Isolation Style

Staying at home is the new normal, and in adapting our habits under strange circumstances, the approach is far from fits-all. Everything from what we decide to throw on in the morning, to how we keep ourselves entertained, stimulated, and maintain our mental wellbeing has shifted, and it’s an adjustment that we’re all learning to navigate daily. Going behind closed doors with our creatives, designers and brand founders, we find out just what home life looks like when the normality we knew is on hold.

PALOMA LANNA

Founder - Paloma Wool

How have you been spending your time at home?

The current situation has presented the project with new objectives that my team and I are taking as a creative challenge, we're all connected and working a lot from home looking for ways to adapt, care for our community, continue creating and feel closer to our friends more than ever.

What does your ‘staying home’ wardrobe look like?

I'm wearing our cupro pieces almost every single day. It puts me in a really good mood to mix and match the colours, and they really can't be comfier. Feeling comfortable and beautiful has always been something that really boosts up my mood.

Any tips for staying creative and motivated – or unwinding?

I've stopped looking at the news, reduced my screen time significantly. Doing 40 minutes of exercise with friends every day, making ourselves a cocktail and sweeping all the leaves off my terrace have all been little things that have made me feel especially good these days.

How easy has it been for you to adapt to the slower pace?

It's been up and down, to be honest, but I feel very grateful in general. I appreciate being able to slow down and recognise what is important in life.

EMILY PONSONBY

Artist

How have you been spending your time at home?

I’ve returned to the farm I grew up on for lockdown. We’ve been slowly converting an old pigsty into a little studio and I now paint to the soundtrack of bleating lambs. The quiet of the countryside has allowed my thoughts to wonder and expand, which has meant pages of doodles, and stolen poetry and quotes plastered to my walls. Every morning I walk early as the sun is rising to give some rhythm to the weekdays. Life feels slower, but I feel very lucky to have both time and space.

What does your ‘staying home’ wardrobe look like?

Being an artist means oil gets everywhere. I either wear large overalls or free flowing soft dungarees and an all-consuming holey jumper - but I always wear nice underwear. This is purely for me. It makes me feel good, on the front foot and feminine. I love soft natural materials that make me feel like I’m not wearing clothes at all.

Any tips for staying creative and motivated – or unwinding?

I read a wonderful quote by Nigella Lawson on staying connected to our hands: “One of the ways to interrupt anxiety is to let other senses take over. Touching things, smelling something, listening. Baking really has so much of that, you are really immersed in the world of the senses. Otherwise you’re trapped in your mind”. It’s so easy to say ‘I’ll do it tomorrow’ but this is a moment in time like no other. Now is the time to do new things and feel the endorphin rush of achievement they bring.

How easy has it been for you to adapt to the slower pace?

I have never noticed spring blooming like I have this year. With the restrictions comes a wave of refreshed admiration and appreciation for life which I’m enjoying channelling into my work. Less distractions means I can throw every thought and feeling into my painting without them being diluted.

ANISSA KERMICHE

Designer

How have you been spending your time at home?

Like most of us I think, I can rightly say I have become a domestic goddess! I have reorganised my entire flat (even my teas are stored by colour now). Room by room, I have rearranged my drawers, managed to order whatever was missing from my kitchen, like fish silverware or Japanese porcelain salt and pepper shakers! Being able to see clearly what’s available in my wardrobe is incredibly refreshing and makes me think I might need to impose a month confinement to myself every year.

What does your ‘staying home’ wardrobe look like?

Leggings and sports bra, with the hope of following one of the many classes available online – without success, of course. I don’t see why this confinement would have made me sporty after 34 years of pure avoidance of any kind of physical activity – except dancing!

Any tips for staying creative and motivated – or unwinding?

