TIDBTW Fashion Moms: Lil Bulgac & Kinga Katharina Slota
Honest outfits for busy people
If I’m being honest, dear TIDBTW readers, I’m so maxed out right now, I can’t even think about things not to buy. Besides bags, I can always think about bags: how insanely good is this Georgia Jay one? I’m practically crying.
And this crossbody beauty by NONA? How much sustainably sourced patent leather does your life need:
I see my money flying in that direction soon.
Anyway, while we are all doing our best to get through our days with grace, we all gotta get dressed. I had an interesting observation the other day, when my friend, who’s indeed a mom and a very chic mom that is, got called “fashion mom” - basically because she does dress well. Which was obviously meant as a compliment, but somehow, when you are trying to keep up with (new mom) life, any label can be triggering. At least I felt really triggered. It seems you either are a profound, caring, stressed mom, or you are able to put a functioning outfit together.
But what does being well dressed actually mean? Following a certain stereotype, or finding your individual formula that quickly makes you feel good a.k.a look good. With my friend, I think I got so emotional, because I experience and admire firsthand how much she knows herself – and dresses accordingly. Which is nothing do be ashamed of but comes in rather handy when you wanna get out of the house. Which applies to all of us. This got me thinking, about what moms a.k.a. busy people actually wear, things they buy.
Honest outfits for busy people
When I look at myself on those days when I either stay in my pyjamas all day, hammering away at the computer OR dress efficiently, lately I come back to these two looks on rotation:
One is a little more front of the house incase I need to talk to someone face to face, the second one allows me to sink back into my couch whenever I have the chance. I’m either wearing these Nike low cut parachute trousers that I got three years ago and just rediscovered. Love pairing them with a white tee (the best best best one is made by CAES) and my grey blazer. The second “look” here features my beloved silky Adidas tracksuit trousers (these Vinted ones look good too), an oversized cashmere sweater (bless English spring) that I got on my local fleamarket late last year and my vintage leather jacket. On my feet on most days: My Vagabond mules. I literally had to learn how to walk in them, but once we got comfortable, we became inseparately. In my opinion they lift up any outfit.
And then it’s really all about a cute bag: The off-white Jérome Studio Narrow and the Jil Sander Tassle bag are my summer favorites. Some people wonder how I manage to put my baby’s stuff in there. I don’t! They are just fun and I wear them for myself. The diaper bag doesn’t have to be on display (unless you use the NONA one above), which doesn’t mean it’s not there. So this is me right now. Lazy looks? More like really smart looks, if you ask me. Which brings me to my second, new series: TIDBTW Fashion Moms.
I say, every mom is a fashion mom – on their terms. And I’m really curious to learn more about that. In this series I will be chatting to some moms out there, about their style, things they bought and why. In relation to them being a mother, but mostly being people and people who are into fashion (more or less). Always two moms in one edit. I invite you to tag along and celebrate each other for showing up for ourselves, dressing in a way that makes us feel easy and nice. xoxo
TIDBTW Fashion Moms: Lil Bulgac, fashion stylist & creative director
I’m not even sure when I met Lil for the first time, but I am absolutely certain that she looked amazing. I think one day she just walked through the doors of the shared office space I was in (beautiful Gemini), greeted the owner Julie and probably took a good look at the fashion samples I had hanging there and we started talking. I love the Frenchness of her outfits and how she plays around with proportions and volume. More than once she got me scrolling for the pieces she wore, the HUMAN A.P.J. earcuff I mentioned several times by now was first seen here, on Lil:
As Lil is a mom of a little boy too, when thinking of moms in fashion and fashion moms, she naturally came to my mind. I can’t wait to finally see her again, hopefully during Berlin Fashion Week and in the meantime, I’m very excited to present our little chat, please enjoy x
Things I didn’t buy this week: Please show me the one outfit you wear all the time at the moment. How does it make you feel?
Lil Bulgac: It is very hard to choose just one outfit, my mood dictates my choice quite a lot. I do love a mens blazer (and wear vintage mens suits, I own around 5 good suits that I hunted down in vintage stores) and my Lemaire jeans combo (in black), that I actually got right after my son was born and they have become a staple of my wardrobe ever since. Given that I wear a lot of mens clothing, I get inspired by men's style in general. Sometimes I like to add a feminine touch or mix in something sporty - like the bright green pants combined with a striped shirt.
Rue de Tokyo shirt, Prada bag, boyfriend pants, Arket ballet flats (Editor’s note: I am so close to falling for these ones.)
Wearing Lemaire jeans, vintage mens blazer, Tamle ring, Human APJ ear cuff, Fane bag, The Frankie Shop belt
TIDBTW: Can you name the three most loved things you bought in recent years?
LB: I’ve been trying to buy as little as possible in the last years, I’m a big supporter of vintage/ second-hand shopping from when I was young, my mother has a little vintage business. When I do buy something I tend to obsess with that object for a while, it would refresh my entire wardrobe, give a new life to things that might have been laying there forgotten. To sum up just 3 items I’d have to say:
FANE bra bag
Vintage leather jacket
Worn here with Tabi ballerinas and a vintage Gucci watch, Fendi vintage skirt and Our Legacy shirt.
Our Legacy shirt
Editor’s note: Not as good as vintage, but I really like this Black Gemstone necklace by YOUTH via SSENSE.
TIDBTW: Is there a piece of clothing you didn't buy and still think about?
