Momager is the latest role I can add to the long list of my job descriptions, which include muber (a mum who ubers their kids everywhere), Crap Housewife, Crazy Cat, Dog Lady and Chocolate Connoisseur. Why? My eldest daughter is pursuing her fashion dreams and recently signed with a marvellous modelling agency. And I do have a little in common with Kris Jenner, who first fashioned the momager: the mother of a famous person who is also their manager. We are both also into leopard print and daggy mum dance moves, and fiercely love our girls, so I figured I could borrow her title, too.
Jessica Rowe and her model daughter, Allegra.Credit: Courtesy of Jessica Rowe
Part of this new responsibility means I accompany Allegra on her modelling jobs. My fairy-haired eldest daughter and I have always shared a love for fashion. Since Allegra was tiny, she had firm views of what she would and wouldn’t wear. Layers of magenta-coloured princess skirts and baby pink tulle skirts would be teamed with heart-patterned leggings and her older cousin’s striped green pyjama top. A prized white polar bear hat, with furry ear flaps, would complete the look.
Then there was the “fox” fashion season. This consisted of reworking my gold, crushed velvet Lisa Ho jacket into a below-the-knee frock. Allegra would flick the attached silk scarf over her shoulder. The look was finished with orange and white fox ears and a fluffy tail that I had up-cycled from a much-loved cat headband and tail set. Here was my little girl embracing my love of quirky and colourful get-ups and statement headgear. Heaven for both of us.
“Oh, the fun you’ll have in my wardrobe darling girl!” I said as we left the house with her younger sister in tow. Who was also having her own fashion moment of wearing her floor-grazing, blonde, Rapunzel-style wig.
Fast-forward more than a decade and our fashion styles couldn’t be more different. My sequin and colour spectrum envelope has been pushed even further, while my daughter’s style has evolved into the cool-capsule wardrobe. White T-shirts, white singlets, marle grey T-shirts, marle grey singlets. Baggy track pants in monochrome. Black leggings. Nike sneakers. Denim jeans!
“Aha, darling. Do you know those jeans are called ‘mum jeans’? Perhaps it’s something I would wear …” I say, while holding up Allegra’s latest purchase.
“Nah, it’s low-key not your style …”
“Low-key? What?”
“Muuuum, it means honestly!”
