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Just like that, a new month is here. January was so good that it was hard to see it go. The entire month felt like a dream- with an unexpected career accomplishment, promotion and new personal projects on the horizon. I can’t think of a better way to start a New Year. Now, onto February, which means, fashion week, a long holiday weekend, new work challenges and very little sleep.
I’ve never been a good sleeper. Four hours of uninterrupted sleep is a lot for me. Most nights, I’m lucky to squeeze in close to three hours. I may not be much of a sleeper, but I adore elegant sleepwear.
I love the tradition of bespoke menswear pajamas of the likes of Charvet or Jermyn Street. A custom fitting at Charvet is one of life’s little luxuries. Luxurious, lightweight cotton, traditional piping, pockets, a discreet monogram and an understated color palate of navy, pale blues and white, get me every time. Classic pajamas that are borrowed from the boys but tailored to fit a feminine frame are my favorites. Poplin has the masculine/feminine down to perfection.
Pajamas are perfect for curling up with a good book, burrowing in for movie night or lingering over tea and an early morning grapefruit… Always worn with a loose chignon or bun. Pure nonchalance. Over the years, I have amassed a collection of effortless and yet undeniably chic classic sleepwear. It all started as a childhood holiday tradition- coordinating pajama sets for Christmas Eve. Years later, a decadent pair of pajamas is still one of my favorite holiday gifts.
With the basics covered, a cheery Liberty Print pajama set is the perfect addition to my collection of sleepwear. My wardrobe consists of few prints, but the ones I do add are truly special. As a lover of textiles, Liberty Print always wins me over. Those archives and the meticulous printing process are the definition of heritage.
Sweet dreams...
PS- If you have any sleep tips or rituals do share.
I like these moments of the day a lot: the evening, just before going to bed, when you cuddle with a good book and a bit of jazz music.
ReplyDeleteAnd the morning, with a tea/coffee/hot chocolate (depending on the mood), listening to the news or reading the journal.
My pyjama collection is very simple, but these rituals are very important to me for a good night sleep and a good day full of energy. I can imagine going back to favourites once you found them.
Kali- Hi Kali- such perfect quiet moments. Ah, you're so right about a good book and relaxing music. I find that classical music really relaxes me on the way to work.
DeleteLove teas in the morning and catching up on news and of course WWD. I have to read WWD first thing in the print edition- I love that.
You're so right about rituals.
i love your pjs! they look so feminine and still a bit polished for lounging around the house. i always pack a set of pajamas when i travel, it helps remind me of home. all about the little luxuries :)
ReplyDeletemiss sophie- Hi miss sophie! Thank you! I love the feminine print and the traditional cut. It's a nice change up from my solids, stripes and dots.
DeleteYou're so right about travel. I always pack a few of my sets when I travel. It's such a nice reminder of home and the familiar.
Three hours a night? Gosh I don't know how you do it. I can manage on five hours or less when work goes nuts, but the rest of the time (and during weekends) I need at least six hours, preferably eight or nine if I can manage it!
ReplyDeleteLove pyjamas - my favourites are by Anokhi from Jaipur. Lovely Indian prints in the softest cotton.
My favourite sleep ritual involves lighting an essential oil burner and doing a little reading and emptying my head of anxiety.
January was an intense but good month for me too, I am looking forward to the rest of the year.
Ammu- Hi Ammu! I know! Most nights it's not even three hours! Five always feels like a lot to me. But shooting for four solid hours would probably be ideal. I'm lucky because I wouldn't be able to fit in eight or nine even if I needed it during the work day. It's frightening the time between when I leave work and need to be back at the office. Frightening.
DeletePajamas are one of those items that I fantasize about when I think about a trip to India. The beautiful/unique prints and soft cottons. I'm not much of a shopper when I travel, but I love hitting up Charvet for PJs and being able to make all the selections on fit, pattern for myself.
