Whether you're a PJs all day on the 25th kinda family or you simply retire into your well-loved loungewear post-roast dinner, keep scrolling to see Team Zoella's picks of the creme de la creme of Christmas PJs!
From Fair Isle to fluffy, gingham to gaudy and the classic traditional styles in between, there’s no shortage of patterned and printed pyjamas to curl up in with a takeaway this cosy season. And with the big day itself less than 2 months away, it’s certainly time to get browsing this year’s selection of festive pyjamas if you want to get your money’s worth and a chance to show them off in all their glory for as long as possible.
So whether you’re a PJs all day on the 25th kinda family or you simply retire into your well-loved loungewear post-roast dinner, keep scrolling to see Team Zoella’s picks of the creme de la creme of Christmas PJs! Spoiler: no sexy pyjamas in sight. Comfort = EVERYTHING around these parts.
Darcey
I love, love, love this time of year and Christmas PJ’s! Admittedly, I wear Christmas PJ’s from September all the way through to May/June when it gets too warm for them. I love a tartan set and Boux Avenue have some right crackers, especially this pink and red set which I loooove! Chelsea Peers are always a firm-fave for PJ’s, I’m obsessed with this set from ASOS too with the celestial print. Always need a pair of slippers too this time of year!
Now you’re talking my language. I wear Christmas PJs all year round (and loungewear too of course, duh). Why wouldn’t I wear a reindeer robe or a set of elf-adorned PJs in March just because it’s not seasonally appropriate? That’s madness. Christmas PJs deserve ALL the love and that’s exactly why I rotate mine on the 365. Yep, I’m one of those people who wear full-length PJs in the height of summer. As for loungewear, it’s basically a synonym for glorified PJs / house clothes, isn’t it? Again, I’m a simp for comfort so bury me in sweatpants.
I usually go balls to the wall when it comes to Christmas PJs and I absolutely carry on wearing them all year round. I’ll pick up anything from chich and subtle to full-blown novelty traditional so I’ve picked two options depending on how festive you like to remain whilst you sleep. I’m actually in need of a new pair of slippers and these Oliver Bonas look like I’ll be stepping into a cloud! Also added a hot water bottle because 9 times out of 10 I don’t actually need to turn the heating up I just need a little heat help.
If there’s one thing and one thing only we can take from 2020 (let’s be honest there’s too much we would want to carry over) then the ability to wear loungewear and pyjamas at all times would 100% be it. Considering the amount of time I spend in my comfies I think a more spenny pair is actually justifiable, and these iconic ones from Sleeper are what DREAMS are made of. A more budget-friendly (and realistic purchase) is this striped leggings and top set from Boux Avenue which is giving me 11/10 elf vibes and I love it!
If I could live my entire life in PJs and loungewear I would, actually I basically already do. Loungewear becoming acceptable outerwear was one of the best things to come out of the pandemic as far as I’m concerned. I absolutely love that high street brands like H&M are bringing chic styles in luxe materials at affordable prices, win-win. When it comes to Christmas PJs this year I only have one thing on my mind…how can I get mini-me versions of everything!
I have two whole draws full of Christmas Pyjamas at my house and I’ve just brought some more to add to my collection. Keep the festive spirit going all year round I reckon. For ultimate comfort, I’ll go for a classic long set. The Chelsea Peers ones are sooo soft and fit perfectly. You’ll find me with an extra-large onesie or blanket wrapped around me for the whole of December too. Big fluffy socks and slippy’s and I’m ready for the truck load of mince pies making their way to my mouth.
We Spoke to an Eating Disorder Specialist About Coping With Food at Christmas
For those suffering with an eating disorder or disordered eating in general, Christmas can be more of a testing time than ever for their mental health. We checked in with Emmy Brunner, to learn more about coping with an eating disorder in the run-up to Christmas...
Whilst for many of us the Christmas season and its endless buffet dinners, chocolate boxes and ‘go on just one more’ glasses of mulled wine are a reason to look forward to the festive period, for those suffering with an eating disorder or disordered eating in general, it can be a more testing time than ever for their mental health. Dr Prathiba Chitsabesan, NHS associate clinical director for children and young people’s mental health says –
“Living with an eating disorder is a constant struggle but Christmas can be particularly challenging with an increased focus on food, drink and big get-togethers, while the added pressure of New Year resolutions and the bombardment of weight loss messaging is just around the corner.”
