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I’ve bought both accessories and ready-to-wear from The Row over the years. Like most millennial women (with an early affection for the brand’s founders), I have loved the brand and it’s entire offering. But I’m now willing to say the quiet part out loud: I’m getting tired of watching price tags climb every single season, and I don’t think I’m alone.

At large, consumers have noticed, and increasingly, are voting with their wallets. Dupe culture isn’t a fringe TikTok trend anymore — it’s a real, sustained shift in how people are choosing to spend on fashion, and The Row has become one of its most visible targets.

Which brings me to a piece of news that made this whole shift feel official. Sarah Shapiro, who covers retail and fashion from the inside at her newsletter Private Label, recently shared that a booming direct-to-consumer business built entirely around this exact problem had just raised fresh capital — a $9.5 million seed round backed by serious names in venture.

This wasn’t a small story. The business is reportedly closing in on a $55 million annualised run rate, working with more than 40 factories worldwide, positioning itself as an alternative not to designer fashion specifically, but to the entire markup structure of the luxury industry.

The pitch is straightforward: the same materials, often the same factories (!!) that supply genuine luxury houses, without the brand name sewn into the label driving up the price.

As someone who’s worked on the brand and marketing side of the fashion industry for years, I find this genuinely fascinating to watch. Money like that doesn’t flow into a “trend.” It flows into a business model investors believe is structural, not a moment — and a $9.5 million vote of confidence from serious venture money is about as clear a signal as you’ll get that dupe culture isn’t going anywhere. If anything, it’s becoming a permanent fixture of how a certain kind of considered shopper operates now: love the aesthetic, refuse the markup.

I’ve been genuinely fascinated and somewhat, admittedly impressed by what this business is doing myself — not cheap knockoffs, but well-made, considered pieces that live in the same design language as The Row (as well as other luxury brands), at a price point that doesn’t require a small negotiation with your own conscience before you buy.

The bags have particularly caught my eye.. here are their affordable alternatives to signature styles from The Row:

Idaho Bag

Park Tote

Peggy Clutch

90’s Bag

Sally Bag

Terrasse To-Go Bag

Astra Bowling Bag

India Bag

I’d love to know what you think..

Have you seen this brand popping up on your algorithm? How do you feel about dupe-culture? Let me know in the comments!

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The truth is, some days I genuinely don’t recognise myself or my life. I’ve had no real time to process any of it. Not properly..

We spent the end of last year begging for a fighting chance, the beginning of this year in that fight (personal essay coming soon), and now.. we’re home.

But our lives look nothing like we thought they would adding a baby into our family..

We were discharged from hospital in May, but we weren’t really discharged — we were sent home with HITH (‘Hospital in the Home’), which revolved around daily nurse visits, and since a relentless timetable of weekly allied health appointments, additional hospital admissions, outpatient clinic appointments and tele-health calls that haven’t slowed down since.

As lucky as we are to have our baby home with us, our new normal is, by any honest measure, a lot for the average parent to carry. We take it in our stride anyway, because what a privilege it is to have her here at all, to have a future to look forward to instead of the alternative we spent so long bracing for.

This is the reality for so many babies who’ve had long stays in the NICU or PICU since birth, and we’re not special or unique in living it.

But I think there might be something useful in showing what the additional parenting load actually looks like, day to day, for anyone curious or walking a version of this themselves. Here’s what one of our days actually looks like: mess, mayhem, medical fatigue and all..

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If Vol. 1 was jewellery and vintage runway, Vol. 2 is what happens when that same energy gets pointed at an empty house. Between packing procrastination and pinning inspiration for our new place, my Etsy wishlist has quietly turned into what can only be described as a fantasy furniture shopping spree. Here’s everything I’ve fallen in love with this week..

ORIGINAL, AFFORDABLE ART

Minimalist landscape watercolour An original, not a print — raw canvas, quiet and unfussy. Exactly the kind of piece that makes a room feel finished without trying too hard.

