While in Paris at the Isabel Marant atelier, the audience got the opportunity to ask Isabel questions regarding beauty and the collaboration with L’Oréal Paris. One of the questions that came up was brilliant and really got me thinking. The question was: What does Isabel teach her child about beauty? This is a very important subject that’s very much relevant in my life as a mother as well.

As I work a lot with esthetics and looks, I’m well aware of what I want to teach my children and what kind of role model I want to be for them. I want to teach my children that beauty comes from within, but what we want to do with our looks, our outer shell is up to us. We are all born the way we are, but how we choose to portray ourselves and express ourselves outwards is thankfully up to each and one of us. The world today, provides us with options. Many of us have the opportunity to choose what we want to be and become and how we want to look.

I look at beauty, makeup, plastic surgery, fashion and everything that has to do with our looks just how I look at personal development, education and everything in between. There shouldn’t be anything shameful in wanting to be what we feel we want to be, look or become. Today, we have the freedom and that’s wonderful I think. The most important thing is that we all accept that everyone is different, want different things and that looks are just looks. What does it matter if someone wants to wear much or no makeup? It doesn’t tell anything about the person other than preferences and taste. Why is caring “too much” less acceptable than caring “too little”?

As a feminist, I will let my children wear whatever they want as long as it’s appropriate for the situation, comfortable, clean and functional. If my boy wants to wear nail polish or my girl feels pretty and like herself in a (in my opinion) miss matched outfit, I will let her wear it anyway. Although they are my children, I refuse to teach her/him that there is only one way that is the only right way when it comes to self-expression, the moderate midway. I believe, that the sooner they start practicing and trying different things, the sooner they will find what works for them. I also don’t want to belittle looks if that’s something they find intruding, fun and interesting. I mean, I’ve built my career on my interest in fashion and beauty. What’s wrong with that?

I see my job as a parent to provide opportunities in a safe, supportive and loving environment. I put no judgement or opinion in what it is they find interesting and I make sure to not favor any interest over the other, as long as it’s healthy. I want to show them the world and help them get to know themselves. I will support whatever they choose to do passionately. All I want for my children is to be happy and feel unlimited to do what they love. 

knit soft goat cashmere// dress iro// boots zara// bag chanel

Pictures by Juuli Rönkä

Post in collaboration with Zalando// Postaus kaupallisessa yhteistyössä Zalandon kanssa

It might not be huge for human kind, but this post I’m about to write is a bigger deal for me than I thought. Every time I let my thoughts wonder and reflect over motherhood and my kids, I get emotional and sentimental. It’s like I go back in time and see their growth in fast forward and realize how borrowed this time is before they grow up and move on. I already hear myself telling them “you’re 2 and 4 years old once, don’t hurry to the next age too fast.”

As you know I’ve decided not to feature my children here on the blog or in any other of my social media channels. I don’t have any specific motives not to expose them, but since I was unsure of why I should, I decided to listen to my gut and keep them privat along with the rest of my family and friends. However, motherhood is such a big part of my life and changed me for good – as parenthood always does.

Mother’s Day is coming up and although I’m extremely grateful towards my own mum I can’t help myself from celebrating my own motherhood and everything it has given me.

This post is dedicated to my first born, my daughter, my little princess. When she entered my life, she added color to my world I never knew existed and changed life as I knew it. She has given me purpose and meaning and taught me lots of new things about life. She took away selfishness in a blink of an eye. She was the answer to  most of the things I was lacking answers for.

Today she’s 4 years old and I’m so grateful for the moments and memories we have together so far. She has become her own little individual, yet she reminds me so much of myself. She is my soul mate and my greatest teacher.

Todays shooting for Zalando was extremely anticipated as all the one on one moments with her are. We planned and talked about our day together all weekend and I picked her up from daycare early. Then we did what we like to do the most: indulge in sweets, talk, giggle and cuddle. My Mini Me and I.

Zalando has a beautiful and wide selection of children’s clothes and shoes. We ordered our mommy-daughter outfits here and here to make this day even more special and memorable.

Get straight to Greta’s dress here, my dress here and shoes here!

Pictures by Juuli Rönkä