Mother's Day is here and we wanted to celebrate it!
Melissa (@melissa.riling) is one of our OG Namai models - is not only part of our story, but also a mother. We spent an afternoon with her at home in Kerhonkson, NY, alongside her child, Fay. We captured a quieter side of her world. Dressed in white and layered in Namai, she shared a few reflections on motherhood, personal style and how the two have evolved together.
How has having Fay changed the way you see yourself?
It took me a while to get used to how much this little guy will rely on me forever, hello post-partum anxiety! Taking care of myself and making smart decisions feels even more important now because I want to be here for him for a long time. I also want to be a mom he is proud of, provide a good life for him, and show him how badass women are. Having a child really lit a fire under me and pushed me out of my comfort zone. If something seems scary to me, like applying for art grants or going to a big casting, I think, “well does Fay’s mom do this?” And if it’s yes, I do it!
Before Fay, how would you describe your style? Has it evolved since become a mom and if so, how?
I used to say my style was “construction worker royal barbie” so think workwear mixed with more ornate or girly things. I’ve gone through a ton of clothes through all the pregnancy/postpartum body changes and needing breastfeeding access.
And of course my cozy Namai jacket has been so great for so many of those stages!! After my son was born I felt I had to start dressing more “mom-like” and ended up with some pieces that just didn’t feel like me, so I ended up donating them. If anything, I think being a mom made me realize that I’ll always be most comfortable being me.
What's it like watching Fay develop his own sense of style and how do you foster this?
When I was pregnant I joked that his style was called “oatmeal punk,” which is still true to him, he even has a little skateboard and loves oatmeal! Early on it became clear that his favorite color is yellow and he loves to wear his favorite characters du jour and animals. So now I’m always on the lookout for those things because it makes it easier to get dressed in the morning… though I do curate it a bit haha.
What has the experience been like focusing on modeling again now as a Mother?
Modeling has been the perfect job for me as a mom. It pushes me to take better care of myself, which has allowed me to see that I can still be *that girl* haha. I am mostly home with Fay, and when I have jobs I either plan them around his daycare schedule or arrange with my partner, Ben, or my parents for trips into the city. NYFW was such a cool experience, I was definitely the only mom at the majority of the castings. It was such a fun opportunity to be back running around in NYC, and I still can't get over that I did my first two shows as a 36yo toddler mom!
How do you want to celebrate this Mother's Day?
I don’t know what Ben has planned for us in the morning, but I am an avid gardener and there are some bigger projects I’ve been wanting to do, so we are hiring our wonderful babysitter to come in the afternoon so we can focus and really get things done, and afterwards I’m going for a mani/pedi :)