Terracotta abstract Extra-large, burnt orange, mid-century in spirit. I want an entire wall dedicated to this.

Tiny original oil paintings — and this one — and this one too A little series I’ve been collecting from the same artist, each one dated, each one just 9x9cm with a mat or original frame. I love the idea of grouping a few together on one wall, like a diary in paint.

Black textured abstract Large, unframed, moody in the best way. This would anchor an entire room.

Green water lily painting Monet-inspired, genuinely calming to look at. I think every home needs one painting that just makes you exhale.

Botanical silk textile artwork Dyed rather than painted, framed, entirely unlike anything else on this list. The most unexpected and breathtaking find of the week. I want to hang it in our bedroom.

Pear still life Semi-abstract, kitchen-appropriate, unfussy — this feels like the one piece of art that would make even the most utilitarian room feel considered.

Red copper textured wall art Custom, contemporary, framed. Not something I’d have thought to search for, but exactly the kind of thing I now can’t stop thinking about.

VINTAGE & BESPOKE FURNITURE

Willy Rizzo-style coffee table Burl wood, brutalist, chrome detailing. A genuine statement piece.

Gio Ponti-style dining chairs A vintage pair, ebonised, rush-seated ladder backs. I’d build an entire dining room around these.

Burl wood coffee table and this one too Two different sculptural takes on the same idea — I genuinely can’t pick a favourite.

Florence Knoll side tables Clean, considered, the kind of furniture that never actually goes out of style.

Mies van der Rohe coffee table A design-history icon, in vintage form.

Pierre Jeanneret cane stool One of those pieces that instantly makes a room look like it was curated over decades, not decorated in a weekend.

French tripod plant stand Charlotte Perriand energy, 1950s, endlessly versatile.

Vintage low stool Simple, French, the kind of small piece that ends up getting used constantly.

African Senufo stool Sculptural and grounding — I love a piece with real history behind it. Every room needs one weathered thing and that’s an interior design rule I live by.

Parson’s nesting tables Burl laminate, endlessly practical, especially for a house with kids running through it.

The 1940s Art Deco coffee table Beech wood, Czechoslovakian, small enough to slot in almost anywhere.

19th-century French linen press cupboard Painted pine, genuinely antique. The kind of piece that makes a whole room feel less “new house” and more “always been here.”

LIGHTING

Jean Royère-inspired desk lamp Mid-century, sculptural, exactly the kind of detail that makes a home office feel less like an afterthought.

Sculptural tripod table lamp set A pair, which always feels more finished than one lamp alone. I’d place them bedside.

Vintage plaster wall lights A French pair from the 1980s, soft and textural.

Plaster dish pendant light Bronze fixings, understated, the kind of lighting that looks expensive without shouting about it.

Alabaster pendant light Honey-white marble, offering a glow that makes a room feel warm even in the middle of winter.

Plaster cone pendant shade Custom, hand-finished, a little more sculptural than a standard shade.

Spanish parchment wall sconce Rattan and raffia, Mediterranean in feel — I’d put this somewhere it catches afternoon light.

VASES, GLASS & SMALL OBJECTS

Large Murano glass vase Studio glass at its best — I’d style this alone, no flowers needed.

Millefiori Murano vase Yellow multi-coloured glass, 22cm — a genuine pop of colour for a mostly neutral room.

1980s bamboo-shaped Italian vase Sculptural, decorative, extra-large. This one’s staying on my list until it’s not.

High-gloss black moon vase Postmodern, minimalist, a flat disc shape unlike anything else I own.

Rostrato-style hand-blown vase Murano-inspired, textural, the kind of thing that photographs beautifully in any light. Also, at that price?! It’d be crazy not to..

French fly ashtray A 1950s curiosity, more sculpture than function at this point. I love an object that doubles as a tiny piece of art. I also sent this to my friend Em Nolan — it was made for her.

Art Deco toothpick holder Fluted silverplate with a bakelite finial, 1920s. Genuinely unnecessary. Genuinely charming.

