Dressing Baby Beautifully with Rachel Riley

I have three wonderful children and I launched my clothing brand in 1998 when my children were still young. I’ve always loved designing and making clothes for myself and I actually bought myself my first sewing machine with the money I made modelling whilst I was at University. So when my children were born, I started making clothes for them instead. It is such fun to make tiny garments – they are quicker to make and so cute!

My grandmother taught me how to knit and I started making clothes for myself, but soon I used my skills to make little cardigans for my own babies with sweet designs such as bunnies’ and chicks. And baby bootees, bonnets and pompom pixie hats to keep baby warm and look extra-cute. It is always such fun to take photos for the family album!

My mum loved to sew and would make us rag dolls and clothes to dress them. I learnt Needlework and Dressmaking at school, and soon started making clothes for my own dolls, and then for babies’ that we knew, and it was a good source of pocket-money and I still find it greatly satisfying to make a garment from scratch.


Below images - Left | Rachel and her adorable children - Middle | Rachel has always loved to sew and make her own clothing - Right | Rachel  spending days out with her children in her beautiful designs. 

When my babies were young, I tended to dress them mainly in sleepsuits and babygrows as the all-in-one is so convenient and comfy. I love babygro’s with poppers which are so easy to take on and off.

Shop | Babygrows

Muslins are also a must-have for any new parent as they can mop up unexpected spills and can double up as a makeshift blanket or cover-up. They are so soft and absorbent and my kids loved them as ‘comfort-blankets’.
Shop | Muslins 

I was very careful to only use natural products on my children’s skin, so I always used natural and unfragranced skincare products wherever possible. I am a great believer in simple soap and water too and would pile all three of them into the bath together where we would always have a lot of fun!
Shop | Natural skincare for baby 

As a new mum, it’s important to find time for yourself where you can, even if it is for just a few minutes, so taking time to have a relaxing bath, or a moment outdoors, enjoying the natural world, is something I can really appreciate.

I have to say I’m not much of a cook. If I am pushed, I can cook a meal, but I would much prefer to sew, knit, hand embroider or smock before I would start to cook! Once my children started weaning, I used to like batch cooking their meals and freezing them which took the stress away from what to give them to eat every day. I highly recommend doing this. I am also a keen gardener, so was always really proud if I could give them home-grown veg!

My perfect ‘switch off’ activity is gardening as I find it so satisfying to watch the seasons change, and the seeds that I sow and nurture and plants that grow and develop. Much like watching my children grow up!

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