the moment
From Phoebe Philo’s viral necklaces to Rihanna’s bump Vuitton campaign, modern-day mothers are having their moment in fashion.But, asks Susie Lau, how can we get them to the top of the industry, too?
AFTER THE FINAL SPRINT OF A CHAOTIC PERIOD THAT HAD SEEN
a hardcore house renovation, with no kitchen, water or heating, I knew I had achieved peak mum when I reached for a pair of 10-year-old Valentino xGap cargo trousers for the fourth day running. I greeted the paint splashes, the bits of encrusted pasta sauce and grease stains like dear old friends. Pre-child me would not recognise this slovenly creature, happily wearing the same sullied item of clothing repeatedly like a scene from the sitcom Motherland.
But here I am, with two kids in tow and succumbing to the very thing I so adamantly protested against when I had my first child. When Nico was born seven years ago, I naively felt immune to outward mum mess. I prided myself on retaining my signature style, for the most part, and was determined to hold onto everything that I felt made me ‘me’ – namely, cacophonous layered outfits comprised of colour and print. I congratulated myself for turning up to nursery pick-up in polka-dot Comme des Garçons and platform Prada boots.
Then, a few years ago, I had my son Casper, and since then the ’fits have become distinctly threadbare. The truth is, I’m a happily frazzled mum – what’s more, I revel in it. With two children, a full-on job and the unwritten household mental load that comes with living a grown-up and mortgaged existence, you end up wearing that chaos. That’s on top of wanting to tend to my relationships more – with my partner, friends and family. Somewhere among the bustle of life, meticulously co-ordinating tones of pinks in floral prints and puzzling together complicated bodysuits, skirts and trousers have dropped down the priority list. That’s not to say I no longer enjoy dressing ‘up up’, but dressing ‘down down’ has, at times, become the only sane option. Finding a clean top somewhere in the laundry pile and putting it on feels like a win. My outfit goals have become smaller, and I’ve willingly run out of steam.
Thankfully, fashion is acknowledging harried-mum energy this season, even if it is unintentional. Call it the Fleabagging of motherhood, which stands in opposition to the refined ‘Rich Mom Energy’ of cashmere, fine gold jewellery and a giant Birkin, or the perfection of Mumfluencers, with their blowouts and spotless cottagecore dresses. The gradual casualisation of high fashion over the last few years means that everything normal and real is up for style elevation. I have Miuccia Prada to thank for putting unbrushed hair, leggings
