WHO IS // PETRO STOFBERG

Today's momma inspo comes from the wonderful Petro Stofberg. Petro is one half of the totally cool and totally necessary Wardrobe Icons. If you don't know about this digital publication then YOU ARE WELCOME. They basically do all the hard work for you and find the best things for you to spend your money on and let's face it, it's always pretty cool when someone else does all the hard work for you.

Petro is a momma to Jacob.

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WHAT IS // WARDROBE ICONS:

Wardrobe Icons is a website dedicated to expertly edited essentials run by two former fashion editors. In a world saturated by what's IN fashion we tell you what never goes OUT of fashion.

HOW DID // WARDROBE ICONS COME TO BE?

Laura (the other half of Wardrobe Icons - Ed.) and I were on maternity leave together and we started talking about how nice it would be to work together and be our own bosses. She had wanted to do something similar to Wardrobe Icons for a while; the idea had come from feed back from her Wearing it Today readers. They wanted advice on how to build the perfect wardrobe from scratch and they wanted to know what pieces to invest in. Wardrobe Icons was a way to answer those questions in (hopefully) an elegant and exciting way.

BEST THING // ABOUT DOING WHAT YOU DO?

For the first time in my career I am producing content I genuinely believe in and am proud of. I worked for other editorial titles and from time to time I created something I liked but a lot of it was fulfilling someone else's vision or agenda. I also get to work from home which means I get the best of both worlds, I get to see my little boy popping in and out but I am not looking after him 24/7.

WHO WHAT // INSPIRES YOU?

So many people, my parents are inspiring; my father because he built a mega successful business from scratch and my mum? She pretty much raised three of us solo because my dad worked all the time. We have also managed to interview some fabulously inspiring women - Jenna Lyons, Kate Phelan, Caroline Issa to name a few - who all are making waves in the fashion world and doing it so eloquently.

DESCRIBE //

 YOUR FASHION STYLE: Classic with a boyish twist. I don't think you can ever go wrong in a white shirt and straight blue jeans with a red lip.

 YOUR PARENTING STYLE: I am pretty strict I have a Gina Ford baby (god I hope this doesn't open me to a barrage of abuse) but he had reflux as a small baby and it gave me some structure or I would have lost my mind. Now it just still works for him and he is a fab sleeper, loves his bed and I think he's a very happy boy.

FAVOURITE //

BRANDS: Equipment shirts, Chinti and Parker cashmere, Mother denim jeans, J Crew t-shirts and jumpers, Aquazzura flats and heels, Mango boho fun pieces, Stella McCartney tailoring, Chanel accessories - we're making a wish list right?  BEAUTY PRODUCT: I have recently discovered the joy of Charlotte Tilbury Magic cream it is MAGIC! Erborian CC Cream and Bobbi Brown Jenna lipstick.

 HOLIDAY DESTINATION: I love anywhere in Italy and home from home is Cape Town especially to grab some January sun.

 BOOK OR FILM: God Of Small Things (always makes me cry), The Secret History (could read it over and over again), Girl With a Dragon Tattoo (couldn't put it down). Film: Pulp Fiction (all time favourite film and soundtrack), Clueless and Romeo and Juliet (Baz Luhrman version) from my school days and Superbad (I have the sense of humour of a 12 year old boy)

 WAY TO RELAX: Watch tv, bath or massage in any order.

WHAT // CAN'T YOU LIVE WITHOUT?

Wine, coffee and my family.

WHAT // IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU EVER RECEIVED?

When starting Wardrobe Icons we had big aspirations and a mentor said: 'First find out if you have a vein and then tap it. Don't spend too much time or money on something you don't know will work. You need to be able to walk away from it if it doesn't'. Parenting wise, when I had Jacob and I had a terrible night with him, Laura said: "Just think you never have to do a repeat of that horrid night it's done and dusted. You're moving forward even when it doesn't feel like it."

PARENTING  //

FAIL: Argh such a hard question to answer and I know I have had many but there is one that still haunts me now. When Jacob was 3 weeks old and I had my first day with him on my own with him and he screamed for 3 hours straight despite me trying everything in the parenting manual. I lost it and shouted at him. Then he was sick and stopped crying but then I cried and cried. He was diagnosed with reflux shortly after and I still feel guilty about it to this day.

FABULOUS:  Oh dear! Probably nothing really...he is so independent. I am not sure I am shaping him at all; it's more like he is shaping us. He does always hugs and kiss everyone goodbye; both of those took perseverance but it makes everyone around him feel special and loved so I guess that counts right?

GUILTY PLEASURE //

I don't feel guilty about anything. I think as a parent you should indulge when you get the chance to and not have to feel guilty about whatever keeps you sane.