As your underwear drawer could probably attest, the lingerie industry has seen a seismic shift in the past decade as bombshell push-up bras have steadily been replaced by underwire-free styles that value comfort over sex appeal. That’s in no small part thanks to Michelle Cordeiro Grant, who made “leisurée” — a portmanteau of athleisure and lingerie — a thing when she launched her activewear-inspired lingerie brand LIVELY in 2016 (while pregnant with her second child, no less).
Cordeiro Grant built her career in merchandising for brands such as Nautica, Victoria’s Secret and Thrillist Media Group, where she worked on the flash-sale site JackThreads, before parlaying her product know-how into her own body-positive, size-inclusive line of bras (which range from 32A to 44DDD) and underwear. LIVELY has not only earned itself a fervent following of more than 65,000 brand ambassadors, it’s also expanded into loungewear, activewear, maternity, swimwear and even fragrance to become a bonafide lifestyle brand for the busy modern woman.
When she’s not serving as a highly visible CEO and founder of her own company, Cordeiro Grant’s playing the more private role of mom to daughter Lydia, 6; and son Jack, 3. While you won’t find a trace of her kids on her Instagram (or even the internet — she doesn’t publicly share photos of her children to protect their privacy), we were fortunate enough to get a rare glimpse inside her world as a mom and hear her (very style-minded) parenting recommendations.
The podcasts I’m listening to right now
“When I’m not playing host to LIVELY’s podcast No Makeup Needed, you can find me listening to Second Life — it’s one of my personal favorites. Hilary Kerr of Who What Wear spotlights successful women who’ve made major career changes and fearlessly mastered the pivot, which is an indispensable skill regardless of your stage in life. It’s especially useful for moms because you can sometimes feel a little stuck after having kids, and Second Life reminds me to be flexible and absorb good advice that I can apply to both entrepreneurship and motherhood. It’s the best!”
The children’s books our family reads on repeat
“Danny and the Dinosaur by Syd Hoff is a popular one right now, as well as Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed. My son Jack is especially enthusiastic about Duck and Goose by Tad Hills at the moment.”
The books I’m currently reading myself
“Podcasts are the new form of books for me, but Blue Ocean Strategy by Renée Mauborgne and W. Chan Kimand, and Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg are my long-time favorites in terms of business inspiration.”
The snacks I always have on hand for the kids
“My kids have been eating a lot of MadeGood nut-free strawberry granola because it has a hint of sweetness without being unhealthy. SunButter seed spread is also a favorite; it’s an all-natural sunflower seed butter, which I use like peanut butter.”
The beauty product I never leave the house without
“I love the Caudalie Beauty Elixir — it’s so multifunctional! It’s a toner, but it also leaves you feeling refreshed and it smells amazing!”
The apps that make my life as a parent easier
“I use Seamless and Caviar for dinner sometimes. They’re extremely helpful after a long day or for the times when I know I won’t be back in time to make something for the kids. It ensures that we can still eat together even when things are busy on the work front. Jet Black has also been a lifesaver in terms of getting things I need for the kids around my work schedule.”
My favorite parenting-related Instagram account to follow
“Eva Chen’s handle @evachen212. She’s my mama and fashion inspo!”
The toys that keep my kids occupied for hours
“Jack is really into Magnatiles — he really enjoys building with them! Lydia is currently really excited about kids’ sewing kits and pattern making. She’s often gifted ‘trunk’ sets of ALEX’s My First Sewing Kit with a few different projects to work on in each. Both of them enjoy playing dress-up; Frozen characters, Rapunzel and lions are among Lydia’s favorite dress-up outfits. It’s a classic kid activity that will never get old.”
The underrated children’s brands I’ve recently discoverd
“Doddle & Co.’s Pop & Go pacifier is great. It’s designed in a way that helps it stay clean. The Tot is a go-to for clothing, and Hello Bello is a one-stop shop for a lot of all-natural products. I’ve also been using Little Twig shampoo and conditioner for five years — since Lydia was four months old. I use the Calming Lavender Shampoo and Conditioning Detangler for her, and Jack loves the smell of it, too. It’s all-natural and organic — even I use it!”
The clothing brands that help make up my mom uniform
“I’m really loving this jean brand called Mother Denim. I discovered them based on Eva Chen’s recommendations on social media, and they fit really well.”
To get even more parenting recommendations, click here to read about the other stylish moms featured in our Momsessed series.
Our mission at SheKnows is to empower and inspire women, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.
Source: Read Full Article