Dr Prathiba Chitsabesan
We checked in with Psychotherapist, Author, Personal Empowerment and Transformation Coach, and Founder of The Recover Clinic, Emmy Brunner, to learn more about coping with an eating disorder in the run-up to Christmas, and gain some invaluable advice for not only making it through this period but also making it as enjoyable as possible. Emmy founded the Soho based Recover Clinic back in 2004, and since then she and her team have treated and worked with thousands of patients to “heal their trauma, eating disorders, anxiety, depression, personality disorders, low self-esteem and other mental health conditions or destructive behaviours, cycles, and patterns.” Here’s what she had to say about taking care of yourself and managing triggering eating disorder behaviours this Christmas…
Those with restrictive eating disorders may feel the need to control their intake before the festive period, whereas those with binge eating tendencies might find it difficult to control their need to overeat in a season so focused on food. How can those behaviours be managed to help an individual feel more in control and less as a victim of their ED?
If you recognise that you’re slipping into destructive behaviours, try to notice them with mindful compassion and reset your focus on being kind to yourself. Emmy Brunner
Be mindful that your ED unwell voice is gearing up to use the holiday as an opportunity to make you harm yourself with food, this could be restricting your food intake or it could be bingeing. Rather than focusing on what you are resisting and trying to battle that internal negative unwell voice, try to shift your focus on things that make you feel good. If you recognise that you’re slipping into destructive behaviours, try to notice them with mindful compassion and reset your focus on being kind to yourself. If you have enjoyed a nice amount of delicious food and drink on Christmas day – do not respond by thinking you should restrict the next day or week. Eat as well as you can every day you are on holiday to prevent binges or other unhelpful behaviours.
If it feels manageable, it may be helpful to adapt your meal plan to include festive foods, rather than only your usual foods. Find out what will be cooked and roughly when in advance. Allow time to talk over the plan with your therapist/nutritionist. Share this plan with someone you trust who will be with you over Christmas so they can help you, and others, stick to it. Be proud that you have been so well prepared!
What are some tangible steps those suffering with an ED can take to make the Christmas period feel a little more manageable?
Focus on maintaining a structure to your food of 3 meals a day and snacks but give yourself permission to eat things that your ED wants to demonise.
Plan ahead for difficult and challenging social situations by making sure you have support in place either before or after. Are you able to text a friend for support or drag a good pal along to something with you? Sometimes we just need someone close to us to know that we’re struggling in order to better cope with a difficult scenario.
Be kind to yourself. This is always the answer to difficult times in life I find. We so often overlook the impact that being a little more patient and compassionate toward ourselves can have. Your ED might not disappear over the holiday season but it doesn’t completely hijack your enjoyment. What else do you love about this season? What’s your favourite movie? Christmas jumper? Game to play? Focus on those things too.
Put in boundaries. Considering what we need at this time of year is so important. If you know that being around certain people or family members is going to be painful and triggering for you then put boundaries in around your exposure to them.
Don’t isolate yourself. The ED loves to isolate people and it’s up to us to gently challenge this. Think about ways of staying connected to people and experiences that you love to keep you from withdrawing and feeling lonely..
How can family and friends support someone struggling with an ED this Christmas?
If you know that Christmas is going to be a challenging time for your loved one then name it and ask THEM what they might need from you. Emmy Brunner
If you know that Christmas is going to be a challenging time for your loved one then name it and ask THEM what they might need from you. So much of what isolates people is the shame that they feel about what they’re struggling with. By naming that you love and care about someone and asking them what you can do to help, you are aligning yourself with them, rather than allowing the ED to separate you both.
For those struggling themselves, know who from your support network will be available, as during the festive period they may have their own plans. This will help you to feel more comfortable reaching out, rather than worrying about disturbing anybody.
Are there any resources or helplines available for those needing support and feeling isolated during the Christmas period itself?
OurReframe and Rise up Facebook group is facilitated by clinicians and coaches and is a great free resource for people that are struggling. You can also read Find Your True Voice which offers you a step by step guide for starting recovery on your own.