Jean Goardère pewter mail holder A mid-century desk organiser I’d use for approximately none of its intended purpose and display purely for how it looks.

Octagonal wall mirror Vintage, wood-framed — an easy way to make a small space feel larger.

Etched horse glassware set A set of four, minimalist line art, highball and rocks glasses included. Small, easy, and instantly elevates a drinks tray.

TEXTILES & SOFT FURNISHING

Mute yellow and olive rug Hand-tufted wool, geometric, soft underfoot in the way only a proper wool rug can be.

Green medallion wool rug Vintage-style, hand-tufted, the kind of pattern that hides a multitude of toddler-related sins.

Seagrass area rug Handwoven, natural, custom-sized — a cottage-farmhouse note among all this mid-century.

Chocolate velvet pillow cover Woven velvet, floral silhouette, double-sided. The small detail that makes a sofa feel finished.

Zebra cut velvet pillow Animal print is certainly having its moment isn’t it?

Bordeaux velvet headboard Upholstered, classic, an easy way to make a bedroom feel considered rather than an afterthought.

Striped ottoman bench Brick red, handmade, wooden legs — perfect for the end of a bed or under a window.

Brown velvet bench cushion Custom-made, for the banquette seating I don’t have yet but am already planning around.

COFFEE TABLE BOOKS

Eileen Gray: Design and Architecture A proper design history text, not just a pretty cover.

Rodin: Vintage Coffee Table Art Book Because every coffee table deserves at least one book that never gets opened but always gets admired.

Mathieu Matégot: Rare Vintage Coffee Table Book A hard-to-find mid-century design reference — the kind of thing that makes a shelf feel curated rather than filled.

Shop everything featured here, or browse more of my favourites here.

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What I mean to say is, we’ve managed to keep Greta home and out of hospital this month (touch wood), which has honestly just been such a relief. Other than expected outpatient clinic appointments (of which there still have been plenty!) we’ve had no rushed trips to ED, no will-we-wont-we be up and leaving in the middle of the night panic, and most importantly — so much more time spent with Mila.

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I’ve been mapping out a personal essay on how excruciating it has been having to mother her through this year — often from a far. I know that’s the reality for so many when you transition from one-to-two, but I think it’s fair to say that we’ve experienced that transition in an off-the-charts fashion..

After so much time feeling stretched so painfully thin between both girls, being able to be fully present with them both (and Lu!), during such a hard-earned season, is everything..

Anyway, From My Drafts to your inbox — here are bits and pieces I’ve been loving lately..

This pair of jeans. It’s been a month of really good denim!! If you follow me on IG you would have already seen me profess my love for these mid try on. They are PER-FECT. Selvedge denim, loose in all the right areas; so good I got them in a light and a dark wash. I like the light pair styled with a cuffed hem and will wear the darker wash (post trip to the tailor) with a slightly puddled hem to pair perfectly with a Tabi/ballet flat. I could write all day about hem length and the specifics of styling with the right shoe.. I digress!

This pair, too while I’m at it. If you love the Phoebe Philo Drop Jeans, but not the price tag (understandable..) let me influence you. I tried them on in store at Chadstone and fell in love instantly. Got them in the black and cream and have worn them so much in the past two weeks that Mila remarked ‘new favourite pants, huh Mumma?’. Nothing like a four year old (version of yourself) to keep you humble..

These ballet flats. If you’re frustrated that they’re perpetually sold out, same. A friend and fashion-industry-insider privately disclosed that she purchased this mirror quality replica pair whilst waiting to buy the real deal when back in stock. I have complicated feelings about dupes but my brain space is needed elsewhere these days. I won’t tell anyone if you don’t?

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These pyjamas. The best pyjamas there ever was. Seriously. I have them in both the grey marle and black and have five pairs and counting. I have pairs that I sleep in, and pairs that are exclusively for lounging around the house in. I’m the kind of person that takes off ‘outside clothes’ the minute I walk through the front door. Plus, grey is the comfiest colour, it’s a fact — I don’t make the rules. Been living in these cashmere socks, plus loafers lately, too.

