Emily Ratajkowski Opens Up About 'Subversive' Dressing as a Mum
The model is known for breaking societal expectations of women


Emily Ratajkowski isn't letting society's narrow expectations for women define how she dresses and acts as a mum. In a new interview with ELLE UK, the supermodel opened up about what she's worn to bring her son Sylvester Apollo Bear to school in the past — and it's as far from the new Bridget Jones vibe as it gets.
"It’s a little bit of a walk to my son’s school now, so I can’t wear heeled shoes," EmRata said. "But, when I was in the city, we lived two blocks from his preschool, and I would often just leave for work from there. At that point I was hosting my filmed podcast, so I would be in an outfit."
Asked what that contrast was like between her and the other parents, the My Body author said: "Oh, I was definitely dressed up compared to them. I think that’s actually one of the ways I really enjoy being subversive with motherhood. There’s so much around what a mom should look like."
She continued: "I know what kind of mom I am, and I only deeply care about my son’s reaction to that. Anybody else who has opinions about me as a mother because of the way I dress — it’s just so inconsequential."
Speaking to how she's developed this devil-may-care attitude, Emily added: "I don’t know, maybe it’s getting older. Maybe it’s motherhood, but it just is what it is." As to whether she cares what other people think of her? "No, I don’t think I do," she said. We love that for her.
The I Feel Pretty actress shares Sylvester — nickname "Sly" — with her ex-husband Sebastian Bear-McClard. The two tied the knot in 2018 and ended their marriage in 2022. Emily has heartbreakingly opened up about how unhappy she was during their relationship. In a 2023 podcast episode she said (via Yahoo!): "I didn’t have the courage to leave for a long time. I was really, really unhappy. I was, like, 100 pounds and I had just had a baby. I got really skinny 'cause I was not OK."
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Iris Goldsztajn is a freelance news writer for Marie Claire UK. She covers celebrity and royal news, and has previously written for titles including Marie Claire US, InStlyle, Women's Health, Bustle, Stylist and Red.
Aside from her quasi-personal investment in celebs' comings and goings, she is especially interested in debunking diet culture and de-stigmatising mental health struggles.