Unless spoken by Amy Poehler in a pink tracksuit, I dislike the term “cool mum.” I have various issues with it, and for the sake of our collective sanity, I won’t unpack it here. But the main problem I have with it is that it implies mums, as a rule, aren’t cool. That the moment you become a mum, however that happens, you immediately start looking and behaving a certain way. Well, spoiler alert, you don’t. Okay, sure, do I cry at adverts more? Yes. And am I unable to watch any show where a kid is in danger? Yes also. But when it comes to me as a person, who, let’s face it, has always been a bit of a crier, then no, I haven’t changed. I am still me. And that also extends to my wardrobe.
Fashion, as I repeatedly say, isn’t frivolous, and it is part of our personal identity. Just because I grew a person in my body doesn’t automatically make me reach for dark clothing that doesn’t show the mud my toddler gets on me at the park. Or that I must forsake wearing pretty dresses in case a sticky banana hand touches them. These things will happen, but does that mean you can’t enjoy your wardrobe anymore and instead just wear utilitarian items that are all function over form? No, of course not.
I reached out to three mums I follow on Instagram and whose style I love and asked them to give the best advice to any parent, really, on how not to lose your sense of personal style. There are some important words of wisdom that are not only great for fashion but also great for looking after yourself in general. I’ve also given some of my advice. Keep scrolling for more and to browse the shopping picks.
