Ever been intrigued to see what your favourite Inflencers have in their wardrobes? Want to know where they like to shop, what their favourite items are and discover their most treasured accessories? This new Series of mine lets us discover the truth behind the style, the old clobber among the new and reveal the stories within the wardrobe.

That Mummy Smile

 

Wednesday’s Wardrobe Presents….

WHO? Steph Douglas @steph_dontbuyherflowers

TELL US ABOUT YOU? I’m 37 years old, married to Doug, we have three kids – Buster (7), Mabel (5) and Frank (5 months). I run Don’t Buy Her Flowers selling thoughtful gift packages. We started as gifts for new mums and it’s evolved to also include birthdays, bereavement, get well – any time you want to send someone some TLC in the post. I’m enthusiastic, impatient and not very nice when I’m hungry. I’m currently very very tired!

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE? Urgh at the moment it’s distinctly lacking as my body is at that strange not-pregnant-anymore-but-can’t-yet-fit-in-my-clothes stage. Before havng Frank I’d say it was a lot of high waisted stuff, love a good shirt, own a lot of jumpsuits, and there’s a lot of leopard print in the mix. Quite a lot of my clothes have a bit of an 80s feel. I think I was just getting in to my style-stride in the last couple of years and I’m looking forward to getting back there at some point.

WHO OR WHAT INSPIRES YOU? Instagram is brilliant for seeing clothes on real people. Terrible for your wallet, but great for introducing new brands and small businesses, and seeing how others put their outfits together.

DESCRIBE THE CURRENT STATE OF YOUR WARDROBE! A terrible mish mash of maternity and baggy stuff I can throw on and I basically wear because it fits, and my old clothes just taunting me. I think it’s a bit of unknown after a baby because it’s not just whether you’re bigger on not – your shape changes. I have really small boobs but at the moment they’re massive and I’ve no idea how to dress them, plus they need to be accessible for feeding. Wearing clothes out of necessity rather than because you like them isn’t a lot of fun, but I’m not going to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe for a shortish period. If it’s anything like after I had Buster and Mabel, I will want to burn everything I’ve worn for the last few months once I finish feeding! As you can see from the picture, it’s a mess. I’ll get to it in a few months… 

WHAT’S YOUR MOST RECENT FASHION PURCHASE? Ooh, some beautiful red buckled Russell & Bromley boots. They’re quite different for Russell & Bromley, which I always think of as sensible footwear for a slightly older lady, but they had these boots and also some very cool trainers that took me by surprise. They were a total impulse buy – I saw them in the window and thought ‘fuck it, I’ve earned them’. Whilst the rest of me is changing shape, these will always fit.

IS THERE A TREND YOU’RE LOVING RIGHT NOW? I’m so unaware of what is on trend at the moment… I think it’s another thing that makes you feel a bit vulnerable when you’re a new mum. You’re locked away for a few months and then when you’re ready to get out again you’re not quite sure who you are or what you wear.

OLDEST ITEM IN YOUR WARDROBE YOU CAN’T SEEM TO PART WITH? I’ve a dress that I got at a vintage market before we were married, so at least 10 years ago, that’s a Diorling by Christian Dior dress. I’ve had it tailored since as I lost my boobs after the first two kids and it was all gapey. It’s pretty much backless and I’m not sure I will wear it again but it’s really different and I loved it when I found it.

ANY FASHION FAILS YOU’VE MADE? I think being a teen in the 90s meant lots of trying to unsuccessfully emulate the Spice Girls – a union jack halter neck was probably a low point BUT I thought I looked the bees knee.

IS THERE A PARTICULAR COLOUR YOU’RE DRAWN TO? Green

FAVOURITE HIGH STREET BRAND AND WHY? & other stories. I find things I like in there without fail and it has some more edgy or different stuff as well as the staples. 

This is Steph’s favourite outfit in her wardrobe: A soft leather skirt from & Other Stories and fab blouse from BIMBA y Lola. As worn in above pic when her and Doug spent a weekend in Paris last year before she found out she was pregnant with Frank!

MOST TREASURED ACCESSORY YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT? I tend to have a favourite that I wear every day for a few months and then unintentionally swap for something else. I’ve lots of pieces of jewellery that are special to me – I’ve a necklace and earrings from Kelly at Cult Of Youth that I love. I also love a massive Pat Butcher earring so have quite a good collection of those.

HAS YOUR STYLE DIFFERED FROM PRE TO POST MOTHERHOOD? I think it’s improved significantly with age and learning what suits my body better, and also probably buying less but buying better quality clothes. I probably make more effort now

Steph, pre-kids (the days when all you needed was a teeny tiny bag for your phone and fags!) on her and Doug’s very first holiday to Mexico.

And finally…

WHAT MESSAGE WILL YOU BE GIVING (or do you already) TO YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT STYLE AND BODY CONFIDENCE? The big two have their own style – I haven’t been able to choose their clothes since they were about two! Buster had a pirate phase (he dressed as a pirate every day for 6 months when he was three) and Mabel went through a tutu phase, which she’d pair with an eclectic mix of patterns and colours and boots and she looked like a little Helena Bonham Carter. I’m really determined that body size and shape doesn’t become a thing, especially for Mabel, because it was for me growing up and I’m annoyed by how much energy and time I wasted on it and it still affects me now if I let it. They’re both completely oblivious to nakedness and different shapes at the moment – Mabel stripped in the street to remove a layer when she was hot yesterday and just thought it was hilarious that she was standing on the pavement in tights and trainers. I’m sure it’s a matter of time before things change, but I love the innocence they have now.

QUICK FIRE QUESTIONS:

LEOPARD OR STRIPE? Leopard

SECOND HAND OR DOUBLE CLICK? Both

HEELS OR FLATS? Heels when I’m out out, day to day it’s always flats (usually trainers)

STATEMENT EARRINGS OR NECKLACE? earrings

HOARDER OR CLEARER? Hoarder

I’ve met Steph a few times and she’s a real beautiful gem, with a contagious smile. Steph’s company ‘Don’t Buy Her Flowers’ is an ingenious brand that delivers beautifully thought out gift packages for all occasions, delivered straight to your door. Head over to her website to have a good look at the range on offer. Follow her on Instagram for plenty of yummy Frank pics, family antics (Mabel is HILARIOUS!) and truly real life motherhood at it’s finest.

by Laura xx