prep in the afternoon.

erm, not a big fan of the combination of boots and this dress - this boots feel too casual for the teaching role and I regret wearing it today all day long - I want a new pair of ankle boots in black colour!

last worn: Forever 21 boots, bag

AA xxx

blue dotty top, sunburst necklace, owl print scarf, Balenciaga city

 

top: Oasis

black leggings

shoes: ASOS safari leather heels 

bag: Balenciaga violet city

scarf: ASOS owl prints (new purchase in Sept)

trench coat: Uniqlo, beige colour

necklace: sunburst style 

this is what I wore to work on Monday.

It feels more like autum now as the temperature drops quite a lot early in the morning and in the evening after work. So the scarf season starts... I really like this owl print scarf - the patterns and the plum/purple ish colour. 

last worn: top

AA xxx

blue shirt dress, grey cardi, Balenciaga violet city

dress: River Island (new purchase in Aug)

cardi: Linea

shoes: ASOS safari heels

bag: Balenciaga city in violet colour

I feel rather uninspired about what to wear to work this week, and keep going back to same outfits, literally same tops and same trousers. As a result, i don't feel like blogging and documenting at all. 

This dress is rather short on the sides, so this waterfall cardi works really well with the dress. 

AA xxx

blue top, blue trousers, grey cardi and brown shoes

top: bought on eBay

trousers: Next chino 

cardi: Linea in grey colour

shoes: Hush Puppies

bag: Balenciaga violet city

a new programme starts tomorrow and I have the overall responsibility in overseeing, planning and a bit of teaching. so, I deliberately wear something more laid-back today as this is probably my last chance for a while. 

AA xxx

denim dress, leggings, trench coat, real mum style

denim dress: bought in Bangkok

leggings: ASOS

trench coat: Uniqlo

shoes: Crocs

a family weekend in the in-law's, and lots of walking in parks with my 13-months-old. 

the dress will look better without the leggings, and with a cardi rather than the trench coat. well, it is a 'summer dress', so it looks great with a pair of leather sandles and sunclasses, full stop, not how I wore it today!! (this is British summer after all).

AA xxx

a wish list for autumn/winter 2014

these are the items I have in my wish list.

1. a cross body smaller size bag, to replace the bulky Salad bag. a light grey or bright blue would be a good addition to my collection. so, Marc Jacobs classic Q hillier hobo or Balenciaga town are what I have in mind.

2. a wine/dark red colour trousers, which can be wore to work or as my casual wear.

3. a statement necklace, to replace my Laura Ashley one broken by my little baby.

4. a statement scarf. as my autumn, winter jackets/coats are mostly in dark colour, a bright scarf will go a long way.

5. mustard colour cardigan. apparently, this colour cardi goes well with many basic items, like in the photo with a stripes tee. So I am keen to try and even purchase one.

6. more stripes! Seeing how the stripes maxi dress works with the green top, I am definitely in love with stripes dress and shirt much more.

7. a pair of every day black shoes - a flat ideally (not in the above wish-list picture). life lessons from my mother is that it is always worth to spend a little bit more money on a good pair of shoes! So, shoes hunting season starts.....


AA xxx

What's in my bag!! (a lot of purple items)

there was time, probably a couple of years ago, when many bloggers shared photos and thoughts about whats in their bags.  I always enjoy looking up these posts and photos.  well, I never got around to join the force back then, so I am doing it now. 

my current every day bag is Balenciaga city in violet colour.    

my iphone normally stays with the mirror on the front pocket, and home key stays in the inner pocket inside the bag.   

{inside my bag}

1. Filofax diary and a pen

2. Balenciaga purse

3. Coach coin purse (present from my bestie)

4. Muji make-up bag

5. hand cream 

6. staff card & office key.

  

among all, the most heaviest item in my bag is my filofax - it weights a ton! ideally, I'd like to downside it one day (but wait a minute, didn't I just purchase a A5 size filofax!?). a pen is inside my filofax too.

{inside my make-up bag} 

I don't really wear much make-up, not even wearing lip balm these days. a set of my every day essentials are eyebrow pencil, pressed powder, blusher, dental floss, Baby D's diaper cream (not sure how this ended up in my bag!), a couple of sanitary pads, and a necklace (either stay in the office or in my bag).  I normally have pain killers with me too just in case. 

as these essentials don't really fill up my Muji make-up bag, I have been keeping an eye on alternative light-weight small size bag.  I thought about Marc Jacobs nylon bag and nearly bought it. but I'd prefer a bag with two pockets - one for make-up, one for medicines.  Any advice??

i used to carry a lot more stuff: a book to read, a soduko book, a scarf, more make-up items, a bottle of water, a smaller ring-bound notebook, and probably another one or two pens. I have downsized my essentials since I weighted my bag during pregnancy and decided not to carry a 5-kgs 'weigh' every day!

Hope you enjoy looking inside my bag..


AA xxx

stripes maxi dress, green top, Crocs shoes, Balenciaga city

stripe maxi dress: Primark

top: (bought in Taiwan) 

bag: Balenciaga violet city

shoes: Crocs

Had a day off for a hospital appointment. as Baby D still goes to nursery, I decided to wear something I don't normally wear when I am on mummy duty. (Baby D basically wiped everything on me, so I tend to not wear white base colour around him these days.

I like how I have the green top on top of the dress, and how layers work. I wonder if I have other items in my wardrobe that could create similar/different looks - Remixing items is what I hope to achieve in following other bloggers and documenting 'what I wore today'. Hopefully this is the beginning.

And I used a different colour belt today from last time.

last worn: maxi dress, bag

AA xxx

animal print, jeggings, grey cardi, Balenciaga violet city

top: New Look

black jeggings

cardi: Linea grey waterfall

shoes: ASOS safari leather heels

bag: Balenciaga city

necklace: Topshop

I start to leave this necklace at work as it goes pretty well with most of my outfits.

{blouse x black jeggings x blazer/cardi} seems to be my default dress code these days. I am not sure how I think about having a ‘default’ style if my aim is to have a remix work wardrobe…. And it will be very boring for blog readers (not that there are many!) to see similar outfits every day.

This ASOS safari leather heels is my favourite purchase and item this summer. I almost wear it every single working day! Well, I figure I’d better wear it as much and as often as I can before the autumn and the wind and rain set in….    

last worn: cardi

AA xxx

what a colourful day! blouse, jeggings, blazer, Balenciaga violet city

top: Forever 21

black jeggings

blazer: F&F 

bag: Balenciaga violet city

shoes: ASOS safari leather heels

to be honest, I didn't manage to look at myself in a full length mirror all day! so I had no idea how this top worked (or not) with the jeggings - this may sound ridiculous, but if you are a mother of young children you may know how this happens, I just didn't have time to do so before I had to rash out the house for work. 

the top is a new purchase on eBay in July. not very pleased with the size, one size too big for me - cannot get a refund when buying things off eBay. with a blazer on, it's all right, at least that's what I thought to myself.

love my leather heels and Balenciaga violet city - they look gorgeous together!! 

last worn: blazer, bag, shoes, jeggings

AA xxx