This tennis necklace. It really is the perfect piece to wear with a t-shirt or a light weight merino knit. I know we’re all sick of hearing about ‘elevated essentials’ but it really is the kind of accessory that instantly elevates (sorry!!) even the most basic of outfits.

This exhibition. Self explanatory. I love jewellery so much I’ve honestly considered taking a gemmology course just for fun. Spatially designed by Sabine Marcellis, the exhibition’s colour palette changes in each room, creating atmospheres that reference iconic Cartier pieces, as well as the stories they tell.

This baby carrier. Greta is almost eight months old (WHAT!?) so has figured out that she needs to be on-or-with-me-at-all-times. Luckily for me (well..!?) she’s a second percentile baby.. weighing barely six kilos at seven months. So at least she’s compact as well as ridiculously cute..? The carrier has been out best friend lately. From morning walks to folding washing, MVP.

This pram. Speaking of morning walks, Greta just graduated to the big girl seat! The usual criteria for a bub to be out of the basinet is if they’re rolling.. well, she’s been rolling for months, but she was still just too little for the seat. The upper straps started above her ears where they should be hugging her shoulders.. I feel like I shout it from the rooftops but many of you still ask about which pram we have so declaring it here for all interested parties, we have the Bugaboo Kangaroo. We had the Fox 5 when Mila was a baby (that pram has since retired at my in-laws place for walks-when-we-visit around Fairview park). We absolutely love Bugaboo. Mila sits on the scooter board attachment which makes outings to Chadstone where her legs give in before I’ve had my last lap that little bit easier.

This ring. I am head over heels for everything Sophie Whitelaw makes. She came up on my TikTok fyp years ago and I have long been obsessed with a) her Scottish accent and how she says ‘jeweller’ b) her bridal looks (the bride wore an INSANE SW tennis necklace) and c) this ‘Tobermory’ ring. I’ve seen her wear the five stone predominately as a pinky ring. I’ve also seen others sport the tri-stone ‘Lochranza’, designed as a sister-style, as a bolder, engagement-style ring. It’s seriously so beautiful, all of it. A replica made it’s way to my Etsy wish list this week, because after almost a year of unpaid mat leave, that’s about all I can afford these days..

This serum. My god. When gifts from CHANEL are delivered to my doorstep, it’s a very good day. This came last week and it is luxurious with a capital L. Is it great, absolutely? Is it worth the money? I mean sure, if you have it to spend.. Do I think there are other serums out there that could treat your skin’s needs without a designer price tag, definitely. Look, I really do love it. And I’m so fortunate in my work to try so many beautiful things. But I’m not going to sit here and tell you that you need it.

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This probiotic. I’ve had mastitis more times than I can count this year (yep, still expressing, still exclusively ‘breastfeeding’ still a nasogastric tube..!!) and with that has come an ungodly amount of antibiotics. Six courses in the past eight months, I’ve just mentally calculated. Absolutely nuts and no guess as to why my gut health has been abysmal. These have been prescribed by my naturopath of a few years (who was originally a Zara Wong [Screenshot This on Substack] recommendation!). I’ve already seen an improvement in my skin health and overall inflammation since introducing this daily probiotic. So would definitely recommend!

This soothing dermal mist. It’s been a life saver for my skin flares (see above: abysmal gut health). My Em Algar [The Rich Creme on Substack] reminded me recently how much I love this product so I pulled it out and have been applying it to all problem areas: Currently back of hands! So dry and sore! Winter!! Also makes for a great face mist post treatment or if experiencing redness/angrier-than-usual skin. Special mention to this SOS spray, too.

