Ahead of Mother’s Day, we are honoured to announce the release of our limited-edition sleepwear collection in support of Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA).

We had the pleasure of sitting down with friends Janine and Zoe, who shared how breast cancer has impacted their experience of motherhood.

Through their poignant stories, they also celebrate the enduring influence their own mothers have had on their life and style.

Mother of three, Agricultural Financial Administrator, committee member of Grow Myrtleford

Janine

Mother of three, Agricultural Financial Administrator, committee member of Grow Myrtleford

What is the most stylish advice your mother has passed on to you?

I remember being totally absorbed watching my mother put on makeup; she worked and modelled for Max Factor before having her own family. Mum took great care in how she looked and always looked like a superstar.

I'm sure she passed on loads of advice over the years, and I was no doubt selective of hearing at times. But I did take on board to own my style and be confident. And always, 'Stand up straight, with your shoulders back – and smile!'

What is the most significant life lesson your mother has taught you?

Always be true to yourself. Never give up your worth of who you are. Have confidence. "If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will".

Did becoming a mother change your approach to style and fashion?

Absolutely. I went from trends to classic dressing – and thankfully never showed a midriff again.

What would be your ultimate Mother’s Day gift?

I look forward to the handmade card from my children with a cup of tea in bed.

How have you encouraged your daughters to develop and express their own sense of style?

My daughters have had a very strong sense of style from very early on with matching outfits and various accessories, even as toddlers. I couldn’t believe it! So, I find my job is providing soft guidelines and a pop of a compliment, so they’ll feel confident wherever they are.

Were there any unexpected silver linings from your breast cancer journey that have enriched your experience as a mother?

We all live incredibly busy lives; home, family and friends, work, school and the many children’s activities filling every moment of every day.

My diagnosis came at the beginning of COVID, so I went from running on all adrenals to having to sit in this sudden ‘pause’ in my life. This pause, even if through breast cancer and other external influences beyond my control, made me grateful to stop and completely reset in relative privacy.

I learnt to slow down, just ‘be’ with my family, and focus on my health and treatment through a very discombobulated global period.

On the other side, life is certainly busy again, but there’s a new clarity and appreciation to accompany it.

How have you managed to balance the demands of motherhood with the physical and emotional toll of breast cancer treatment? What advice would you give to other mothers navigating a breast cancer diagnosis while raising children?

There is a huge mental and physical adjustment throughout the treatment journey that consists of many varying stages.

It takes time to recognise and realise what you’re about to go through — the information-gathering stage if you like.

Once you have the information for your cancer and treatment, you begin to acknowledge where you are at, then you come to the acceptance, trusting the process, that this is beyond your control and you have to walk bravely through it to get to the other side.

The sooner you can get to this point, the sooner you can tune in to be more present again with your children and those around you.

I am reticent to give too much advice as the cancer journey is entirely personal for everyone, where no ‘one’ person can provide you with advice as to what it will be like for you and how it will impact those around you. And unfortunately, plenty of people have been through it.

I just tried to maintain as much normality for both my children and me, which meant that, among other things, I still dressed for confidence each day, with my shoulders back and a smile!

Zoe

Mum of two and Interior Designer @by_zoe_murphy

What lessons did you inherit from your mum as a result of her cancer journey?

I learnt to take care of myself mentally and physically. Mum was diagnosed in her early forties — and the treatments were not nearly as successful or effective then.

She struggled with the treatment that continued for over 11 years, and it knocked her around a lot. I also lost my dad to cancer, so I need to be mindful. My wisdom now is: prevention is better than cure.

Today, I live a healthy, clean life. I cut out alcohol years ago and started practising yoga instead of drinking to manage my stress. My kids see that we don’t drink alcohol at all, and they don’t feel the need to later in life. I’m teaching them meditation, and because I’m always present, they know they can come to me with any worries; we talk about everything!

How would you describe your mother’s style? How did her style influence your own?

Mum was a fashion designer and worked for Prue Acton.

Her style was very experimental, and she made most of her clothes, including her first wedding dress, which is archived at the National Gallery of Victoria.

It’s constructed from patches of denim she had left over, sewn together with other pieces of fabric she had collected and embellished with pearls and buttons. It’s very eclectic and very ‘70s. Growing up, I experimented with many different styles, even trying to create my clothes from scratch, just like her.

What is the most stylish advice your mother passed on to you?

Mum told me to look after clothes, always follow the washing instructions, and steam and dry clean when possible as they will last longer. I still do this today, and everything in my wardrobe looks brand new!

What is the most significant life lesson your mother taught you?

She taught me to work hard and be true to myself. If someone doesn’t like you, move on and give your time to those who appreciate you. Life is too short.

Did becoming a mother change your approach to style and fashion?

Yes, it did. After I carried my two children, my feet changed, and I could no longer run around in high heels and short skirts!

My go-to when I’m not at work is a matching tracksuit set. I like investing in nice sunnies to hide my tired eyes and get away with no makeup and a good pair of comfortable and cool-looking sneakers!

And a good bumbag to run after the kids with; always have two hands free!

What would you love for Mother’s Day?

A sleep-in and lots of cuddles!

Is there any style advice you have passed down to your daughter that you learned from your mother or other influential women in your life?

I taught her how to put an outfit together mainly by colour tones. I always tell her to refrain from copying what the girls at school are wearing, to dress as an individual and feel comfortable in what she chooses to wear. Unfortunately, that is pants. I had to donate all the dresses I bought her.

Join us in supporting women affected by breast cancer this Mother’s Day by purchasing a pair of our limited BCNA sleepwear.