PHOTOGRAPHY BY CLAIBORNE SWANSON FRANK/ASSOULINE.COM; JOSHUA MORRIS. NICKY’S HAIR BY BRAD MULLINS. MAKE-UP BY LIZ JONES.1212 marieclaire.com.auO
ver a decade ago when I was having babies,
there was an expectation that working
mums would almost bypass maternity
leave and be back at their desks soon after
giving birth. Women either didn’t feel em-
powered enough to demand their rights or
felt ashamed that they needed “time of” to nurse a newborn.
There was endless guilt, apologies and excuses. Guilt for leav-
ing work early and not being home for your child; apologies to
colleagues who stayed back while you dashed to the childcare
pick-up. I know because I was one of these constantly conflict-
ed mums who went back to full-time work when my daughter
wasn’t even three months old. I secretly locked myself in spare
rooms at work to breast-pump and cried in the car when I was
missing her before putting on my game-face for meetings.
Which is why I’m awestruck by this next gen of new mums
who are unapologetic, empowered and loudly, proudly flawed.
They’ve rejected the concept of “doing it all”, and wouldn’t
dream of taking less than 12 months mat leave. They’re also
#sorrynotsorry for working, and happily embrace ambition.
But it’s success on their terms: work slots into their lives, not
the other way around.
To celebrate Mother’s Day, this month we meet this new
breed of ambitious mum – women who are redefining mother-
hood and using their time on maternity leave to kickstart their
own businesses. On page 76, three mum-preneurs talk about
the joys – and challenges – of juggling a start-up and a new-
born. For anyone seeking a working mum alternative, their
stories are a must-read.
Still on the topic of career and motherhood, we examine
the world’s booming egg-freezing business. More and more,
women are being sold this technology as a way to put their
baby-making plans on hold. Overseas, women are invited to
“egg socials” where they discuss cryo over cocktails; and com-
panies like Apple and Facebook in the US are ofering to pay
for female employees to freeze their eggs. Late last year, Aus-
tralia opened its first-ever egg-freezing clinic: interestingly
enough, the target market isn’t older mums but young career
women in search of options. On page 46, we map out this brave
new territory and ask if the industry is ofering more hype
than hope to a vulnerable market.
In other news, our fashion team has scoured the shops to
ready you for the shift to cooler weather. You’ll be desperate to
update your wardrobe, so this
month delivers nearly 40 pages of
new looks, from feminine florals
and luxe layering to your essential
guide to the best coats. Winter
never looked so good.FACEBOOK FACEBOOK.COM/MARIECLAIREAU INSTAGRAM NICKYBRIGER
TWITTER NICKYBRIGER WEB MARIECLAIRE.COM.AU SHOP STYLEDBYMARIECLAIRECOM.AUMum’s the word: this month
we mark Mother’s Day by
celebrating family ties (above)
and the new breed of mum-
preneurs (below).NICKY
LOVESTiffany & Co.
T Square bracelet,
$18,200, tiffany.com.auEDITOR’S LETTER