I Don’t Chase Balance — I Just Know When to Stop

Tell us about your family. How many Kids?

I’m married to Matt and have three kids — George, Grace and Joe — and our Labrador, Arthur.

What’s the part of being a mum that fills you up the most?

Watching my children — what they’re doing, what they’re achieving, and how they treat others.

Their kindness, curiosity and work ethic never fail to inspire me. It’s incredibly rewarding to see them growing into thoughtful, hardworking humans.

What’s one thing that genuinely helps you stay afloat in the day-to-day juggle?

How do you carve out space for career, motherhood, love, friends, and still find a moment for you?

If I’m honest, I’m not very good at this.

I try to read or go and get a massage — something to shut my mind down a bit and just chill.

But I do love what I do, so my day is made up of lots of little moments for me… even if it is called work.

Where do you find fashion that genuinely feels like you?

At Vic and Bert — I literally design what I want to wear.

I want style with no fuss. Classic, but not frumpy. Longevity and sustainability always.

What does living a healthy, grounded life look like in your world?

Being kind.

How do you keep your body moving in a way that feels realistic and sustainable?

I try to walk every day with my dear Arthur — our Lab.

What’s one non-negotiable that keeps your mind and body well?

Eating well and focusing on being healthy.

When you think of ‘balance’, what does that actually mean to you in real life? 

Balance, to me, is probably just when all three kids are happy… and knowing when to take a break.

What does your morning routine look like, honestly?

Often, my mornings start with a quiet sense of anxiety — the kind that slowly fades as the day unfolds.

The rest of it is pretty routine… getting the washing on, trying to feel organised before the day properly begins. But it all feels very different now. With the kids living away from home, life has shifted. It’s almost like going back to who I was before them — when work filled the space and the days felt more predictable.

And yet, when they were little… it was chaos. Pure, relentless chaos. From morning to night, I was constantly running, barely coming up for air — and at the time, I thought I’d never get through it.

Now? I actually miss it. When Vic and Bert started, I didn’t really make friends with the other parents from school. I just wasn’t around enough — always rushing, always somewhere else. It made it hard to connect, hard to feel part of it.

And if I’m honest, that was really hard.

How do you wind down at night? What does your evening routine look like?

A glass of wine, some food, maybe a movie, a call to my mum in the UK or a friend, or reading.

It usually takes me a good 20 minutes of not talking to calm down from the day. I’ll probably spend that time vacuuming — it’s a bit therapeutic.

What’s something about you that would genuinely surprise people?

That I run this business primarily on my own, handling everything — but I now have Audrey, my assistant, who has been a game changer. Everyone needs an Audrey!

Also… I don’t keep a diary. So weird, I know. But I’m never late and never forget anything.

What’s a truth about yourself that took you years to finally admit?

That I can be quite unintentionally brutal. I like things to be said how they are, and I speak that way too. Never rude — just professional and direct.

When do you feel most like the truest version of you?

When I’m chilling and laughing.

What’s a single moment that quietly shifted the direction of your life? 

The day I met my husband, Matt — which ultimately led to me moving to the other side of the world.

What’s a mistake you’re genuinely grateful you made?

Leaving my first serious job.

What’s one boundary that completely changed your life?

Not sure… maybe I should have more boundaries. I’m probably too open.

What part of yourself do you judge the most (if you do), and why?

My weight — because I always have. I hate that mindset in other people, but if I’m honest, I do exactly the same. It’s bad, and it’s boring.

What’s something you pretend you don’t care about, but secretly do? 

Getting old.

If you could live an entirely different life for a year, what would you choose?

I’d travel back to India… and possibly stay there forever.

What’s something that still feels uncomfortable, but you’re pushing yourself to do anyway?

Difficult conversations on the phone — the ones you know you have to make, but wish you had an assistant to do instead.

What’s a version of yourself you’re trying to become?

I’m happy as I am now — that comes with age.

When you think about your younger self, what do you wish she knew?

Not to stress about the little stuff. The perfect wedding, holiday, day… it doesn’t matter.

Your memories matter — and the best ones are made up of imperfections. They’re the things you remember and laugh about.

We don’t sit around talking about everything that went right — we laugh about all the things that went completely wrong.

What’s the hardest part of motherhood for you to admit out loud?

Never saying, “don’t go.”

At the end of the day, you just want to know they turn out okay.

From the very beginning, there are so many sliding door moments — points where things could have gone a completely different way. Getting them through all of that and into adulthood… that’s a kind of relief you can’t really put into words.

What’s a small joy that gets you through this season of life?

A walk on the beach. A swim in the ocean.

The 5 things in your bag you can’t leave home without:

1. Trinny London Take Back Time Eye Cream (amazing)

2. Laneige Lip Mask (used as a balm)

3. Aesop Tacit Perfume

4. My glasses — whatever pair is in my bag that helps me see

5. Notebook and pen

Visit, Buy, Do

If I could do anything? I’d buy a Land Rover, get five Labradors, and shop at Phoebe Philo or The Row… daily.

What inspired you to start Vic and Bert?

I’ve worked in fashion for as long as I can remember — it’s always been part of my life. I come from a very creative family, all deeply involved in fashion, art and building things.

We’ve also all worked for ourselves, so starting my own business always felt like it was on the cards.

The real turning point came when I moved to Australia. There was a clear gap — it was surprisingly hard to find cool, well-designed clothes without unnecessary fluff. I found myself travelling home just to shop, or ordering everything online from overseas.

Now, I get to design exactly what I was looking for.

What has been the biggest challenge?

Money.

Building a business from nothing, managing cash flow — it’s all been organic. No loans, just growth.

Have you had moments where you’ve wanted to give up?

Yes — when I was trying to hold onto the business, pay school fees, and felt like I was being swallowed alive.

When did you realise it was going to be a success?

It’s been gradual. I’ve never had a big “this is success” moment.

For me, it’s in the smaller things — loyal customers, people coming back, people actually living in the clothes.

I wear Vic and Bert every day, and hearing others do too… that’s success.

Have you had to make any changes to The Vic and Bert since becoming a mum?

I already had the kids when I started Vic and Bert, but I’ve sacrificed a lot — especially time.

They see that though, and I don’t think that’s a bad thing. They all work hard — whether it’s studying or doing basic jobs — their work ethic is incredible.

Can you share what’s coming up for Vic and Bert?

This winter — I’m so excited. We’ve done our first suit. Not mine… but the first Vic and Bert one.

Any advice for someone wanting to start a business?

Take a course in accounting — even a short one. I wish schools taught more real-life business and financial skills.

And never underestimate the amount of work. It’s not for everyone. If you can’t live and breathe it, or aren’t prepared to make big sacrifices… don’t do it.

But also — never be afraid to fail. Failure is the biggest lesson you’ll ever get.

Discover Vic and Bert here.