Stylish moms

My Mom, Style Icon

In 2009, Piper Weiss launched My Mom, the Style Icon, a blog paying homage to stylish mothers worldwide. Originally created in honour of her mother, Marilyn, the blog soon turned into a place for readers to contribute photos of their mothers' most memorable outfits. The blog was so successful that it landed New York-based Weiss a book deal with Chronicle Books.

My Mom Style Icon features 200 photographs from different decades and eras of mothers in elegant, chic, and sometimes, outrageous garb.

Taking inspiration from the book, Chatelaine's staff will share their favourite photos of their moms. Check back regularly for the latest submissions!

Maureen Franch

Mom: Maureen Franch
Son: Tyler Franch, Assistant Market Editor, Style
Era: 1960s

"This is my mother in her teens sometime in the late '60's. She's standing at the end of the driveway of the house her and I both grew up in, posing for a picture before heading off to a Engelbert Humperdinck concert at the old O'Keefe centre. Carrying a handbag and wearing shoes from Creeds, my mom worked as a stylist and spent most of her hard earned money on Bloor St. (sounding strangely familiar to what I do). Turns out the apple most certainly does not fall far from the tree. She's my idol and fashion icon."

Judy Woolnough

Mom: Judy Woolnough
Daughter: Julia Black, Assistant Home Editor
Era: 1980s

"As the oldest of three, I always tried very hard to be grown-up - exactly like my mother. I loved to dress-up in her clothes and jewelry and boss my siblings around, like I was their mother. They of course chose to ignore my demanding ways, but my mom always let me fulfill my imagination and dress-up like a lady, like her. My mom has always worked hard and as such, I’ve always and will always look up to her. She is the most nurturing, encouraging, supportive and sincere woman I know, and everyday I am proud to call her my mom. She is my inspiration in every way."

Elizabeth Laws

Mom: Elizabeth Laws
Daughter: Alex Laws, Associate Lifestyle Editor
Era: March 1976

"My mum left home in South Wales at 17 to work in London as a nanny. From the red necklace and matching earrings, to the smart olive green two-piece, and the neat italic handwriting on the back, this photo reminds me that even when she didn't have much money, she was always took pride in her appearance. There's something poignant about this photo, which I think comes from knowing that my mum hadn't had the easiest of lives when this was taken and that at 21 she had no idea how beautiful she was."

Brenda Grady

Mom: Brenda Grady
Daughter: Lora Grady, Assistant Editor, Copy and Research
Era: 1970s

"This is my beautiful mother, Brenda, on her honeymoon in Spain in the late 70s. I know daughters always say this, but she hasn’t aged a bit and still has that same happy, healthy glow today. This is my favourite photo of her – I keep it in a frame and can’t wait to show my own daughter some day."

Sharon Lee Kong

Mom: Sharon Lee Kong
Daughter: Stacy Lee Kong, Assistant Editor, Articles
Era: 1980s, Chagaunas, Trinidad

"You know when you see a picture of your parents and all of a sudden they’re not mum and dad, they’re actual, have a life of their own, people? That’s what happened to me when I first saw this picture of my mum getting ready on her wedding day. Like all brides-to-be, she looks beautiful... But she also looks totally glam and can you say hot?! It’s like a shot out of Vogue, only there were no stylists and makeup artists and pro photographers, just my momma."

Julia Williams

Mom: Julia Williams
Daughter: Madeline Cravit, Assistant Beauty & Health Editor
Era: 1970¹s

"This is a picture of my mother, 19, in the Bahamas. It was her first time on a plane. She looks so young and happy shopping in a local market, it makes me wonder what she brought back with her. I bet it was something groovy."

Marion Dohrmann

Mother: Marion Dohrmann
Daughter: Laurie Grassi, Book Editor
Era: 1940s

"This outfit looks like something that wouldn't be out of place today, but at the time — late 1940s Germany — it was totally trendy. After all, Capri pants had just hit the runways of Europe (they'd been designed by European designer Sonja de Lennart), so my mother was pretty much cutting edge when it came to fashion. Way to go, Mum!"

Carolyn Huisman

Mom: Carolyn Huisman
Daughter: Samantha Grice, Managing Editor, Chatelaine.com
Era: 1970s

This was taken in the mid 70s at a bon voyage party at my grandmother's house in Toronto before my family moved to Australia. My dad was Australian. My mom looks so young, fresh and tanned and, yes, I would definitely wear that dress if she had hung onto it for me! And while she still loves rosé, her drink of choice is now bubbly.

