Recs: Are baby-friendly hospitals mother-friendly, what I wore & bought in Byron, how-to edit your closet plus a few beauty notes.

A round-up of my latest buys, reads and recommendations.

Trying to make my edits as quick and digestible as possible. If you have been reading this newsletter for a while you know that I repeat many of my favourite pieces and it goes without saying, I wore my beloved sundress most days. My holiday edit are pieces that I pull from my favourites. Though I use to shop for specific occasions and destinations, now I find I’m inclined to buy and wear items that can be mixed and matched whatever the occasion. This vacation is generally very casual and to spend time with my husbands family so we don’t necessarily go into Byron all that much but I couldn’t help myself when it came to checking out some of the local brands such as St Agni., a label I have loved since I bought my first pair of green suede slides (anyone who has been a lifelong fan of the brand will know exactly which pair I am talking about) and Deiji Studios (a surprise to no one at all).

A lot of you requested beauty notes so I have added what I’ve been into lately and been using while away. Let me know any feedback!

Jade x

READ –

1. The Green Dot By Madeleine Gray.
   I started this book while in Fiji but only 2 hours of child-free time meant I still haven’t finished this (I am close!) but that is not because it isn’t a great book but rather a having the time but I have picked it back up this holiday and have made a pact with myself to read before bed. It’s a modern love story about a woman who has an affair with a married man who just can’t help herself. Easy, honest, funny and the language and references are so familiar you can almost hear her 24-year-old voice through the pages.

2. Why All Mothers Should Have Their Portrait Professionally Taken (Without Their Kids) By Megan Angelo, vogue.com

   In the age where we snap a photo of almost everyone and everything in our lives, why not capture ourselves and just ourselves? Often I am the one behind the camera when we’re out with our son (which most mothers can relate to!) and I know I don’t, apart from a quick mirror/outfit selfie, have many photos of myself at all which is also common for many of us. “In 2024, the number of professional, non-selfie photos we have of adults by themselves feels entirely out of proportion to how many pictures we’re taking. And the idea of arranging for your photo to be taken alone feels, in this day and age, feels… something. Intimidating? Indulgent? An insurmountable Everest climb of self-confidence?”. A solo portrait session may just be on my 2024 bingo card…

3. Are they really better for babies? For breastfeeding? By Dr Emily Oster.

   I have voiced many times that the way we feed our babies should be the choice of the mother who is feeding her child, and that choice should be supported no matter if it is breastmilk, formula or both. In a conversation with Dr Eliza Hannam GP & Lactation consultant we discussed the topic of why “baby-friendly” felt unfriendly to mothers who couldn’t or simply did not want to breastfeed and how we can better support all mothers. But here, it’s like Dr Emily Oster read our minds and made sense of all the antidotal evidence from my own experience and from listening to others’ stories. She tells the facts and evidence on whether or not having strict baby-friendly principles in hospitals actually does help to increase breastfeeding rates, the use of dummies and her concern that it has more negative than positive outcomes.

4. It might be a good time to clear out your wardrobe…

   The Wardrobe Edit

   A concise 5 guide to clearing out your wardrobe if you want a more minimalist vibe or really if you have too much (probably all of us!) yet are still left wondering why you have nothing to wear. “There are only two rules - try everything on, and when you’re bored - STOP!”

Disclaimer: I take my recommendations seriously and put forward the best of what I have read, bought, tried and loved, and I may make a small commission from links. Some I have linked to I make nothing at all, there’s no gatekeeping here but if you can please share this post, comment and like!

WHAT I WORE & BOUGHT IN BYRON BAY –

To the beach – 

A one size black one piece is a no-brainer. Wore with an old white sarong, sunglasses and hat from P.Johnson … and yes I know I need more hat coverage if I am going to banish my pigmentation ha and I quite like this one.

To dinner –

This is what I wore to dinner with friends. A pretty standard outfit for me – white tank, black elastic waist trousers, gold earrings etc. I added a Malachite necklace I’d found last year in an antique store (almost identical option here or this choker is also lovely or this if you prefer something finer). I think adding colour makes this a bit more holiday-friendly/not so serious.

What I didn’t buy but would have if it were my size in this colour –

I loved this dress but this particular colour was a sample and was very over-sized. From the front it looked great but there was too much material in the back and it gaped a lot. It does come in black and white though.

What I did buy – 

I bought this sheer dress which had just come in but is currently on pre-order. I sized up so it fell right. Note: will most likely wear high-waist undies like the model. I am not usually one for sheer but this dress is so pretty and the maxi length plus the loose, flowy style balances the see-through-ness for me. Or white trousers would look great underneath.

The cotton dress that suits everyone (on sale here in XL - I went for a M but usual size is a S).

If you are not a shorts girlie (which I declared I am not), then this skirt may suit the bill for summer –

Deiji Studios top had sold out in store in most sized in white and black but I liked that this striped top is still neutral (my preference) but slightly more interesting. I bought a S (usual size) and the skirt is elastic waist and just beautiful. I sized down as it has plenty of stretch.

Beauty notes – 

You can find my glowy skin routine here that is more in-depth but as far as holiday beauty goes, I keep up my skincare routine (complete with my at-home LED light) and I make sure I use my Melanotech drops (pigment inhibitor) religiously and coat myself in SPF 50. I like to keep my makeup light and only wear it when headed out for dinner – Westman Atelier is what I’m currently very much into – I love that most products are multi-tasking, quick and you don’t need anything other than your hands to apply. The stick contour, brown mascara and mixing the complexion drops with the Drunk Elephant B-Goldi drops. Not pictured: the Vida Glow Liquid Advance collagen – a double dose of collagen and wow, it works! As well as this Pureology spray that will save your hair from all the elements.

From left to right: Mascara, Azelaic Cream (from the chemist!), complexion drops, contour stick, cream blush, brow gel, DMK Vitamin C, Sunscreen, B-Goldi Drops, DMK Melanotech Drops.