Could you start by telling us a
bit about yourself?
Hi, I am Leah, mum to two little girls, Evie (3) and Astrid (11
months) and wife to Ryan. I am predominantly a stay-at-home mum and sometimes
writer and stylist. I love spending time with my family and friends, watching
my kids grow into funny little people and of course fashion. In my down time
(between 7.30-10pm at night!), I enjoy unwinding with a cuppa and tim tam,
checking out some of my favourite blogs and flipping through new and old
fashion mags (If you are looking for a copy of Vogue circa 2002, there’s a good
chance I’d have it).
Can you
tell us about your blog ‘Stylish Mumma’ and what inspired you to start it?
When I fell pregnant with Astrid, I started to spend a lot of time
Googling pregnancy style and looking for blogs that were a bit more focused
towards ‘mum style’ but still very on-trend, just practical to a mum’s
lifestyle. I struggled to find what I was looking for and at around 2am after
getting up to settle Evie, Stylish Mumma was born. Stylish Mumma aims to be an
online destination for fashion inspiration and styling advice that embraces
trend driven looks and adapts them to suit the lifestyle of mothers.
How have
you developed your style?
I think my style is constantly evolving and changes with each
phase in my life. Over the years I have learnt some pieces are worth investing
in, whilst some things aren’t. I am very inspired by images from street style
photographers and stick to my “do I have three things this would go with” rule
of thumb when making new purchases (especially of the investment variety).
Having kids means more off-duty dressing, however, it also has enabled me to be
more creative when it comes to adapting trends to suit my lifestyle. At the
moment I would say my style is relaxed with a touch of luxe, layers and a nod
towards current trends.
Do you
have any fashion rules when putting an outfit together?
Not really, I see getting dressed in the morning as a form of
creative expression, sometimes what I wear can be a dictator of my mood, or
what sort of day I expect to have. I think the best thing to remember is whilst
something may look great on a 6 foot runway model, it may not translate the
same way on us mere mortals. So work out what your assets are, what you’d
rather not flaunt and dress accordingly. Fashion is about having fun, which is
what I remind my husband when he gives me that ‘you’re wearing that look’.
You have
a knack for finding affordable yet fashionable pieces; what should women
look for to get the most out of their budget?
I find stocking up on basics from stores that offer deals when you
buy two or more can be quite cost effective. White, grey, black, navy and
stripe tees/tanks are great non expensive items that you don’t need to spend a
lot of money on. Same goes for denim, it’s more about finding the right wash
and right fit, if something is ill fitting, it doesn’t matter how expensive it
is, it won’t look good. Accessories is another great way to add pizazz to an
outfit without spending too much, a beautiful scarf or some stacked rings and
layered necklaces can totally chance the look of an otherwise rather mundane
outfit. I do spend more money on investment pieces and definitely have my go-to
brands. A good quality blazer, silk shirt, high-end shoes, or that on-of-a-kind,
will wear forever statement piece is definitely worth the investment. It is
also worth signing up for store VIP cards and customer loyalty programs, as you
will get special deals and incentives, plus be in the know with any upcoming
sales and promotions.
If you
could give our readers one bit of fashion advice what would it be? (Leah’s
words of wisdom)
If you don’t feel comfortable and confident in what you are
wearing, change your outfit until you do.
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