LEVEL UP

Between raising her daughter Sienna, hosting a variety of gigs and setting up a new agency that helps to cultivate hosting talents, Kelly is a busy lady. And yet, she still manages to find a pocket of time each day to get a workout in. “My firm belief is that if you can spend 15 minutes browsing Instagram each evening, you can squeeze in a quick workout,” she says. “I’m an advocate for training at home, with little to no equipment. This way, there are fewer excuses!” And for busy mums like her, she tends to stick to evergreen wardrobe staples that never go out of style. With that in mind, we’ve put Kelly in three looks that take on classics, but with a twist. Think of them as clothing pieces you already own in your closet, but worn in ways that are a little unexpected.

What projects have been keeping you busy lately?

“I’ve been busy setting up an agency with my long-time co-host Ross Sarpani, and our aim is to develop and cultivate more hosting talents in Singapore. Plus, my two-year old is always on the move, so if I’m not hosting shows or attending meetings, I’m likely pretending to be a dinosaur in a playground.” 

Denim Dreams

WHAT YOU HAVE Blue jeans

HOW TO LEVEL UP A going-out top instantly takes your basic blue jeans out of the blah-zone. You look less “mall mum” and more “boss mum”.

Earrings, $299, from Swarovski. Knit (worn inside), $29.90, from Zara. Top (worn outside), $219, from H&M. Jeans, $96.90, from Topshop. Shoes, $540, from Sandro. 

Describe your style for us?

“The operative word is ‘easy’. My clothes have to be easy to match, easy to get in and out of, easy to breastfeed in, and easy to style up or down.”

What’s a clothing item that you can’t live without?

“White shirts and tops! I have a huge collection of white tops and shirts, and they’re all different. I feel like a white shirt will take you far.”

As a working mother, how has that changed or defined the way you dress and shop?

“The first thing that changed was making sure that all outfits were breastfeeding-friendly. Shirts were always a win for me, and up until recently, I had to forgo wearing shift dresses. I also found that I needed to find outfits that would move with me. Soft and light fabrics that had give and stretch were very ideal, and I had to look for pieces that didn’t have too much detailing so as not to scratch the baby. There were so many things I never thought about before that I had to consider since becoming a mum.”

When it comes to dressing up, what advice would you give to other working mums out there?

“Find outfits that are easy to put together, as there’s very little time to plan out your looks. Plus, you’ll probably get a stain on your outfit before you leave the house, so always have a backup!”