To Mom, With Love
Our annual ode to mothers and their infinite wisdom, starting with Tory's mom, Reva
Tory’s mother, Reva Robinson, is a legend in our office. We love her influential style — glamorous yet effortless — not to mention her supernatural ability to set a delightful and beautiful table, but her countless words of wisdom also endure. A couple of favorites — “If the cup isn’t full, then add water” and “Love with your whole heart.” These maternal bon mots inspired our Mother’s Day tradition of asking women we admire to share their moms’ best advice and a few other thoughts on modern motherhood.
As director of contemporary art gallery Salon 94 (a favorite of Tory’s), curator Zoe Fisher is currently at work on a number of upcoming exhibitions “by brilliant women who also happen to be mothers,” she says. Among them, Ruby Neri and Anthea Hamilton.
The best advice I received from my mother… she has never been much of an advice giver, but instead listened and guided me to get to what is true, honest, and real for me. This has been her greatest gift and something I hope to share with Jude.
If I had 24 hours to myself, I would… sleep past 5:30am, tinker around the house and garden, treat myself to a mani/pedi, wander Lower East Side galleries solo, have cocktails and dinner out with a girlfriend that continues out late.
Three things that are always in my bag… peanut butter Bambas, a ball, and my phone to document every second.
South Sudanese model Angeer Amol has lived in New York City since 2020 with her son Piok, a 2.5-year-old mini-me, frequently photographed with his mom. Among her career highlights: landing a Vogue Italia shoot soon after signing with her agency; her first campaign, for MAC Cosmetics, and walking in Valentino’s Spring 2022 haute couture show in Paris.
The best advice I received from my mother… ‘Protect your peace — it’s priceless.’ That advice has followed me through every season of life.
My style post-motherhood… balances chic with real life. I love beautiful pieces I can move in — I need to be able to chase a toddler and still feel like myself.
Three things I always have in my bag… snacks (for both of us), a mini first-aid kit, and a little notebook to capture funny toddler moments before I forget them.
A veteran fashion editor and stylist, Melissa Ventosa Martin channeled her expertise and informed eye into creating Old Stone Trade, an online marketplace for craftspeople and ateliers from around the world. Read: beautifully made pieces you’d be hard pressed to find elsewhere. Based near Saratoga Springs, New York, she recently opened a studio in Manhattan to shop by appointment, and will launch a children’s capsule today.
The best advice I received from my mother… my grandmother raised me, and even when things weren’t easy, she always reminded me that we were lucky. It was a lasting lesson in perspective — and in valuing what you have. She taught me to notice everyday acts of kindness. I still think of her when I let someone merge into my lane of traffic.
My favorite way to spend time with my daughters… watching Gilmore Girls together is our weekday, pre-reading time ritual. It's so fun and cozy.
This Mother’s Day, we will be… at home in upstate New York. The girls love to make breakfast in bed for me. Then, if it’s a sunny day, we’ll spend it outside gardening, hanging out and – because it’s Mother’s Day – I’ll probably get them to do a family walk.
Mother knows best
One constant in our office is that Tory’s mother, Reva Robinson, is a source of inspiration — for her style but even more so for how she’s lived her life and the advice she has imparted to her children. Perennial Reva-isms (like “The glass is always half full”) are the origin of our longtime Mother’s Da…
Los Angeles-based DJ and creative producer Samantha Dueñas (aka SoSuperSam) launched her Substack newsletter The Sam Report when her daughter Daisy, now 3, was 18 months old. Its purpose - to explore the “overly pragmatic” side of her personality in posts about crib transitions and strollers. Parenting, however, hasn’t entirely taken over her life. Samantha is relaunching her R&B party 143 this month.
The best advice I received from my mother… to regularly carve out time for yourself, your friends, your interests.
My style post-motherhood… my handbags have become gigantic. Kids need so much stuff! Beyond that, my style is relatively the same – casual, comfortable, with a ’90's/skate influence. But I have become more strategic. Every season I create a capsule wardrobe of formulas that I like; I definitely wear a ‘uniform’ these days. It alleviates a lot of the mental work in the morning!
My dream Mother’s Day gift… a trip to Paris with my college girlfriends and all of our daughters.
A design and creative consultant — and writer of the excellent fashion Substack Time Less — Joyce Lee is best known for her tenure at Madewell. She recently launched a collaboration of women’s and kids’ clothes with World of Crow and included her 9-year-old daughter Poppy and 6-year-old son Kai in the creative process.
The best advice I received from my mother… she always encouraged hard work and to be kind, and told me to always be able to rely on myself.
My style post-motherhood… has mostly stayed true to itself — just a lot fewer heels in the mix.
If I had 24 hours all to myself, I would… have a spa day with girlfriends and a relaxing and delicious dinner afterwards.
If you’re a consumer of morning TV, Tiffany Reid may be a familiar face. The fashion consultant and celebrity stylist has made regular appearances on The Today Show, Good Morning America and News Nation, talking about trends and red carpet fashion. A natural on the screen, Tiffany is currently working on a YouTube show about personal style, a topic she also covers on TikTok.
The best advice I received from my mother… ‘Keep forging ahead. As long as you keep moving forward, you have a chance.’
My style post-motherhood… hasn’t changed much. I have a well-curated closet and genuinely love wearing my clothes. There are subtle shifts in how I style things. Sometimes I dress a bit more modestly. I’ll catch myself thinking, ‘Wait, I’m a mom now – maybe I should throw on a jacket,’ especially if I’m showing midriff, which was my go-to pre-baby. But honestly, by the end of the night, the jacket usually comes off. My body’s still adjusting while I’m nursing, so I’m more conscious of that – but I’m still me.
If I had 24 hours to myself… my dream day would be a staycation! Room service, naps, and a rooftop pool. Then a full spa visit – massage, facial, sauna, cold plunge. Simple pleasures. Just some uninterrupted me time.
We’d like to give a huge THANK YOU to all the moms above who wrangled and cajoled their children for a photo shoot. And Happy Mother’s Day to you and the moms in your life, from Team WSIW and all of us at Tory Burch.
🖤🖤