New top for Chinese New Year

Happy Chinese New Year!!

Blouse: Vero Moda from ASOS
Trousers: Next (old one)
Boots and Bag: as usuasl

I am organising a student event this afternoon - Event planning and organisation takes up soooo much time and energy (and worry too), and I am glad this is just a one-off, not what I do for living !!  (I feel planning a teaching session/workshop is probably slightly easier although it comes with more responsibilities....)

So I am wearing this Chinesie looking red blouse for work today, and I've received some compliments from hubby and colleagues already.

Whenever I am wearing a shirt/blouse, I am always unsure whether it looks better to have them tucked in the trousers or have them loose... Well, this blouse is quite short, but has enough length to be tucked in, which is what I decided to do in the end for today as the trousers I am wearing is in boot cut shape.  But, I think it would work better with a fitted black/grey trousers/jeans and flats, like on ASOS website.

Just thought to add a couple of photos from the event. We probably had about at least 100 students involved, coming and going like, not all in one time. The volunteers helping out  on the stall were just amazing, really on board and really into writing calligraphy too. Everyone definitely had a good fun today. 

 AA xxx

A staff party on Chinese New Year Eve

Top: Vero Moda at ASOS (identical here)

Skirt: very old one from 10 years ago

Shoes: Clarks

This top is specially bought for the staff lunch party today. It is a simply jersey top with zip details on the shoulders, as shown in the below pictures from ASOS.com.

 

  

It is a bit boring to just wear the top with the skirt, so I put on a necklace to make the outfit more fun - and gold colour is good for the occasion too.

The dress code for my previous job in Taiwan is proper smart business look - men in suits and female in smart suits/skirts. Back then, the routine of my day was to negotiate rates for borrowing and lending on short-term basis, and visiting clients/government depts in the afternoon.  I had mixed feeling about the job, I like its well-paid package (ah.. who doesn't?) although high pressure, but one has to get professional licenses in finance/accounting one after another, which I really struggled as I am really not good at doing exams.  I regretted that I should have learned more from colleagues, been more proactive generally and should have tried harder to prepare/get licenses too.  If time could go back, I would have done things very differently and may not even leave the job for Masters study in the UK....

The skirt was bought for that environment, but has been hardly worn in the UK as it seems too formal for HE environment.

What surprised me about wearing this skirt is I am now at least one size bigger than what I was 10 years ago - so I don't understand how I wore this skirt back then, it must be really loose hanging off the waist....

And, I really want to go back to that old petite size, I had a health weight at 52-54kg back then (I am 168cm tall) !!!

AA xxx

Definitely autumn

top: H&M grey silky shirt

trousers: Next chino S/S 2014 collection

cardi: Uniqlo

shoes: Clark's heels

coat: in Korean fashion style, bought in a night market in Taiwan (2012/13 winter)

scarf: ASOS owl prints 

bag: Marc By Marc Jacobs Classic Q Hillier Hobo bag

This is what I wear to work today - it's definitely in autumn now, the temperature  has dropped a lot since last weekend.

Had nearly two weeks break from blogging my #OOTD. Although I enjoyed documenting my daily work style and learning how to dress better and remix my style, I have been feeling a bit lost in this project. 

I feel I am falling into the trap of trying very hard to come up with new style every day, which we know it's not possible. So when I started to repeat the same outfit combination, I felt let down by myself, and this then led to me buying more items... and that's when I decided to put a stop on blogging and from my addiction of eBay. (I also had a couple of disappointing purchases on eBay in the last few weeks.)

Although I am still trying to figure this out, I've decided to not buy any more items until Boxing Day!! : ) 

dress: brown stripes

cardi: George at ASDA

shoes: ASOS safari leather heels

coat: French Connection in navy 

This is what I wore to work on Monday. 

AA xxx

Same cardi three days in a row

top: French Connection (last worn here)

cardi: New Look 

trousers: Next 

trench coat: Ted Baker (not in the picture) 

shoes: ASOS leather safari heels  (not in the picture) 

bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs Classic Q Hillier Hobo bag  (not in the picture) 

necklace: French Connection

scarf: ASOS owl print (not in the picture) 

This purple top is something I don't think I'd wear it as it is. I like the patterns and the colour, but the design/shape of the sleeves isn't very complementary. Perhaps it was a fashion back then, but not any more. 

My day today is filled up with several meetings, and I'd like to wear more 'appropriately' for all occasions. So, I figure the dressing code of {black trousers with a blouse/top, and a cardi} is best option.  And I certainly saw other colleagues, both academics and admin staff, wearing similar combination. I guess you can never go wrong with this formula : )

AA xxx 

Blouse, black trousers, white knitted cardi - Monday Blue

top: Oasis blouse

trousers: Next 

3/4 sleeves white knitted cardi

trench coat: Ted Baker

shoes: ASOS leather safari heels

bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs Hillier Hobo bag

I really like what I've put together today, in a nutshell. : )

The blouse is a loose fit, so I'd like to have it on with a pair of jeggings - so following the {loose + fit} formula. Having this knitted cardi on has made it more fitting and gives it a different look and focus. 

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

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