LB: I’ve been trying to teach myself not to obsess or create an unbreakable bond with “objects”. It is extremely hard, but also very liberating. So I tend to forget and not regret not buying something, most of the time, that is.
There is this one pair of Saks Potts jeans that I regret not buying on sale at some point, but they are still available, so I might catch those soon.
TIDBTW: Can you show us the one thing that is always in your bag? And which bag you like to wear?
LB: If I have to name just one thing, that would be a photo of my dad, who is no longer with us. I miss him greatly..
But I also never leave the house without my Koss Porta Pro headphones, tinted 50 SPF sunscreen (obsessed with Dr. Sam’s)
and a book - a few on rotation at the moment, the size of the bag dictates the choice of literature.
At the moment, I am rotating 3 bags depending on my outfit - a Prada from the early 2000s, the Fane bra bag,
or the Lemaire croissant. (Editor’s note: She wears it best!!)
TIDBTW: Give me one sentence that sums up what fashion as a mom means to you:
LB: I strike the perfect balance between practical and utterly unprepared.
TIDBTW Fashion Moms: Kinga Katharina Slota, working in Media and Comms, founder of DAERE
When I first got to know Kinga she had just founded DAERE. It was 2019 and I was kindly invited to their first ever brunch. Kinga was incredibly chic and beaming and I felt a little shy about my casual attire. Since then her and her partner, Janina Waschkowski, have built a little empire of a women’s network – they now host a podcast, a newsletter (fellow substack, Kinga also runs her personal one) and events. And since then Kinga and I both had our babies; as we bonded over our growing bellies, we became friends, through casual and through chic.
Which brings me close to Kinga’s style choices every other week! I really admire her natural sense towards elegance, no matter the occasion. Her looks are classic but effortless and that is a superpower I’m excited to hear more about. Let’s get into it x
Things I didn’t buy this week: Can you show me the one outfit that feels the most you right now?
Kinga Katharina Slota: I am what you would probably call an outfit repeater. I love wearing pieces over and over again, so I was even more surprised at how difficult it felt for me to choose the ONE outfit for this newsletter. So I styled an outfit that is made up of all the pieces I always feel good in, and by good I mean comfortable and confident. I feel like, as a mother people expect you to style differently - meaning practically - and you definitely see me quite often wearing my yoga pants but I also combine these with ballerinas rather than sneakers.
Wearing Toteme silk pants (bought 4 years ago on Vestiare), Loewe basket bag (favorite summer bag since 2018), Aeyde Ballerinas (last summer).
TIDBTW: Can you name 3 (most loved) things you bought in recent years?
KKS:
Agmes Bubble Hoops
I never thought I would wear the Agmes bubble hoops this often, but I love wearing them. I normally wear more classic hoops every day. But my baby loves to rip them off, which can be very painful. These, on the other hand, he leaves in peace. Luckily!
Toteme Blouse
Toteme Spring Summer 2018 is still my absolute favorite collection. Back then, I was far from being able to afford even one of the pieces, but I couldn't get this blouse out of my head. I finally got my hands on it when I was pregnant and I love wearing it ever since, especially to occasions where I'm not 100% sure about the dress code.
Jérome Studio bag
If there was one piece I couldn’t stop thinking about it was this cute Jérome Studio bag. Especially because I had to see it over and over again on you (Editor’s note: I do own and love the Narrow bag in off-white, yes!) and Janina. Call me the luckiest person – I had the chance to buy a sample piece last week. So you definitely will see me wearing it all the time.
TIDBTW: Is there a piece of clothing you didn't buy and still think about?
KKS: Especially since I made the decision to join you in the “5 Things Club” this year there are several pieces one my mind. One thing I tried a few weeks ago (actually because I thought it wouldn’t look good on me, but now I like it even more) is this grey set from Filippa K. It gives me those 90s vibes and I would love to wear it combined with black Chanel ballerinas (which I also do not own) and my new Jérome Studio Bag.
TIDBTW: What’s the one thing that is always in your bag – to lift you up, make you feel beautiful, calm you down? One that is maybe even a surprise to yourself?
KKS: It’s definitely this Aesop desinfection spray that always gives me a fresh feeling without this typical desinfection smell.
TIDBTW: Please show us which bag you use and what’s inside. I’ve been missing the classic 2010s whats in your bag flat lays
KKS: An old analog Camera
Celine Purse
Westman Atelier Blush Stick “Couchette”
Apple AirPods
Chanel Hand Mirror
A silver Baby Rattle from Hai Berlin (Editor’s note: Obsessed with this one!! Hint hint hint!)
Aesop Lip Salve
Aesop Desinfection Spray
Celine Sunglasses
Hermes Lipstick “11 Beige Naturel”
Liewood Pacifier
Mushie Pacifier Chain
Byredo Hand Creme
(Editor’s note: All of this in the stunning Toteme T bag (kind of impressive), which I know Kinga got secondhand via instagram. Also so good to put everything in a cloth bag inside, to keep things tidy and easily move them from bag to bag. Notes taken.)
TIDBTW: What is the one sentence that sums up what fashion as a mom means to you?
KKS: I believe that you can't not communicate with what you wear, whether you want to or not. For me, fashion is a kind of creative outlet.
TIDBTW: Lil & Kinga, thank you so much for sharing <3
Thank you for the kind words and for letting me be part of this issue 🫶🏽