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

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

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, 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

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

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  

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

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

Summer blazer & flowery dress

dress: ASOS maternity flowery dress

blazer: George Asda

shoes: ASOS safari heels (exact)

bag: Balenciaga violet city

[outfit]

I do love this 'maternity' dress and I always got lots of compliment whenever I had it on no matter if I was pregnant or not. 

It was a good dress to hide the bump in earlier trimesters, good to show off the bump when I was heavily pregnant, and amazingly, it is still a good dress which makes my waist look slimmer somehow. So, when I was desperate, running out of ideas what to wear, I tend to fall back to wear it, like today. The colour is very vibrant, a good choice for summer, and it matches my violet city! 

And again, I received many compliment today, thanks to the dress. How can I live without you....

AA xxx

A beginning

I have been thinking about starting a new blog in which I will be writing in English for a long time (my mother tongue is Mandarin).  And, I want it to be more like a log of what I wear to work, because I often feel helpless in finding the right outfit for work despite having a very stuffy (half-)wardrobe. 

So, here it is. 

The only issue about the plan is how to get a decent photo of my outfit which can be uploaded easily to the PC/blog without spending too much time as I am a working mum with a one-year-old monster boy.   

Oh well, we will just have to wait and see. 

Dress: ASOS maternity 

Shoes: ASOS safari leather heels (exact)

Bag: Balenciaga violet city (not in the picture)

The photo was actually taken last week when I took a group of Chinese delegation to a park nearby for a relaxing afternoon. As you can see, I wasn't totally not dressed up(or down) for the event since I was wearing heels and dress on a bike!  

And yes, a year on since I had the baby and I still keep a handful of maternity cloth.  What can I say, some of them are really comfortable and stretchy, like this one.  (Hence, I haven't gone back to my pre-baby size!) 

Cheerio!