Now that her daughter Dalia has turned one, marketing whizz and multi-hyphenate Charlotte Chen is all set for her next “baby” to pop. Next month, the Hong Kong-born Chen will launch her most personal project to date: a personal care brand called Everyday which is researched and made in Australia using non-toxic ingredients. (For now, the products would only be available Stateside).
The aesthetic of Everyday, with its sleek white packaging and witty-sounding labels like the “Really Nice Pits” deodorant featuring sweet orange oil and lemon myrtle oil, ties in nicely with Chen’s fresh and modern eye for design and approach to life which is best described as #GoodVibesOnly.
One just needs to browse through her social media feed to get a gist of that approach. Her Instagram page is a mix of her snapshots of everyday life and super adorable candid photos of her little tot. Among our favourite shots of her little girl whom she affectionately calls “Da” include the latter enjoying a splash in the fountain, chilling at home among the linen sheets, and enjoying the sights of the South African coastline while soaking in an inflatable pool. Here, we get Chen to share a little more about how life as a mum is like and get her to curate a stylish list of gift ideas from the Club 21 e-tail site for Mothers’ Day.
A godsend accessory since becoming a mother
“A large tote from my husband that fits literally my child inside of it. ”
A fashionable mother she admires
“(Fashion blogger and street style star) The Man Repeller a.ka. Leandra Cohen. She’s quirky with a sense of humour and goes for a mix of high-low brands. I love how effortless her outfit choices are and she doesn’t look unachievable or uncomfortable.”
How being a mother has affected her social media standing
“It’s been a fight to not spam people with pregnancy photos and pics of Dalia for the longest time but she won, I lost. I did notice that more followers who are fellow moms DM-ing me for recommendations, which I find awesome.”
On whether babies are the new handbags
“Children are not an accessory.”
On how her style has evolved since becoming a mother
“I go for comfortable clothes with a twist during the day, flats, big bags and pieces that don’t require dry-cleaning. But for child-less days, nothing has changed. Well at least I hope so.”
One style tip for a cool young mother
“Say no to ugly diaper bag specifically designed for carrying your child’s stuff, there are plenty of good looking totes and backpacks from contemporary designers that can be used as your everyday bag for child’s bits and bobs. Just see my picks from Club 21 below.”
Criteria she swears by when choosing a Mothers’ Day gift
“Something personal and practical, but sometimes, flowers will do.”
