7 industry insiders on the style lessons they've learnt from their mums

Our early experiences regarding fashion and beauty often involve our mothers. Growing up, did you ever rummage through your mum’s wardrobe? Perhaps you sneakily borrowed something while she was away, carefully placing it back before she was home. Or perhaps your first dabble in makeup was when you tried your mum’s lipstick and mascara.

Your mother might have been your biggest cheerleader since day one, encouraging you to embrace your own sartorial path and experiment with different trends and styles, never judging and always supporting.

Yes, our mother's can be hugely influential on our sense of style, even when we are long grown. Speaking to some fashion industry insiders, Vogue Scandinavia set to learn what lessons these seven Nordic tastemakers have taken from their mothers.

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Currently based in Paris, Finnish stylist Sylvie Mus is known for her effortless style, oozing Scandinavian cool with Parisian chic. “My mum is more of a maximalist, and I’m more on the minimalist side, but we both like well-structured pieces and feminine silhouettes,” she tells me. “Growing up, I would always go through my mum’s wardrobe and wear her high heels. She’s always had really good taste.”

Even though Mus and her mum’s sartorial tastes differ, they both share a love for pre-loved fashion, and a treasured mother-daughter activity for the duo is to explore vintage shops together. Mus has also learnt valuable lessons from her. “Don’t reserve the most beautiful items in your wardrobe for special occasions only,” Mus says. Adding, “She taught me how to take care of my clothes, and it’s something I still prioritise.”

For Milan-based Swedish Elin Warnqvist, who works with fashion appearance, design and trends, one major piece of mother-daughter advice she's received is: “style and creativity are not only about the visual but what, and how, it makes you feel. Always dress in what makes you feel happy and comfortable."

For Warnqvist, her mum has always been the biggest supporter of her creative career. “I recall us sitting for hours and hours drawing, building, painting, sculpting, and creating…But it was not until later years I truly found my love for fashion and the creativity in styles and pieces, bringing me to where I am today, encouraged by my mother."

Even though they live in different countries today, Warnqvist’s mum remains heavily invested in her daughter’s pursuit of fashion. “Through her support and enormous interest, we share fashion rituals such as speaking about my education, what I learn and about my work, what I create, and design, and what I dream about within fashion. We share creative ideas and discuss fashion from before and now.”

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Swedish designer Filippa Fuxe’s mum has been a great source of inspiration for her in both fashion and life. “My mum is a psychotherapist and the wisest, warmest and most creative person I know, which is something that always inspires me. I try to implement those qualities into my design. I want to create pieces that are wise, warm and creative,” she says. “The most valuable fashion and life advice I’ve received from her is to follow my intuition and trust my gut feeling.”

Teaching Fuxe to work with what she has already is an essential piece of advice her mum has imparted to her, one that she still follows. “[It] intrigued me to start recreating, re-cutting and sewing my old clothes into new ones, and it’s something that later on led me to design my own pieces,” she explains.

Like Sylvie Mus, Fuxe and her mum share a passion for vintage fashion that has formed into a cherished tradition. “We have a tradition of going thrifting at different places and finding different personal and special pieces together. Especially visiting new cities, we would find the best vintage boutiques. It is really a kind of therapeutic experience.”

Running Finnish clothing brand Andiata with her mum, Tarja Rantanen, who founded the company in 1986, Matilda Morelius has been surrounded by fashion her entire life. “I always looked at my mum trying on different outfits in the morning at home before leaving to work. After when I came back from school, we used to sneak to her closet with my friends and organize fashion shows using the same clothes I had seen her wearing or trying on,” Morelius explains. “She was my number one role model and style icon already back then and still is.”

Working closely together, Morelius has received plenty of treasured advice along the years, saying that her mum has always encouraged her to “design pieces that you’ll love and wear for a long time.”

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“My mum always said to try out the outfits with different details. Belts and accessories can make a big difference to your outfit depending on the look you are going for. [She is] a big fan of tone-on-tone looks; it is a foolproof look that always works. We’ve always had a less is more approach to style, and that is something that still resonates with me.”

Copenhagen-based Swedish style curator and creative consultant Imane Asry's mum plays a vital role in judging the gems the tastemaker has found after a day of shopping. "Every time I shop, I always do a mini runway show to my mum. Even if she's busy, or not listening, I'm still walking the runway for her and giving her a spin," she says.

Having a little sister close to Asry's age, the girls' mum was big on dressing them in matching ensembles when they were young. "She always made sure that we were looking good and sharp. If it wasn't the exact same outfit we were wearing, it was the same colour scheme. It meant a lot to her. Going out – you dress up for that, you don't just go out in whatever, and I think that's something that I still unconsciously do. I think it plays a role in your mood and how you feel."

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Paris-based Swede Thérèse Hellstöm, the fashion director of Danish label Custommade, has received the single most practical fashion advice from her mum: Do not shop too much. "My mum has always tried to teach me the importance of keeping to a fewer but good pieces, rather than having many that are never used. I always have her words in my head and try to live like that," she says.

Growing up, Hellström often borrowed pieces from her mum's wardrobe; however, these days, the tables have turned, and it's her mum that is often found rummaging through the tastemaker's closet. "Both my mum and I change our style depending on the occasion, but we have something in common, and that's our view of being well dressed – in other words: wearing that perfect 80s or 90s blazer styled with a pair of matching pants and the heels. Still a favourite look of mine," Hellström explains.

When it comes to styling tips gained from her mum, a simple accessory can go a long way: "My mum has always been good with wearing scarves. She always makes the scarf style up the whole look, making it look exclusive."

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Founder and creative director of Swedish footwear brand Sania D’mina, Sania Claus Demina has received priceless design advice from her mum, Marina Demina. The most essential guidance: “What the shape of a heeled shoe should look like: centred heel and front parts connected to the surface they stand on,” she explains. “I am building my whole shoe brand on these golden pieces of information.”

“I always loved playing with her beauty products and we have always borrowed each other’s clothes. She recently attended a beautiful fashion gala with me which was an experience I will cherish for life. It was so much fun planning our looks together for weeks. We love shopping together and send each other links all the time,” says the designer.