How to get dressed with Aline Diaz

"We all deserve to believe in what we are wearing. It means we believe in ourselves," the fashion designer and pregnant mom of 2 who lives in Monterey, Mexico on life and clothes

Aline Diaz is a fashion designer from Hermosillo, Sonora in Mexico. She has lived in Monterey for over a decade and has a brand called Esant. Below, the designer on making clothes, overdressing, staying open, having kids and expectations.

What to wear to work

Esant jumpsuit (sort of reminds me of this), Le Sundial necklace, Chanel loafers (Lol at this)

I feel very comfortable wearing black. I don’t have to think a lot about whether I’m going to feel good or not, because I already know, so it’s very easy. [When I’m going to] the office, it has to be in something that I can wear and move in because in my day-to-day, I take the stairs, I’m driving to pick up my kids, going home to cook and eat, then I come back to the office.

And it shouldn’t take me so much time to think about it. I don’t think I’m a great stylist; it’s not something I’m creative about. I’m very creative on making the clothes but on putting them together, daily, it’s not the best for me. I don’t know if it’s weird that I’m saying this because I’m a designer but that’s how it is. I love the individual pieces, and their point of view but part of why I love wearing black is because I don’t have to think. It’s also important to have a lot of pieces that I can wear a lot. When you can wear your clothing a lot, you don’t have to think so much.

Plus when I see a picture of myself in an extreme outfit, I never want to see [the clothes I wore] again. It becomes too much! And there are so many pictures taken these days, so the simple clothes, for me, are better. They last longer.

A better look at the necklace (alts here, here, impressively here), with a vintage blazer over half the jumpsuit.

I wear this jumpsuit at least once a week, whether I’m pregnant or not. I feel sporty and sexy and elegant too. I’m not saying too much with it but I’m not saying too little. There is a point of view. It’s my style.

The shape of a day

My day goes like this: I wake up, make breakfast for my kids, drop my son at school, then I usually go to a yoga class, but I have been so tired [in my 8th month of pregnancy,] so lately I have been going straight to work.

Once I am there, I take meetings or do fittings with clients until lunch time when I pick up my son and take him home. I prepare lunch for us at home and we eat it together, then I usually go back to the office but recently, I have been staying at home with my younger son, the one and a half year old.

Me, I love to work. It’s for my sanity to be outside of the house. But I also love to make my house look beautiful, to make a home. It’s amazing to be able to go home, prepare lunch, set the table — it feels creative in a different way and then helps with my work; but I need to work. It keeps me sharp and makes me feel satisfied. I always tell my oldest son [when I’m not able to spend time with him,] that when I’m not with him, it’s because I’m working, not because I’m playing around. I’m proud of it.

What to wear on the weekend

Esant shirt and shorts (I would count these as a good alt), mary janes from Baku (here’s a cow print shoe from Jil Sander on sale, or another from Tony Bianco). Somehow, this skirt feels related

The shoes are from a brand I recently discovered, and the price is incredible. I don’t wear sneakers, I’m not a big fan and these are perfect for when I’m with my kids. This shirt, I love. I have been wearing it so much. I don’t usually wear white with my kids but it’s been so hot, and I always wear white when it’s too hot, so I’ll wear it open with something colored under it. Basically when I’m with my kids I wear what I wear to the office but with more relaxed shoes — something I could feel more comfortable getting dirty.

Has my style changed in pregnancy? No. I haven’t bought anything new. I just borrow my husband’s pants. When I’m not pregnant, I love to be dressed oversize whereas while pregnant, I tend towards more fitted clothes because of the belly.

Persol sunglasses, Le Sundial beaded necklace and here’s a great red anorak Aflalo just dropped, with this 80s Courreges number coming in close second

My style is the same but the proportions are different.

It’s quite empowering to be pregnant and I like to embrace it. I’m not in the best mood, admittedly, for the hormones and whatever so I like to connect to my sensual side with the clothes. It helps me feel like I’m not losing myself in a less familiar body.