The Six Week Bridal Beauty Prep: Get your Beauty Sleep
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Photo by Simon Everiss, Makeup & Hair by Liv Lundelius Model: Annalise Mclachlan
Styling: Rosemarie Pantling Interior: The Society Inc
I am thrilled to have beauty sleep expert and designer Natalija over at the blog today! She is the creative mind behind the stunning sleepwear label NATALIJA the label. The latest collection is awesome and I was lucky to see the designs prior to the launch, when I was working closely with founder Natalija to create the hair & makeup looks for the latest campaign. She is sharing some tips and info about Beauty Sleep with us and we also had a little chat about her collection.
Why is sleep so important for our skin and overall wellbeing?
Sleeping Beauty was onto something! I recently read a study that showed for the first time that poor quality sleep can accelerate signs of skin ageing
like wrinkles, age spots and inflammation. Lack of sleep can also weaken the skin’s ability to
repair itself at night from a variety of environmental stresses such as sun exposure. And it
may prevent adequate secretion of melatonin levels, which is a natural antioxidant that is
important in helping regulate the internal body clock’s cycle of sleep.
What can women do to improve their sleep? Are any rituals that you would like to share?
It is important to continue a well-balanced routine into the night to ensure you have a great
sleep and wake up feeling revitalised for the day ahead. Here are 3 simple solutions that
take minimal effort but will help prepare your body and mind for a restful night’s sleep (and
stay asleep!).
1. Stick to routine – set a reasonable bedtime for yourself and make sleep a priority.
Try to be in bed at the same time every night, this will reinforce your body’s sleep-
wake cycle and can help you fall asleep better.
2. Wind down before bed – spend about an hour unwinding with some relaxing
activities at the end of your day. This could include reading a book, listening to
soothing music, soaking in a warm bath or taking a shower.
3. Sip a cup of Sleep Tea - Chamomile is a small white petal flower, reminiscent of a
daisy. Commonly known as the sleep tea, it is usually dried and steeped into tea to
help soothe and relax the body, and help to promote a healthy sleep cycle and
overall wellbeing.
Your sleepwear labels designs are truly inspiring, I saw they are all made from natural fibre
like pure silk or cotton, can you tell us more about this? Choosing what to wear to bed can directly affect the quality of your sleep. My focus when
designing is on luxury and comfort, so I carefully selected fabrics that make women feel
beautiful, ensuring they have a great sleep and wake up feeling revitalised for the day
ahead!
Silk is considered to be one of best fabrics to sleep in. It is comfortable, soft to touch,
naturally hypoallergenic, breathable, and makes you feel AMAZING. Silk is also capable of
keeping you warm during winter, and cool in the hot summer months.
What inspired you to create a sleepwear line?
I first found inspiration in 2012. Newly engaged, I went in search for feminine and affordable
nightwear options to purchase for my bridesmaids and myself, to wear while getting ready
on the wedding morning. I felt my choices were limited as the options were either femme
fatale, dowdy or slightly immature. It was during this time I noticed a gap in the sleep and
loungewear market for elegant and affordable options; so it was out of frustration and my
love of health and wellness, that my entrepreneurial spirit launched NATALIJA.
The brand celebrates and embraces women's femininity. It is an invitation for women to be
inspired, choose colours and prints that speak to them, and combine pieces to form their
own unique individual style.
Do you have a personal favourite that you wear to bed?
My favourite piece from my new collection ‘Azulejos’ is the Thira silk pant for its fantastic
paisley print and beautiful blues (but again, it changes every week!).
Tell us about the idea and trend of Pj's All Day.
I have detached all furry animals, hearts and grey marl to recreate the traditional sleep and
loungewear; carefully creating garments so beautiful and comfortable that women will feel
inspired to wear them all the time.
Channeling the ‘pyjamas all day’ look, the silky garments have the power to transcend from
the home to the outdoors, fusing together comfort and style. The luxe designs would look as
at home relaxed on a Sunday afternoon with a book and tea, as they would at night paired
with heels ordering your favourite drink. My most recent campaign Sleep to Street brings
to life this idea, inspiring women to have fun, be playful and feel beautiful!
As entrepreneur and business women, how do you make sure you get enough sleep?
The evening time is my time and I have a ritual to ensure I am relaxed, rested and ready to
have the best sleep so that I can wake up lively. My favourite is to use an oil burner and fill
my home with a soothing fragrance like lavender. I find it’s a great way to balance my inner
self before bed! I also get so excited when its bedtime as I get to slide into one my garments.
They feel amazing, and I feel beautiful wearing them. That’s the only way women should be
feeling when they go to sleep at night.
What is your biggest dream for the future?
To inspire women to have fun with fashion, be confident to express themselves and feel
beautiful. Create loungewear pieces that empower women to take their garments from
sleep to street, day to night. Evolving NATALIJA into a lifestyle brand, introducing more
versatile pieces, and then also linen, cushions and candles, all with the same sophisticated
and fashion forward approach.
