Life Lessons, Layering And Love: Three Designers On What Motherhood Has Taught Them
As Mother’s Day draws near in many countries around the world, we asked three pioneering designers about the trials and tribulations of parenthood, changes in the way they now approach work, and how they maintain their personal style. By GRACE COOK
AMY POWNEY
The London-based designer founded Mother of Pearl in 2002. She has a daughter, Niamh, born in 2020, and is currently pregnant with her second child
“It’s all about clothes that make me feel good and stand the test of time. I have a core wardrobe of trusted pieces. I tend to wear loose dresses or jeans and T-shirts, and I love oversized suiting. Nowadays, I want pieces that are cool and contemporary but easy to wear because life is hectic; they need to be easy to clean, too!
“I wear my Mother of Pearl ‘Malia’ loose dress on repeat – it’s midi-length so can be worn with sandals, sneakers or boots. It’s perfect for rushing around with a toddler, and also with an ever-growing bump with baby number two on the way. I’ve also found a good jacket, like our ‘Dolly’ style, is perfect for elevating any outfit – it’s cropped with statement puffed sleeves. I like accessorizing when I’m in work mode. It’s a great way to feel dressed for meetings and an easy transition once I arrive home.
“Motherhood does not come with a guidebook and it can feel incredible and overwhelming at the same time. Being a parent and running a business, I’ve had to become more efficient than ever, making decisions quicker and with more confidence. I’ve learnt that work needs to stop when childcare starts.
“Since having my child, my view on fashion has changed a lot. It’s aligned with climate change, too, but my desire to protect my children’s future has solidified and furthered my desire to wear and produce clothes that are as sustainable and ethical as possible – to take into account people and the planet.”
BARBARA CASASOLA
The Italian designer established her namesake label in Florence in 2012. Her son, Otto, was born in 2020
“Being the mother of a very active little boy has made me design a lot more daywear – easy, sporty pieces to run around in that still look put together. I pretty much only wear my own designs, so I’m always wear-testing new ideas. And I think of practical outfits that I can breastfeed in – I’ve become even more pragmatic than I was before. Comfort is so important now. But I’d never compromise on elegance.
“My style hasn’t changed since having a child, but it’s evolved. I wear less black than before, and I wear dresses more often. I braid my long hair. I love dressing up, but my concept of dressing up is still quite toned down and natural. I wear minimal makeup, have short nails and natural hair. But any days I have to myself will definitely involve more time spent in the shower, more time meditating and taking care of myself in general.
“Casasola’s knitted dresses work well for me. I wore them throughout my pregnancy, as they stretch. After giving birth, I had far less time to get dressed, so I’ve found it helpful to just put on a dress and be ready for everything. I also wear a lot of cashmere sweaters with knitted silk leggings or, in summer, cotton-silk dresses with flats for days on the go with a baby in tow.
“Otto reminds me of my responsibility as a mother and as a designer. He reinforces my goal of designing beautiful, long-lasting clothing.”
CECILIE BAHNSEN
The Copenhagen-based designer started her own label in 2015. Her son was born in 2020
“Having a baby has given me so much perspective, and even though I have less time now, it’s given me a renewed passion for work. As an independent brand, I worried about whether I could do both, but I have realized it’s possible to combine my personal and professional life. I’m not doing Cecilie Bahnsen the brand just for me anymore; I’m doing it for my son, and for the girls in our studio. My son spends a lot of time with me, so the studio has become one big extended family – having a baby around while we are designing the collection brings a new positivity and energy. Somehow, it makes it less stressful.
“It’s also made the clothes more colorful. Before I had my son, my style was really minimalist and monochromatic. But now, it has more playfulness, using bolder colors like red and orange – I dress him in color, and my colleagues have noticed the similarities. Color makes you feel joyful. And the changes in my body have meant I have been designing different silhouettes, too. We make more fitted dresses now, as well as the voluminous ones, and short dresses as well as long [ones] – there’s more variation for different bodies and different ages. It’s something I always wanted to do, but knowing my body better made it easier for me to create those pieces. We’re making garments that people will hopefully want to pass on, to their mom, sister or their own child.
“I still wear my poufy dresses, even to the playpark – it’s easier now my son’s a bit older and I’m not breastfeeding. I just wear them with flats or sneakers – and with something utilitarian on the top, like a knit or trench coat. I love dressing up. It’s a bit of a ritual in the day before I have to rush around with him. It’s stubbornness, I think, to maintain my sense of identity. I really do enjoy the act of getting dressed just for myself.”