This topical treatment. I was cleaning out my skincare wardrobe (yes, wardrobe!) a head of next month’s move and found a tube of this. I forgot how much I LOVE azelaic acid. It really is that girl. Use it if you want brighter skin, a more even complexion and if you tend to struggle with rosacea and redness. Start using once to twice a week. If your skin tolerates you can use every other day or daily, depending! Let me know what you think if you do give it a go..

This hair growth serum. I am saving the best till very last because wow-zers!! I am so excited to report back that this is legit. I know we’ve all been sold sooo many hair growth supplements and quick fixes but the stem-cell science behind this had me hoping for more than an empty promise. I see so many spiky little baby hairs on my hairline already, just a few weeks in. I’m really excited and will continue to document the progress for you.

With love,
Lauren

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I threw myself at Christmas the way other people throw themselves at work, or wine, or the gym. Tinsel as tourniquet. If I could not control what was happening inside my body, I could control the fairy lights, the wrapping paper, the small ceremonies of a four-year-old’s December. Mila’s world was about to change forever. She didn’t know that yet. I didn’t fully know it either, not the shape of it, but I knew enough to want to give her one more perfect, unbroken thing before it did. So I gave her Christmas. It was the only gift I still had full authority to give.

We saw our perinatal medicine team more than we saw our own families that summer. Every doppler was logged, cross-referenced, discussed in a language I had not asked to become fluent in but now spoke well. My induction was not a date so much as a coordinate. Something to be plotted down to the hour, contingent on a baby who was, against every projection, still holding on. Neonatal retrieval was on standby. The surgical team was on standby. I was on standby, inside my own body, and had been, for months.

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In my last update I shared that I barely had time to focus on myself and any skincare and I’ve been trying to make an active effort to reprioritise that sort of thing lately. Getting dressed, getting out of the house, feeling somewhat put together. You know?

Ten minutes for a more productive and fulfilled ten hours, as they say..

So I thought it could be an opportune time to update you on the things that have been helping me feel a little more me, lately. What’s making up my morning and evening skincare and self-care (a stretch!) routine as well as rating products that Lucy and I’ve recently finished.

I’m very fortunate in this job to try lots of different products and I’ll always be honest about what I genuinely love and where I think you’re better off saving your money.

Morning Skincare

I don’t really have too much time in the mornings, so instead of washing my face I’ll gently cleanse with this micellar water. My favourite facialist Melanie Grant sold me on Bioderma over any other micellar water alternatives on the market years ago, so I always have at least one big bottle in our bathroom cupboard and another mini in my always-packed-and-ready-by-the-door-hospital-bag. I use two Swisspers to wipe the nighttime off and wake myself up. I then go on with a few sprays of this face mist. I like to spray it into my palm and then rub my hands together before patting it into my face. I’ve been loving a few drops of this ceramide rich face oil and then finishing off with a favourite SPF. (I’ve been dying to try this one, will report back!) On days that I like to feel a bit more put together I’ll pop some of this new SPF 50 skin tint on — I like to apply it with a brush — and it gives just an even glow. I’ve actually been blown away by this product. MECCA Cosmetica know a good thing but this hits it out of the ball park. Watch my friend Gem show you how it applies to the skin, here. My face doesn’t feel like mine without a quick fill in of the brows. I keep coming back to this brow pencil, but Boy Brow is a staple as well. Depends what I’m in the mood for. I pop on a pair of earrings, lately it’s been these, and I’m ready to pick Greta up out of her cot beside me begging for attention. Never mind the fact that I sang to her during this entire routine!!!

