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Your Favorite OG Fashion Bloggers Are Now Moms, and It's Never Gonna Stop Them from Playing Dress-Up
Camille Co and Tricia Gosingtian are defining motherhood for themselves—and stylishly at that!
by Nicole Cruz
Published May 14, 2023
There's an age-old notion that those who become mothers are expected to put everything else about themselves on hold. But Tricia Gosingtian and Camille Co are defining motherhood for themselves—and stylishly at that!
When the topic of motherhood was broached within the four walls of the makeup room, Camille Co and Tricia Gosingtian had lots to share. Insights and experiences came pouring out—from childbirth to child-rearing, to their relationships with their respective partners. Words that were just as multi-layered and interwoven as the Le Ngok pieces they were clad in began to flood the conversation. Hearing these firsthand, it was definitely different from what can be gleaned about them online. They are influential social media personalities, after all.
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Camille Co and Tricia Gosingtian for Preview In Focus May 2023
Most millennials would know of “Camille Tries to Blog” or “Tricia Will Go Places,” the titles of their now-defunct personal blogs that were anchored on fashion content. They even had an active presence in Lookbook, an app where the concept of OOTDs probably began. That was in the early 2010s when Camille and Tricia were riding the blogging wave long before everyone else did, becoming part of the first generation of Filipino bloggers and prospectively, social media influencers.
Now, they’ve matured, with little human beings of their own to take care of. And one can’t help but be curious about how their online spaces—which took years to cultivate—have evolved given their new roles as mothers.
Depth of Change
But then again, there is more to these two than their internet personas, which they intentionally and actively try to differentiate. “I think once you have a kid, you can never really go back to your old life. It really never becomes the same again. Even if you try to replicate your old routine, it's never going to be the same,” shares Tricia, who distinguishes work from family life by splitting her day into two to make time for her three-year-old son Leo. She also tries to squeeze in any kind of work she can when her child is away to play school.
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Camille abides by a similar rule: “So, for me, during the mornings, that's when I work. If I don't have any events or shoots or anything, I work from home. I make sure to have lunch with her. And then, I also have a cut-off. At this time, whether work is finished or not, is my time with Sienna,” she says about her daughter who recently turned two.
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On Tricia: Fully Hand Embroidered Bib w/ Colorful Yarns and Drawstring Blue Stripped Shirt, LE NGOK F/W 2023. Rings, WEAR ODDITIES. Maria Mary Janes in Black, P2800, HINHIN. On Camille: Yarn Embroidered Contrast Black & White Oversized Blazer and Yarn Embroidered Jumper w/ Detachable Suspenders, LE NGOK F/W 2023. Rings, WEAR ODDITIES. Vanity set from MAMAESON VINTAGE, instagram/mamaesonvintage
It would be reductive to characterize their change in lifestyles with mere time management. Motherhood isn’t just an additional hat to wear but a state of being that has transformative power, so to speak. For both Tricia and Camille, this comes in the form of a hyper-aware consciousness, something that only mothers would understand.
“I deliberately kind of show him that I need to work. I also want to set an example. Like, it's okay for moms to work. It's okay for girls to also do things for themselves,” shares Tricia. “And I feel like if you set an example early on, that will also set an example for when they also get into a relationship and when they work themselves,” she adds.
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This kind of forward-thinking attitude is also imbibed by Camille. “I feel like if you're a person looking from the outside, you might be like, ‘Two years old pa lang anak mo, malayo pa. She's not yet 18 or whatever, and you're already thinking so far into the future.’ But I think everything you do, even when they're as young as now, will affect them in the future. So, you just automatically become so careful with how you instill your teachings and how you raise your kid.”
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On Camille: Colorful Zippered Dress, LE NGOK F/W 2023. Rings, WEAR ODDITIES
Actively inculcating values comes with the willingness to dig into their own past, something that both of them continuously and admirably do. Camille, on one hand, shares that she grew up in a family that was reticent about their emotions, and so, does the complete opposite with her own child. “Because it's something that I wish that I had when I was younger. I always make sure to tell her ‘I love you.’ I also want my kid to know how to apologize. You take what you like and you change what you didn't like from your childhood.”
It’s never easy to admit such things to oneself, as Tricia explains, “I find myself very emotional sometimes. Even when I'm doing something so random, I get kind of tearful. I realize, ‘Oh, this is what I didn’t get when I was younger. But I'm doing it now [with my son.] I'm breaking the cycle.”
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Clear Approach
Despite all the introspection that goes down while caring for their children, it’s easy to dismiss their journey given the content occasionally posted online, which are mostly slice-of-life photographs or reels sharing their happy moments together. Camille and Sienna modeling their outfits or filming a ‘getting ready’ video; Tricia and Leo enjoying their vacation in Japan. Think this content isn’t “motherly” enough? That’s the point.
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These two don’t think they have to go full-on “momfluencer” not because they have any judgment towards it, but for the simple reason that they don’t identify with it, and they’d rather protect their private lives by deliberately not sharing everything online.
