What Mums Wear: Rachelle Young, stylist and The Row/Phoebe Philo collector.

"The common theme is their desire to wear clothes that reflect style, professionalism and ultimately give them confidence."

Jun 26, 2025

What mums wear is a series that explores the intersection of style, motherhood, career and self. If you know someone I should consider for this series or you are a brand who would like to partner on a future newsletter, email jade.considerthis@gmail.com.

Meet: Rachelle Young, stylist, and The Row/Phoebe Philo collector.

Her morning smoothie recipe and acne-prone skincare routine.

My typical day involves getting up around 6.30am with the kids. I usually start my day with my greens drink, followed by my breakfast smoothie (frozen blueberries, avocado, spinach leaves, vanilla pea protein powder, collagen and water) which sets me up for the day. It’s always pretty chaotic organising everyone so the smoothie allows me to eat on the go!

I have sensitive skin and am prone to hormonal acne so I always prioritise my morning cleanse, moisturise and sunscreen ritual. Since having children, I like to invest in my skin health as I usually run out of time to apply makeup. I have found a combination of products from Auteur, Biologique Recherche and Augustinus Bader plus a few prescribed from my dermatologist to have really improved my skin recently. I guess you could say I approach my skin and food in the same way I dress - clean and minimal. Then I am usually pushing the kids out the door around 8 for school so I can get off to work at a reasonable time.

On the importance of prioritising herself.

Exercise was always a huge part of my lifestyle but having kids resulted in a period of time where I didn’t prioritise my own health and wellbeing. A recent health scare made me reflect on the importance of carving out time for my own health. I now prioritise finishing off my day with a hot pilates or hot yoga class or a just a long walk to clear my head and get inspired and organised for the following day. I do have to push myself most days to attend a class but there’s no better feeling than the post-exercise endorphin release, plus I can now almost do a wheel pose as well as my 7 year old! This time for myself makes me a more balanced and ultimately more patient parent or as my kids would say less “shouty”!

Notes on getting dressed: start with a single item.

When getting dressed each day I usually pick one item. Whether it’s a jacket, pair of pants, shoes or bag, that I want to wear and use it as a base to create my outfit. I’ve spent a good portion of my working life wearing scrubs so the freedom of getting dressed each day into pieces I love is actually very exciting. I am an introvert especially in large groups so a comfortable and chic outfit is like my superman cape - it gives me the confidence to face situations I find daunting.

Where I live my style is somewhat different to what the majority of women I am surrounded by. That would have been something that bothered me in my teenage years and early twenties but since having children I have less worry for what other people think. I dress for myself (and my best friend who shares a similar love for fashion!).

On seeking inspiration everywhere.

In terms of inspiration for dressing - it can come from anywhere. It can be an outfit I have seen the previous day on Pinterest or in person, or even just the change of season which allows the opportunity to re-explore a part of my wardrobe that hasn’t been worn for a while. I am forever saving images of looks I find inspiring and you can find my notes app on my phone filled with ideas that I’ve seen on the run. Some of the people whose images fill these folders include Julie Pelipas, Barbara Martelo, Yumi Shin and Lauren Santo Domingo. Historically I also appreciate the style of Lee Radziwell, Jane Birkin and of course, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy.

Rachelle’s relationship with fashion.

My earliest memory of an interest in fashion was when I was 4. My mum would always pick my outfit for kindy in the evening after I had gone to bed and leave it hanging on my cupboard door. I distinctly remember the excitement of waking to find out what she had selected (and sometimes the devastation if it wasn’t my favourite outfit). As a teenager I went through the common angst of wanting to fit in and wear what everyone else was wearing - deck shoes were a trend I committed to early and as a result, I can’t bring myself to go back there now they are re-emerging! Whilst studying my health degrees at university, I took a casual weekend job at an Australian designer store and that’s where my love for fashion continued to grow. I loved the process of styling women, whether it be for an occasion or helping them build a new wardrobe. Plus the excitement of opening a box of new stock felt like Christmas! The greatest and most rewardable aspect of working in fashion however has been the beautiful friendships I have made and continue to make along the way.

Wardrobe favourites include The Row, Celine By Phoebe Philo, Jil Sander and vintage jewellery.

I have so many favourite items in my wardrobe, choosing one would be like asking to pick a favourite child! Currently I am reaching for denim with my favourite pair being The Row Burt jeans - yes I also shop in the men’s section. In terms of bags, for everyday I still love my The Row Margaux 17 bag (Cos suede alt here) and I have also been using my new Jil Sander cross body bag that I was recently gifted when I attended their Fall 2025 show in Milan (keep an eye out for this one which will be available in stores in September). Vintage jewellery is also a little obsession. I sourced some beautiful pieces on my recent trip to Paris plus I’m forever wearing the pieces Emrys from Love Well Sourced has found for me. I find with my minimalist style, accessories like jewellery and scarves create an element of difference.

I have a couple of pieces that hold a special place in my wardrobe and I could never part with. One of these is the Celine by Phoebe Philo sparkling moon hoop earrings (you can find them secondhand here in green, here and here). I purchased these not long after the birth of my third child and not only are they always a conversation starter but they instantly make any outfit fun. Another piece is my Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld classic little black jacket. This was a hormonally driven purchase deep into the last month of my second pregnancy. It was January, I was holding a ridiculous amount of fluid and I hadn’t bought any items of clothing in a very long time. The jacket didn’t look great in my current state but I took a gamble (albeit an expensive one) and have not had any regrets.

