What Mums Wear: Anjana Mani Khallouf, managing director Shameless Media.
"Not only did I not know what my style was after kids, I didn't really know who I was either."
What Mums Wear is a series that takes a deep dive into what mothers really wear and how our style evolves throughout life and motherhood. To read last month’s edition with Lauren Sams, AFR Fashion Editor, here.
Meet Anjana Mani Khallouf, managing director of Shameless Media – the home of Shameless, Everybody Has A Secret, The Shameless Book Club, and the newly launched fashion and beauty pillar Style-ish.
Weekly routine.
With two little boys (aged 5 and 3.5), our weeks are super busy, which is no surprise to all the parents out there who are juggling work and parenthood. From Monday to Thursday, I work in the office at the Shameless Media HQ in Cremorne, Melbourne. We have an incredible nanny, Sandra, who has been by my side ever since I went back to work (and who I couldn't do any of it without). She helps with drop-offs and pick-ups a few days a week so that James and I can get to work on time. My commute is a glorious 25-minute train ride… bliss!
My weekend begins on a Friday at home with our youngest. I walk our dog, Teddy, and catch up with friends for breakfast before heading to Terra Madre to stock up on the now-empty fridge and pantry. My mother's group has brilliantly instigated Champagne Fridays (brilliant, I know!), where we gather to debrief on the week that was while the kids run wild at one of our homes. Then it’s straight into swimming lessons before heading out to dinner because I have a strict ‘no-cooking on Fridays’ policy.
Saturdays start early with pilates and then are usually followed by a slow morning with the kids. When we are all feeling ready to face the world we will usually head out for a walk/scoot/bike ride with Teddy and grab coffee. I would say most weekends, we tend to venture into the city, Fitzroy, or the south side of town (we live in the north) for a late lunch or early dinner at one of our faves. We LOVE taking the kids out to eat at our favourite places, and they have started to really love it, too. Sundays are often spent at home if we don't have any commitments. You will find us playing in the garden, chilling with the kids and often finishing with a homemade pizza night, BBQ or a roast dinner, weather-dependent.
How I approach getting dressed.
I had to simplify things when I went back to work. My sense of style took a big hit as a result of having two babies back-to-back during a global pandemic and spending close to three years at home. So, when the time came to return to work, I slowly overhauled my wardrobe to ensure it consisted of practical but interesting pieces. Pieces that made me look and feel good and that largely worked well together without too much planning – a capsule uniform of sorts. Those who parented through the pandemic will understand the need for the overhaul to balance out how much of it consisted of activewear vs. non-activewear. So now, on Sunday evenings after the kids are in bed, I religiously check the weather forecast for the week ahead (Melbourne girlies, know!) and map out my outfits accordingly. I also take that opportunity to make sure everything is steamed and ready, so I don't have to give it too much thought each morning. Though, if you fact-check this with my husband, James, he’ll tell you that at least once a week, he catches me running around re-steaming something in the final moments before running for the train because the Melbourne weather has forced a late outfit change!
The relationship between style and identity.
I felt an immense shift in identity when I became a mum. I feel having my children was like being born again. This is why, for me, it was scary to navigate who I was afterwards because my career and my life pre-kids had felt so consuming, and suddenly, there were these two little souls who consumed all of me. Add the global pandemic to that, and suddenly, getting ready was the furthest thing from my priority when it had once been so important. Not only did I not know what my style was after kids, I didn't know who I was either.
After the first six months, I started to re-emerge and began to see little glimpses of the old me or things I felt I could incorporate into my new life. Then, it was just a bit of a dance to figure out what worked and what didn't. I danced with what I wanted to do with my career, how that was going to fit into my life as a mum, and what my non-negotiables were. Slowly, with my new body post-baby, I began a similar dance to my style. What was going to serve me now vs. what I had to let go of? How did I want to feel, and what was the most practical way to start finding my style again? So this is where the tonal capsule wardrobe started to play out. As I gained my confidence as a mother, I felt I could also regain confidence with adding some more fun into my wardrobe. Five years after the birth of my first son, and three and half years after my second, I am finally SO THRILLED to feel like I have been able to grab hold of the best parts of old me and learnt how to mould them into the new me for the benefit of my overall identity, and this has had a natural impact on both the success of my career and my style.
How my three words guide my style.
Using Allison Bornstein’s brilliant three-word method, I would tell you that my style is polished, interesting and confident. In short, this means my current wardrobe comes together in a polished way. I am shopping for more unexpected and interesting pieces to add to my capsule, and when I am dressed, I ultimately want to feel confident and cool. This tends to guide how I get ready every day, regardless of the day of the week and what I am doing. I also lean on good accessories. Think; sunnies, bags, jewellery and shoes to lift my overall look. I must add that I also have a high-low approach to fashion. The heavy-lifting items are usually where I will spend more and look for the best quality. Still, often accessories and sometimes even shoes may be more of a fashion item that I can feel OK with finding a more cost-effective option that may only last a season.
How my style has evolved.
As I get older, I am much less likely to be influenced by a trend, but I will buy into a look as long as it speaks to my overall approach to style. It is less impulse shopping and more consideration about buying items that fit within my existing wardrobe. I’ve always loved fashion, and I think that came from a place of self-expression when I was younger. During my years of pregnancy, maternity leave and early motherhood, however, I did find myself falling into a sea of sameness with what every other young mum was wearing on a daily basis. I am finding a really strong pull to now embrace what the new seasons bring, but really think about how it can build on my existing wardrobe whilst leaning more towards that ‘unexpected’ or ‘interesting’ addition to ensure my look feels uniquely me.
What’s in my wardrobe?
I have fallen hard for the wrong shoe method. I’ll wear a jeans/trouser with a chunky leather thong, suiting with a sneaker or sandals, and cargo pants with heels. I love the juxtaposition. Aside from that style guide, my wardrobe is made up largely of denim, tailored trousers and blazers, more t-shirts than I would like to admit, good quality knitwear and a few mini skirts for good measure. Most of my wardrobe falls into neutrals, resulting in a lot of tonal dressing, with the pops of interest and colour coming from my accessories and a few good coats and jackets.
If I’m going out for dinner, it’s more of my usual uniform, but maybe with a bit more skin/sheer textures for fun. For an event however I have quite a strict rule of you can never be overdressed, and I do love to pull out all the stops.
The key to my daily looks…
Layers. I like to build a look using a few quality, simple pieces to deliver an outfit that I am confident in. For work, that might be a pair of jeans, a white tee tucked in, a belt, blazer, trench and a knit over my shoulders with a flat thong or a Toteme mule. For the weekend run around, it could be a pair of flared Lululemon leggings, a hoodie, a trench, a sweater over my shoulders and sneakers. And for a night out, I like to wear many different textures of a tonal look layered together. Ultimately, it is the layering that brings my looks together and makes me feel my best. In short, there will always be something draped over my shoulders.
Most worn items.
P. Johnson Femme Peta denim and Pamela Pant, vests, singlets and tees.
Uniqlo cashmere and Airism tee shirts.
Camilla and Marc - everything.
A solid collection of ballet slippers.
Skims undies - THE BEST
My husband’s jackets and tees that I am obsessed with wearing anything oversized.
What Mums Wear is a series that takes a deep dive into what mothers really wear and how our style evolves throughout life and motherhood. To read last month’s edition with Lauren Sams, AFR Fashion Editor, here.
Love this series and seeing relatable stories from other mums (even when they are continents away)! Coincidentally, just started to listen to style-ish podcast as well 🤗
Loved reading this :)