THIS SEASON’S OSCAR DE LA RENTA CHILDRENS CAMPAIGN STARS FOUR CHIC MOTHERS AND THEIR DARLING DAUGHTERS. DISCOVER CHARLOTTE GROENEVELD, FOUNDER OF THE FASHION GUITAR, AND HER DAUGHTER STELLA DRESSED UP IN OUR NEW COLLECTION AND READ OUR Q&A WITH CHARLOTTE BELOW.
WHO OR WHAT IS CURRENTLY INSPIRING YOUR STYLE?
I GET INSPIRED BY THE PEOPLE AND FRIENDS AROUND ME, AND OF COURSE THE RUNWAY SHOWS FROM MY FAVOURITE BRANDS GIVE ME A LOT OF INSPIRATION. I LOVE IT WHEN NEW BRANDS EMERGE AND BRING A CERTAIN EDGE CURRENT BIG DESIGNERS MISS, THEREAFTER IT’S A RIPPLE EFFECT AND THESE SMALL TRENDS TURN BIGGER AND GET PICKED UP. IT’S VERY INTERESTING TO SEE!
HOW HAS YOUR STYLE CHANGED SINCE BECOMING A MOTHER?
I ALWAYS TOLD MYSELF I WOULDN’T CHANGE MY STYLE AFTER BECOMING MY MOTHER, AND I’M PROUD TO SAY I DIDN’T! I MUST ADMIT I WEAR LESS HEELS THOUGH, BUT THAT IS NOT ENTIRELY BECAUSE I BECAME A MOM; I’VE ALWAYS BEEN A DRESS + SNEAKERS KIND OF GIRL... OH AND I SWORE NEVER TO WEAR MY GYM CLOTHES TO DROP OFFS... WELL I DO WEAR LEGGINGS BUT THAT’S MORE BECAUSE “TRENDS ALLOW” NOT OFTEN WILL YOU FIND ME IN THE GYM!
HOW ARE YOU TEACHING YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT PERSONAL STYLE?
I LET THEM DECIDE WHAT TO WEAR, TO A CERTAIN EXTENT. SOMETIMES WE NEGOTIATE - ONLY IN STELLA’S CASE, JAMES IS SUPER EASY - THAT SHE CAN PICK HER PANTS, AND I PICK HER TOP. IT WORKS! AND SHE GETS EASIER AND MORE FASHION CONSCIOUS BY THE DAY, IT’S REALLY CUTE. I DON’T SPEAK TO THEM ABOUT FASHION OR BRANDS NECESSARILY BUT THEY PICK THINGS SO ALSO THAT MAKES THEM MORE AWARE. AND THEN LASTLY, I DON’T SHOP SUPER GENDER SPECIFIC. JAMES CAN WEAR WHATEVER HE LOVES, ALSO THAT PINK SHIRT FROM THE GIRLS DEPARTMENT. AND STELLA HAD A TIME SHE PREFERRED JAMES CLOTHES OF HERS, AND DIDN’T WANT DRESSES. WE LET HER TOO!
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT BEING A MOTHER?
THE RELATIONSHIP YOU BUILD WITH YOUR CHILDREN, AND SEEING THEM DEVELOP. AND THIS BECOMES BETTER AND BETTER THE OLDER THEY GET. IT’S NOT ALWAYS EASY BECAUSE THE CRYING FOR ATTENTION GETS REPLACED BY A WHOLE LOT MORE EMOTIONS FROM BEING “OUT THERE IN THE WORLD” AND WE ALSO JUST TRY TO DO WHAT WE THINK IS BEST. BUT IT’S A BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY AND I’M VERY PROUD OF THEM AND WHO WE ARE AS A FAMILY!
HOW DO YOU BALANCE MOTHERHOOD?
PLANNING, PLANNING, PLANNING, AND TRYING TO BE FLEXIBLE, ALTHOUGH THAT IS HARD FOR ME BECAUSE I FUNCTION BEST ON ROUTINES - AND SO DO THE KIDS. BUT IT’S A TRIAL AND ERROR THING FROM THE START AS I STARTED MY BUSINESS JUST BEFORE I GOT PREGNANT WITH JAMES. I DON’T KNOW HOW IT WOULD BE WITHOUT THEM, AND I DON’T WANT TO KNOW, BUT IN THE START WHEN THINGS WERE HARD AND SLEEP WAS A HUGE LUXURY, I HAD A HARD TIME BALANCING. NOW, BEING 7/5 YEARS IN, THINGS ARE STILL BUSY BUT I’M MORE IN CONTROL WHICH GIVES ME MORE PIECE OF MIND.
WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU RECEIVED FROM YOUR MOTHER THAT YOU WILL PASS ON TO YOUR CHILDREN?
DON’T WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT NOT HAVING TIME TO SPEND WITH YOUR FRIENDS. AT SOME POINT MOST OF THEM WILL GET IN THE PHASE WHERE CHILDREN TAKE OVER AND THEIR SCHEDULES BECOME YOURS. EVERYONE IS BUSY, AND EVERYONE FEELS LIKE THEY ARE NOT SUCCESSFUL IN ALSO MAINTAINING A FANTASTIC SOCIAL LIFE... ONE DAY THE KIDS GROW UP AND YOUR ROADS WILL ALL COME TOGETHER AGAIN. IT TAKES SOME TIME...
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PIECE FROM THIS OSCAR DE LA RENTA COLLECTION?
I CANNOT DECIDE FOR MYSELF, I LOVED ALL! BUT FOR STELLA ABSOLUTELY THE SHIRT AND TOP, AND SHE ADORED THE POLKA DOTS DRESS!!