Isabel Migliore: A Life in Motion

Words by Courtney McIntosh | Imagery by Bree Castel from Iris and Me

Isabel Migliore has always lived between worlds. Between cities and languages, fashion and family, structure and spontaneity. It’s a way of moving through life that began early, shaped by a childhood spent across London and Madrid and one that continues to inform how she approaches motherhood, work and personal identity today.

Growing up trilingual, Isabel was often the only child surrounded by adults in their twenties. Her mother’s partner was an author for Lonely Planet, which meant road trips and far-flung destinations were the norm. Adventure wasn’t something scheduled, it was simply life. One Easter, around the age of five, she remembers the Easter Bunny didn’t arrive because they were in a remote part of Morocco with no chocolate to be found. It’s a memory that still makes her smile, emblematic of a childhood defined by movement, curiosity and adaptability.

School in Spain was run by nuns and followed a rhythm that feels almost cinematic now. Hot lunches, meticulously taught cursive writing and a daily siesta before heading home. The discipline was strict, something Isabel suspects contributed to a rebellious streak later on, but it also instilled precision and focus. Alongside this structure were vivid food memories that remain deeply ingrained. Piping hot churros dipped into thick, gluggy hot chocolate for breakfast at the local café. Tortilla and croquetas shared at the bar while her mother caught up with friends over wine. Today, she approaches cooking with the same curiosity she brings to fashion, finding joy in sourcing quality produce and combining flavours with intention.

All that moving around as a child fostered a deep resilience when it comes to change. It’s a quality that has served her well in fashion, an industry that demands constant responsiveness, and one that has taken on new meaning through motherhood. 

Her career path has been expansive. While studying at Melbourne University, she worked as a fashion advisor at Chanel, learning the art of clientelling. In 2009, she joined the Sydney press office at Hermès, working under industry doyen Karin Upton Baker. 

Milan followed, where Isabel worked across creative, marketing and copywriting roles, absorbing the inner workings of the industry from every angle. She was intimately involved in building the now-cult label The Attico from its early days, and even had a side hustle as a prop stylist for Maurizio Cattelan’s cult Toilet Paper Magazine. These years were formative, offering not just career growth but cultural and linguistic fluency, lifelong friendships and industry connections.

Most recently, after almost five years overseeing marketing and communications for Gucci Australia, Isabel made the decision to step away at the end of 2025. It marked the close of a significant chapter, one defined by leadership across the Asia Pacific region and close collaboration with some of the most creative minds in the Australian fashion industry. Stepping back from corporate life wasn’t a pivot away from ambition, but a move towards greater autonomy. Isabel is now running her own luxury communications consultancy, working closely with brands and founders who value nuance, clarity and long-term thinking. Drawing on decades of experience across fashion, creative direction and global brand building, her work today is shaped by a deep understanding of the 360 needs of a business and the confidence to advise from a place of lived experience.

Family today looks like her partner Oliver, who runs his own architecture and interior design practice, and their son Rafa, who has just turned seven. Rafa’s full name, Rafael Wilde Arbes du Puy, honours a family lineage that includes notable French writers and intellectuals. 

Motherhood was always part of Isabel’s vision, the way it arrived was unexpected. After eight years living in Milan, she and Oliver began dating, moving between Australia and Europe before quickly falling pregnant. The decision to relocate to Byron Bay followed, guided by a belief in timing and the sense that life sometimes nudges you firmly in a new direction. In Rafa’s case, it felt as though he was determined to arrive. “We’re so lucky he chose us,” she says.

The early days of motherhood were marked by an overwhelming sense of purpose. Isabel remembers feeling a deep expansion, a clarity that this was what life was truly about. She treasures the privilege of having spent Rafa’s first eighteen months predominantly at home, fully present in those early stages.

After a year, the family moved to Sydney, a shift that felt like the right balance. Natural beauty paired with urban energy, culture and relevance. Raising an only child has shaped Isabel in unexpected ways. It’s prompted her to question norms and be deliberate about how she wants to live. Having one child has allowed for a depth of connection, flexibility and spontaneity that she values deeply. Travel, adventure and time together feel more fluid. When Rafa was younger and people asked if she planned to have another, she’d respond that he was her “one and only.” There’s gratitude in being able to offer undivided attention, and comfort in knowing that family can look many different ways.

