What Mums Wear: Zeenat Wilkinson, creative director & founder of Sauce.

"I am still trying to navigate what works and what doesn't work for me anymore."

What mums wear is a new series that takes a deep dive into what we wear, our relationship with fashion and how it evolves throughout motherhood, just as we do. We ask our most stylish mum friends their best tips on what to wear and what they consider when getting dressed each day.

Zeenat wears Benjamin Alexander Heidi Shirt (sold out but here’s something similar and something budget-friendly).

I can’t recall precisely when I came across @zeenatwilkinson, but I’m so glad I did. Since then, we have struck up an online friendship – her across the sea in New Zealand and I in Sydney and found we had a lot in common. From her grid, you can tell she has a natural eye for fashion, but delve a little deeper, and you will discover there is so much more to her than what meets the eye. She is a woman with brains and brawn and does not shy away from speaking her mind. As a writer, creative director, and founder of the community-based online lifestyle platform saucemag.co.nz, she can often articulate what I am feeling and what we all feel when we watch helplessly as political matters unfold – and prompt us to take action. She uses her influence for good and gives a voice to minority communities.

I call her a friend because, over the years, we have discussed everything from work to politics to creativity to motherhood to fashion. She has always been a great supporter of my work and I of hers. Apart from adoring her style online, which extends from her clothes to her work and home, Zeenat is a woman who will mention your name in a room full of opportunities, and that is what I enjoy most about her.

Read on as the creative director and mother of two shares what she wears on repeat, her tips for rediscovering her style, doing less and how motherhood has made her reassess what works for her now.

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My weeks are a bit sporadic due to the nature of my work, I might be shooting content 1-2 days a week and the other days I am in the office working on Sauce and Sauce productions. I have two kids under four so it’s pretty full on! My little girl is three years old and my son is currently 11 months old. I run a digital fashion, beauty and culture magazine/platform called Sauce and I also run the production part of the business where we produce medium to large scale fashion shoots. I also love creating personal content on my own instagram as it allows me more flexibility with sharing random bits about my personal style and life. It's also a space where I often get to connect with like minded people and create a little community of my own.

I try to wear something a bit more elevated to client meetings and work events. But for everyday office outfits I go with jeans, shirt, ballet flats and a nice structured handbag (this is my everyday work bag at the moment).

Blue top (similar), and Levi’s jeans.

Weekends are all about yoga, playground trips, and lunching out with the whole family. Once a month we get a nanny and have a lunch date just us two and treat ourselves to a proper bougie long lunch.

Motherhood has taught me to lean into the unexpected and let go of any expectations. The biggest shift I’ve noticed is in time management (there just doesn't seem to be enough of it) so doing less and committing to less is key. Staying present with your family is the only thing kids really want.

Wearing black tee, Pecchenino mini skirt, and dead Ponies bag (sold out) but similar here).

I get inspired by real, everyday women mostly in their late 40s and 50s. I have in the past walked up to women in cafes, stores, streets etc. and asked them where their shoes, shirts or sunglasses are from and it’s always nice to see personal style in context to culture and everyday life. Also, Instagram is a source of inspiration. Women and accounts I admire and often go to for style inspiration – Sara Crampton ( as well as The Undone), Monikh, Stella Simona and Jessie Bush’s personal style. 

I try to plan my outfit the night before and keep things ready to go but quite often it’s a spontaneous emotional process based on how I am feeling and the level of comfort I want to be in. I do tend to prioritise comfort over a look or style. 

I am still trying to navigate what works and what doesn't work for me anymore. I find trying things on and having a play with outfits, colours, textures in my wardrobe and taking mirror selfies in a nice way to create a digital diary of go to outfits. Smaller capsule wardrobe with hard working basics is key. Investing into high quality pieces is a great way to build a wardrobe.

A lot of what Zeenat wears are a mix of old and new. Get the lewk: Black crop, tailored skirt and ballet flats.

I find a few classic items can lift my entire wardrobe. My Prada classic white bag helps elevate any basic outfit, a Wynn Hamlyn blazer in black works with almost everything in my wardrobe and the Maggie Marilyn Somewhere Blazer in white (I wear size 12) to give it that oversized slouchy look. If I wear a heel, the Bronwyn Footwear Stevie in black and brown is my go-to.

I would describe by style as super versatile and maybe a bit classic/preppy. I might do an oversized jumper with a bold print or colour one day and maybe something super monochromatic the next day like a Wynn Hamlyn wool blazer and silk wide legged  Harris Tapper pants. 

I am a serial outfit repeater so at the moment I am trying to wear things that have more colour, texture, shape so I can get myself out of the rut and try new things.

At the moment I am loving my Levi middy straight style jeans with cute tops for New Zealand summer. I also love wearing my new Pecchenino mini skirt. So easy to style with a tee or an oversized white shirt or singlet. I also wear my Loclaire heart singlet all the time. 

Loclaire heart singlet, mini skirt and Prada bag.

I still wear lots of silks, whites etc. when I am not with the kids but I try to get out of them as soon as i get home and switch to mum mode. On weekends it’s definitely more functional and easy to throw into the machine kind of clothes.

If we are hosting at home my go to is a nice silk black or white shirt and wide-legged trousers or jeans. If I’m attending a kid’s party it’s is always very low-key. Maybe a shirt and trousers or jeans. Comfort is key.

Pink tee, wide leg jeans, Samba’s and basket bag.

Want more Zeenat? Follow – @zeenatwilkinson / Read – saucemag.co.nz/