I wore this vintage Italian Ken-Done-esque frock that I scored from the local opshop to Estelle Michaelides’ come-back show yesterday. As I stood to watch Estelle showcase the exquisite pieces from her latest Micky In The Van collection, I felt such a sense of freedom, wonder and joy.

I say freedom because it was the first time I’d attended a fashion event on my own for a long time. I felt so light without a child on my arms/back/bossom. You know that I-feel-naked-without-wearing-my-watch-feeling?

But it wasn’t just liberating physically. Thanks to conversations with other mommy fashionistas such as Lady Melbourne and Estelle, I realized that it’s OK to admit that being a-mom-who-blogs is no easy feat. It’s quite a struggle actually. Mostly because my clothes and schedule no longer accommodate my increased figure and the decreased me-time. As much as I would like to ‘get back into it’, I made a choice to spend as much time with my kids as I can before they go to school.

Creating content, planning a photoshoot, executing the photoshoot, then editing the photos and writing the post takes wayyyyyy longer these days with 2 little ones whose expertise is to interrupt and disrupt my creative mojo. So should I just admit defeat?

That leads me to wonder. I wonder how other blogging moms do it with such flair and aplomb? Lady Melbourne assures me that those moms have a lot of help- production teams, grandparents, babysitters and of course, childcare. Sometimes I feel that the only way I can blog is if I gave up my job and other commitments to free up some time.

But when I saw Estelle work her magic yesterday, I was overtaken by wonder. The way she layered headscarves with Pillbox hats, paired ruffled dresses with velvet bombers and topped them off with vintage sunshades, you could tell that she was in the zone. And a light switch went off inside of me: I used to dress like that! I used to live like that! I used to think like that!

No wonder there’s been a blockage to my blogging process. It’s not just the time-limiting factor or the size restriction, it’s a matter of the heart. I haven’t’ even been living out my style mantra in my daily life, so of course there’s a disconnect between the online and offline versions of me!

But not anymore, because “Every day is worth dressing up for”!

With this new revelation and sense of liberation, I felt a little like the ‘prodigal daughter’, back in the arms of my ‘fashion family’. Although I haven’t seen many of them for years but absence does make the heart grow fonder. Hugs were longer, conversations richer and connections deeper. Is there anything more heart-warming than to be told that you’ve been missed?

Even though I have attended more fashion shows than I can care to count, it was Estelle’s that gave me freedom, wonder and joy, and showed me hope. I can’t wait to style my new Micky In The Van sweater and I can’t wait to embrace fashion again.