Nicky Slovitt

Mom: Nicky Slovitt
Daughter: Jacki Slovitt, Production Art Assistant
Era: 1980s

"My mom is Nicky Slovitt. Her picture was taken in August 1982, on her honeymoon in London. She’s rockin’ the pre-baby body!"

Maria Soranno

Mother: Maria Soranno
Daughter: Grace Toby, Online Editor, Style & Food
Era: 1970s

Normal 0 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

My mom was a clotheshorse who took way too long in the bathroom, wore high heels throughout her pregnancies, and knew the value of splurging on a few key pieces each season. I am my mother’s daughter. Before leaving for this family party, I’m sure she thoughtfully put together this outfit, including the way she’d wear her hair, and makeup (accentuating her eyes, but leaving her lips pale). My mom’s closet is still the best vintage shop in town and it’s where I’ve found some of my favourite pieces.

Mary Parsons Cole

Mother: Mary Parsons Cole
Daughter: Terri Coles, Digital Health Editor
Era: 1970s

"This is my mother Mary at age 18, in 1979. She and her sisters are close in age, and they all grew up in the 1970s -- I remain mad that they did not hold on to their very hip wardrobes from their teenaged years. I can definitely see how we look alike in this photo."

Wilanee Ngo

Mom: Wilanee Ngo
Daughter: Irene Ngo, Assistant Food Editor
Era: 1970s

"This picture was taken in 1974 at a restaurant in Bangkok, Thailand for my parents’ engagement. I love this picture because my mom, Wilanee, looks super stylish in the cute, red polka dot dress she sewed herself!"

Carmen Lim

Mom: Carmen Lim
Daughter: Lyn Chua, Associate Food Editor
Era: 1960s

"This picture was taken on October 20, 1960. My mother, Carmen Lim, took my sister and I to a park where we met our much older cousins and their children. A stay-at-home mom at that time, she was nudging me (2 yrs old) to join the play group. I must have been looking down at a favourite toy."

Donna Jennings

Mom: Donna Jennings
Daughter: Laurie A. Jennings, Executive Editor
& Health Editor
Era: 1970s

"My mother looked so beautiful on her wedding day: October 3, 1970. This is one of my favourite pics of her, and it occupies a permanent place on the photo collection on my fridge. Thanks mom for always putting your kids first, for providing a solid, healthy foundation to grow up in (which of course I only really appreciate now), and for always making me feel like I could accomplish anything and everything. Now if only I could fit in that wedding dress..."

Janie Rothschild

Mom: Janie Rothschild
Daughter: Alanna Glassman, Assistant Editor, Health & Beauty
Era: 1980s. Clipping from an Edmonton newspaper.

"Don't explain, and don't complain numbers among the many phrases my mother has passed down to my sister and me. Over the years we have watched her work tirelessly, without ever slowing down. I used to think she was fueled by some magic, because she would work 12-hour night shifts as the head nurse of UCLA's bone marrow unit, caring for children with leukemia, and still have a hot breakfast on the table for us every morning and a lunch packed with a nice letter inside. It wasn't really a surprise discovering the story behind this photo, found, half-wrinkled, buried in a box in our garage. It's a clipping from an Edmonton Sunday paper. My mother is showing off the latest fashions from Hudson's Bay Company. She told us that she modeled to pay her way through nursing school. Hands on her hips and a smile on her face, you'd never know she was up the night before studying for an exam. With effortless style and exceeding grace, Janie Rothschild is a strong and beautiful woman who makes me feel proud to call her mom everyday."

Marie Caruso

Mom: Marie Caruso
Daughter: Roberto Caruso, In-House Photographer
Era: 1964

This is my mom at 14 years old - a year before she came to Canada from Italy.

Sou Yen Shu

Mom: Sou Yen Shu
Daughter: Madelyn Chung, Intern
Era: 1980s

"My mother was the first person to teach me about fashion. It was through her I learned about red soles, quilted bags with chain straps, and monogrammed wallets. Growing up in the tiny island of Mauritius, my mother did not have access to these luxury brands, but she still managed to be effortlessly chic and stylish. Sifting through old photos (and through her closet), I realized my mom made some daring fashion choices in her day – a trait that I seem to have inherited. This dress and matching blazer is from a boutique in Paris. It has been handed down to me, and is one of the most coveted pieces in my closet. My mother is not only my style icon, but my hero, my inspiration, and my best friend."