Welcome to the second interview in my ‘Working Mum Series’. Introducing – Olivia Rubin.
Olivia is a womenswear designer, best known for her signature prints and feminine silhouettes. With a wealth of knowledge and experience in the fashion industry, these designs are a great fit for all figures. Flattering lengths, cuts and sleeves, she has thought about every detail. I particularly love the collection for day to night dressing. The style of the dresses makes them smart enough for the office, and the prints add a vibrant element that can carry them through to dinner/drinks in the evening. If you haven’t come across Olivia Rubin yet do check out her website www.oliviarubinlondon.com and Instagram for lots of good inspo.
Here are my top three pics from Olivia’s current collection, all of which I would wear to work:
- The Ozzie Maxi is perfect for spring a summer months. Easily smartened up with a jacket and heels or dressed down with flats. The vibrant print means that you will stand out in the office, but for all the right reasons. I would personally love to see this dress in darker colours for the winter as it will be fab for Christmas parties and various events.
- The Rainbow shirt dress is actually a long time favourite of mine. I absolutely adore the print, and it comes in a top and trousers too if you fancy something less of a statement. This can easily be worn in the winter with black tights – so it’s an all season winner for me.
- The Stella Frill Mini dress comes in a variety of colours (I absolutely love the white!) and you can also have the length adjusted so it sits at the knee – more work appropriate of course! It is very popular at the moment as you will see from Olivia’s Instagram and it looks great if you’re pregnant too.
Here’s Olivia’s interview. I hope you enjoy reading it!
Lisa
xoxo
Lisa at Cityrunmum talks to OLIVIA RUBIN
- Please introduce yourself – what is your job, how many children you have, where you are from etc
I am a fashion and print designer with my own womenswear label. I am back after taking a couple of years out for maternity leave to focus on my two daughters Chloe 3 1/2 and Ella 1. I was born and raised in London and started my label in London just over 10 years ago, after studying Fashion at Central St Martins for 5 years and then working at some inspirational designers such as McQueen and Dior.
- How many days/hours a week do you work?
I work everyday but with flexible hours to fit around my daughters. I work every morning when the girls are at nursery during the week and then during nap and sleep times. I try and keep afternoons to focus on my daughters (meetings aside) and then evenings are spent glued to my laptop catching up on e-mails and working on designs in my sketchbook.
- Describe a typical working day in your household (i.e. morning routines with nursery/school drop offs to evening)
See above.
- How do you balance working life with motherhood? And what/who do you rely on to make it work?
I try and spend every morning at work so I rely on my nursery and childcare for that. Afternoons I commit time to the girls, taking them to park or playing together. I don’t want to miss out on their early years growing up but I feel that my work is very much a part of me. I worked before I had children so I feel it is an important part of my life to continue. Although some weeks are manic and I am constantly busy, I do feel that I have a good balance.
- What is the best thing about being a working mum?
Being able to show my girls that I have a career, I have independence and foremost a job that I enjoy. It is important to me to show the girls that they can have a family as well as a career as I feel in our society it is very much an ‘either/or’ choice.
- And the hardest?
The juggling! Some days I do get mum guilt as I think all working mums do, but I do have the advantage of being relatively flexible with my hours. Ella is also still so young so I feel I have to be there for her if she needs me. I find the organising quite stressful too, but as long as I have a day/week properly planned out then most of the time it works well!
- How do you unwind? Balancing motherhood with work can be relentless so what do you do to relax when you’re not at work/with the kid(s)?
I love spinning. I try and go to Pscyle at least 1-2 times a week. I find it actually gives me more energy and dispels that heavy, tired feeling. I am also a bit of a TV addict! Box sets and a bit of trashy TV on in the background always help me unwind.
- What is your proudest mum moment?
I’m proud of my girls kind nature. My eldest Chloe is the sweetest soul and is so caring for others as well as her baby sister. Ella is a real tough cookie and I am constantly amazed by how nothing phases her. They are very different personalities but special in their own way.
- Do you feel that motherhood has changed you, and if so, how?
I think motherhood changes every woman in some way. I wouldn’t say it has changed my personality but it has made me view everyday life in a different way. Also I think it has definitely changed my style and evolved my brand. I think about areas of my body I prefer to cover these days, investing in fashion more wisely, day to night dressing etc-I include all of this in my designs. For example I found it impossible to find simple sundress with a bit of a sleeve this summer so I made one myself and it has been a best seller.
- What do you feel are the biggest challenges facing working mums at the moment?
Pressure form other mums and women and the mum guilt that is sometimes harmlessly imposed still has an impact if you are a working mum. You can’t be in 100 places at the same time and have to divide and use time much more wisely.
- What is your proudest work achievement?
I’m proud to be back working again with a 1 and 3 1/2 year old in tow! I always knew I wanted to come back to work but it is one thing saying it and another doing so…but I am back and it feels good! I am eager to achieve what I did before I went on maternity leave-collaborate with big brands, dress some inspiring women and continue to grow organically.
- What does ‘flexible working’ mean to you’?
Being able to control my own hours and having the power to take a few hours off to devote to my girls. In reality it doesn’t always work that way but when I feel my girls really need me or I need them (which is more often the case!) I can put the work brakes on and slow down a bit. This time around my collections are not so seasonal, I think fashion is moving away from that and that in itself gives me more flexibility as a designer.
- What are your go to stores/websites/blogs for your working wardrobe, and what are your staple pieces as a working mum?
I love to mix up high end and high street. High end my go to designers are Isabel Marant, March 11 and general designers who offer something different to what I do. High street labels I live in are And Other Stories, H&M and a little bit of Zara 😉 I tend to wear my own clothes most of the time but I am also partial to a spot of shopping! My staple items are maxi dresses-I live in them in the summer, particularly broderie anglaise ones! Also I love a simple white linen t-shirt paired with jeans or a printed skirt, it’s simple school-run style dressing!
- Finally, what advice would you give to new working mums? I.e. those who are just going back to work from maternity leave, setting up their own businesses, or going for a new job?
If you are going back to work try and have an upbeat attitude whether it be a new job or one that you are going back to. It will give you more energy and you will come back to your children with a more refreshed approach. If you have an idea to set up a new business then go for it, but be prepared. Do your research, plan everything, get ready for long hours and dedication (which can be tough with kids on your plate) and I say go for it! Don’t let your children hold you back because you will regret it later down the line when they are grown up and you are sat thinking ‘what if…’
