Stripes blouse, colored trousers, grey cardi, Rebecca Minkcoff bag

Top: Oasis (a recent purchase on ebay)

Trousers: Uniqlo (bought in Aug)

Grey cardi: Paul & Bear

Shoes: (flat, as in the picture) & Clark's (heels, not in the picture)

Bag: Rebecca Minkoff M.A.B mini bag in black

Necklace: Marc by Marc Jacobs Turnlocks 

I am back!  I've taken a long break off blogging here, partly because I was away for nearly a month back home with my family in Taiwan, to be a hands-on, full-time mum again (I forgot about how hard but rewarding these can be!).

When packing for the holiday, I made a decision to take only 8-10 essential pieces per person, and for adults, to try to not buy new clothes too. This is partly because we'd like to travel light - only one check-in suitcase for two adults and a 2 year-old.  But also, to allow max. spaces for bringing home (Taiwan) and to bring as many books, in Chinese,  as possible, for myself and the little one back home (UK).  

For me, 8-10 essential items for a summer holiday in tropical country is a rather easy task, so dresses, skirts, shorts, tops all in. And I've been wearing the same outfit formula in turns. It was very hot, like 38-40 degrees every day. So we tried to stay air-conditioning indoor as much as possible, or in the pool. We often took 2 or 3 showers a day and changed at least twice. 

I've found this quite liberating, to my surprise, especially after working on remixing my wardrobe for quite some time since last summer. I did feel rather limited and bored with my look quite quickly, but this experience, in some way, forced me to just accept the limitation, full stop.  For example, I've been wearing the same two dresses to the church on Sundays and for going out with friends - when . The rest of my essentials are more like comfortable wear for potting around in the neighborhood and to the pool.  

Since coming back to work after the holiday, I have been pretty much doing similar things, wearing the same few items in different or the same formula. And, to be honest, I am quite happy that way.  I even downsized my wardrobe and handbag collection as well.  Limitation is liberating. How strange!

Anyway, here I am, back in the blogging world.  I would still like to continue with my remix wardrobe, and to find out what my styles are and how different, or the same, 'formula' could work.  

By the way, in case you are wondering, adults did manage to hold off buying clothes, but my parents treated us two pairs of new shoes from Sketchers each! So we had to pack 4 extra shoes with us.... luckily, my mum traveled to UK with us, so we got extra spaces for those! 

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

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

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

Maxi dress for work

maxi dress: Primark (new purchase) 

blazer: George

bag: Balenciaga cross perforation anthracite work 

shoes: Hush Puppies flat

necklace: House of Harlow style sunburst (not in the picture) 

[outfit]

This is my first time ever, trying on a maxi dress! And, because I don't know whether this style will suit me or not, I bought a second-hand one on eBay for the experiment.  

I'd normally like to wear something more formal when I am teaching. Although today is one of those occasions, I just cannot wait to wear my first maxi dress and get a feeling of what it is like to have it on all day. 

It feels very good, like every inch of my skin is breathing, and I don't need to worry about big wind as well.  But, I am not sure if I will wear it again when I am teaching. Even if I do, I will certainly have it on with a different pair of shoes, something more leathery or with heels for formal occasions, and with a different blazer too.  

It is a very comfortable outfit, especially going to work with my personal driver, aka hubby. AI feel each inch of my skin is breathing.... But, I think it is too casual for teaching, especially when I had to take off the blazer because of the stiff room temperature. And it will not be a good choice if I have to commute on public transport, especially not with a pram! 

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!