I'm very curious about the essential oil burner. I was researching them awhile back. It seems like it would be a nice change from candles and soothing. I think having time for my own thoughts and to think about things is most important. I need that maybe even more than sleep to function properly.
So glad to hear that January was good for you. I really liked a nice start that makes me excited for the rest of the year. I hope he rest of your year is good too.
Oh my - you are like my sister - she hardly sleeps as well and I don't know how she manages. What are you like during the day? I know I existed on 4 hours when I was in the early days of motherhood but somehow you just manage but I don't know how you manage continuously. I would be a horrible person to be around if I only had 3 hours. At the moment, I manage between 5-6.
ReplyDeleteBut on to pyjamas - yours are lovely. You can't beat a beautiful Liberty print. I've adored Liberty prints since I was a teenager when I used to buy the fabrics to make my own skirts. I used to have lovely matching sets when I was younger - lovely white cotton voile Laura Ashley sets and I was treated every now and then to some nice ones from Plumo and Toast. However, comfort and warmth are paramount to me now due to old age. I'm afraid I do cheap and cheerful but at least I still manage to do pretty and cheap and cheerful.
Sue- Your sister sounds like my kind of girl:)
DeleteI know I should be tired during the day, but I have a lot of energy. I think naturally I'm pretty high energy. The work day is so fast paced and as one of my colleagues put it, "i'm always suppose to be the one with all the answers." I keep hearing that being able to function on no sleep is very helpful for new moms. I hope when I reach those days, I'm still like this. I worry that it might just be youth.
Ah yes, I love Liberty print and the idea of collecting fabric for projects. I grew up on Laura Ashley sets. Toast always has such lovely pjs.
Your so right about comfort and warmth. It was so cold in January- I had to pull out my flannel sets.
I will check this post daily to see if anyone has some great sleep tips. Like you, I sleep less than 5 hours every night so I look like a meth addict these days :(
ReplyDeleteLove your liberty printed PJ (I'm such a sucker for liberty prints). I hope that at some point I will also have amassed a nice collection of sleepwear. Perhaps taking time to get dressed for bed will help on this sleep deprivation.
Fleurette- You and me both. Would love a few great tips!
DeleteI've been luck thus far. I don't look like I get very little sleep. At this point I tend to look pretty well rested. If that changes- I'm not sure what I will do.
Yes, I love your Liberty print items. They're so charming. Pajamas are a nice compromise for me, since I love the button downs, but can't really get away with being that casual.
Yes! I think everyone should build a beautiful collection of sleepwear.
Pretty! I like my sleepwear striped, and it's too warm for me to wear pajama shirts so I usually wear a ribbed cotton tank.
ReplyDeleteI sleep poorly when I'm stressed - even if I get about 8 hours of sleep, it is poor quality sleep, and it takes its toll. The only way to start sleeping well again is to work out my anxieties!
lin- Thank you!
DeleteYes, I'm a big fan of striped sleepwear as well. It's just so traditional, but I already own so many stripes. We have so many ranges in temperature that you have to have a bit of everything.
I know what you mean. Regardless of how much I sleep- I rarely sleep well. I'm just an extremely poor sleeper.
Those really are lovely PJs! Unfortunately lovely feminine pajama pants are always too short on me, so I usually end up buying men's pajamas. In winter I insist on sweatpants because our building is from the 1850s and it gets SO. COLD. Fortunately my dear boyfriend still finds me attractive, despite the unbecoming choice of sleepwear. He's a keeper, that one!
ReplyDeleteI don't have any sleep rituals I'm afraid - I usually work out 4-5 days a week which results in me falling asleep pretty much as soon as my head hits the pillow. If I get less than 6 hours of sleep I'm pretty much a zombie the following day, and I have no idea how people manage to be productive members of society on 4 hours a night :)
Maja- Thanks Maja! That's what I LOVE about Charvet. It's really nice to be able to have things like length customized. It may not be realistic for everyone, but its such a nice treat for yourself.
DeleteI know what you mean about old building. I've always lived in them and the insulation leaves something to be desired. I love my flannel sleepwear for that.
