The school mum catwalk in the age of the “super-mum”.

It’s a thing, I know it is, the school mum catwalk.  Well, it’s not really a thing but it is maybe kind of, a minor thing. Sort of, maybe a little bit. I dunno, but I get the feeling it is. Hear me out.

Mamma’s, put your hand up if you feel that pressure, that need to conform, out perform, do better, do more, say more, act smarter, be more, as a mamma at the school gate, on the sports ground, in the mall, at the cafe, at work, on your Instagram and Facebook feeds?  If you haven’t got your hand up, then big props to you, I love that you own your confidence and don’t bend to pressure.  But sometimes mammas, it’s hard right?

But I get that there is a need to please in mammas and we aren’t always kind to ourselves and sometimes, just a little bit, not kind to others. This blog started out being about what to wear on the school drop off.  It was a tongue in cheek look at the working mum and the SAHM (that’s stay at home mum) catwalk that presents itself every morning at my school. There isn’t really one, but it’s amusing to think there could be.  I’ve even had a few remarks on my strut into the school.  I swear I don’t strut, but there’s something about wearing heels that makes me “stride”, for sure. But I’m digressing.  I wanted to share my thoughts on why the motherhood sisterhood need to keep being awesome and working together, because the tribe of mothers I know are freaking awesome and beautiful and helpful and always ready to lend a hand.  Working/non working, it don’t matter.  There is no competition.  Except, I think maybe there is.

There is a competition within us and we only feel validated by hearing that others are in the same boat.  For me, well I constantly press like and share on the “scary mommy” posts I follow on Facebook.  I love Constance Hall and I dig a Kiwi writer call Emily Writes, because they all speak from the heart and talk of the ridiculousness and hardship and joy of motherhood.  I like that.  I like feel a part of a bigger community, that we are all in the trenches together and it sucks sometimes, it’s joyful more than sometimes and we’re in it for the long-haul.

It’s like when you have your first baby and you realise that you’ve just joined the biggest club in the world and the entry fee was a baby.  My world just opened up and aaaaaaalllll the mothering-ness came at me like a spider monkey.  My best friend and I laughingly started a cake competition on ourselves, without really knowing it, trying to out do our own cakes (not each others), year on year.  We lovingly supported each other at every party, with a “what a great cake” shout out as the candles got spat on, knowing we had been up until midnight the night before, icing and decorating that sucker, now that’s #solidarity.

But it’s like that with style and why I started Sisterhood.  I wanted to make other women feel as good about their own confidence in style as I did about the motherhood sisterhood that wrapped itself around me after the birth of the kids and when we joined the school community.

What I’m trying to say is, while there maybe a small faction of women that play in the muddy sandpit of spite, the sisterhood I am privileged to know, are freaking awesome women who lend a hand when needed and when it’s not asked for, get shit done and are completely awesome, they also rock a mean style game.  Whether that be in trainers and active wear or a kick arse power dress. Boom, mothers rock.

Have you got an awesome sisterhood of the motherhood story to share?  I’d love to hear it.

Mmmmwah, EJ, Mother Superior to the Sisterhood of Style xoxo

 

 

 

Gucci Gucci Gooo

I gotta chill and it’s multiplying. I have Gucci envy and it’s been lingering for a while now. I think the envy might be love and I want to go steady and go all the way.

The latest few seasons of Gucci is amaze. This collection of women wearing their Gucci pieces mixed with their other wardrobe pieces is everything. It hasn’t helped that Gilda Kirkpatrick was throwing down some heavy Gucci love, every week on Real Housewives of Auckland and my adoration grew.

New Zealand was so slow to get any designer stores, but since we did, I have only entered Gucci once. No one helped to serve me, so I just stood looking at the shoes like a dog salivates under the table for the last piece of roast chicken at Christmas. New Zealand now has Louis Vuitton, Dior, Prada, but it’s Gucci that gets me all hot under the collar.  The other time I entered their store, was in Sydney, on a girls trip, where I just about sank into the gorgeous prints, fabrics and shoes on display. I had to be carted out of the store, knowing I wanted more.

