Blue Monday #3, blue top, blue trousers, blue shirt, grey jeggings

Only an hour in the office, I am getting anxious and feeling overwhelmed by the workload! - definite feeling Monday blue today!!

Top: Oasis (last worn)

Cardi: George at ASDA

Trousers: Next

Coat: Warehouse

Bag: as usual

Wearing a blue dotty top today for the Blue Monday project, although I have other blue dresses that can be wore to work : )   

Previous on Blue Monday Project...

Blue Monday #2

Blue Monday #1

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This is what I wore on Friday last week...

We had to go to a performance after work with Baby D - this show is sort of supervised by my hubby as part of his job.  We'd like to achieve as much as work-life balance right whenever possible, so after thinking for few nights, I decided to go with Baby D. My outfit therefore needs to be something more casual (for chasing after a toddler in the evening). 

Top: White Stuff (last worn)

Jeggings

Cardi: George at ASDA

Boots: Hush Puppies

Baby D had such a good time during the show. He was running around at the end and by the side of the stage and seating area, and he even made some friends too in the evening. It was quite fun although it did involvement a lot of parenting work! 

It was Red Nose Day on Friday, so the dress code for the nursery is RED.

We put Baby D on the stage after the event, and he started to dance as he had such a good time seeing people dancing and singing! 

AA xxx

Casual Friday, SLY N3B Coat

Top: Oasis (last worn)

Cardi: New Look (last worn yesterday)

Black Jeggings

Coat: SLY N3B (A/W 2014, bought in 2013) - SLY blog for further info

Bag and Boots: as usual

Having worn smart work dresses for the last two days, I decided to go 'easy' and 'casual' today hence it's Friday !

I love my SLY N3B !! I have been thinking of buying a army coat in this style for a long long time, like many years. But I never got to travel to Japan in winter or autumn months... and I have been keeping my eyes out for a good army coat all these time.

There are definitely differences in the design and shape of army N3B style coats in the Far East and in the UK. Coats in the Far East would fit the body shape better, perhaps it is because of the petite body shape. While UK/western style are designed for loose fit, more puffy like. Although I am not actually 'petite' (in fact, I am probably XXL in Taiwanese standards), I just didn't seem to be able to find a good N3B coat in the UK..... 

So I found a buyer to purchase this for me in JP and posted over to UK.... (thanks to FB and PayPal). 

The funny thing is, after finally owning this dreamy coat, I realise the style doesn't quite suit my body shape either - It was slightly too tight on my thighs when I first put it on in winter 2013, although it fits me better now as I am back to pre-pregnancy weights. I wish the shape/design of pockets are less squary.  

I wonder, Is there ever a perfect army coat? or a perfect handbag?

Or, am I too obsessed with the idea of finding a perfect item?

AA xxx 

stripes dress, cardi, boots, Marc Jacobs Hillier Hobo bag | stripes top, jeggings, boots

This is what I wear to work today - essentially, following same formula as last week, but with warmer boots, a grey cardi and a black knee-high trench coat from Ted Baker (not in the picture).

I have been off work for two days earlier this week with a bad cold, rough throat and uncontrollable big cough all the time. I am 'told' to stay home away from people while I get myself sorted as the wife of my line manager has bad lung problems and he is concerned to pass on the cold to her. Although I am feeling better today and came back to work yesterday (Wednesday), I am still coughing a lot. And I feel like a mess, less inspired in my look generally.    

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This is what I wore to work yesterday (Wednesday). Again, similar combination of the weekend style, but with a different pair of jeggings, boots, coats and bag.

I like to wear boots and jeggings when I am playing a commuting mummy role. And it was specially functional when it ended with me pushing/running with the pram in heavy rains !! (I hate rainy days.)


AA xxx

Working weekend holiday in the Lakes

top: Dorethy Perkins white knitted top & stripes long sleeves cotton top (bought in Taiwan)

blue jeggings: George at ASDA

shoes: Dune (2013 f/w)

bag: CiPU B-bag

My husband organizes a student development weekend away training in the Lakes District, and we decide to come along and stay in a nearby B&B while he stays with the group in a hostel. 

As I am on my own with the pram (and the baby) some of the time, it's more mobile to wear diaper bag on my back. And a warm, good walking boots and rain coat is a must. 

First picture was taken at home before we set off to the Lakes District.  Second picture was taken when Baby D is having a short nap in B&B after breakfast on Sun.

We came to do the tree-top tracking in Ambleside two years ago with a different student group and it was really good fun. We came again this time, and discovered it is also great for little human too! We will probably come here a lot in near future.

AA xxx

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

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

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

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

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

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

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