with love... on Mother's Day
Here are some insights from our team!
Jo, Iris MD & her daughter Poppy, 2nd year fashion degree student
Does your daughter raid your wardrobe?
Absolutely yes, what daughter wouldn’t want to raid their Mum’s wardrobe when she is lucky enough to work in the fashion industry and it is full of fabulous labels like Isabel Marant, BA&SH, Ganni & Ulla Johnson! I am often hunting for certain items from my wardrobe, and more often than not, we seem to want to be wearing the same thing, on the same day, and she will come down the stairs wearing the one thing I will be looking for! Not only does she raid my wardrobe but my special Phillip Kingsley shampoo & conditioner too, nothing more frustrating than standing in the shower with wet hair to find your shampoo has vanished!
What are your views on their style?
Poppy’s style has definitely evolved over the years and I do love her sense of style now, having a great knack of mixing vintage with new. I can’t say I have always felt that way though, I wasn’t too enamoured when all she wanted to wear was pink and dress up as Princess Aurora everyday!
What are their views on your style?
Mum wears a lovely mix of evening and casual wear. She has a beautiful collection of boho florals, my favourite to borrow at the moment is the BA&SH ‘Felicia’ dress but also her vintage sequin cardigan and a couple of her Vampire’s Wife dresses. I have to say I am not not such a fan of her extensive collection of very subtly varying black trousers but when paired with one of her beautiful tops I don’t mind them so much!
What items of clothing do you share?
Poppy is a size 4/6 and I am a size 8/10 so certain items are off limits, so it tends to be jumpers & sweats and some of my dresses, which she will cinch in at the waist with a vintage belt or something to give it her own sense of style. She loves to wear one of my by Iris Shae dresses for instance and gives it a far cooler, younger edge with vintage cowboy boots and a big chunky necklace. We also both seem to fight over who is wearing my 20 year old UGG boots throughout the winter weekends!
What part do clothes/style play within the mother/daughter relationship
I have always loved fashion and Poppy has definitely inherited my passion for it and taken it to a whole new level! She is in her second year of a fashion degree at Central St Martin’s. Clothes are definitely a shared passion and something we like to connect on, we often find ourselves going on shopping trips or spending a Friday morning at Portobello Market together.
I certainly only have myself to blame for her expensive taste in clothes!
Jo & Poppy's Picks
Annie, Creative Director and her daughter Lola, 3rd year languages student
Does your daughter raid your wardrobe?
The answer to this is a definitive yes! I think it has been one of the main causes of arguments through the teenage years! There was the time I famously couldn’t find my brand new Chinti and Parker sweater and it tuned up on her insta account being worn on a ski slope! She doesn’t always like the clothes I wear, or likes them as she says “if she was a mum” but would never wear them….When she was going through her what we called ‘Sports Direct’ phase all enormous sweat shirts and big baggy tracksuit bottoms it was actually my husbands wardrobe that was raided more than mine…all the kids were after his vintage Champion hoodies!
What are your views on your daughters style?
This has evolved over the years (and now I love her style) but there have definitely been some moments! As much as you have to, at times, bite your tongue, I think their fashion sense is an integral part of their formative years and and developing their own identities just sometimes the exploration times can be a bit tricky - I have 100% found myself saying those words that you always swore that you never would at the risk of sounding like your own Mother “you are not going out wearing that”!!
What are their views on your style?
I think she likes my style but to her feels like an eternity before she will be wearing the clothes that I do - she does sometimes say she looks forward to a time in her life where she can look more put together and feminine and leave the student grunge behind her so I think she appreciates what I wear even if she wouldn’t wear it herself..
What items of clothes do you share?
Coats! She is always nicking my coats out of the hall as a quick grab on the way out - trainers also get shared as we have the same size feet :)
What part do clothes/ style play within the mother/daughter relationship ?
How we dress is an integral part of our own identity as women so from an early age our daughters are learning from us. As a result I did feel some responsibility I think to be a role model to my daughters - I wouldn’t for example have wanted them to see me wearing high heels every day or feeling that my appearance mattered overly to me in case that rubbed off on her ie giving her a message that girls/women are overtly judged on our appearances. That said I have worked in the fashion industry her whole life so she has seen that clothes and style are important to me and to my career so I am not sure exactly what affect that has had on her - hopefully she has some appreciation for aesthetics and style as a result if nothing else!
