My next MUMISH Meets is vintage expert Laura von Behr, whose style I have long admired both on Instagram and in the local playground (she lives around the corner from me).
I’ve always loved the idea of wearing vintage and as a student spent hours trawling through Brick Lane. But I’ve never had the eye - and latterly the patience - for it. Which is why Laura's ability to source and dress in beautiful found treasures really interests me.
Where it’s easy to think of vintage fashion as just for occasionwear, or even a bit costume-y, Laura is the chicest example of how it can be incorporated into your everyday wardrobe in such an effortless-looking way.
And she still wears it while running around after a small child! Which I think is so, so cool. I've asked her about that below.
We also talk about maternity wear as Laura is currently six months pregnant with her second baby.
Those nine months before giving birth are such a weird time for clothes - I found it hard to dress in a way that felt ‘me’ both times. But it’s so interesting to see the shift currently happening in maternity dressing thanks to pregnant celebrities challenging the idea of what mothers-to-be can and should look like.
While Rihanna’s haut maternity outfits and Hailey Bieber’s bump-baring cover looks aren't necessarily easily translated into everyday life, Laura shares her more doable approach.
There's so much joy and personality to Laura’s style. A sense of freedom too; her outfits aren’t dictated by trends and never look contrived. Because of social media, fashion often feels formulaic, but Laura has a real sense of uniqueness and storytelling.
I’ve really enjoyed putting this interview together - I hope you enjoy reading it as much. So here we go… MUMISH Meets Laura von Behr
FG: How many kids do you have and how old are they?
LVB: Lena is three – going on 13 – and I’m six months pregnant with another girl.
FG: How has your relationship to clothes and approach to dressing been affected by becoming a mum?
LVB: It’s a bit of a juxtaposition of wanting to be both practical and having more fun. My daughter, Lena, is so interested in clothes, she really notices when I’m wearing something bright or more playful and it seems to make her happy. Sometimes I look at our outfits and wonder who is influencing who. If I have an event, I show her my outfit options - she likes to share her opinion. When I put on heels she says I look big, like Wonder Woman. I think that’s a compliment?
Before I got pregnant, a couple of friends took me out for my birthday – it was winter and I wore a velvet blazer, slip and platforms with lipstick. We drank martinis and it was perfect. Those kind of nights are special and quite rare now, so I make sure I have time to myself to get ready slowly without any distractions. It’s a non-negotiable.
FG: How do you find integrating your love for vintage clothes, which often feel more delicate and special, with the practicalities of dressing when you have a small child?
LVB: I wear lots of worn vintage tees and men’s shirts with jeans so I don’t feel too precious about them. For work I will swap in a pretty vintage blouse, maybe Broderie Anglaise or something embroidered. For dinners out I do a silk shirt and jeans with some jewellery. I like antique charms worn together on chains. Vintage can be delicate but I generally buy things that can be worn and loved. Super delicate things are not good for someone haphazard like me, although one of my favourite pieces is a 1930s silk dress I wore on honeymoon which I am going to keep for Lena.
FG: Is there anything you didn't wear before having kids that you do now?
LVB: Flip-flops. Shoes that were previously poolside-only now appear on my feet most days in the summer, because I seem to spend so much time in sandpits!
FG: Is there anything you've stopped wearing?
LVB: If I’m with Lena, short skirts. They are just SO impractical when bending down, carrying and lifting children.
FG: How did you find getting dressed during your postpartum period?
LVB: A blur TBH. It was March and we were just coming out of a lockdown, and dressing felt so weird. I found that I enjoyed putting clothes on rather than staying in PJs all day – it just made me feel better mentally (although I invested in some great pyjama sets for pregnancy and postpartum from Honna and Sleepy Doe). I wore the dungarees I had basically worn throughout pregnancy, and sized-up mens 501s with big vintage sweats and Arran jumpers. When the weather started to get warmer I evolved to dungaree shorts and 1970s Indian cotton block-print blouses.
FG: You're currently pregnant - huge congratulations! What's your approach to maternity wear? I found dressing while pregnant so hard.
LVB: Thank you! I’m both excited and terrified. We went to Greece in May and I found maternity dressing there easier. I spent the week in floaty vintage kaftans and headscarves. I have always loved Hunza G, and still have a swimsuit I bought seven years ago - the styles are perfect for pregnancy thanks to the stretchy crinkle fabric.
Back to reality and I am struggling, especially with a big bump now. Again, my go-to has been vintage dungarees. I size-up and have found great pairs on Vinted and Beyond Retro. I’m at the point now though where waistbands are uncomfortable, so I have a maternity pair from Clary and Peg. They’re striped and cotton and so, so, so comfy. I also bought a ditsy floral cotton mini from St Clair which is perfect for hot days. The founder, Blaire, loves vintage and recently bought some pieces from me to inspire the next collection.
I really rate The Pantry Underwear [in Islington and Cambridge] for underwear, especially for maternity and postpartum. It carries the prettiest brands including styles for bigger boobs and also great everyday options. The girls are the loveliest and bring you stuff to try, which is perfect if you have a baby with you. It stocks Nudea which I love for the T-shirt bras and striped PJ’s. I can’t recommend it enough! So much nicer than my Bravissimo experience…
For autumn, and my last month of pregnancy, I have a big, vintage khaki boiler-suit I am planning to wear. I’m reluctant to buy anything else maternity specific, as it feels like such a waste of money. But I think the last trimester is going to be a stretch in every sense of the word. I’m hoping to buy secondhand or borrow from friends to get me through. Ultimately it’s going to be leggings, isn’t it?!
FG: What do you wear day-to-day?