In my head I rationalised that $885 for a pair of Gucci gold shoes was totes do-able, if I didn’t buy anything else, no other purchases, probably have to flag eating and drinking too, but hey, Gucci shoes, they’d be worth it right? I walked away empty handed but I simply couldn’t stop thinking about them (still haven’t).

Then the next shop I walked into (it was Zara, Queen of the look-a-likes) I found a gold pair of pumps, unadorned like the Gucci babies, but gold, low heeled and I thought perfect. So similar, would it quench my thirst, I thought so.  But it wasn’t to be.  I haven’t worn them since.

So the adoration continues.  Every bit of Alessandro Michele’s (Gucci’s Creative Director) designs just make me swoon.  I am like a magpie drawn to the trompe-loeil (an artistic illusion), the colours,  clashing prints,  crazy designs (there are shoes in the latest collection with tails), the extravagance and even the nearly practical nature of it all.

I have never aspired for designer clothes, it’s not in my nature to want something, just because it’s expensive or society considers it to be a status symbol.  But this stuff, this is like my crack. Can I say that?  Cause you know sisters, crack is whack but Gucci got me high.

So rather than just moan to you about it and think it’s not possible,  I’ve started a Gucci fund, based loosely on Sugar Mamma.TV’s  The $1000 Project.  I’m not dabbling in shares yet (that would be far to Gucci of me) but I’m looking to save little by little and in turn, potentially turn that saving into an investment and use the returns to purchase me the Gold Shoes.  Like Cinderella, I really wanna go to the ball and my glass slippers better be gold.

While I wait and save and salivate, keep me company and share your salivation starvation stories of the sartorial kind.  Or you know, just let me know if you’ve ever coveted a piece of fashion royalty and what did you do about it?

Yours in a Gucci haze, mmmmwah, EJ, the mother of the Sisterhood of Style. xo

Images all from http://www.gucci.com (bookmarked favourite x)

What she said. A client tells all…

Sisters, if you ever wanted to know what a shopping session with me was like, look no further.  My gorgeous client has written me the most incredible testimonial.  I reckon it’s that spot on, that full of emotion, that honest account of a shopping sesh with me and the precise embodiment of why I set up Sisterhood of Style, that I felt it was worthy of a blog post.

From Katie, Mother of 2, 40 years gorgeous:

I’ve been trying to come up with the best way to communicate my thoughts about how our shopping session went. I think the best thing to do is to write a blog post – but I don’t have a blog to post it to! But you do…

Sooooo, I just turned 40. And if that wasn’t enough to deal with, I have 2 young kids (aged 1 and 3). I work 4 days a week in a corporate job. I’m no longer a toned size 10 (understatement of the century). I haven’t bought clothes for myself for years – unless they are either pregnancy oriented or ill-fitting snap purchases from cheap online websites so I can kid myself that it doesn’t matter if they don’t fit. I don’t really know my size any more. I’m still wearing maternity bras even though I stopped breast feeding 6 months ago (we moved house – actually country – and I still haven’t unpacked everything properly). They are way to big and baggy on me – just one of many indicators of how little attention I’ve given my appearance recently. I haven’t lived in NZ for 13 years so I am out of touch with NZ fashion and high street shops. I have lost all interest in fashion because nothing ever fits me (5 years ago I was self proclaimed (!) reigning Queen of London high street shops). Somehow, I’ve managed to lose all confidence in my own ability to look and feel stylish. And, I don’t have the time (or confidence) to tackle the shops on my own, only to walk away with expensive clothes that don’t really fit me.

So, for my 40th birthday, I decided I needed some help to get me feeling good about clothes and my appearance again. This Mother of Style, was EXACTLY what I needed. In our 2 hours together we managed not only to find me quite a few great outfits that I feel good in, but a little bit of confidence in my body, and in my ability to shop was restored.

Thanks EJ for taking the time to think about my wants and needs and for getting to the bottom of what was holding me back. Thanks for running round after me while I tried on clothes that were the wrong size or not quite right for what ever reason. Thanks for your patience and understanding and helping me to understand why I was unsure about something. Rather than me losing confidence in my ability to shop, you re-affirmed my gut feel about an item, by articulating uncertainty I was feeling, embracing it when warranted or gently challenging me to be bold. Thanks for the compliments when we found something that looked and felt great.

