Fashion for moms & their little ones

MANILA, Philippines - Mothers know best, and that means celebrating their special day with their precious kids decked in the best that Cinderella has to offer.

When it comes to ladies’ fashion, nothing comes close to Cinderella’s brands of women’s, casual and timeless basics that pop with prints and hot colors.

Take the sartorial choices of Philippine STAR assistant lifestyle editor Therese Jamora-Garceau, a doting mother to daughter Isobel, style is about choosing clothes that fit your lifestyle, as well as your tastes.

“If the cliché is ‘classic with a twist,’ my emphasis is on the twist,” she says. “I love more avant-garde designs, but don’t really have the body type or attitude to pull it off, so I look for wearable clothes that have interesting, quirky details. Fashion-wise my least favorite words are ‘basic’ and ‘neutral.’”

Thus, you’ll always find her in stylish and comfortable pieces from brands like Esprit for on-trend fashions, and British India for their comfortable fit and intricate detailing. “The beading on their tunics and skirts is just exquisite.” For shoes, she favors Singaporean brand Pretty Fit. “Their wedges are so comfortable and the designs so chic.”

This priority for comfort is important with Therese’s constant travels on the job. “Luckily my job is fairly flexible so I make it a point to spend as much quality time as I can with Scott and Isobel. At first my being away on press trips was hard on her, but she’s gotten used to it. The pasalubong doesn’t hurt, either.” And when she sits back to unwind, she plays the piano or the drums, or reads Isobel both children’s books and full-length novels.

To take care of herself, she sets aside me time to rejuvenate, as well as exercise — dancing flamenco, swimming and walking, to maintain that balance that is important in every mother’s life.

When it comes to Marites Gozon-Viterbo, mother of three boys aged five, three and six months, loose and comfy clothes take precedence over tight or skin-baring pieces. Although a trained doctor, she is a full-time mother, with a minimalist sense of style. Marites likes to keep things elegant in pieces from Esprit, her favorite brand from Cinderella. She loves the solid-colored shifts in red and blue, or a long skirt or khaki pants paired with a floral blouse.

This no-fuss fashion sense reflects her focus on parenting and motherhood. “Like my mom, I am very hands-on with my kids. That’s why me and my other siblings graduated valedictorian. That’s how hands-on my mom was. For my kids, I try to bring them up (with discipline) while still keeping their individuality.”

As such, she dresses son Raffy in khaki or plaid shorts paired with fun printed tees from Oshkosh. “He’s a sensitive child like me. He also loves nature and animals.”

Indeed, Cinderella makes a lifestyle of style and comfort much more accessible to mothers everywhere. Whether they work or stay at home, there’s always something for every mother and her little one at Cinderella.