Christmas can also be difficult for those in active recovery from their eating disorder. Do you have any helpful affirmations or phrases of encouragement for those challenging their ED’s over Christmas?
Did you know that you are worthy of love and respect because you are a human being and this isn’t based on who you might think you are or how you might have behaved in the past?
Did you know that your ED is a strategy for coping with difficult life events and emotions and that if you develop new ways of coping you will be able to leave your ED behind?
Although it might be impossible for you to imagine recovery, it is possible and you are not the exception.
Useful affirmations: “I accept myself”, “I am safe”, “I am worthy of kindness”.
Eating in front of others is often difficult for those who struggle with food, which is made particularly difficult during the incredibly sociable Christmas period. How can someone manage situations like this which are out of their control?
Give yourself as many positive affirmations as you can before going into these situations. Often our unwell voice will try to control and manage these situations which draws more attention to us, thus increasing our anxiety. Keep reminding yourself that the unwell voice is trying to damage your relationship with yourself and food and wants you to isolate yourself, it’s not a voice you can trust. Consider how you would speak to someone you love in the same scenario and practice speaking the same way toward yourself.
Consider how you would speak to someone you love in the same scenario and practice speaking the same way toward yourself.Emmy Brunner
Using mental rehearsal to prepare can be incredibly useful too, thinking about the different meal and snack options that will be on offer and visualising portion sizes in your mind. This preparation will help you to make recovery-focused choices. If you are worried about eating at different times than usual, remember that you can have a snack or a bigger breakfast to help keep you going. Do not arrive at the dinner table too hungry or feeling faint or hangry – this will only increase your chances of binging or not enjoying a special time with family and friends. Consider viewing the less predictable meal structure at Christmas as practice for your future life as an intuitive and “normal” eater.
Do you have any tips for dealing with insensitive comments from family members regarding food or dieting, especially those from older generations who are typically less aware of the impact ingrained in their perception of food by diet culture?
Be mindful that the unwell voice will focus on insensitive, clumsy or even hurtful comments from people to support the negative narrative that it is telling you about who you are. If you feel yourself being triggered, give yourself permission to excuse yourself and walk away, take some deep breaths and re-engage if you feel comfortable. If you find that certain people don’t respond suitably to your cues or boundaries then ensure that you prioritise your wellbeing above anything else.
If you feel yourself being triggered, give yourself permission to excuse yourself and walk away, take some deep breaths and re-engage if you feel comfortable.Emmy Brunner
One of my favourite tricks for managing tricky or challenging comments from friends or family is to imagine that you are surrounded by a bubble of love. Although these comments might go on, see them bouncing right off you, unable to penetrate your little love bubble. Do your best not to engage in unhelpful chat and be mindful that your eating disorder will try to use scenarios like this to attack and criticise you… see it coming, stay cosy in your bubble and it will pass.
Opening up to those close to you about your eating disorder struggles can be really helpful in forming a close support system during this challenging time. What are some tips for making this conversation feel less intimidating?
Be brave. The unwell voice uses shame to silence and isolate us but vulnerability is a Patronus to shame. The more we talk, the easier it becomes and the less alone and ashamed we feel. Please know that you are not alone and that there are those of us out here who know how you feel, have walked similar paths and can help you to find a way forward.
13 Questions With Laura Mallows Founder of Mallows Beauty
Laura Mallows Laura Mallows founded her viral beauty brand after being inspired to start something that showed real skin, bodies and beauty. No BS and absolutely no filters! Mallows beauty went from 0 to 200K TikTok followers this year but with rapid growth comes a lot of pressure...
First off, how has your 2021 been?
Honestly? Both incredible and really tough. So many amazing things have happened this year, we fell pregnant with our baby girl due to be born in Jan, we opened our first flagship store in Cardiff city centre, launched in all stores at Urban Outfitters and went from 0 to nearly 200K followers on TikTok in under 6 months which has been insane. But also with rapid growth comes so much pressure, especially when you’ve never run a business or do any marketing/finance/logistics so you are learning on the job and have to learn fast. We also have 15 employees now, when this time last year it was only me and Ronnie (my finance). Running a business is a roller coaster, the pressure is intense!
Can you tell us your background before starting Mallows?