“I think we're both pretty set on not being ‘momfluencers.’ And no shame. Again, no shame, kanya-kanya,” says Camille. “It's just that for us, we're more comfortable with just being us.” That’s their honest reaction when asked about their thoughts on “pivoting” to more “mommy-oriented” content. Because it’s safe to say that there exists an unspoken expectation that first-time mothers should drop everything and focus on their children. And it’s especially felt by those who lead very public lives, such as actresses who may be expected to take on “different” roles once they enter motherhood, and even sartorial influencers like Camille and Tricia.
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It is a common notion. But not a very progressive one.
“I just feel like that's the mentality that we need to change. Just because someone becomes a mom doesn't mean that she should stop doing certain things,” says Tricia.
It’s not a space that’s easily navigated, from deciding what to post to handling people’s comments, because they’re the first generation of social media personalities to enter such a space. The mom space. Camille even opens up about what people would tell her: “I remember before, someone said, ‘Aren't you afraid that your branding will change? Some brands won't get you, and some would think that you're not suitable for this or that.’”
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“It's just so sad that some people think that way. Because even if you become a mom, and even if you get married, you're still that person. So why do you think that automatically, just because I became a mom and I got married, you can diminish me and say I can't do certain things anymore?”, she continues.
Forging Forward
Both Tricia and Camille have proven this frame-of-thought wrong. Their body of work continues to grow and their sartorial identities are still as influential as before, if not stronger.
Tricia was still able to manage her fashion label Hinhin around the time Leo was born during the COVID-19 pandemic. The label captures Tricia’s dainty aesthetic, which is often embodied by flowy prairie dresses and romantic silhouettes. It also acts as a platform where she shares stories of inspiring women, who like her, feel empowered by different things.
On the other hand, Camille still clinches a bevy of brand partnerships, including Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Dior, and more. And she can still publish a fabulous OOTD that explores boundaries; whether she’s mixing high-end pieces into everyday looks or wearing the hottest, most adventurous trends during Milan Fashion Week.
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And they are able to achieve everything while managing their own families. Perhaps then, the conversation isn’t about what kind of content they’re sharing online because that’s a space they like to safeguard. The question now is, what can they do with their insights?
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Tricia recalls the time she had just given birth to Leo during the pandemic: “I was stuck in a container basically for most of Leo's earliest months. So I felt very isolated. Even if my neighbors and my husband and everyone were just a phone call away. I felt like I would be imposing [if I asked for help]. I felt like I didn't think I should be saying anything.”
Camille also shared a similar experience during her early postpartum stages, saying, “I wish someone told me that this is normal. What's happening to you, that's what's normal. It's not what you see on social media.”
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On Tricia: Contrast "Shape It" Shirt/Skirt and Contrast "Shape It" Shorts, LE NGOK F/W 2023. Rings, WEAR ODDITIES
What people don’t see are the connections being made in private, like when they reach out to friends or acquaintances who are also mothers to extend help. This also happens in reverse: “A huge bulk of our audience who grew up with us are also already moms themselves. So, they would message us [for advice],” says Camille.
Both reveal that talking to fellow mothers creates bonds that form a “tribe,” allowing them to pay things forward. Perhaps this is the “pivot” that the world should look for and strive to create. A safe space where moms could voice out for help or simply share what they’re going through.
Strength in Style
Motherhood doesn’t come naturally, both ascertain. You need to be honest with yourself. You need help from others. It’s always a work in progress, despite the idea that motherly instincts kick in the moment you conceive a child. This is exactly what they are learning on the sidelines, away from the Internet. And the stuff we do see online? That’s extra ammo for their journey.
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When asked about why she continues producing fashion content, Camille answers, “I became more focused with the type of content, more deliberate with the type of content that I put out as a fashion, beauty, and lifestyle content creator. Because I [don’t] want people to forget who I was before becoming a mom.”
“For me, fashion is like armor,” says Tricia. “Actually, it was very hard to implement that [while at home] because Leo was born during the pandemic. But eventually, I found that I started to use my ‘outside’ clothes inside. Then my general well-being just felt better. And it's nice to do it for yourself. I felt like I was a kinder mom also.”
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Camille adds, “It's something I take pride in. I want moms out there to know that you can make time for yourself. And for me, fashion is part of that. Whenever I do fashion, that's me taking time for myself. It makes me feel happy. And when I feel good and I feel happy, I'm also a happier mom that way. You cannot take care of your kid if you're not taking care of yourself.”
In that regard, it would be completely absurd for people to think that mothers shouldn’t be anything else. They are women granted the gift of bearing and nurturing children, a natural course of life. But also, these women are still individuals with characters of their own. Motherhood is only a part of their evolution, and it’s about time we acknowledge that they know what they’re capable of. Mamas know best, after all.
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Produced by Katrina Maisie Cabral
Photography by Colin Dancel, assisted by Joey Alvero
Art Direction by Jana Jodloman
Fashion Direction and Styling by Marj Ramos-Clemente
Styling Assistants: Reg Rodriguez and Isha Fojas
Makeup by Mikka Marcaida, assisted by Loribel Barrera
Hairstyling by Jan Edrosolan
Nails by Nailandia
Words by Nicole Cruz
Special thanks to Asia Coronel and Ro Creative Studio
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