Ma, You Be Killin’ Em: Halina Laporta

May 07, 2011



We have so much to thank our mothers for. In addition to birthing us, feeding us, and bathing us, they've also been our most influential style icons. As a small token of our affection, we're counting down to Mother's Day (this Sunday, heads up!) by celebrating our moms' style, swagger and grace.

What did your mom like to wear? My mother has a very down-to-earth, practical, yet feminine sense of style. She grew up in a Polish household and has an appreciation for handmade garments and a type of organic jewelry made with amber. My late grandmother, or Babci as we called her, gave us amber jewelry as gifts and it was cherished in our family. Amber is fossilized resin, and very popular in woodland Poland. She's always been an advocate of being comfortable and dressing in clothes that are useful, but she never fails to look refined and elegant.

What music did she listen to? Her taste ranges from Frank Sinatra to classic rock. Growing up she loved Led Zeppelin, Neil Young, Jackson Browne and The Cars. I remember her reminiscing about when she won a pair of tickets from a local radio station (WPLJ) to see a sold out Deep Purple show. The song that reminds me of my mom the most, though, is “Moon River,” the one Audrey Hepburn sings in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. I can picture her smiling and singing it in our kitchen, while baking chocolate chip cookies.

What would she say? Does she have a fave phrase or saying? Something anecdote-ey. My mom always assured us that you can get almost anything you want by being friendly, swearing by the phrase “it never hurts to ask.” My mom loves each day of her life. She looks at everything as an experience, appreciates every minute and never wants to rush through anything. When she drives, she insists on slowing down once in awhile to “listen to how beautiful nature is.” We used to make fun of her at the time, but the value of actually taking a second to enjoy the little things has always stayed with me.

Posted: May 07, 2011
Ma, You Be Killin’ Em: Halina Laporta