Carrie London | From Fashion To Family Life & Embracing The In-Between
by Neha Ruch
Carrie London is quickly becoming the face of many of our favorite clean, conscious, female-led brands. It’s no wonder with her elegant persona and thoughtful mindset toward life as a mother and woman. Carrie is immediately recognizable as someone you want to call a friend with striking balances of vulnerability and confidence or mindfulness and fun. Her post follows suit with empowering take-aways on help and self-care and honesty about initial fears and inevitable guilt. Read below for her experience parting with her own career-woman identity, using this time to explore what comes next in writing and fashion, and the realities of the grey area.
1. In "meeting" you, I was so drawn to your enjoyment of where you are - can you share a bit about the shifts you made in your career in fashion to make room for motherhood?
Before becoming pregnant, I had reached a crossroad in my career and was ready for a change. That change was coming but in a different form. When I found out I was pregnant, I decided it was time for a career pause. While my ambition and desire to be a career-woman remained, I knew I wanted to be fully present for my family.
2. Taking a career pause can come with a lot of initial trepidation. How did you approach that decision and what helped you connect with confidence and clarity?
I was ready for a change in my career, and becoming pregnant just made the decision to take a pause easier. I knew I wasn’t prepared to embark on a new career path while also dealing with the life-changing journey of becoming a mother. Being in a stress-filled environment was also something I wanted to avoid. I was scared of the uncertainty that the shift would bring. I really felt I would fall behind and miss out on so much career-wise, but in my gut, I knew that it made sense to take the time to focus on our growing family. I can’t say my path is now clear, but I’m much more decisive, and that gives me confidence in the day-to-day. I don’t think I missed out; I think I have a different journey now.
3. I think you would agree the notions of a stay at home mother and working mother are antiquated now as there's so much grey area in between. Where are you finding creative energy and community alongside your two children recently?
Creating content and writing have been my creative outlets. I am absolutely in that in-between area right now where I still prioritize this time with my children but feel the shift into growing something for myself. I take the time during the week to do my work. Now that my youngest is ten months old, I feel a little more comfortable leaving him for more extended periods. It’s still really hard for me to be away for more than a few hours and the guilt always creeps up!
I have found a community of mothers online that are experiencing the same thing - with you! I think in the age of COVID community, online has been stronger than ever. I have found that connecting with other moms has really helped. It always helps to know that we are not alone in our journeys.
4. As women - especially women navigating the grey area of making room for family life - we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to do it on our own. What does your village look like?
My husband is very hands-on! He is a morning person, so he wakes up early with our son, and they have their time together while I get to sleep in and do my morning skincare routine. During the week, we have a nanny in the day and sometimes in the evenings for date night. For the occasional overnight trip, my mom watches the babies.
On the days that I don’t have any help, and my husband is working, I find it difficult to get anything done. I think it’s so important to be transparent about the help we get so as to not set unrealistic standards for other women. The pressure to do it all yourself is high and somewhat of an industry standard. Asking for help and getting help where you can should be normalized. This can be in the form of asking your partner for help, a family member or close friend, or hiring help if you can. This looks different for everyone, and it doesn’t make you a bad mom.
5. You have such a peaceful vibe - what rituals or routines help you to maintain that for yourself and your family?
Self-care is so important to be the best version of yourself. With kids, it's so easy to put everything and everyone else before you, but I have found that when I take the time for myself, I'm better for them. I try to get dressed and ready every day, even if I'm not going anywhere, because it makes me feel better. I prioritize sleep. This isn't perfect with the unpredictability of two small children, but I'm strict about the babies' routines to allow myself space. Once the kiddos are tucked in, I love doing my evening skincare routine. Whenever we can, my husband and I go on dates. It is also worth noting that I think many of us share the best versions of ourselves. While I do put in a lot of work to be peaceful and understanding, I do have my imperfect moments. Some days are really tough.
Quick Chit Chat:
Product you'd gift every mother
Most meaningful marriage advice/learning
Prioritize your marriage and respect your partner. Even when you have a differing opinion or a long day, it is important to respect one another. Make it a point to carve out time alone together. It can be having a glass of wine together after the kids are asleep, a dinner date out, or a short trip. That time together is so important for a healthy relationship.
3 Instagram accounts that inspire you
I love following @rosiehw and @nycbambi for fashion and interior inspo! @sivanayla is so inspiring for staying motivated and juggling motherhood with a career.
You can follow along with Carrie on Instagram.
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