The stereotype of the spoilt only child doesn’t resonate with her. She believes children become spoilt when boundaries aren’t held. Rafa is allowed to feel disappointment, and Isabel often reminds herself to be “kind and firm” when he tests limits. Children, she laughs, are persuasive negotiators.

Her relationship with Rafa is grounded in creativity. They draw, paint, sing, dance and cook together, often losing track of time in the process. That creative flow is where she feels most connected. Rafa has long gravitated towards beautiful, well-made objects. Wooden food sets from Erzi, Cuboro marble runs, Waytoplay road sets and Lyra Groove pencils have all been favourites. Recently, Matador building sets have taken centre stage. Isabel admits that some pieces she buys, like Djeco tooth boxes or Steiff handmade soft toys, are as much for her as they are for him.

His sense of style is already emerging too. Bright colours and blues dominate his wardrobe, a departure from the beige palette of his baby years. They dress him in Spanish label Bobo Choses and love a stripe from Petite Bateau. Fashion and creativity are shared organically. On a recent trip to Paris, they visited Demna’s parting exhibition for Balenciaga, held in a former military hospital and church. Rafa was fascinated by the exaggerated silhouettes and the sense of irony woven through the work. Childhood dress-ups and fashion, Isabel notes with a laugh, aren’t so dissimilar.

Motherhood has undeniably influenced how Isabel approaches her career. She’s more organised, systems-driven, and conscious of how she allocates her time. Every quarter, she reviews her schedule, deciding what to let go of, what to outsource and where she can improve. It’s also a moment to reset big-picture goals, ensuring they still align with the life she wants.

A typical day for Isabel reflects the intensity and variety of her work. Mornings often begin with a cooked breakfast, school drop-off and a Lagree class. From there, the day might include coffees with talent, pitching stories, reviewing editorial requests, lunches with editors, media calls about print and digital placements, event planning sessions and deep dives into analytics. After dinner and bedtime, she often logs back on to wrap up the work day.

Creating space for herself and her family requires intention. Exercise every morning is non-negotiable. Lagree, with its slow, weighted movements, helps her build strength and focus. Home is treated as a sanctuary, a verdant garden and interiors with a tight edit of furnishings, art and objects. . Spontaneous entertaining brings joy, and family holidays are essential for switching off, gaining perspective and staying creatively refreshed.

Isabel’s personal style has evolved alongside motherhood. In her twenties, she explored trends with a chameleonic approach, often drawing power from form-fitting silhouettes and a more overt femininity. Today, powerful dressing looks different. Luxurious fabrics, elegant tailoring and comfort that lasts from morning through evening feel more aligned. It’s a different kind of storytelling.

She gravitates towards strong shoulders, great shoes and sunglasses, often pairing a Gucci blazer with Acne Studios denim and a Saint Laurent kitten heel. She admires the work of Phoebe Philo, Jonathan Anderson, and Australian designer Christopher Esber. Rituals matter too. A second-day blow wave with a slightly undone feel, and a Bare Hands dry gloss manicure at home, help her feel polished without excess.

Health has become another area of focus. In her thirties, hormonal shifts prompted Isabel to seek medical advice. After realising she only had good energy for a small portion of her cycle, she had her hormones checked and now takes targeted support from day fourteen. The result has been better energy, sleep and softened PMS. Food is treated as medicine too. Starting the day with protein and fuelling properly before exercise are now essential.

What does she hope Rafa learns from watching her juggle motherhood, work and personal passions? That work is enjoyable and meaningful. That time away from home is spent doing things she loves, whether that’s work, creativity or connection. She wants him to see fulfilment, not obligation.

Looking back, she’s proud of building a career in Milan from nothing, of working on global fashion campaigns with renowned photographers such as  David Sims, Roe Ethridge and Ryan McGinley and of bringing the large scale Gucci Garden exhibition to Sydney. She’s equally proud of the personal growth that has come with motherhood.

Her advice to other mothers navigating corporate careers, family life and personal identity is grounded and clear. Give things the weight they deserve. Focus on what brings joy. What you focus on increases. Time-block for yourself. Decide what you value as a family and start living those traditions now.

For Isabel Migliore, life has always been in motion. And it’s that movement, intentional and evolving, that continues to shape the way she mothers, works and lives.