I've got a lovely MUMISH Meets interview form you this week. But before we get there a couple of things…
Firstly, thank you so much for such a gorgeous response to last week's post. I was a little nervous it would come across smug (here I am on hols while everyone else sweats it out in a heatwave with kids) but lots of you have messaged to say that it's inspired you to plan your own solo break, which is exactly how I hoped it would land. BOOK THE TRIP!
Secondly, I took some new beauty bits away with me and wanted to share the prods that really impressed.
I've recently been introduced to French skincare brand Mimétique, which centers around strengthening your skin barrier and comes in very pleasing pharmacy-style, recycled packaging. As someone with sensitive/easily reactive skin, introducing an entirely new skincare routine on holiday is a wild move, but the formulas are all gentle so we got along wonderfully.
I love the balm cleanser which shifted suncream residue and make-up, followed by the hydrating (but not greasy or claggy) face cream. For a boost of glow-giving actives, I’ve been doing two drops of Skin Revive Serum in the morning.
The starter kit looks like a good way of testing everything out. It contains all of the above in mini sizes, plus eye cream, so great for travel too.
I took a couple of Bask suncreams with me. For my face, the Daily Invisible Gel SPF40 which I’ve mentioned before but it really is lovely to apply and makes skin feel hydrated and juicy. Also, the Sheer Moisturising Lotion SPF 50 (also comes in SPF 30) which is super lightweight and gives skin a sexy sheen. It can be used on both body and face so a great all-rounder for sticking in your mum bag.
I didn't want to wear skin make-up on the beach, so used Drunk Elephant’s B-Goldi illuminating drops (currently on offer here) to brighten my complexion and give an all over golden glow. It says to mix a couple of drops with your serum/moisturiser, but I just whacked it on by itself after skincare.
My brows get even more nonexistent in the sun, so I picked up Max Factor Brow Shaper in Brown 20 at the airport. It has a fine pencil, no red undertones and a spoolie to brush hairs and blend. I love a budget brow pencil!
Ilia’s mascara served me very well in the London heatwave, so it also came with me on hols where it performed equally well, staying put in the heat despite sweat and suncream. The only time it ran was when I was swimming off the rocks and got smashed in the face by a big salty wave, which is fair enough.
My friend packed Hello Sunday's SPF 50 lip balm after being recommended it as cheaper alternative to her beloved Laneige. We were both sold.
Apivita’s leave-in conditioner (Amazon aff link) was already in the bathroom of the Airbnb we stayed in, so I took to coating my ends in it after a day in the sun. It's the only leave-in I've tried that doesn't make my fine hair lank and greasy. The brand is Greek - founded in Athens, and I quite fancy trying a shampoo and regular conditioner too.
https://amzn.eu/d/0cR59bQt
A&P’s travel bag is a great size for toiletries and the square, flat shape means you can easily see everything. Stick your make-up in this.
For me, one of the joys of doing MUMISH is getting to speak to, and celebrate, the people affecting real change in the insultingly underserved motherhood space, from providing necessary fertility information and postpartum products, to designing chic changing bags, and baking nutritious treats that satisfy breast-feeding sugar cravings.
Which is why I’m delighted to have Ariane Goldman as my next MUMISH Meets. Ariane is the founder of HATCH, the cult US-based fashion brand making maternity wear chic (Jennifer Lawrence is a fan).
Born out of a frustration over the dire bump-friendly clothing options available to her when she was pregnant with her first child, Ariane launched HATCH in 2011 with the motivation of helping women feel like themselves throughout every trimester, including the fourth, by not having to change their personal style.
Instead of subscribing to outdated ideas of what maternity dressing should look like (hello frumpy wrap dresses, twee florals and ghastly tunic tops) Ariane’s design approach is to create pieces she’d want to wear anyway, with accommodations for a growing bump. And because she gets that no one wants to spend a fortune on clothes for just nine months, HATCH pieces will also work beyond pregnancy.
Earlier this year Ariane launched her first UK store on London’s Kings Road where as well as being able to shop, you can attend community events including lactation classes, hit up the ‘cravings bar’ (think pick and mix heaven) and find HATCH Mama, a line of beauty and self-care products tailored for pregnancy and postpartum.
The collection is available online too and she's kindly given me an exclusive discount code to share. Use HATCHXMUMISH for 15% off.
Ariane lives in New York and has two daughters Charlie, 15, and Georgie, 12. It was a pleasure getting to chat – I hope you enjoy!
So here we go, MUMISH Meets… Ariane Goldman.
FG: Tell me about your own experience of dressing whilst pregnant - did you feel like yourself throughout pregnancy? And how long after birth did it take you to get back into your style groove?
AG: If I’m being completely honest, I felt great and excited to embrace my pregnancy, but didn’t know what to wear. I’ve always loved fashion and used clothing as a form of self-expression, and suddenly none of the rules I’d relied on applied. I wasn’t interested in hiding my pregnancy, but I also didn’t want to wear clothes that made me feel unlike myself. At the time, it felt like there was this expectation that you either squeeze into your regular clothes for as long as possible or completely surrender your style. That experience was really the catalyst for HATCH. I wanted clothing that acknowledged my changing body without changing who I was.
As for getting back into my style groove after birth, I think that’s a trick question because motherhood changes you. I don’t know that I ever went “back” to who I was before. My style evolved alongside my identity. What I learned is that when you have pieces that fit your life, it becomes much easier to feel like yourself, even when everything else feels new.
