Find ideal gifts for Mothers Day with Oroton's style edit which captures the bond between a mother and her daughter whilst showcasing our versatile women's range.
HOW TWO STYLISTS AND THEIR TEEN DAUGHTERS TIME-SHARE THE NEW SEASON BAGS
Photographed by Jake Terrey
Words by Natasha Inchley
Who says a teenager can’t take a few style cues from their mother? Particularly when that mum is a top magazine stylist.
We asked two industry talents and their daughters to edit the new season collection and show us how they’d wear it.
MEET ALLEGRA COLE AND VICTORIA COLLISON
With a career spanning 30 years in fashion, largely at Vogue Australia, you could say that Victoria Collison is something of an expert when it comes to matters of style. Together with her 17-year-old daughter Allegra, the duo shares a mother-daughter moment.
VICTORIA COLLISON
“My trench is another wardrobe essential, perfect for weekends, worn with this check bag, which is a little roomier.”
Oroton: What inspired your love of fashion and design?
Victoria: I was fascinated from a very early age – I used to covet Vogue from when I was about 10. My mother was interested too, and I would often raid her wardrobe. I suppose fashion was the initial point of interest and over time I began to love and appreciate design on many levels.
Oroton: How does the stylist style herself – how do you put your look together?
Victoria: My personal style is now fairly pared back – mainly monotone colours, structure, I’ve always loved a jacket, black or navy trousers and jeans, and clean lines in the winter months. On reflection, I think this style evolved partly due to going to an office every day, it’s just easier to wear a sort of uniform. I then try to change it up a little with a good shoe and bag. During the summer months, my look is more relaxed with print and colour, culminating in a looser look.
Oroton: Do you and your daughter Allegra share a similar style – have you borrowed style tips from each other over the years?
Victoria: Yes, I think we have a similar style – which is very annoying when we like the same thing as she obviously can carry off a look a thousand times better than me!
Oroton: If it was about flowers and a film on Mother’s Day, which would you choose?
Victoria: At this time of year white parrot tulips would be perfect, and I would love to watch one of my all-time favourites, The Graduate. Oroton: What do you admire most about your daughter – what lessons have you learnt from her?
Victoria: Allegra has equal amounts of strength and compassion – along with her gentle nature. I am constantly learning from her.
ALLEGRA COLE
“I’d wear this red and white check bag as more of a daytime, summery pouch, matched with a cute dress or mini skirt.”
Oroton: What inspired your love of fashion and design?
Allegra: Growing up, mum was always working on magazine shoots and would occasionally take me into the Vogue office where I would admire all the chic women. I also use social media, especially Instagram, as a place to draw inspiration from fashion bloggers and influencers.
Oroton: How does the daughter-of-a-stylist style herself – how do you put your look together?
Allegra: Similar to mum, I often wear simple monochromatic colours, however in the winter the only colour mum likes to wear is black and I try to vary my choices. I live in tees and sweat pants and simple, clean-lined dresses.
Oroton: Have you borrowed style tips from each other over the years?
Allegra: Yes, I think we do share a similar style, I constantly look at mum as a go-to for fashion tips, never leaving the house without confirming my outfit choice with her!
Oroton: If it was about flowers and a film on Mother’s Day, which would you choose for your mum?
Allegra: I would choose gardenias and The Notebook – Ryan Gosling never lets you down.
Oroton: Lastly, what do you admire most about your mum – what lessons have you learnt from her?
Allegra: I admire her constant support, love and care for me. She is the older sister I never had.
MEET PENNY AND RUBY McCARTHY
When it comes to defining her own look, stylist Penny McCarthy applies the same rules she uses on any of her fashion shoots – working with a kind of pulled-together polish, statement accessories and an element of fun. Photographed with her daughter Ruby, an anthropology student, the pair match up their style.
RUBY McCARTHY
"I love both of the bags in these looks – the first tan bag I would wear during the day with jeans and boots. And the green bag I would choose for dressier events. But in saying that, you could wear both either way, they are so very versatile.”
Oroton: What ignited your love of fashion and design?
Ruby: My love for fashion stems from my mother! I owe all my creativity in that sense to growing up with a mum who is so passionate about the industry.
Oroton: How does the daughter-of-a-stylist style herself – how do you put your look together?
Ruby: My style changes so much across the seasons. I don’t dress in a very masculine way and I usually never wear black, I love colours! I’m drawn to a mix of vintage with designer brands. I’ll always be in something fun, cute, and feminine, such as boots with a gingham pant and an oversized jumper.
Oroton: Do you and your mum share a similar style – have you borrowed style tips from each other over the years?
Ruby: I wouldn’t say “borrow” – maybe it’s been enforced from the many styling sessions and comments over the years, ha! I love my mum’s style, I think she has the best eye and there’s usually nothing she wears that I don’t love. I have stolen so many clothes from her over the years, so yes you could definitely say we have an eye for similar things.
Oroton: If it was about flowers and a film on Mother’s Day, which would you choose?
Ruby: Mum and I don’t really do movies together, that’s her thing with dad, but I do think there’s something special and beautiful about receiving a bunch of flowers from someone you love, as a symbol of thoughtful love and care.
Oroton: Lastly, what do you admire most about your mum – what lessons have you learnt from her?
Ruby: Everything! I find it funny as I’m growing more into an adult and I see myself doing little things that she does. My number one lesson that I have learnt from her is to be loving and caring, I grew up so loved by mum and I know that’s why I have so much love to give to other people. She has also taught me to be incredibly driven and motivated, but to always laugh and have fun, and definitely not take life to seriously.
PENNY McCARTHY
"I love the crispness of all white accessorised with tan, and this bag is such a great shape, roomy enough to fit my diary, a water bottle and all of life’s essentials!”
Oroton: What ignited your love of fashion and design?
Penny: I think I’ve always been a very aesthetic person, I like things that are pleasing to the eye. My Mum was an interior designer, and I travelled from a young age with her to places like Rome which had a big impact on me.
Oroton: How does the stylist style herself – how do you put your look together?
Penny: I think you get to a certain age where you only wear certain things – I would never ever wear a short skirt, for example. I’m drawn to long fluid silhouettes, classic tailoring, muted colours, no mutton dressed up as lamb for me! I guess it’s age-appropriate with an edge.
Oroton: Do you and your daughter share a similar style – have you borrowed style tips from each other over the years?
Penny: I love Ruby’s style, she doesn’t follow trends and has her own unique cool look. She’s quite a practical dresser like me. It’s been interesting watching her style evolve, she doesn’t really wear heels any more and is much more of a jeans boots girl.
Oroton: If it was about flowers and a film on Mother’s Day, which would you choose?
Penny: Ruby loves native flowers, I don’t! I like fragrant flowers, roses, gardenias. Ruby was recently telling me about the film Time: The Kalief Browder Story, which she thought was incredible. We also loved and cried our eyes out together watching Lion.
Oroton: What do you admire most about your daughter – what lessons have you learnt from her?
Penny: Ruby is the most incredible young woman: intelligent, caring, kind and with a social conscience. I feel like I’m now learning from her. She's teaching me all about Anthropology at the moment which she is studying at uni. She will make the most amazing Mother one day. I can’t wait, just quietly!