I work out daily and I know people say that helps with sleep, but I haven't found that to be true. It does give me tons of energy during the day though:)
What lovely pjs, with such cute fabric! I prefer slips to sleep, there's something about having my legs covered in bed that I don't like... I go for Uniqlo and Petit Bateau for my night gear. It's quite basic really.
ReplyDeleteOf coursse it depends on lots of parameters but I usually sleep well enough. My sleep routine starts with an after dinner infusion (very granny!)of camomille, lavender and vervein. Then I try to shut off my computer, phone at least 30 mn before crashing. I put on some cool music (Craig Armstrong's The Space Between Us is my favorite).
If I'm a bit achy, a little massage with a bit of lavender based oil helps me relax, and then I plunge in an escapism novel to drift away. Oh, and ear plugs when I can for a quiet night without the disturbances of city noises.
Aïssa- Thank you Aïssa! Cute and charming is exactly what comes to mind when I think of liberty prints.
DeleteI love your slips. I love getting ready for an event or night out in a beautiful slip. There's just something very old school glamour about it that I love when I'm being pampered.
I love your ritual. The infusion sounds heavenly and will certainly be something I try. I need to be better about powering down my phones and computer. All night I'm checking, but maybe a firm shut down time is required.
I love lavender based oil. I had a "sweet dreams" mist for my sheets once that really soothed me.
Thank you for all the tips. I really appreciate it!
3 hours?! Lindsay, I would've been an absolute wreck. Even for someone like me who can survive on very little sleep, I can't do that as I get older. 5-6 hours is good but I really do need 7. Your PJs look so elegant. I'm in my track pants and t-shirt so ummm...... not very classy.
ReplyDeleteChocolate Cookies & Candies- Thanks Marlene!
DeleteI know! I know! It's pure madness. I've always been a night owl and an early riser. Even as a child. Somewhere along the lines something has got to give I suppose.
Oh I am the same too unfortunately! Most nights I get about 5 hours of sleep with a power nap hopefully thrown in during a break between classes, but such is the life of a college student. I do adore your sleep wear though. It's a pretty overlooked part of my closet but I plan on changing that in the future! One of my guy friends has a chic collection of striped pajamas and I'm always so jealous of them.
ReplyDeleteHuman Racing- Such is the life of a college student indeed.
DeleteI hope your semester is going well and that your taking breaks to recharge. Did you see this? http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/10/opinion/sunday/relax-youll-be-more-productive.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Your guy friend sounds so dapper. Striped PJs are one of my favorite sartorial items that are borrowed from the boys;)
I love matching pajamas sets, For some reason I just feel more chic and grown-up [so to speak] than I wear my comfy old sweaters and t-shirts. They make me want to lay about drinking coffee and reading books like I'd be in some film. Ha. I wish I had sleep tips to share, but as someone who was once a studio major at Uni- I have a horrid sleep routine coupled with the fact that apparently my family functions better on little sleep. I have found when I exercise in the evenings I sleep deeper and better, but that's just me. xx.
ReplyDeletecoffeestainedcashmere- Pajama sets are so chic, right? There's something that always reminds me of childhood comforts, but there is also something so chic and elegant about them. Perfect for lounging over a great book.
DeleteInteresting point you bring up. My odd sleep schedule was further compounded by the intensity of studies during the HS years and then those patterns continued during the rest of my studies. I do think there is a genetic and environmental component as well, since I come from a family of night owls that require very little sleep.
Lovely taste as always... Of course you must look chic- love the idea of your loose chignon or bun. Perfection.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous- Thank you!You're entirely too kind.
