TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF?
I’m a mum of two boys, who recently moved from London to the Kent coast. I was a primary school teacher but I had to give up work when my eldest son was diagnosed with cancer at 16 months. After a gruelling year of intense treatment and year of maintenance, which involved raising over £400k to access medical care in both Barcelona and New York, he is now almost 5, in remission and totally thriving. After that experience my career priorities massively changed and I’m currently focussing on healing from the trauma and being there full time for my boy
HOW ABOUT YOUR HISTORY WITH CLOTHES SHOPPING?
Historically I’ve very much been a high street shopper. I would often buy cheap clothes on a whim and was easily influenced into buying into the latest trends. More recently I’ve become much more aware of the impact my decisions have on the environment and the plight of underpaid garment workers, whilst also realising that the cheap clothes in my wardrobe didn’t make me feel particularly good when I wore them. I’m now committed to buying quality pieces that I know will stay in my wardrobe for years to come and not end up in a charity shop or landfill. I’m also loving shopping for preloved clothes that would normally be out of my price bracket.
WHERE DID YOU FIRST HEAR ABOUT BEYOND NINE?
I stumbled across Beyond Nine via Instagram before I became pregnant with my second child and vowed I would buy a piece if I was ever pregnant again (although now I realise I shouldn’t have bothered waiting as they’re as good without a bump as they are with one!) The first piece I bought was the classic Laura, and I’ve lived in it ever since
WHAT DOES BEYOND NINE MEAN TO YOU?
I love how inclusive the brand is. The clothes work for all body sizes and shapes. Literally anyone can wear Beyond Nine clothes and the models chosen and the images on their instagram feed totally reflect that. I also love that their clothes are so versatile, they can stay in my wardrobe all year round, when I’m pregnant, breastfeeding, or neither of the two. My body has changed shape a lot over two pregnancies, and sometimes that can be hard to accept, so it’s refreshing to have clothes that work with those changes rather than against them.
HOW DO YOU FEEL WHEN WEARING BEYOND NINE?
I’m always complimented on my outfits when I wear Beyond Nine, which obviously makes me feel great! I love that the clothes flatter my body and are so incredibly comfortable!
DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE PIECE?
I couldn’t say what my favourite piece is, I love them all! But I suppose if I had to choose it would be the Laura, just because it’s the comfiest piece of clothing I own, but still looks very cool!
WHAT DOES FEELING GOOD IN YOUR CLOTHES MEAN TO YOU?
Beyond Nine was instrumental in changing how I shop for clothes. The lightbulb moment for me was going through my summer wardrobe and realising the only item I had consistently worn all of last summer was my Evie dress. It suddenly clicked that it was worth spending that bit more on a few quality pieces as they were the only things I actually felt good in and wanted to wear.
ANY STAND OUT MOMENTS WEARING BEYOND NINE?
The other stand out moment in Beyond Nine was coming out of hospital wearing my Laura after the birth of my second son. My first son was born by cesarean section and I had found it so difficult to find any clothes I was comfortable in so I was incredibly grateful to know I would be super comfortable the second time round.
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