Our girly chat with Vamastyle’s Kaitie Manani
Bright, bold, and colourful – that just about sums up Kaitie Manani’s philosophy in life. This yummy mummy is one fabulous Aussie designer and the creative director of fashion label Vamastyle, whose super luxe resort chic offerings never fail to wow us!
We sat down for a girly chat with Kaitie on a sunny Friday afternoon to find out her secret to looking fresh, feminine and vibrant everyday, while keeping a keen eye on her little tykes and dreaming up gorgeous swimwear styles.
Hello there, Kaitie! It’s great catching up with you again (see our previous chat with her here). We know you’ve been keeping busy! What’s your secret superwoman?
I’m no superwoman! Life has been super busy running Vamastyle and keeping up with two very active boys, Josha (5½ years old) and Rishi (2½ years old). My mantra is “weekdays are work and weekends are family”. Sometimes, this might get more challenging than it should be, but you have to find your balance. I came across a quote that struck a chord: “Even if you LOVE what you do and it doesn’t feel like hard work, you still need to set boundaries”.
That’s a wise saying. What do you love most about your job, anyways?
Being my own boss. I’m working harder than I ever have, but I love seeing all the hard work pay off!
Vamastyle’s bold, bright collections are perfect for any summer occasion. What inspires you?
My background is in graphic design for fashion companies, so I’m inspired by art, travelling, blogs, magazines, fashion, and books (my favourite reads are those about textiles and interior decor). I always take a notebook on the plane when I travel, as it’s precious quiet time and the perfect opportunity to sketch new print and design ideas.
Speaking of sunny weather: what’s your favourite summer wear?
That’s easy to answer: playsuits from Vamastyle!
What exciting things are in store for us at Vamastyle?
We’re holding a Vamastyle pop-up at HOUSE at Dempsey on 23-25 January so you get a first-hand glimpse of our new Sun Seeker Resort collection – don’t miss out!
Are there any stylish mummies you get inspiration from?
Definitely! Miranda Kerr, Kelly Wearstler, and Jessica Alba are my top 3 stylish mammas.
What’s the hardest thing about having two boys and running your own business?
Well, this links back to the first question for me – it’s time. Every mother will say the same thing! I’m just trying to keep a balance of work, family, and “me time”. As Vamastyle is now in its 3rd year running, I’m starting to get better at achieving this.
Vamastyle has been around since 2010. What new directions do you wish to chart for your brand this year – maybe a kids’ line (hint hint)?
We recently launched our new swimwear line and it’s been received incredibly well in Singapore, Australia, and around the world. I feel that there may be a Vamaswim for Kids range coming in 2014, as there is such a lack of affordable swimwear for adults and kids in Singapore.
Where do you shop for boys’ clothes in Singapore?
I love Cotton On for great basics with a cool spin, and Petite Bateau for classic prints and well-cut shorts.
It must be hard to manage two rambunctious little boys, so what’s your favourite kids activity in Singapore?
That’s got to be go-karting at West Coast Park. It’s a great way to spend a leisurely weekend with the family, especially with the year-round sunny weather.
In your opinion, what is Singapore’s best-kept secret?
Shopping at Escentials at Paragon. They have all the cult beauty, makeup and fragrance brands that are not available anywhere else on the island (such as By Terry, Diptyque, and Le Labo).
What do you never leave home without?
My friends and family will laugh at this as they know I literally bring EVERYTHING with me everywhere (I like to be prepared!). If I had to narrow it down to 3 items, it would be: my Diptyque (fig) perfume, Nars “cruising” lipstick and lavender hand sanitising gel.
If you wrote a book, what would it be called?
I would probably call it “Lily’s Rainbow”. When I was a child, I loved making books and illustrating them. When I was about 8 or 9 years old, I made up a story about a little girl called Lily who went off on an adventure with her little dog to find a rainbow.
Sounds like you’ve got the makings of a great children’s storybook! If you could be any cartoon character, who would it be and why?
I choose Wonder Woman, because she has the hottest costume!
If you only did one thing each day with your kids, what would it be?
Reading to my boys every night before bed. I have also added in an extra routine where my 5½-year-old reads one story to my 2½-year-old (it’s the cutest thing to observe).
What do you love most about being a mum?
It’s the moments when I look into my kids’ big brown eyes and see pure unconditional love that I cherish the most.
Thanks for a lovely afternoon, Kaitie. We can’t wait to check out Vamastyle’s pop-up store at HOUSE at Dempsey to get our hands on that really cute chevron-print playsuit! For more of Kaitie and her tots’ sunny smiles, check out our HoneyKids Facebook album now!