Beauty Essentials, Style Inspirations And Healthy Habits: 24 Hours With Naza Yousefi
Bazaar spends a day with the founder, creative director and CEO of luxury fashion house, Yuzefi
5:30AM: I wake up at 5:30AM. It’s not even a choice, sadly, and happens without an alarm. I wish I could have lie-ins but my body doesn’t often comply. I tend to sleep spread out like a starfish and I prefer that my bedroom is always cold, as I can’t sleep when it is warm. The first thing I do each morning is check my phone, but I also like to play music that makes me happy and energetic while I get ready for the day.
6:30AM: I start with a coffee at around 6:30AM and have yoghurt and blueberries a bit later. I try to avoid carbs during the day but always have some with dinner.
7:30AM: I like clearing my inbox by 7:30AM, I tend to get hundreds a day, and this way I can get ready and take a relaxed walk to the office. I feel the most creative in the mornings, so I try to get most of my design work done before leaving home. I am quite a simple girl when it comes to beauty routines,I try to look after my skin and health over using expensive creams and products. I use an oil-free Hyaluronic acid cream in the morning. My go-to eyeliner is from Kat Von D. It is simply the best and stays in place until you wash your face. I use Lano for my hands and lips, as I like how it absorbs and keeps the skin moist and plump all day. Then it’s a bit of Maybelline Fit Me foundation and Glossier Boy Brow to give a bit of subtle colour and keep any unruly brow hairs in place. As I wash my hair every day, I use a Nashi Argan Ultra-Gentle shampoo and conditioner that does not strip my hair of natural oils. I also really believe in light therapy and try to use my Joovv infrared light a few times a week to boost collagen. I always forget to moisturise and luckily the London weather is super-humid and forgiving for that.
9:30AM: I leave my house in Marylebone around 9:30AM and walk to the office. Generally, I dress quite relaxed and sporty but always in something that I could easily go to a casual dinner in. I really like clothes and accessories that can be super versatile, so I can choose to do things that were not necessarily planned in my day. The London weather also definitely has a role to play in what I choose to wear and as I like walking to work, my outfit is usually paired with trainers. I really admire my dear friend Anissa Kermiche for her timeless elegance and I also love Hailey’s Bieber’s L.A. cool-girl style. I try to be somewhere in between.
10:00AM: I tend to arrive at about 10:00AM and I like to have a quick 10-15 minute check in with the team before going into what is planned for the day. Once I am in, I tend to be in for the whole day, so I get my fresh air before and after work. We often have calls in the mornings with our China team, and evenings with our US team. The rest of my time is usually spent on design development with the London atelier team and checking on the progress of things. Seeing pieces come to life during fittings is probably the most exciting thing for me and fills up the rest of my day.
1:30PM: I usually grab lunch at 1:30PM and a typical lunch for me can be a salad of endive, grilled artichoke, shaved carrot and olives with some protein like a small piece of grass-fed steak. I try to eat clean and low carb as much as I can but only because carbs make me very sleepy and take away my mental clarity! I eat a lot of vegetables, lots of good fat and a small amount of protein as I find that I’m most energetic and healthy when I eat this way. I think people’s bodies and lifestyles are very different from one another and it is important for each person to know what works for them and their individual body. There is no one-size fits all when it comes to eating healthily.
7:00PM: I head out from the office at 7:00PM and walk home, catching up with friends and family on the phone. Then I’ll cook myself a meal. I like relaxing evenings; my days are always quite jam-packed, so I prefer to be quite chilled during the week and recharge for the next day.
8:00PM: I try to have a work curfew of 8:00PM and will make sure not to think of any work-related matters in the evening so I can have clarity the next day. I’m currently renovating my house so I am reading a lot of interior books of late and, no matter what, I always have my iPad close by so I can use it to sketch out design ideas, whenever inspiration strikes.
9:00PM: Lights are dimmed around 9:00PM or shortly after dinner. I like to unwind by watching a good movie, chatting to friends or taking an infrared sauna which gives me the best sleep afterwards. Sometimes I practice a language on Duo Lingo. Apparently the brain waves right before falling asleep are optimal for learning. Learning new skills boosts creativity and the sense of achievement brings a lot of joy. I wish I could fall asleep instantly and really envy those that do. It takes me two-to-three hours to unwind and 20 minutes to fall asleep once I’ve finally closed my eyes.
Compiled by Jessica Michault
From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s October 2021 issue