On her evolving career.

My career has always straddled two very different industries - one in health and the other, fashion. I graduated university with degrees in both Physiotherapy and Exercise Science and initially worked as a physiotherapist. My husband and I moved to Sydney and I used this move as an opportunity to pursue fashion again, working as a Fashion Buyer at David Jones. My husband’s work moved us back to Brisbane and resulted in my return to physiotherapy whilst raising my family. In the past few years with my children all at school, I felt a strong pull back to fashion. I had been helping family and friends source and style fashion for years and, with their encouragement, decided to use my instagram platform to extend this service to others. I was honestly so surprised by the response and it has grown from there. Working with professional women (and a few men) based in the US, Europe and Asia has been such a pleasure.

On the link between fashion and identity.

I’m one of those women that didn’t really enjoy being pregnant. I was sick for a good portion of it and I always found myself at the end stage of my pregnancies in the depths of summer which was a struggle! I also didn’t realise how much of my identity was wrapped up in my fashion choices and how I presented myself to the world. To not be able to dress in a way that made me feel confident definitely affected me. I feel like this experience had an overwhelmingly positive impact on my wardrobe choices moving forward though. Motherhood definitely made me rethink my wardrobe and want to invest in classic, clean, comfortable pieces made from natural fibres. Pieces that were easy to mix and match, could be put together quickly and could adapt depending on the day. That initially led me to Celine by Phoebe Philo and then of course, The Row. I find this transition to be where many of my clients have reached out for help - building a wardrobe following their return from a period of maternity leave. The common theme is their desire to wear clothes that reflect style, professionalism and ultimately give them confidence.

Rachelle no longer saves pieces for special occasions.

In terms of mum life, I used to avoid wearing my special pieces when wrangling my kids but Covid definitely changed that. Life is too short - wear what makes you feel good and deal with the cleaning later! My mum uniform consists of denim - The Row Eglittas are another favourite. Shoes are usually Hermes Oran sandals or The Row beach thongs in the summer; The Row eel loafers or suede Hugo slides in autumn and spring; and Khaite Marfa suede boots or The Row Fara boots in winter. I have tried to be a sneaker girl but it just isn’t me. I am knit-obsessed and have a growing collection of The Row and Khaite cashmere knits as well as my old Celine by Phoebe Philo ones, which I look forward to wearing the moment the weather cools down. Interestingly, my kids become especially cuddly the moment I am wearing any of these knits and I am often asked why their sweaters don’t feel as soft!!

What she wears off-duty.

On the weekend you’ll usually find me on the sidelines of my kids sporting games comfortably dressed in denim, a tee or knit, and a coat or trench. These outfits are always accessorised with a hat and sunglasses, vintage jewellery and possibly a scarf depending on the season. Weekends are also a great time for me to catch up with friends for lunch or dinner. If it’s a casual lunch, I will usually just continue on in the same outfit, switching out the shoes for heels and the tee for a silk blouse. Sometimes weekends are also spent sourcing items or having client meetings either online or in person. Many of my clients are professional women who are usually quite time poor and appreciate then flexibility of meeting on weekends.

Nothing beats a good suit.

Date night is usually dinner at one of our favourite restaurants in Brisbane (Agnes, La Cache a Vin or Hellenika) or an evening at the Queensland Ballet. On these occasions I usually reach for a suit and silk cami combination paired with heels and a clutch. My style is definitely more masculine and I find a suit to be a very easy and chic outfit for a night out.

The best mum advice she has received…

The best mum advice I have received was from my neighbour, who has children approximately 10 years older than mine. I remember at one point being exhausted in the back yard with 3 under the age of 4 and she popped her head over and amongst other words of wisdom told me ‘the days are long but the years are short’. Those few words encouraged me to embrace the chaos and madness in the trenches. Getting through that period showed me anything was possible.

Where, what and who inspires Rachelle.

I am most inspired by street style fashion especially when travelling to major cities like Paris, London, New York. I was lucky enough to be in Paris recently during fashion week and surprisingly it was not the street style around the shows and events that inspired me the most. It was actually the everyday style of the French women in and around the streets of Le Bon Marche in the Saint-Germain-des-Pres district. I found a cafe, sat outside and took many notes!!!

On buying a season ahead and her wish list items.

In terms of purchases right now - it’s all about the spring/summer collections and planning for next season. During my time in Paris, I visited The Row’s new store and added some more Luka shirts and Gala pants in the silk/ linen blend to my collection. Both of these styles I have had in my wardrobe for a few years now and I live in them throughout the summer.

I have also have an ever-growing jewellery wish list including the Cartier Panthere de Cartier watch, Tiffany and Co Schlumberger earrings, Olivia Bond Diamonds gypsy ring and Lucy Delius signature diamond earrings.

Advice on how to find your personal style.

I always recommend choosing an item you love, feel confident in or have received compliments wearing. I have no problems in repeat outfit wearing - in fact I encourage my clients to do it. Merely changing a shoe, bag or accessories will immediately make any outfit feel fresh.

In terms of finding your style, much of my discussion with clients centres around their lifestyle. I then work with them to build a wardrobe around quality basics and classic pieces in natural fibres suitable for this lifestyle. Colour palettes are also an essential consideration, especially choosing items in tones that compliment your colourings. This also helps you establish a cohesive, wearable ‘capsule’ wardrobe.

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