Thanks for keeping me in budget! In our 2 hour session, even though I came away with quite a few bags of clothes I love, funnily enough, I left a bit of baggage behind! And, the maternity bras are gone… for good! Its onwards and upwards from here. 

xxx

Thank you so much Katies for sharing your story, it made my heart sing and I felt so happy for you that you found yourself a little bit through our session.  Love your work. Mmmmwah, EJ, the Mother of the Sisterhood xo

If you’d like to get in touch to book your own shopping session, drop me an email emma@sisterhoodofstyle.com or dm me on social media @sisterhoodofstylenz

What to wear on your first day of work

I’m starting a new job on Monday.  I’ll be the new kid on the block, at 42, that’s no mean feat.  I’ll be making friendly chit-chat and skulk out on my own at lunchtime.  I’ll have to ask where the loo is, how to make the coffee, what the kitchen etiquette is and how soon can I bring in my dog.  Yes sisters, you heard it here first, it’s a dog friendly workplace. Winning.

But I know that all of that will be a whisper in the wind by the end of the week, once I’ve worked with these awesome new people for a few days and I get the hang of the place.

What I am becoming super preoccupied with though, is what the hell do I wear?  It’s not a corporate, but I’ll be working with corporate clients, it’s not a big company, but I’ll be working with big companies.  It’s not shorts and jandles and it’s not suit and tie.  It’s the…..dum duh num dum……the inbetween.  Aggggggh (think 1950’s screen siren scream here).

Is anyone else like me and on their first day of school, a new job or a wedding and you absolutely have to purchase a new outfit?  Or is that just me?  Well, it is me, I have to own that.

So, I have a pair of Zara nautical styled (more on that style theme in another blog post soon) trousers I purchased in Sydney recently, that I haven’t worn.  I am having them taken up right now, cause I’d look like Groucho Marx if I didn’t.  But that’s as far as I’ve got.  Bugger.

I don’t want to go full nautical, corporate or too casual.  I am in a quandary.  My old clothes from corporate-ville are maybe a little too tired, but I only need a top,  now I have bottom half sorted.  So it’s a top, oh and some shoes.  I got my nails done last week by Pop Nails and they are fab-u-lous.  So that leaves me needing just a top and shoes, maybe some earrings.  Oh shit. Ok, breathe.

So, work with me sisters,  maybe I suck it up, wear a top I already have and then add some cool shoes.  Wanna know the shoes I’m trying to decide between?  You do? Ok, check these puppies out from Gorman and then these gorgeous ones from Kathryn Wilson.  Swoon much? But I can’t have both.  I have also been coveting these ones from Augustine, but they frustratingly sold out over the weekend.  I need to up my game, as I keep spying things I love and missing out by waiting too long.  Anyhoo, I digress.

What’s really exciting about starting a new job at this particular place and in an advertising and marketing environment means I can wear a T-shirt to work and it not be a major faux pas.  Call me crazy, but that is just beyond amazing.  I’m not talking simple T-Shirt and no bling.  I’m talking blinging that sucker out with a necklace and jacket and some mules and some other stuff and things, but just the mere thought of wearing the T-Shirt, with adornment, has got me all hot under the collar.  It probably means I should make more of an effort to find that elusive perfect white T  that I’ve been hunting for then shouldn’t I.

So wish me luck sisters, the ideas could all change tomorrow, but I reckon I am pretty darn excited for what I have in store for me in this new role.  I can’t wait to learn new stuff, meet new people and get some serious shit done.  I am chomping at the bit.  It’ll make for some exciting satorial adventures again too.

If you want to see the whole look come together, make sure you follow me on instagram @sisterhoodofstylenz and check out my Monday morning post.

And sisters, remember, if you need help styling YOUR first day of work at a new job, contact me today to book a styling session,  I would love to work wtih you.  Email me at emma@sisterhoodofstyle.com today.

Mmmmmwah, love EJ, the mother of the sisterhood of style xo

The Transition Mission – what to wear when the weather won’t play nice.

It’s Spring, no it’s summer, fark, it’s a throw back to biblical times with a flood and a rain storm like no other.  What the hell do I wear?