Annie & Lola's Picks
Lori, Retail Director and her daughter Aerin, Account Executive
Does your daughter raid your wardrobe?
Yes, all the time!
What are your views on their style?
Aerin has a very cool dress sense, I find myself asking her opinion on what I wear more and more
What are their views on your style?
I think she likes my taste, as she will still seek my approval if she is buying something new
What items of clothing do you share?
Knitwear, tops and shoes
What part do clothes/style play within the mother/daughter relationship
It’s very important to us. It’s also a good way to communicate together, as the older Aerin gets the harder it becomes to learn about our individual lives. Going shopping together also involves lunches or dinners together, where we share our thoughts not just on style.
Lori & Aerin's Picks
Jane, Head Stylist at IRIS and her daughter Elizabeth, student
Does your daughter raid your wardrobe?
If she ever has I’ve never discovered her! As she’s so tiny she struggles to wear any of my clothes or shoes...thank goodness.
What are your views on your daughters style?
I’m not sure if she has a ‘style’ yet. The way she wears her school uniform is certainly her own style!! I love it when she wears baggy tracksuit bottoms, trainers, no makeup and a little crop top.. So cute.
What are their views on your style?
On my style, she thinks some of my choices are weird but she likes me in what she calls ‘classic simplicity with a twist ‘which I think sums me up really well .
What items of clothes do you share?
I have a collection of vintage designer bags and accessories which she uses and I love that these pieces are being reused and loved all over again.
What part do clothes/ style play within the mother/daughter relationship ?
Our opinions vary so much on fashion and style …which is only natural considering our ages. There are always heated discussions about what is and isn’t appropriate attire. We love pouring over all of the looks from the biannual fashion weeks and we both agree that what ever your age, size or colour if you love yourself you’ll look amazing in whatever you’re wearing .
Jane & Elizabeth's Picks
Rakeb, Store Manage Hampstead Store and her daughters Edna & Blien
Does your daughter raid your wardrobe?
Both my daughters raid my wardrobe all the time.!!
What are your views on their style?
Edna’s style is more shirts, jumpers, jeans and trainers which is a smart casual look that suits her reserved personality, whereas Blien’s style is more jeans, leather/denim jackets, T-shirts, chunky boots/trainers and dresses which is a cooler/rock chic style and suits her outgoing personality.
What are their views on your style?
They both compliment me on my style of wardrobe and feel like I’m very stylish
What items of clothing do you share?
We share my shirts, jumpers, coats/jackets, trainers, and jewellery.
What part do clothes/style play within the mother/daughter relationship?
They are inspired by my style and sometimes they look up to me for inspirations and ideas when going shopping to buy clothing.
Rakeb, Edna & Blien's Picks
Rosanna, Social Media Manager at IRIS and her mum Nicola, Senior Fashion Business Lecturer
Does your daughter raid your wardrobe?
My daughter Rosanna explores my wardrobe and finds things as she gets older that she wants to "borrow" lots of vintage finds and occasion wear pieces.
What are your views on their style?
Rosie’s style is youthful with underpinning of classics, she values good materials and longevity.
What are their views on your style?
My mum is very good at layering and accessorising, she rocks a French beret and always had fun details on her outfits like brooches, silk scarves or fun socks. She has always worked in the fashion industry so holds attention to detail with each piece she chooses. If I go shopping with her she has a strong opinion on what I choose to make sure I am spending wisely which is always helpful.
What items of clothing do you share?
We share items I have forgotten about, like my 1990’s super long black coat. Or my silk shirt and boule coat I wore when I was pregnant with her . The animal print shirt is a beautiful print, the coats are generous durable fabrics and classic colours.
What part do clothes/style play within the mother/daughter relationship
Sharing clothes is like our mutual history intertwined with stories about each item we both share a love of clothes and do many shopping trips together.
Rosanna & Nicola's Picks