Evening Skincare

I’m a night time shower person so I’ll pop an oil cleanser on my face giving it time to work it’s melting magic before jumping in the shower to wash it off. I promised you skincare but now that we’re in the shower I may as well tell you what comes next. I keep my hair (brown, chin length bob) looking its best when I only use shampoo (sorry conditioner!) and shampoo 2 x over. I have fine, oily hair and conditioner just makes it look too heavy/clumped together so I’ve learnt that shampoo-only is the happy place. I don’t use anything fancy at the moment. Lucy’s been using this one so I’ve piggy backed off her hair’s current requirements. Once out of the shower I’ll wipe my face clean with micellar water and a Swissper. Again, MG told me that the Bioderma formula also does an incredible job at prepping the skin for any serums and products that follow so her voice echoes in my mind whenever I feel tempted to skip that step. I then gently wipe on then pat a few pumps of this serum on before either indulging in this sheet mask ($$ but the BEST!!) or going straight to moisturising. In Winter my skin really needs the extra hydration and has a tendency to be far angrier (read: red) in the cooler months, so B5 / panthenol to the rescue.

Honourable mention to my LED Mask that does a lot of the heavy lifting post cleanse pre topical skincare three out of five nights of the week.

I’ve also just started using this for postpartum hair loss. Months three to six were particularly brutal in that regard. So I will report back with my findings.

Incase you care, some recent skincare empties:

This multi-action face cream — 10/10
Incredible product. Has me very excited to try their hair serum.

This pigment serum —11/10
Honestly, phenomenal as well. Love every product I’ve tried from the brand so far.

This glow serum — 6/10
Nice to have but certainly not essential.

This foaming cleanser — 7/10
Lasted ages, maybe like four months? Only need a pea sized amount and left the skin feeling really nice. Worth the spend when you factor in how long it lasts.

This cleansing balm — 9/10
Love this product. Also lasted four or so months. Need to repurchase!

These eye patches — 10/10
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news (for your wallet) but AB products really are exceptional. These eye patches are remarkable. Deeply hydrating and visibly plump fine lines. (Your ‘wrinkles’ are often just dehydration lines.. did you know!?) Give them a big drink!

SSENSE Sale Picks

To know me is to know the SSENSE Sale is just a permanent tab on my web browser.

Here’s everything I’m coveting at up to 75% off!

The Unexpected Life Update..

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JEWELLERY

This Georgian ring A lab-grown stone in a proper Georgian-style cut-down setting, 14k gold. For the Jessica McCormack fans, without the eye-watering price tag. I’ve purchased from this seller a number of times so can attest to the quality!

This tennis bracelet Same Georgian button-back setting, this time strung into a full tennis bracelet. I love the varied stone sizes. It’s a need not a want.

This pendant An old-mine cut, elongated cushion shape, prong set. Truly beautiful and something you’d keep forever.

This pear-cut pendant & necklace A pear-cut stone on a blackened gold Georgian cain. Most pendants from my favourite Etsy jewellers are sold separately to the chain. This one isn’t, which makes it a great price!

This east-west ring An east-west set cushion cut in blackened gold. It does give engagement ring vibes (it’s “inspired” by the Jessica McCormack engagement ring Tom Holland proposed to Zendaya with) but I’d style it sized down as a pinky ring.. Nothing chicer than wearing a single, sizeable stone on your pinky!

This vintage watch A vintage medium Cartier Panthère. I love my small but this is.. insane?? Truly can’t believe it’s still up for sale at a price like that..

This pendant necklace Wood and serpentine, an unexpected pairing that reads really beautifully. Picturing wearing this summer with shirting or a scoop neck tank.

ARCHIVAL FASHION

This polka dot skirt S/S 2000 Prada, burgundy silk, pleated. I have thought about this skirt no fewer than four times since finding it. Pleated Prada from the early 2000’s has lived rent free in my mind since my fashion school days.

This flower print skirt S/S 2001 Prada, flared, the kind of print that makes an outfit. SATC fans will know it from an iconic Carrie outfit. I love the yellow but I’m just not that girl and would get far more wear out of the black (in my size, too!! Rude not to..?!)

The lips print skirt Utterly iconic 2010 Prada. It’s a collectors item.

The runway boots “Are you wearing the… the CHANEL Boots..? Yeah I am.” THE F/W 2005 Chanel thigh-highs. Famously mentioned (and worn!) in The Devil Wears Prada. A piece of fashion history, no?