Yes sisters, ’tis the season of the transition mission.  That weird time at the beginning of Spring, when you get all hot under the collar for cutoffs and bikinis at the first hint of sun that warms you, but are thoroughly disappointed by its lack of committment.

So to save you the hassle of figuring it out, I came up with a quick fire list of my top five, trans-season, transition mission, Spring/Summer wardrobe staples.  You likely already have them in your wardrobe, but if you insist on investing, consider buying high-end, quality stuff (your country of origin/locally made if you really want to fly the flag) and have them in your wardrobe for longer than just this season.  That way, when Spring/Summer rolls around next year – funny how it does this annually but we always get caught out – then you have at least two of these options to tide you over. This quick-list of my 5 best options can be mixed and matched for daytime to nighttime looks and for casual to work-wear.

Jeans – seems obvious, but these are the staple you need all year around.  If you are trying to update the ones you have, check out the the look du jour 2016 in jeans which are often distressed (not depressed) with rips and a boyfriend cut.  There’s also a new cut called the girlfriend jean, think a little tighter than the boyfriend, cropped in the leg and, according to Marie Claire, with a more flattering  leaner silhouette than the boyfriend.  These baggier jeans look great with a t-shirt or shirt worn tucked but slouchy.  Team it with trainers for a relaxed look or this season’s hot shoe trend – the mule, for a more glam look.

Kaftan/kimono or sleeveless vest – the kaftan is a great layering option, soft and floaty and goes great over a sleeveless top or a long sleeve T-Shirt – which means it really is a transition mission star.  My personal fav kimonos are from Augustine and I see that they have re-issued the style that I love (and have two of) again for this new drop, in different colours.   A sleeveless coat is also a great spring and autumnal wonder-number.  I reckon they streamline your figure and a camel one that my friend purchased from Storm the other day, looked amazing over white, mixed with denim.  These two looks offer very different styles, but they essentially provide the same service – coverage and an extra layer while the weather acts like a turd.

Heeled Sandals /open toe wedges/clogs or mules. Some of these options will likely  be a part of your wardrobe already, because they are easily a summer staple too.  But if they’re not, consider investing.  I’m talking open toe, sandal, clog or mule. Check out Kathyrn Wilson, there are a tonne to choose from here.  Anything with a heel (this is essential in this inclement weather to keep your feet and the bottom of your trousers, dry for when the weather turns bat shit crazy.   Surely the look of the shoe season in 2016, is the mule. I wore them back in the early noughties, and just like Carly Simon sang, they’re “coming around again”.  My pick for mules are these Gucci look-a-likes, divine but for a very affordable price.  I don’t think you don’t have to be an early adopter for this look, but it may be worth hunting around for some, cause they are likely to be lingering for seasons to come.

Maxi and Midi Skirts – these perennial darlings are awesome.  I kept holding out for a Spell leopard print maxi skirt number and when I finally saved up and went to hit purchase, they had sold out :-(. But I will keep looking for one, just like I will for that elusive perfect white T-Shirt. But if leopard print ain’t your thang, have no fear, there are a stack of great looking maxi and midi skirts in all the prints in the shops at the moment.  Another favourite of mine, but I’m not convinced they suit my hips, are the pleated skirts that are showing up everywhere.  A longer line skirt (this one is from Ruby) for this transitional season means that you can easily forego stockings and not have to drown in fake tan by showing your lily whites just yet.

Culottes – I haven’t gone here yet, but man, am I tempted.  They are divine to look at and I always get a little fan girly when I see a sister rocking a pair.  I’ve spied these choice ones from Kowtow – with a cute paper-bag waist to boot.  The culotte can look like a skirt, but with the versatility of a pant.  It has the coverage for the transition mission, but not so much you feel swamped if it gets hot.  If you’re worried about them chopping you off at the calf, then wear them with a wedge or heel to give you height.

Hoping these options are helpful in keeping you dressed for success this weird and wacky season.  So come on sisters, share your style suggestions for Spring with the sisterhood, I’d love to hear your magic ideas.  And if you need some styling help, please get in touch with me, I’d love to help xx

Mmmmmwah, EJ, the mother of the sisterhood.  x emma@sisterhoodofstyle.com