LVB: Vintage denim, tees and trainers mostly. I just traded my Birkenstock clogs for some Dr Martens Jorges. I used to wear a red pair of DM boots at Uni that were a size too small, with ripped tights (Indi sleaze) so I feel a bit of my old self, I guess. I sometimes add a little floral or paisley neckerchief to look a bit more put together. I have a big vintage scarf collection, although they seem to get used by Lena’s dolls as bedding, especially the silk Liberty ones. At the end of most days, I change out of my already comfy clothes into even more comfy clothes - an oversized shirt and boxers. It’s bra off and bump out. Lena thinks I look like Winnie the Pooh.
FG: What's the most worn piece in your wardrobe?
LVB: I am officially a broken record but dungarees! Also a 1970s gold chainmail bag that has seen some memorable nights out. I have lots of funny, sparkly, little vintage bags in my wardrobe and Lena loves them. She’s a magpie, like me!
FG: Where are your favourite spots for vintage shopping?
LVB: Portobello on Friday still has some of the best sellers in London. If you are a serious about your vintage shopping, you can find them all at fairs like Frock Me in Hammersmith.
I am very lucky in East London with lots of options for vintage. Locally, an absolute gem is Hilda in Stoke Newington, newly opened and run by Charlotte who has an incredible eye. She curates vintage pieces sourced in Italy with small brands and is one of the loveliest people you will ever meet.
Pavement in Walthamstow stocks a selection of vintage by lovely Jo of Jesse and Iris – she does great denim and really pretty blouses. Janna, the owner, is a big support of small brands and often hosts vintage and pre-loved evenings and pop-ups.
InNeoss, run by friends Nat and G, have been big supporters since I started selling vintage. They are on Newington Green and you can shop my edit with them now, alongside handpicked sustainable labels.
Some other London favourites include Hereafter Vintage; SK Vintage; One Scoop Store; Magpie Vintage; House of Vintage; Retrouve Vintage.
Out of London I love Wolf and Gypsy and All About Audrey in Brighton. Top of my list to visit is The Vintage Collection in Frome.
There are too many amazing online sellers to mention, but a few are Sisters Love Vintage, Retold and Second Stories.
FG: What is the piece that makes you feel like you?
LVB: A vintage camo jacket that I got on Portobello when I was like, 19. And gold hoops by my friend Catch Rhys.
FG: I find dressing my kids in a sustainable way challenging – they grow out of clothes so quickly and pieces get ruined, especially at nursery with messy play, etc. As a champion of vintage and slow fashion, I wondered how you approach dressing your daughter?
LVB: I totally agree, it’s hard work! All the best stuff seems to get stained forever with ‘washable’ paint. I have a pile of marked stuff ready to tie-dye – Rit Dye is great (although, will I ever get round to it? Probably not!). I buy lots on Vinted, it’s great for labels like Bon Point. I enjoy shopping at Fara Kids and Traid especially for things like Princess costumes and tutus.
For really brilliant online vintage kidswear edits, Be Diddy and Les Petit Champignons do all of the searching for you. Bundle Baby is a good option if you want to explore rental and they do sample sales, too. My local fave, T&Shop, has pre-loved kidswear downstairs (a hidden gem for pre-loved womenswear too, with brands like, Ganni and Alexa Chung).
My mum and mum-in-law kept a lot of our old clothes, and Lena lived in our old Oshkosh denim when she was a baby. Tragically, unlike me, Lena now HATES dungarees and won’t wear them. She is pretty strong willed when it comes to clothes, I try to just go with it and let her express herself.
FG: What are your go-to beauty products?
LVB: Every day it’s a clear eyebrow gel, concealer and brown mascara. At the moment I am using the brand Benecos – natural basics that do the job. I like a gradual fake tan, it makes me feel less knackered – I use the St Tropez spritz on my face.
When I’m feeling really luxurious I do some facial cupping with a nice oil. I should probably do it more regularly to see proper results. Still on Kingsland Road does an amazing facial in a lovely dark room which is just the tonic when you are feeling sensory overload. I generally like an undone look, especially with my hair – which lends itself well to parenting. I use Sam McKnight’s beach spray.
FG: What could you not parent without?
LVB: Pockets! For snacks, coffee loyalty cards, shells, treasures, etc.
FG: What bag is your mum bag – and what's in it?
LVB: I have really failed on a practical mum bag. My bag is generally an interchangeable large sack or basket without useful pockets, so everything swims around and gets lost in the bottom. I was like this before being a mum, so it was never going to change. Inside you can usually find five lip balms, a million tiny hair accessories, crayons, stickers, a ball and Lena’s My Little Pony who she calls Big Robin.
When I’m out at the playground I usually just wear my phone on a rope and leave the bag at home – the pram becomes the bag. I don’t think this is good advice because inevitably things disappear.
FG: What advice/insight would you like to share with other mothers?
LVB: None of us have a clue what we are doing.
lauravonbehr.com
The Edit
Sam McKnight Sundaze sea salt spray, £26
Laura Von Behr vintage 1980s blouse, £125
One more thing…
I dream of an afternoon spent getting a pedicure. Or a massage. Or a facial. But alas – kids! I started using Lucie App after my second baby was born and found the at-home service a true game-changer (if you want a fake tan, Amy’s Sienna X airbrush is The One). For all your beauty and wellness needs - from blow dries to nutritionists - as well as fitness (book a yoga class in your living room - how lovely!) Lucie is the go-to. And because I like it so much, the team has offered a discount. Use MUMISH when booking on the app for 15% off. Valid until the end of September. Enjoy!
That’s all for now. You’re doing great, Frankie x
Couldn't agree more!
Loved this! I find conversations around personal style and pregnancy/post-partum such an interesting topic and one which isn’t really spoken about, as in the long list of things which are impacted it usually falls pretty close to the bottom. But it’s so integral to who we are and our sense of self, so it should be given more consideration!