The chic-ification of mum jewellery

Plus, my under-£150 Net-a-Porter wish list

I was on a photo shoot this week where the twenty-something model and production assistant both complimented me on my necklace. I was thrilled about it because a) approval of the youth! And b) the necklace is one of my favourite things, as it’s strung with little gold initials of my husband and kids. (Actually, kid. I haven't got round to getting a ‘W’ for my daughter yet, whoops!).

I'm not a hugely sentimental person and so never thought I’d be into wearing bling with meaning - but I am. Since having the kids I’m a convert to mum jewellery. I also have an Astrid & Miyu welded bracelet studded with their birthstones.

At the end of the summer I wrote a newspaper feature about how mum jewellery has become chic. It was hooked on former Teen Vogue editor-in-chief, Elaine Welteroth, getting a custom-made diamond belly chain decorated with the initials of her soon-to-be-born baby and her first son.

Belly chains aren't my thing, but she looked incredible and is a case in point of how mum jewellery has shed its once naff connotations and is now relevant and cool. Rihanna’s worn a diamond ring that says ‘mom’. See also Phoebe Philo’s sell-out ‘mum’ necklace.

As I wrote in the feature, I consider this pretty major, as it’s indicative of the break-away from the long-held assumption mums and fashion don't mix.

The boom in the mum jewellery category chimes with the shift currently happening in maternity and mum-style. Where dressing when pregnant and with small children used to come with frumpy associations (the term “mumsy” has long been a byword for dowdy and uncool) the recent spate of pregnant and postpartum A-listers pushing the style envelope with a kid-in-tow are challenging this outdated image.

At the beginning of the year, Sienna Miller sat front row at Paris Fashion Week looking every bit the style icon in head-to-toe Chloé, just weeks after having her second baby. Although not what the average postpartum woman looks like (I lived in leggings and muslins for months after giving birth) she certainly put paid to the notion that mum-style is drab.

Rihanna’s haute pregnancy wardrobe (think Dior baby doll dresses and Loewe catsuits) has been hugely influential to the modern maternity-wear dress code, shifting it away from just tent dresses and dungarees and towards a more fashion-forward look.

So yay for mum jewellery! And what a lovely idea for a Christmas gift from the family to you.

My aforementioned necklace is from British jeweller Daniella Draper who does lots of sweet personalised pieces. The silver is £95 including one initial, £30 for additional (max of three). The gold is £340, with extra letters £110 each. (P.S. this is the Whistles shirt from my party edit).

Other ideas…

I love the look of Astrid & Miyu’s story chain necklace (from £180) which can be personalised with charms including birthstones, initials and zodiac signs. You choose the type and length of chain, as well as the charm placement, so it really feels like a bespoke piece.

It also comes as a bracelet (from £130).

I’ve been coveting Aname’s mini initial rings (£110) for ages. Cute worn on your pinkie finger.

I'm a sucker for diamond sparkle. These teensy Otiumberg initial tags (£230) can be threaded onto your favourite chain.

Or get their full name! These pendants start at £140 for sterling silver and go up to £300 for 9kt solid gold.

---

Two-minute make-up kit

I know we talked about Black Friday last week, and without wishing to ram it down your throats, the sales are a good moment to stock up on favourite beauty bits. Below are the products I’ve found to be very useful for making me look slightly more presentable in the morning. And they're super quick to put on.

Supergoop! Glow Screen (now £26.25, was £35)

A moisturising, glow-giving base with SPF. I use the non-tinted original shade which you can just slap on. It doesn't offer coverage but it does make you look zingy and fresh.

Kosas dual action defining pencil (now £14.25, was £19)

I find I don't want to wear mascara on tired eyes so have become very reliant on good brows to give my face definition. This brand was recommended to me by make-up artist Lisa Eldridge.

Glossier Stretch Concealer (now £16.50 was £22)

For covering dark circles, this semi-sheer concealer is the go-to for former Vogue beauty editor (and my mum pal) Lisa Niven-Phillips.

Nude Stix All Over Face Blush (now £22.50, was £30)

A little pop of blush makes me look perky and awake when I'm feeling far from it. Nudestix has a really lovely creamy texture (although not sticky) and the brush on the end is great for quickly blending. Dab onto lips and under the arch of your eyebrows to pull everything together (a tip given to me by Alexa Chung’s make-up artist, Florrie White).

---

My under £150 Net-a-Porter wish list

I always trawl Net-a-Porter in the sales looking for luxe pieces that otherwise feel too expensive. To save you the scroll, below is my current wishlist.

Toteme wool beanie (now £90, was £150)

Anything Toteme! I love the stripe and the chunky ribbing, both of which are going to add interest to coats and boots.

Velvet Canyon sunglasses (now £143.50 with a extra 15% off at checkout, were £205)

Sunglasses are always a good one for finding in the sales. These square frames aren't too The Matrix and the toffee colourway is going to work in winter and summer.

Ganni bag (now £81, was £145)

The chicest mini cross-body to stick phone, keys and cards in when you're running around after kids in the playground.

Paravel packing cubes (now £39, were £65)

Packing cubes are the only way to make packing-up the family easy and organised. These are too nice for the kids’ stuff - keep them just for your things.

New Balance trainers (now £96, was £160)

I find the colours of these so pleasing. They’d look amazing with your blue jeans and grey jumpers.

That's all for now. You're doing great, Frankie x