I have always been fashion and clothes obsessed, so did a Fashion Design degree at Bath and then after graduating I went to work for Dune as an accessories buyer in London, I absolutely loved buying and designing accessories, however buying for a customer with a totally different taste to you is hard, I loved working on the bright fun pieces, and introduced as much pink as I could get away with, I love that my whole range is pink and fun now! I actually got into skincare as when living in London developed severe acne, and just become obsessed with buying, testing and trying products to try and cure my acne myself, as everything prescribed to me didn’t work, my skin is very sensitive so I ended up with raw burnt skin a lot, which I was so fed up with. I would stay up all night researching ingredients and products, and seeing how they worked on my skin. I ended up finding out over the counter ingredients that worked for me and wanted to put them all into one face mask/product and that’s really how Mallows Beauty was born.
What inspired you to go it alone and start your own brand?
This idea of achieving perfection propelled me into buying more and more products, and I became obsessed and quite unhappy.Laura Mallows
It started by me feeling rubbish about my skin, seeing models online and in magazines with flawless skin that I didn’t have, and no matter how hard I tried, couldn’t achieve. This idea of achieving perfection propelled me into buying more and more products, and I became obsessed and quite unhappy. And then I saw an Instagram post from a model about how her skin really was, that had been edited for a skincare shoot and it made me so angry knowing that the idea of perfection I had built up and chased for so long wasn’t possible.
I wondered how many other people like me had made themselves feel so inadequate due to this, I literally felt like I was dirty, that I couldn’t go out because of my spots or skin texture, when actually I was totally normal. It really affected my mental health and made my anxiety so bad, I would panic before going into meetings thinking everyone would be talking about my face as soon as I left. So I thought there needed to be a brand that was 100% real, real skin, real bodies and real people – with products with actual real results, not just trying to sell something that wasn’t possible.
So many brands say they can shrink pores, when scientifically that just isn’t possible. So Mallows Beauty was born, it is important for me to have positive wording on the packaging that’s going to sit on your shelves, to remind you throughout your day that you are amazing, we also use lots of body-positive imagery on packaging to again remind everyone that you are normal and beautiful! We donate 5% of profits to mental health charities, and 100% never ever edit any photos, I love it when models flaunt their spots, cellulite etc as that’s what we are all about.
We are human and want to celebrate normality, and break down the idea that perfect is real because it’s not.Laura Mallows
We are human and want to celebrate normality, and break down the idea that perfect is real because it’s not. It was SO daunting quitting my full-time job, getting a huge loan and starting the company but I had amazing support from my family and fiancé, who within 2 months had to leave his job to join me. He really believed in me from even before I had the idea, he was always saying you should set up a company, and gave me confidence when I was doubting myself! I actually had to begin by maxing out my mum & dad’s credit cards to buy stock, before I could get a loan to prove to the bank my idea had merit! It was so scary, but so exciting when it all came together!
How do you describe Mallows Beauty to new customers and what is your mission statement?
We are the ultimate destination for self-love and we aim to make you glow, inside and out. We are all about the real; real skin, real bodies, real people, and products with real results. All my products are vegan, made in the UK and we donate 5% of profits to mental health charities. Self-love, inclusivity, body and skin positivity is woven into everything we do as a brand, it’s not just a campaign we are running to tick a box, it is everything we are about, our foundations and our goal as a brand, to encourage everyone to love themselves for who they are.
What’s the process like for creating a new product?
I am a massive perfectionist and don’t want anything with my name on that I am not 100% proud of and obsessed with myself. Laura Mallows
It’s probably my favourite part and the thing I do best, I love looking around for inspiration and then making that product come to life. I get so nervous about product launches as products are all my ideas, so if they fail it’s totally on me. Skincare and beauty products take a long time to develop, especially due to all the testing which can take a minimum of 3-6 months. I am also a massive perfectionist and don’t want anything with my name on that I am not 100% proud of and obsessed with myself. I start by doing lots of research, usually wanting something that I can’t buy and then decide to create it. I then brief suppliers and work with them to get sampling right until I am happy with the product. I test everything on myself – I always say I am the only guinea pig we use. Now we have a full team, I do make sure everyone tests the products too, as sure enough they will spot something I haven’t and it just makes for a stronger range!