DeleteI love your PJs! I'm the opposite—I need a lot of sleep (but even when I get a full night's rest, I'm still tired by midday), and my sleepwear is nowhere near as sophisticated as yours. Think sweatpants and a t-shirt stolen from my boyfriend's drawers, ha, though now I might have to indulge in a chic set soon. As for sleep rituals, I like to read a little before bed, usually an old favorite as opposed to a new book so I'm less tempted to stay up and keep reading through the night. :)
ReplyDeleteRachel- Thanks Rachel! It's so interesting how different everyone is. I love the borrowing from the gentleman:)
DeleteThat's such a good idea to read an old favorite. I always end up staying up late when I read new books.
Consider me your enabler when it comes to indulging in a chic set;)
S- Thank you!
ReplyDeleteAnd your compliment totally made my day:)
Those PJs look lovely!
ReplyDeleteI've been having trouble sleeping lately too, have invested in This Works sleep spray! Will let you know my verdict!
http://herribbonsandherbows.blogspot.co.uk/
Alexandra- Thanks Alexandra!
DeleteOh! Please let me know if you recommend the This Works sleep spray! I've heard good things.
So pretty. There's nothing quite like getting in a nice comfortable pair of PJs you feel good in. I miss having a matching set. I have a few favorite PJ pants, but not matching tops. There's something nice about having the whole set.
ReplyDeleteLN- Thank you! You're so right- there's nothing better.
DeleteI agree, there is something really nice about having the whole set.
Congratulations on your promotion, Lindsay!! So happy for you. You worked hard for it so it is twice the joy:)
ReplyDeleteEversince I got my iphone, I have been sleeping less. It is so accessible to check for work mails etc and sometimes when i awake in the middle of the night, the habit is to reach for that phone and download mails.
My sleepwear is mainly from Muji. I love how raw and comfortable the pys feel. Its usually three-quarter cotton/linen pants and a cotton tee. Yours look so pretty!
Eileen- Thanks Eileen! It's so true, it always feels good when you've worked hard for something.
DeleteThe iphone can be detrimental to sleep if you let it. It's so easy to check work email all the time. And yes, I'm also so bad about getting up in the middle of the night and checking email.
Love Muji! The sleepwear and loungewear always looks so comfortable. When it's warmer I love 3/4 length pants!
GREAT print. I love comfy loungewear and sleepwear.
ReplyDeleteKate from Clear the Way
cleartheway- Hi Kate! Thank you! Isn't comfy loungewear and sleepwear the best?
DeleteThis sleepwear looks so so comfortable! I like to sleep in cashmere during the winter. I have sleeping problems too so the right sleepwear can really make a difference.
ReplyDeletewww.FashionSnag.com
FASHION SNAG- Thank you! Ah yes, love cashmere for sleeping in the winter. I'm a big fan of cashmere socks, hoodies and matching sets:)
ReplyDeleteI love sleep but I'll only fall off to sleep really late - no matter how early I wake up. I've been trying to wake up earlier, for the past 19 days I've managed to get up around 6.30am but I sleep sleep after midnight. I love naps during the day, though I haven't done that in a while :)
ReplyDeleteVanisha @ Vanishas Life In...Australia- Hi Vanisha! You're a night owl too! I can't explain it, but I just can't manage to go to sleep early. I'm just not tired until it gets pretty late. I do love getting up and getting things done early. It makes me feel productive. I also find that I have the most energy for workouts in the AM. Naps are so cute.
DeleteHow can you survive just on 4 hours of uninterrupted sleep (and that is on a good day?). I salute you.
ReplyDeleteI can't function if I can't get a good at least 6 hours uninterrupted sleep (although 7 or 8 hours would be perfect but that is a luxury to me).
Melody- I know! I'm sure at some point it will catch up with me.
DeleteThose PJs are to die for! Nothing like cute PJs for cozy nights in :)
ReplyDeleteHayfa
http://chic-and-cliche.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/hayfamk
Chic and Cliché- Thank you! It's still so cold here so cozy nights in (with my warmer pjs) are the standard.
DeleteThis is what I need a new pair of Pjs, love them to bits! ( I wear during the day too...) x
ReplyDeletelola- I think you should treat yourself. Such a lovely and practical indulgence.
Delete