From Prep School Polos to Postpartum Neutrals: Lauren Sharkey Shares Her Take on Baby Style, Real-Life Motherhood, and Traveling with a Little One

We're thrilled to introduce Lauren Sharkey, a Chicago-based personal stylist known for curating effortlessly stylish wardrobes for every chapter of life. From closet audits to event-ready looks, Lauren specializes in both in-person and virtual styling with a fresh, everyday approach that makes getting dressed feel inspiring—not overwhelming. Stay tuned as she shares her insight on everything from his/hers capsules to maternity must-haves.

How would you describe Griffin’s style—and is it different from what you imagined?

Because we didn’t know the gender of our babe, I leaned hard into a neutral aesthetic. The nursery was splashed in shades of nude, and the dresser was filled with sets in every tone of beige, tan, camel, mocha, and chocolate. I fully intended to stick with that palette—whether the fits needed a bow or a beanie.

But lately, the boyhood of it all has really been resonating with me. A bubble with a dino? Yes. Sneakers? Yes. Pajamas with basketballs and baseballs? Obviously.

That said, I still prioritize a heavy amount of prep in his closet. We do a lot of polo onesies and collared sweater sets. Honestly, if it has a collar, it’s going in my cart. His daycare teachers even took note—last week they told me they call him Prince Charles since he “always looks regal.” Jury’s out on whether I feel flattered or concerned!

How has your style evolved postpartum? What is your best piece of advice for new (or any) Moms trying to style themselves on a normal day

Historically, I’ve always gravitated toward neutrals—kind of subconsciously. It’s never been a super intentional thing, but given the speed at which life has been moving these past few years, it’s become a really practical choice.

In this postpartum era though? I’m drawn to neutrals like a moth to a flame. It’s truly all I want to wear. Why? Simple: I can throw an outfit together and have it on my body in 90 seconds or less—which is about how long Griff gives me most days.

So I’m leaning into it, and I’d encourage other mamas to do the same. Call on the navys, browns, whites, greys, and denims in your closet. Mix them freely and don’t even think about whether it “works”—it’s a neutral color story, it always works. And if you’re feeling stuck, go tonal or monochrome. I think I wore an oversized denim button-down and baggy jeans every other day for months.

Oh—and don’t be afraid of white. Honestly, it wears spit-up better than any other color!

What does your day to day look like now that you’ve a little person to take care of?

And I thought I was busy before… ha! Life is a ride right now. It’s beautiful, messy, a total work in progress—and each day reflects that.

Until about two weeks ago, Griffin was home with me all day, every day. He was my little assistant—joining client calls, brand meetings, you name it. I’d be texting clients on the way to his music class, then totally present for a few hours, then rapid-firing emails during nap time. It wasn’t sustainable—or fair to him—for me to keep mentally circuit-switching like that.

So, he started part-time daycare (Tuesdays and Thursdays) at the loveliest little center near us. It took me a while to feel okay about the decision—yes, there were TEARS—but now, it’s the best thing we could’ve done. I absolutely grind (guilt-free) on the days he’s at “school,” and I’m incredibly present (also guilt-free) on my Griff days.

And once he’s down for the night? My night owl kicks in. I burn the midnight oil almost every night—again, not sustainable, but very realistic for my right now.

What has been the biggest surprise about becoming a parent?

What’s been most eye-opening for me is the clarity I’ve gained around my priorities—something I didn’t fully have before.

It turns out, most things just aren’t worth missing our lovely bath and bedtime routine for. Evening events and client work really have to resonate for it to be a yes now.

What’s your favorite thing you’ve splurged on recently?

Let’s do favorite splurge for babe and for myself!

For him, it’s hands down the Baby Brezza bottle washer-dryer-sanitizer. It’s the single product I’ll recommend unsolicited to any expecting parent—especially if you’re going the formula route like us.

For me, it’s a Spinelli ring. The stars aligned—my first Mother’s Day fell just days after our third anniversary—so I wasn’t shy about asking for a little hardware. Ha!

You’ve already taken Griffin on several amazing trips, what’s your packing strategy for him? Any travel tips you swear by?

It’s funny—we’ve gotten very mixed reactions from family, friends, and strangers when it comes to Griff’s travels. I’m sure all the seasoned mamas reading this aren’t surprised—the opinions come from all corners! But we’re taking full advantage of having a “chill” baby and leaning into family travel, especially before he’s mobile.

To start, he gets his own suitcase. Roughly speaking: one side is clothes, swim, pajamas/sleep sacks, hats, diapers; the other side is formula, bottles, blankets, bath supplies, toys, pool toys, and towels. It might sound minor, but it helps me stay organized knowing one half is for on his body and the other half is all the rest.

When we get to the hotel—which, by the way, I never did before a baby—we unpack immediately. We lay down a blanket, add toys, teethers, etc., and fully set up a play spot. That becomes his home base if we need to change, shower, work, whatever. We also create a full bottle assembly line. He’s a formula babe (ByHeart for us), so we clear the coffee station and set up bottles, formula, water bottles, bibs—you name it. On our last trip, we had a second bathroom and turned it into a 360° bottle station—set-up, wash, sanitize.

Also! Target 360 is a total game changer for traveling with a baby. We schedule water bottles for delivery en route to the hotel and use it for any ad hoc needs. In Hawaii, I had a bouncy chair delivered in, like, two hours—perfect for poolside hangs under the umbrella.

What are a few of your favorite pieces for summer on Danrie?

I mean—the curation is iconic. What I love most is that the little boys’ clothes read like adult styles, baby size. It’s cute, but never kitschy.

Griff has linen sets and sweaters that I’d honestly recommend to my male clients… if they came in adult sizes. Our favorites right now? The Tee Time Polo Romper (yes, he’ll be wearing it on Father’s Day); the Sullivan Striped Bubble (okay, I’m starting to get the regal reference); and the Mystical Mermaid Shirt & Short Set (he’s packing it for MX!).

You can shop all my summer favorites right here!

Where can people find you?

You can find me on Instagram @styledbylaurensharkey or visit styledbylaurensharkey.com to work with me 1:1 and see how I’m helping clients transform their closets and confidence, one outfit at a time. So excited to meet you and be part of your style journey!

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