Mother has taught me...
To slow down and enjoy what is important in life. It has also taught me patience and the importance of being present in the now. Motherhood is the most wonderful and rewarding thing I have ever done. The unconditional love you receive from a child is a gift. I’m proud of my family and my friendships. I want to teach Jett to be kind and to be grateful.
My advice to first time mothers...
Try not to expect too much in the first few months from your baby and yourself. Just really try to relax and enjoy that time with your baby. Simplify your life by doing less; try to exercise every day; rest when they are asleep…I didn’t leave the house literally for the first three months. The hardest part of being a mother is knowing how to discipline my son and keeping it consistent. As a first time mum, this is uncharted waters for me. I have a clever little two year old who is loving being naughty and testing me, so it’s interesting.
I try and make sure when I get home from work that I am 100% focused on Jett...
We have 2-3 hours together every night playing before bed and I make sure I am around on the weekends. I do two yoga sessions a week, which is my time – it makes me feel amazing. Outside of that, I have a massage here and there or catch up with friends, but to be honest I don’t have much time to myself. I work four days a week and usually a bit on the weekends here and there to get through the workload. I have surrounded myself with an amazing team of people that support me and the business, so there is not usually too much stress in a normal week. Staying organised is a team effort. I have a very supportive husband and an amazing personal assistant who keeps me in check. Between the three of us we communicate well and make sure everything is in the diary. My favourite part of the day? Usually when I get to sit down and relax. In saying that I do love all my days and most parts of them.
My style has always been pretty relaxed...
It hasn’t changed that much. The most significant change is that I live in flats, which are either Nikes, Birkenstocks or Celine slides. I make sure I buy wearable clothes that are easy to put together as I have little time to get ready in the mornings.
Jett’s room is fairly simple...
Neutral with light soft finishes in plywood, grey marl and oatmeal wool carpet. It is filled with all the beautiful gifts he has received since he was born. The most important aspects in the design brief with our friend and architect Kelvin Ho, was to ensure that the house had beautiful light, plenty of space, three meter high ceilings and natural organic finishes. The house is a reflection of the simplicity of my style. It is relaxed and modern, but still beachy. The furniture is mostly from my favourite designer Patricia Urquolia. The sofas are in oatmeal and light grey melanges. Bold colour is introduced in a yellow leather coffee table and brightly coloured cushions and throws. There are also special pieces that I have found on my travels along the way.
Jett was a great sleeper at night, but never during the day...
We used to have to rock him to sleep and did this until he was about four months old until I decided it was time to get some help. I spent a day at sleep school and it took a few weeks but we finally got Jett sleeping on his own. I recommend getting as much help as you can in those early months as you break bad habits and end up with great sleepers. It changes your life.
I wanted to start bassike mini when I had Jett
I kept imagining mini dot tees, slouch jersey pants and envelope neck tees in our beautiful fine gauge organic cotton and I couldn’t resist. For children’s clothes, I like bassike, Gap, Nike, Isetan department store in Shinjuku. I usually shop for Jett when I travel
I think what works for babies, mothers and families is so different...
When you have a newborn baby, you need to go with the flow. However, I am a routine kind of girl, so as soon as I could get Jett in a routine, I did. Jett is a great sleeper (touch wood) so our household is pretty chilled out.
Bassike had their fashion formula sorted from day dot. What originally started out in 2006 as a line of organic cotton T-shirts, quickly expanded into denim, followed by mens and womens ready-to-wear. Their secret? Maybe it was the simplicity of the pieces, the soft fine gauge cotton tees, the canvas track pants, or the fact that there was suddenly a premium brand that celebrated looking relaxed and stylish. A simple philosophy helped too: combining timeless style with premium quality and sustainable fabrics.
It’s no surprise that the light-filled home of the brands co-founder Deborah Sams in Sydney’s Whale Beach perfectly echoes this. The house is a reflection of the simplicity of my style. It is relaxed and modern, but still beachy, she says. Somewhere in-between the furniture by Sam’s favourite designer Patricia Urquiola and the brightly coloured cushions and throws, her adorable blonde two-year-old son Jett, is busy playing with a pile of trucks and toys.
Jett inspired the launch of a line of childrens clothes: bassike mini. ”Although it is cliché, I wanted to start bassike mini when I had Jett. I kept imagining mini dot tees, slouch jersey pants and envelope neck tees in our beautiful fine gauge organic cotton and I couldn’t resist,” says Sam.
Given her brand is all about cool comfort, other than wearing more flats (Nikes, Birkenstocks and Celine slides), Sam’s says her style hasnt really changed since becoming a mother. My style has always been pretty relaxed … I make sure I buy wearable clothes that are easy to put together as I have little time to get ready in the mornings. Luckily, she has a whole wardrobe of bassike to pick from.
Juggling the demands of running a fashion label with motherhood, Sam’s says: “Leaving your baby to go to work is the hardest thing. I don’t think it gets easier. How does she manage? I try and make sure that when I get home from work, I am 100% focused on Jett. We have 2-3 hours together every night playing before bed and I make sure I am around on the weekends.”
Deborah’s little list of loves:
Yoga with Gwynne Jones.
Bancha tea.
Gomasio on avacado toast for breakfast.
Sago Mini Forest Flyer – this is a kids app that I play with Jett.
Anything karate or kung fu inspired.
Playing with Jett and his big yellow diggers.
The colour Undyed.
The smell of summer florals.
Early morning or late afternoon swims.
The song “Suit and Tie” from the album JT The 20/20 Experience.
October 2013
Photography: Julie Adams Makeup: Sarina Zoe Words: Georgie Abay