Animal print dress, chunky cardi, boots

This is what I wore to work on Tue - a blouse, sweater, black trousers style.

This is what I wore to work on Wed - a dress, cardi dress style. 

I always feel that my photo doesn't do any justice to this French Connection long chunky cardi. It is very warm, a great addition for the winter when wearing a spring/autumn dress. 

When I bought this cardi, I thought it would work really really well for a home party in winter, so that I can still wear a dress, not worrying being too cold.  Then, the baby comes along and this home party idea hasn't been tried out yet at all.  : ) 

Dress: French Connection (last worn)

Cardi: French Connection 

Boots: Schuh

AA xxx

Animal print top, skirt, heels, little black dress, blazer, boots

In an attempt to look more 'professional' and learn to remix my wardrobe, this is what I wear to work on Tue. I have been out of the habits of wearing a necklace and ear rings for a long time, although I seem to still purchase them from time to time! I think it would probably look better with another goldish necklace for layering. 

On reflection of my outfit, I actually don't like this look. I feel there are too many colours in my upper body, although you cannot really see the cami. I think I will wear the white cardi with this blouse next time.

Blouse: New Look (last worn) - bought on eBay 

Cami: Dorothy Perkins

Skirt: a very old one (last worn)

Cardi: Uniqlo

Heels: Clarks

Necklace: recent purchase on eBay

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I've been thinking about what to wear to work today since Baby D went to sleep last night.  I fell asleep in thinking 'Oh Gosh, I haven't got anything to wear to work tomorrow!' (My only black smart trousers still await to be washed, and I don't feel like wearing a dress that I wore last week). 

This morning, I woke up with the same worry. Once Baby D is fed and content with his daddy downstairs, I had a bit of time to open the wardrobe in daylight (we are still co-sleeping at night) and I can now see clearly what have been neglected.... I then dug out two summer dresses and the blazer. I decided to go with this little black summer dress, bought ages ago! 

What I like about this dress is it works for both casual and work occasions. And the design on the waist gives it more character - it will go really well with any Balenciaga moto bags!!  

The weather in the northern UK has been rather mild, a summer dress with thick warm leggings/tights and boots are just fine during day time. (And I actually took off the blazer in my office today.)   

Dress: bought ages ago in Taiwan

Nude Blazer: bought in Taiwan in Dec 2013 (around the time I discovered my pregnancy!)

Boots: Hush Puppies

Bag: as usual

I did wear the bar necklace this morning, but by the time I got to my office, I somehow lost it!!! (I have only worn it for a handful time!) My plan was to wear the bar necklace with the one in the picture as layering....

AA xxxx

Animal prints top, black trousers

 

Top: Oasis (last worn here)

Trousers: Next (last worn with the Oasis top on the same day!)

Cardi: George from ASDA

Shoes: Clarks 

Bag: as usual

Coat: Warehouse

Necklace: (bought on eBay lately)

I decide to take a break from wearing another dress to work today. Partly because I feel wearing different dresses everyday is against the idea of learning how to remix my wardrobe, but also I need a change in personal image, at least for the day!  So I am back to my default office wear look today - a top x black smart trousers x cardi. 

However, as the day goes on today, I start to wonder if I am too relaxed about the dress code at work lately, and perhaps I should be more ready in my outlook... erm.. just murmuring.... 

AA xxx 

Dress, Cardi/Sweater, Boots

I am wearing similar outfits today and yesterday - Dress, Cardi/Sweater and Boots. 

Dress: French Connection I think (last worn)

Cardi: George at ASDA

Boots: Hush Puppies (new purchase in January)

Bag: as usual

Necklace: French Connection

Coat: SLY N3B 

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Dress: Oasis (last worn on blog)

Sweater: Dorothy Perkins

Boots: Hush Puppies

Bag: as usual 

Necklace: Topshop (not in the picture)

Coat: Warehouse long winter coat

I had this purple dress on originally before Baby D threw his toy digger on my cereal bowl ! I ended up with cereals and milk all over myself and the sofa.... (annoyed!!) 

I begin to wonder how many different dresses that I could wear to work before I start to re-cycle them..... Has anyone tried to do this before?? 

AA xxx

Playing safe by sticking to classic look: tunic top with smart blacktrousers

Two big meetings (school assembly and mock session & debrief for a coming up important event) scheduled this afternoon. For a big day like today, I'd like to play safe by wearing 'classic' items.

Although I don't like to stand out, I don't want to be unnoticed either, or to be mistaken as if I was a university student (I experienced this when I first started to work here).  

As well as planning/caring for my look, I also paid attention to what colleagues wear:

• Women at senior positions in the professional/admin function go for all black outfits, but not work suits. 
• Women in the admin function up for more business casual style {tunic top + black/dark trousers + cardi}. 
• Women in academic positions would either go for more formal look, ie {work dress with black blazer}, or simply be wearing something comfortable/causal/laid-back ! In fact, I don't think there is a 'typlical style' for academics !

Isn't this fascinating !! And style watch certainly makes the meeting more fun !


So what am I wearing today??

I am wearing this animal print top with black trousers and this white cardi. 
Bag as in the picture and boots are as usual. 

(photo is an old one from months ago)

But for the big coming up meeting, I may go with a more professional look - tunic top, black smart trousers with blazer, rather than cardi.....


AA xxx

Juggling life as a working mum...

Alex's post about juggling life was a very useful and powerful reminder that I am not alone here who feel overwhelmed by the pressure and the to-do lists.  Back to work for 6 months now, how to juggle life is still a steep learning curve.

We live in a small house, where living room and kitchenate are in the same room. It was cosy for a couple, but as parents, it was a nightmare.... I want to MOVE house !!

This means that when I am cooking dinner, Baby D can see me and would often cry for the attention, or throw his toys and books at me, even when his dad sits next to him !

It also means that the room is always messy: toys everywhere, bags (mine work bag, dad's, baby's diaper bag) on the floor or piled up in the corner of the dining table, food everywhere on the carpet (training toddlers to not throw food on the floor is very challenging), and dishes left unwashed !

And our nearly 1.5 years old is a very very handful one.... (aren't they all !?)

I have found it not easy to stay positive and keep smiling at all times.... And being at work, I feel, is the only escape I get for a bit of calm and peace. 

Dress:

Cardi: Whistle

Boots: Clark's

Wearing a dress seems to be the best thing for a busy working mum.
The combination of {Dress + cardi / blazer + boots / heels / flat} works very well for a casual business look environment, and good for a raining day.

AA xxx


 

animal print blouse, chino trousers, Marc Jacobs Hillier Hobo bag

 

top: animal print blouse from Oasis

trousers: Next chino trousers (2014 S/S)

shoes: Hush Puppies

bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs Classic Q Hillier Hobo bag

trench coat: Uniqlo (not in the picture)

Reaching out for the same outfit combination again (here and here)! Where has my spirit of building a remix wardrobe gone!?

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

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

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

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. 

Last worn: animal print top, chino trousers, Balenciaga city, CiPU bag

AA xxx

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