Tori Johnson on Style, Motherhood & Family Heirlooms
This month on Verse Mothers, we speak with Tori Bowman Johnson, Perth-based writer, mother, and lover of scent and storytelling. Known for her poetic way with words and deep family connection, Tori’s answers feel like diary pages shared with warmth and candour. Captured on film by her sons Hamish and George, these intimate portraits reflect their view of her: strong, soulful, and present.
What is your personal style signifier?
Scent. I’ve worn Diptyque Tam Dao for years — woody, earthy and comforting. On other days, I layer Gentle Habits Yamba Balm and their shower oil, both infused with cedarwood, vetiver and patchouli. I also love a high-top Converse, a gold earring, and a slouched jacket or coat — always.
What is your most cherished piece of jewellery and why?
My engagement ring and a ruby ring that belonged to my Nini. My engagement ring reminds me of Will — my husband, my home — and he proposed while I was pregnant with our first son, on Cottesloe Beach. The ruby ring connects me to my Chinese-Malaysian grandmother, Ying, who passed when I was little. It holds her wisdom and presence in a way I treasure.
What is the last thing you purchased and loved?
A full-length wool-cashmere coat by Hyde & Stone. I live in WA, where it’s warm, but I’m a coat girl through and through. I adore it — it feels like a hug and a statement all at once.
What is currently on your wish list?
Celine leather sandals for spring. But I’ve also been drawn to MARIA FARRO — a Cretan-born brand that blends beautiful craftsmanship with community support. The story behind the brand resonated with me.
Your earliest fashion memory?
Sadly, Sketchers in the '90s — thanks, Britney Spears. But also a silver Tiffany & Co. heart ring my mum gave me in New York when I was 10. I wore it for over a decade and plan to pass it down one day.
The beauty staple you’re never without?
Chanel’s Baume Essentiel Balm in Translucence — a quick glow on the cheeks or under brows. And People4Ocean’s Mineral SPF 50+ tinted cream. It’s the best face sunscreen I’ve used — glowy, protective and reef-safe.
What will you always find in your fridge?
Soda water, a probiotic, and an endless supply of yogurt pouches (thanks, kids).
How do you stay healthy, physically and mentally?
I believe in movement and chasing endorphins. It’s hard to get up early, but harder to live with “I should have gone.” I love spinning for the sweat and music, pilates for the stamina, and swimming laps — it feels almost magical. Clean eating helps, too, though I always enjoy a glass of red at night with my husband. No guilt — that’s my vice and I’m sticking with it.
Any great recent discoveries?
Gentle Habits — their balms, oils, incense, and even swim masks — have become part of my everyday. Their scents help me stay grounded, especially during the chaos of dinner, bath and bed. Restaurant-wise, Vin Populi in Fremantle is a favourite, especially the porchetta. And for bread? Common Bakery on Carrington Street — a real gem.
What object would you never part with?
A wooden trunk in our bedroom that’s been in my family for years. It reminds me of when we were a family of four under one roof. My parents divorced when I was sixteen, and this trunk holds the memory of togetherness. Even in turbulence, it represents something constant.
What are some of the challenges of being a working mother, and how do you juggle it all?
Letting myself off the hook. I never just sit when I could be doing something else. But I’m learning that stillness matters too. We only live once, and the rest is part of truly living. I’m slowly learning to see it not as indulgence, but as fuel.
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Film photography: Hamish (4.5) George (2)