KATE DARVILL
SENIOR FASHION EDITOR, VOGUE Mum to twins Matilda and Jack, five; twins Stella and Olive, three; and Frida, 11 months.
1. “Nine in the Mirror is a really great website and Instagram account with tips about stylish dressing while pregnant. The philosophy of this website is choosing non-maternity clothing that is ‘bump friendly’, which is great, because it means you can wear these pieces after your baby arrives. Another tip is to buy things during pregnancy that are nursing-friendly/front-opening.”
2. “It’s a sad but true fact that when you have small kids you spend what seems like endless hours at the park, so it’s good to have a go-to hat for sun protection. I love Sarah J Curtis hats for their quality and design.”
3. “For sanity, at night I found it beneficial to help set a relaxing ‘non-kid’ mood by lighting a candle or two and letting the delicious scents wash away the day. Coqui Coqui’s Lavman is a favourite.”
4. “One of the handiest baby bags I’ve had was given to me after Stella and Olive were born. Designed by two clever Sydneysiders, State of Escape bags are a great size, come in plenty of colours and are easy to clean because they’re made from neoprene – genius!”
5. “When I found out I was having twins, I knew the only way I was going to be able to cope and the only way I could at least attempt to be calm was to have a routine for the babies. I really loved the routines from Save Our Sleep by Tizzie Hall. Even though this book is seen as a bit controversial by some, I took what worked for me and ignored the rest. I found the routines to be a great guide for me to stick to, and my babies thrived.”
6. “I love books and have always read to my kids. Having four daughters, I think it’s important to teach them to aim big in life and to do whatever it is that inspires and makes them happy, which is why I like these books. It’s also great for Jack to know equality and be inspired by women.”
7. “Seed is my go-to for the kids, as it has great styles that suit each personality. The clothes and shoes won’t break the bank, either, which is ideal when you have five kids!”
8. “The only piece of maternity wear I invested in was maternity jeans – so important for comfort and easy to style with tops, shirts, sweaters and jackets. I loved the boyfriend jeans from Soon Maternity as they are a good cut and have a discreet side elastic that means you can still tuck shirts into the front.”