FG: You launched HATCH in 2011. Can you tell me about the lightbulb moment when you knew you wanted to create the brand.
AG: HATCH was created out of necessity. At the time maternitywear was pretty non-existent. There were a handful of brands with maternity offerings, but maternity-specific brands were sparse and focused on shapeless styles that hid a bump. While pregnant, I struggled to find quality, stylish pieces that would grow with me—that were not only functional but felt good, and most importantly, were flattering. I knew I couldn’t be the only one out there feeling this way, so I seized the opportunity.
FG: What would you recommend as the essential pieces in a maternity wardrobe?
You can’t go wrong with a great pair of jeans. We have a signature HATCH wedge in our traditional denim styles that allows the pants to grow with you from one trimester to the next. It’s a game changer. You also can’t go wrong with a basic cotton tee, one that actually fits your growing bump and feels great on. I also love a crisp classic button-down—it’s flattering, functional and endlessly versatile. It gives you the option of dressing it up or down and works at every stage of pregnancy and beyond.
FG: It feels like the motherhood space is being served more than ever with brands finally recognising that there is a real need for products that are both fit for purpose and aesthetically pleasing. Where do you see/ hope the industry goes from here?
AG: I think we’ve made incredible progress, but there’s still a tendency to treat motherhood as a niche category rather than a major life stage that impacts millions of women. What I hope to see next is a continued shift away from products that focus solely on the baby and toward products that support the mother as a whole person. She isn’t just feeding a baby, she’s maintaining a career, relationships, friendships, her sense of self and hopefully her own wellbeing too.
I also hope brands continue to challenge outdated assumptions about what motherhood looks like. Mothers today are incredibly diverse in how they work, parent, dress, and live. The brands that will win are the ones that meet women where they are rather than telling them who they’re supposed to be.
“There’s still a tendency to treat motherhood as a niche category rather than a major life stage that impacts millions of women”
FG: Tell me about your approach to getting dressed now - what is your day-to-day uniform?
AG: I’ve never really had a uniform in the traditional sense because I’ve always dressed based on how I’m feeling that day. I’ve always been a bit of a chameleon with fashion. Some days I want to feel polished and tailored, other days I lean much more relaxed. My mood definitely dictates what I wear. That said, I’ve become far less fussy over time. I still love clothes and the creativity that comes with getting dressed, but practicality plays a much bigger role than it used to. These days I’m looking for pieces that work hard, feel good, and can take me through whatever the day throws at me.
I think one of the gifts of getting older is becoming more comfortable in your own skin. I spend a lot less time worrying about trends and a lot more time wearing what genuinely feels like me.
FG: What’s in your 5-minute beauty kit?
AG: I’m incredibly low maintenance when it comes to beauty. I’ve never been someone who enjoys spending a lot of time getting ready. On a typical day it’s really just concealer by RMS and Saie’s brightener to make me look a little more awake and alive. Lip balm is a constant. I use Outset and I have one in every bag, coat pocket, and drawer imaginable. Mascara (Victoria Beckham’s) usually only makes an appearance if I’m going out for dinner or have an event in the evening.
FG: What helps you balance motherhood and your work life? Any practical hacks you use to make the juggle feel easier?
I’ve stopped believing in balance as a destination. Some days work needs more from me, some days my family does, and most days both are happening simultaneously. One thing that’s helped enormously is accepting that I don’t have to do everything myself. Whether it’s leaning on the team, my family or my community, motherhood has taught me that asking for help is a strength, not a weakness.
I’ve also become very protective of my time. As both a mother and a founder, every ‘yes’ has to earn its place. And while I’m not someone who plans my outfits the night before, I do try to remove unnecessary decisions wherever I can. I’ve learned that preserving a little mental bandwidth goes a long way.
FG: What’s inside your mum bag?
AG: My bag has become a very accurate reflection of my life. At any given moment you’ll find my laptop, chargers, mints, a notebook, lip balm, sunglasses, a water bottle, and usually at least one item that belongs to one of my children. There are almost always a few random receipts floating around as well. The contents change, but the theme remains the same: preparedness mixed with a little bit of chaos.
“There is no shortage of advice when you become a parent, but over time I’ve learned that your own instincts are often far more powerful than you realize.”
FG: What could you not parent without?
AG: Community. We spend so much time talking about products and hacks, but what has made the biggest difference in my motherhood journey has always been people. Friends who understand what you’re going through, family members who show up, and fellow mothers who share advice without judgment.
Motherhood can feel incredibly isolating at times, and community is what reminds you that you’re not doing it alone.
FG: What advice or insight would you like to share with other mothers?
AG: Give yourself permission to evolve. There’s so much pressure on mothers to immediately bounce back, figure everything out, or maintain every version of themselves at once. The reality is that motherhood changes you, and that’s not something to resist. You don’t have to choose between being a mother and being yourself. The goal is to make room for both.
And perhaps most importantly, trust yourself. There is no shortage of advice when you become a parent, but over time I’ve learned that your own instincts are often far more powerful than you realize.
That's all for now. You're doing great, Frankie x
Postcard from Hydra: dressing for child-free sunshine
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Jul 12
After weeks of searching for an abroad family summer holiday and being either outraged at the price or depressed by the sheer naffness available within budget (I now realised why people with school-aged kids book holidays a year or more in advance - the early bird catches the Jet2 deal) we've decided to call it quits and take the kids to my mum’s in Dev…
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