Mom Shoes.

When I was pregnant (and intimidated) with Neda, I did the opposite of what I would have imagined. I ignored all the advice books, blogs, articles and podcasts and relied solely on advice from family, friends and even strangers. We didn't know the baby's sex, and I'd ask anyone who walked past me what they thought it was. I wrote down every little nugget someone shared in an elevator in my planner. I hoarded acquaintances' nanny contracts in my inbox. I took it all and left little, except for the advice to have a pair of slip on shoes I felt cute in. Why would that matter? 

Enter Neda, and nothing came easy. Even tying my shoes. Suddenly, the advice made sense. I didn't feel attractive in anything pre-pregnancy, even shoes, and anything that couldn't easily slip on and off was impossible with nobody home and a baby attached to my chest. I got a pair of RGV Styled sandals this summer, and I so wish I had them sooner. They're incredibly comfortable, stylish and have a beautiful story behind them. I still love my ragged Birkenstocks, but I'm reaching for my RGV avarca sandals much more often because they make me feel like a cool mom and not a disheveled mom at the playground :)

I interviewed founder Ruth Gonzalez Vega (RGV!) to find out more about her shoe collection and the beautiful mantra she lives by. 

Your shoes are gorgeous. Tell me about them.

Thank you. Having been born in Spain, to me, the avarca sandal and the jute espadrille epitomize the Spanish summer culture: effortless, classy, never-ending and fun. Both styles of shoes have had very humble origins, they were both worn by the farmers working the land. In Menorca, where the avarca sandal originates, they would sew two pieces of leather to a sole made from recycled car tires. Today, though the end product is a high-quality leather sandal made from the finest leathers sourced from Spain and Italy, the avarca sandal is still hand made on the island by local artisans whose craft has been passed on through generations. 

In terms of the design process, I am always scouting trends and derive inspiration from various sources, whether it be high-street fashion or interiors. In July I visit the factory in Menorca, where I get to see the leathers in person and discuss combinations that will work well together. Since everything is custom made for RGV Styled, I have my designs ready and submitted by late fall in order for them to be in production and shipped to the U.S. for the start of the spring market.

For my first collection, I named my shoes after girlfriends to give the shoes some personality and have kept that going. I wanted the buyer to be inspired by similar traits and make the buying experience relatable. I have had a number of occasions where a shoe is purchased for a friend because it reminds them of that person. It gives a personal touch in this digital age.

Why shoes? You've got a great sense of fashion, what made you focus on shoes specifically?

I love shoes, bags, jewelry... I guess I love accessorizing. I often joke that no matter how much my weight fluctuates with pregnancies or overindulging, my accessories will always fit, so they are worth the investment. 

Shoes specifically have the potential to take the same outfit form casual to dressed up. You can wear a jute wedge with denim shorts and a tank top during the day, or pair them with a beautiful flowing maxi dress for nighttime. The right pair of shoes are classic, timeless, and effortlessly glamorous as well as comfortable.

You say you want to "live life beautifully." I love that. What does that mean to you? 

Strive to be the best version of you, surround yourself with things that make you happy, whatever it may be, and whatever it may look like. Be kind to others and thankful for what you have. To me, that is living life beautifully. I always tell my boys to strive to be the best version of themselves and to be aware that it is going to look different for each of them. I think understanding that is key to living a beautiful life.

In such a noisy world with so many priorities, it can feel hard to do. How do you make living life beautifully a priority? 

Yes, and it’s definitely getting noisier. I am no expert, and I often have to remind myself of my own mantra. I try and prioritize my family and friends. Strong and healthy relationships are key to living my life beautifully. Sometimes we need to disconnect from all the stimuli around us and go back to basics. Ironically, the experiences the kids remember are usually those, the most basic and the most effortless. I think it is because we are at our most relaxed state as parents.

You inspire me in so many ways, but especially as a working mama. Talk to me about this. How do you "balance" the two? 

It is not easy, especially now in the age of COVID, finding that balance is harder than ever with everyone working from home. I think it is extremely important if you can to have designated working hours and a specific working space that the kids can respect. Easier said than done, I know! I’ve been waking up earlier during the summer holidays in order to get work done so that I can spend more time with the boys. To date, my biggest struggle is carving personal time out. These days “me time” consists of falling asleep watching the British Baking Show. I always feel cheated when I wake up!

I've asked a lot of questions, but I have to ask this one: What's one piece of fashion advice and one piece of parenting advice you'd like to share?

With fashion and parenting, there is no right way or wrong way, there is your way, the way that works for you and your family. Listen to what others have to say, but most importantly, go with your instinct. No one knows what they are comfortable wearing more than you do, just as no one knows your kids better than you. Different is not wrong, it is you and this needs to be celebrated. Personally, my travels inspire me. I like to wear things that tell a story, that remind me of a place or experience and have one item that will be a conversation starter. Wear what makes you happy and do the things that make your kids smile. Live life beautifully.

Thank you, Ruth! You and your shoes are beautiful. Check out Ruth’s blog here and her shop her beautiful collection here.

(This post was sponsored by RGV Styled. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Make the Most.)