I was about to suggest staying away from your phone and emails, but I do find a lot of inspiration on social media. Many incredible new recipes that I have exchanged with my friends or articles recommending old films and books. As every day might look the same, I have imposed a little routine to make sure I am learning something new every day. I bought an agenda and I write which film/talk/podcast/album I have listened to. Looking back, I feel like I haven’t wasted my time at all.

How easy has it been for you to adapt to the slower pace?

So, so easy. I was honestly on the edge of burning out before it all started, going through serious anxiety. Between the jewellery and the ceramics, I feel like I am running two different businesses and I had to make a lot of sacrifices these past few years as an entrepreneur, like less time with my family or giving up on my hobbies. Not having to run between meetings has been true heaven and I would be lying if I said I missed life before confinement.

ROSH MAHTANI

Founder - Alighieri

How have you been spending your time at home?

It's actually been very busy! I've been packing our website orders from my apartment, and interacting with our customers very directly through Instagram, so it's been a whirlwind. On the weekends, I try to take some time for myself, to read and listen to podcasts.

What does your ‘staying home’ wardrobe look like?

I often live in oversized comfy jumpers and cigarette trousers. I've been enjoying being barefoot on a sunny day at work. but apart from that, not much has changed!

Any tips for staying creative and motivated – or unwinding?

Candles and Palo Santo really do the trick for me. It's my way of switching off. To get creative, I've been trying to write and re-read the Divine Comedy. I'm not very good at sketching, but I've been trying to do some life drawing, to stay in the moment. I find this really relaxing.

How easy has it been for you to adapt to the slower pace?

It's such a strange time, because on one hand, it's a slower pace in that I am not travelling. It's nice to be at home, but very strange as I usually get itchy feet after three to four weeks of being in the same city. I'm very lucky in that work is giving me very little time to stop, so my brain feels like it's travelling in any case!

JULES MILLER

Founder - The Nue Co

How have you been spending your time at home?

Like many, I have had to adapt my day-to-day to being at home. I start at 6am, with 20 minutes of meditation to clear my mind or a Peloton spin class, for which I take our POWER-UP – the natural caffeine gives me that boost I need. I’m at my desk from 8:30am and join a team call at 9am, to say hi and keep myself on a regular schedule. I take time away from my screen playing with my French bulldog Lola and going for walks. I’ve been lucky to spend time creating meals and my favourite smoothies using our PROBIOTIC PROTEIN – PLANT to support a healthy gut and immunity.

What does your ‘staying home’ wardrobe look like?

I have quite a Scandinavian-inspired style that’s easy to transition into a WFH wardrobe, with a few relaxed alterations. My go-to look is my Levi jeans with an Acne Studios shirt and Prada boots, which have been swapped for sliders. My working day includes video calls, press interviews, TV appearances, Instagram takeovers and live interviews that I have been hosting on The Nue Co. Instagram account, so my wardrobe and makeup tends to be very similar to that pre-COVID-19.

Any tips for staying creative and motivated – or unwinding?

I am thankfully in isolation with my partner and his aunt’s family. I enjoy being around other people, so not being with my team, who are great motivators for me, family has kept me feeling driven and creative. We regularly sit down for big family dinners, something I’ve really begun to value. Pre-COVID-19, our lives were hectic; running from meeting-to-meeting and seeing friends/family in the evenings, it can be hard to take stock and appreciate the simpler things, like family time and good food. To help with the over-indulgent meals, I make a DEBLOAT FOOD + PREBIOTIC coconut milk latte – the cinnamon, turmeric and ginger help relax my stomach before bed.

How easy has it been for you to adapt to the slower pace?

It took some getting used to. I thrive off being busy and enjoy the energy of my team, meeting new people, seeing friends, daily interaction with other humans. My life involved a lot of travel, as I work between London and New York. It has been a healthy adjustment since we could all do with slowing down. Seeing the positive effects this has had on the planet shows the severity of the damage we cause. I hope we take learnings from this to become more conscious consumers and appreciate the planet and our own mental and physical wellbeing to ensure a happier and healthier lifestyle.