HOME

This jewellery box Solid burl wood, velvet-lined, with a lock and key. So beautiful and I know you need somewhere for all of your jewellery to live..

This jewellery organiser If a box isn’t your thing. An organiser, perhaps!? Velvet, with dedicated spots for precious pieces.

This jewellery tray For those who seek simplicity. A simple velvet tray for the pieces you reach for everyday. Elegant and understated enough to sit out on a dresser rather than hidden away in a drawer. So many beautiful rich hues to choose from!

These armchairs A set of two vintage velvet green singles with fringe trim. I don’t have room for them, nor do they suit my home in it’s current state. I want them anyway..

This cushion cover Sea blue velvet with a chartreuse fringe — the exact kind of unexpected colour pairing I claimed I only save for accessories. Every time I inject colour into our home, I end up regretting it and feeling overstimulated.. But small impermanent pieces like cushions and vases are the way to trial colour in interiors..

These wall sconces A pair of mid-century Italian glass sconces, circa 1970. If we didn’t already have bedside sconces, they’d already be mine.

PLAYFUL ADDITIONS

This flower brooch A handmade silk dahlia pin, elegant enough to make elevated essentials feel like an intentional outfit. Bring back the broach, I say!!

This beaded tote Handmade from wood beads with a cotton or satin lining, entirely too charming for its own good.

This mini bag A simple silk bag. Great option if you love the The Row’s Cecily Bag but don’t want to spend an arm and a leg.

These silk pants They’re listed as pyjamas but let’s be real, I’m tempted to wear them during the day and out of the house. Is this spring summer the summer I finally start wearing colour? What’s happening to me.. !?

This silk robe Major Dries vibes and what I want to wear to flounce around the house on a Sunday..

So, that’s this week’s tentative damage report. Now please tell me, which pieces should we pull the trigger on..

Those close to me often make light of my penchant for black and white and neutrals, but I actually truly, genuinely love colour.. It just doesn’t seem to make its way to my wardrobe, as I’ve learnt over the years that wearing a high contrast and predominately neutral palette is what makes me feel most myself. More on that soon!

Maybe that’s why I opt for louder, bold hues and a “good time” when it comes to accessories. I’m also a sucker for beauty packaging and will absolutely be swayed by artful primary and secondary packaging (also, more on this soon…)!

A good chunk of what’s in here was gifted, either through work or from loved ones for special occasions. That being said, I’ve always valued elevating the everyday — so am happy to splurge if it’s something special and I know I’ll get ample use of.

As I was writing this, I was thinking about my eldest daughter, Mila, who already loves going through my bag.. So much so I’ve had to start keeping them up out of reach rather than plonked down on the floor of my walk in robe. She’s also a magpie when it comes to sparkly things! She tried to wear one of my necklaces to preschool a few weeks ago. I was sure I had a few years still before the wardrobe theft started..

Anyway. Here’s what’s in my bag..

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I’ve been sitting with that for weeks, turning it over, trying to work out how to write about it without either flattening it into something tidy or letting it swallow me whole again. So I’m just going to tell it as it happened, and let it be as messy as it actually was.

Greta was our eighth embryo transfer. We started trying for a sibling for Mila when she was just eighteen months old. She didn’t become a big sister until she was four.

In between sat two and a half years of heartbreak I still don’t have adequate language for. The kind that reshapes you quietly, without asking permission. So when the positive test finally came, in May last year, confirmed on Mother’s Day of all days, Lucy and I held it so carefully. We didn’t say it out loud, not really, not in the way you’d expect two people to celebrate news they’d spent years praying for. We’d learned the hard way not to count anything before it was safely, truly ours.

For a while, it seemed like maybe this time it would be. The early bloodwork was in our favour. The genetic testing came back all clear. We found out we were having a girl, a sister for Mila, and I remember tucking her into bed one night not long after, crying quietly as her small hand rested on my belly. “Are they happy tears, Mumma?” she asked. I told her they were. I told her all of my dreams were coming true. I have always pictured a house full of girls.