What do you use the most from all your products, any holy grails?
Toughie, as before becoming pregnant I would use my pineapple enzyme peel mask religiously, it was the only thing that kept my breakouts under control and helped my scarring, but I can’t use it now I’m pregnant (and why I started to develop a pregnancy range for mama’s to be)! Now I am obsessed with my body butters, watermelon is my fave (I am watermelon obsessed) and my watermelon body scrub, I haven’t got one stretch mark and I am putting it down to using these two! 😊
What have some of the challenges been whilst creating products and running your own business?
If I am honest, cash. I run Mallows Beauty alongside my fiancé and business partner Ronnie, we have funded Mallows beauty 100% ourselves through lots of different loans and reinvesting everything back into the business, we actually haven’t paid ourselves for the past 18 months! So we have to be very careful about which products to launch as the risk is on us and we have a limited pot of cash to use. I feel like that is the only thing that holds us back, otherwise, we could have a huge range and use loads of influencers to promote. But we have to be very selective and very careful about where we spend our money – small business issues! Both of us aren’t from a finance background either, so managing cash flow has been one of the toughest things, especially as the company has grown so rapidly.
We are so determined to make a hugely successful company, and it’s so amazing to share the pressure. Having him alongside me really is amazing, I wouldn’t want to do it without him.Laura Mallows
Also when running your own business you have to wear so many hats, that you don’t have experience in, so you have to learn on the job quickly and make mistakes but ensure they aren’t detrimental. It’s been a huge learning curve, however, I am so lucky to be able to do this with my best friend, fiancé, baby daddy – we are both such hard workers, and push each other. We are so determined to make a hugely successful company, and it’s so amazing to share the pressure. We can have a tough day and the other one knows exactly what’s going on, and how to support, some times have a little cry together or dance around the kitchen because we’ve achieved something we have been working on for ages. Having him alongside me really is amazing, I wouldn’t want to do it without him.
How much of your growth do you owe to social media marketing, especially TikTok? (which is brilliant by the way!)
Aw thank you! A huge amount!! It is really what has made us so successful, especially TikTok, we get most of our sales from TikTok. It’s incredible as you can post one video, it goes viral and then you get 100’s of orders. You just reach a new audience all the time, which you don’t get with Instagram or other social media channels really. However, my IG following is really dedicated, loyal and supportive. I honestly feel so lucky to have such amazing followers, business can be so tough, and I have had some really hard weeks and my lovely followers have kept me going, boosted me when I’ve needed it most!
What’s next for Mallows Beauty?!
So much! We are launching with a super exciting retailer this month, which I am planning on spilling the beans on during my takeover. We have so many new ranges in the works like my pregnancy range, cleansers, face moisturisers, hair masks – so the full 360 beauty experience! We are also planning on launching 5 more stores next year around the UK, so watch this space!! 😊
What does your perfect weekend look like?
To be honest, it might sound boring but a really chilled one as my life is so full-on and hectic, and I work too much. So me and Ronnie love to have a ‘lock-in’ in where I switch off my phone, movies snuggled up on the sofa, and lots of food…I LOVE food. So pizza, baked cookie doughs and a roast dinner on Sunday. And then have long walks on the beach with Artie, especially in winter with a big coat on. YUM.
What do you always carry with you?
Not sure if this counts but Artie, who is a cavapoo but thinks he is human. He literally comes with me everywhere I go, even to external meetings – the best perk of working for yourself!
What would your last ever meal be?
Large Dominos pizza (all for me, no sharing) – half margarita, half chicken with veggies, stuffed crust of course. Aaand my mum’s home-baked scones for dessert, probably followed by some carrot cake (my pregnancy obsession).
What is one positive piece of advice you could give to our audience?
Know your worth and don’t tear yourself down. We are all programmed to criticize ourselves to push ourselves forward, but complimenting yourself and focusing on your strengths will have the same impact. I spent too long in my life hating myself, and it got me nowhere.
Laura Mallows
Start by giving yourself a cheeky compliment everyday and build it up, focus on what makes you, you. There is only one of you and you are incredible. You need to be your own cheerleader, not your worst enemy. Believe and love yourself, you’re wasting your life if you are spending it hating yourself.
