Erin O’Connor, the six-foot-tall British supermodel known for her near-constant presence on the couture runways in the late nineties and early aughts, is a new mother. And she’s doing fantastically—though she only had four hours of sleep the night before we speak, having been woken up by her ten-month-old son, Albert (whom she lovingly refers to “Bertie”), her maternal glow manages to radiate through the telephone from London. “It isn’t so easy to understand what they are going through because they cannot communicate,” says the legendary British supermodel of navigating parenthood. “I wish I had a magic wand so I could understand any high-pitch scream that could formulate a bona-fide sentence. I could help him so much more.”
It’s no secret that O’Connor has had a lot on her plate recently—on top of taking care of a newborn, the legendary model with the elegantly angular visage recently made a much-buzzed-about comeback cameo on the Marc Jacobs fall 2015 runway. Like many new mothers, O’Connor's reentry into the professional world (even one as untraditional as modeling) hasn’t been easy, but it has surprised her. “I feel like my attitude to the industry has changed. I think a more patient, resilient woman has emerged,” says the model. “I want to conquer the world on his [Albert’s] behalf. I feel so much braver than I did before when I became a mom in the sense that I’m willing to put myself out there for him, I feel more courageous than I did before.” And it’s not just her mentality that’s changed: O’Connor’s monochromatic style received a reborn makeover, too. “Bertie is so into color and texture that I think it made my overall existence warmer—perhaps a little more romantic and playful. Anything shiny or textured or brightly colored, he’s on it like a magpie; handbag straps, necklaces, any kind of accessories."
Beyond a newfound appreciation for accessories, how does that work and personal life balance actually pan out? “There are the small things that you don’t want to miss out on, but you are getting a call from New York City saying you need to be on a plane tomorrow to do a show the following day for the collections,” says O’Connor. "It’s like landing on two different planets.” Though there are many model mothers who bring their children on set—or even on the runway, like the blushing matriarch parade of little ones for Dolce & Gabbana fall 2015, O’Connor chooses to keep her personal and professional life very separate—for now. “I haven’t taken Albert to work yet. I feel really strongly that if is he curious as a little boy and that he likes what Mommy does for a living, then I will bring him in a heartbeat. But until he has his own voice and can make his own decisions, I’m going to keep him home.” Sounds like she’s got this motherhood thing down pat.