Then came an ordinary appointment that stopped being ordinary within about ninety seconds. A quick look at the baby on a non-diagnostic machine, just for fun, and the screen showed something that made my stomach drop before my brain had even caught up. I knew, on some instinctive level, that what I was looking at wasn’t right.

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However, one sunny Winter’s day when we escaped the hospital, I found myself strolling through Collingwood Yards going to get a coffee and lunch at Stefanino’s and thought to myself - wow, this is bliss. This is it.. And they are the moment’s I keep striving for when I feel a bone deep level of exhaustion.

Lucy and I joke that there’s nothing quite like a post-hospital-stay state of euphoria. When Greta first got home we jokingly asked one another if there were any possibility that were in fact experiencing a shared manic episode. Some days it still feels like that — too good to be true, waiting for the other shoe to drop..

All this to say, my recommendations this month may very well be shadowed by a state of exhaustion and forced solitude but alas! Here they are, From My Drafts…

1. V-neck Sweater, 2. Silver hoops, 3. Tote bag, 4. Silver carafe, 5. Baby duvet cover, 6. Coffee table book, 7. Pram suit, 8. Skin tint.

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This tote. It really is the perfect size for everything. I had the medium in sand but the large is very necessary with the two girls, now. I got the midnight brown but also really love the eucalyptus colour-way. I’m a sucker for a duck egg blue..

This skin tint. I’ve tried lots and this one is really, really good. Genuinely feels like nothing on the skin but evens out complexion and blurs without being too matte (or too shiny..)!

This moisturiser. Look beyond the cult-brand cool girl hype, and you’ll find that it’s a very good product. I haven’t tried much from the brand (yes, I’ve been living under a rock..) but I got this as well and it doesn’t annoy me like most lip balms do..

This woolen pram suit. Is there anything cuter than a baby wrapped up in wool? Perfect for frosty morning coffee runs and long winter walks. You would have also seen this baby duvet all over my instagram feed lately, too. It comes with us everywhere in the cooler months.

This baby duvet cover. They honestly have so many amazing sheet sets, for babies, kids, and adult size bedding, too. A brand based out of CPH. Impossibly understated and effortlessly cool, of course.. but at such a fair price. The girls have quite a few sets of their linen. They get better, and softer, with every wash.

This novel. I know it’s against the rules to recommend something you haven’t finished, but I’m about half the way through (I started it in January, though in my defence.. I’ve been a bit busy!!). I started following the author on social media. I think she came up on my TikTok late last year.. You’ll be as addicted to her eclectic, British-author-aesthetic as I am. Every time I put my boring black socks on I wonder if I should opt for a signature red like she has, instead.

This face mask. I really don’t have much of a skincare routine at the moment. I’m honestly too exhausted and I’d rather spend 15 minutes sitting down to write if I can, rather than lathering serum upon serum. So I’ll let the tech do all the heavy lifting, for now..

These earrings. Nothing makes me feel put together like a simple silver hoop. I can be wearing the sloppiest outfit to run out the door, and I throw on my glasses, a silver hoop and an unexpected, slightly dressy shoe or boot and feel a million bucks.

This pair of shoes. So easy, affordable and perfect parent-running-around-all-day clogs. True to size. Go for either the black or greige suede. They also come in pony hair if you’re feeling snazzy!

This vacuum. Hear me out. A vacuum Lauren, really!? And the answer is an unequivocal, yes! Earlier this month, the robovac really lit up my DMs and it appears that there are many of you who, like me, are too exhausted and too time poor to lift a finger around the house these days. We (and by we I mean Lucy!) splurged and got a good one.. I’ve heard that’s the way to do it if you’re going to buy one, buy a decent one. Anyway, we looooove ours.

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With love, Lauren

Greta is back in hospital.

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With love, Lauren

From My Drafts is a deeply personal project with the sole intent of supporting my family during a period of prolonged paediatric illness.

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