Pajamas and the idea of pajamas alone has always ignited a thing or two in me. The word pajamas itself turns on a small light bulb inside my head and it’s, always, accompanied by a cool finger gun, every time I hear it or it comes to my mind.
Pajamas imply a certain sort of mood. One never wears pajamas in a place one doesn’t like, metaphorically rather than literally speaking. Although one might want to wear one’s favourite pajamas precisely when the circumstances are not idilic, and decides on feeling great anyway, and, hence, wears the pajamas to be in the mood that one knows pajamas have the power to put one in. When one really likes the way one feels in a specific environment, like home, then it’s even more so. It is the greatest, however, when you wear the pajamas you, usually, wear at home somewhere you don’t even feel like sleeping. You are that excited! Eventually, you do fall asleep, so calmly, and dream beautifully! Somewhere, yes, that too, but when it’s with someone you really like – should we say love? Definitely! – then you’re in for a rollercoaster ride. Can you hear the fireworks?
Chris Rock, once, said I say everything’s about the company, on Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. A gourmet meal with an asshole is a horrible meal. A hot dog with an interesting person is an amazing meal. When it’s both a gourmet meal and an interesting person, then home is home wherever and the pajamas are a mere bridge towards intimacy. Obviously, the pajamas are not mandatory for the intimacy to arise, but once the pajamas are on, you are on! All buckled up. Pajamas, intimacy, tomato, tomato. Real intimacy is rare, but so are fabulous pajamas. It leads to connection. A connection in fabulous pajamas… Thcin-tchin to that!
This is where the question how much of ourselves do we allow people to see? comes in. I believe in the more, the better, but is it too much for many people? When you’re in the presence of someone who’s really themselves, it’s infectious, you like it, for sure. And you either hop on the rollercoaster, keep up, watch the fireworks together with someone who’s really themselves and remember that you are really yourself, too, hello! Or. No, no, no. You trick yourself into believing that rollercoasters are not your thing and you watch the fireworks from afar, fear tells you to do so, and, on top of it, you hurt the people on the rollercoaster, instead.
But the thing about a rollercoaster is that, drumroll, no one can touch you when you’re on one and no one can stop the fireworks from lighting up the sky.
Getting on a rollercoaster implies both discipline and love – invariably – for the journey to the destination. Same with working out. I’m not its biggest fan, but of its effect it is possible that I am, yes, I would have said in the past. I’m actually enjoying it now. It’s just mandatory for me to love the activity, no pressure. That’s why I adore dancing. And oxytocin. Sunshine on my face. Air. Discipline comes with persistence and responsibility. And we thought we were only hopping on a rollercoaster here.
Oh, but when you hop on one and you feel not only the adrenaline, but the endorphins, also, oxytocin in the best kind of movies, you know what I mean, freedom from the heart grabs you by the hand and says Come on. You feel like Batman when you get off the rollercoaster and the feeling stays with you for the whole day and night. Not necessarily screaming at the top of your lungs or laughing uncontrollably out loud, but something very similar to it. Similar to the seconds you’re suspended in the air. Air. Similar.
By the way, do you know where bats live on this planet? In the Maldives. Not bad, huh? I saw them with my own eyes, a year ago, flying so beautifully and peacefully, day and night, everywhere around their home, the jungle. No one had ever mentioned bats when talking about the Maldives and I hadn’t seen or heard about anything bats related in movies, music or books.
Fun fact! On the flight from Istanbul to Male, it was – drum roll – Batman that I chose to watch. Of all the movies in the world! And I thought I was only choosing a movie. Tim Burton’s ’89 Batman.
Who would’ve thought that it is the Maldives where Batman lives, on this planet? Maldives look and feel like the opposite of everything Gotham looks and feels like. There is pleasure in doing something you love. Or living somewhere you love. Or both, oh.
We all know what Batman’s mission is. Passion draws you to do something and you don’t even wonder why you do the thing. It just does and you just do it. Passion puts you on the journey towards your mission. The journey makes you kind and the more aware of the journey you are, the better the world becomes. It’s only natural.
The pleasure I slip into gets me to explore creativity in whatever sparks the most in the moment. Writing this, right now, is part of my journey. You reading this is part of yours. A wave comes and gently carries us away into dancing. Into singing at the top of my lungs when I don’t drive, am in the passenger’s seat and the driver widely opens their eyes, but is, by second ten, in the mix, and we have a moment, we laugh, I even pass the mic and we, completely, forget about the world. These moments happen when they happen or they just don’t, newsflash. Oh, but when they do and I’m driving and am alone in the car or with someone who doesn’t get scared when the Gaga in me takes over!
A moment as such comes to mind. Some friends and I were coming home, from a long weekend in Istanbul, one late September, many years ago. I’m driving. Alex and Andreea are sleeping in the back. Bogdan, in the passenger seat, seems to worry, a tiny bit, about my relaxed gig. This rhymes and Bogdan, gradually, forgets about the world. The car I’ve had a relationship based on chemistry with, for a very long time, has no new technology whatsoever, so music is consumed in an old school way. I still love CDs. The Pulp Fiction soundtrack is in and we sing and dance with no clue of the memory this moment would, eventually, turn into. Rhyming again? We are free. Bogdan, I will make you read this or maybe you’ll read this yourself and you’ll wink at me when you’ll send me the video of us enjoying the ride like there’s no tomorrow. I know you will find it.
Singing at the top of my lungs, but on the inside, somewhere on another planet, in the car, with the fam, but in the backseat, was something I did, very often, as a child. Actually, I used to sit on the small hill of the car floor, right between the four seats of the car, in the centre of the car, you know the place? I could see more from there and have easy access to the radio and CD player. A particular moment has, forever, stuck with me.
It was during a family road trip to the South of France, in the summer of the year 2000, that I heard Baz Luhrmann’s Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen), for the first time. We were in the capital of Andorra, because why not go to Barcelona, too? It was there and then that my dad, mom, brother and I drove, together, for the first time ever, in the same car, into McDonald’s, at night, and, actually, ordered stuff. We never had fast food at home or outside of it really, I even used to sing the song in the commercial, every time we passed by it, and nada. The thrill of an innocent McDonald’s, from time to time, is still very much in me and my mind still throws a little party whenever I get to share one with someone fun. Same with whenever I hear sunscreen or Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen).
It was a beautiful Tuesday, let’s say, morning in Andorra La Vella. The light coming through the narrow streets right through our windows, the warmth, the love and this particular song — of all the songs in the world — on the radio, have all, ever since, remained in a corner of my heart. I remember being excited both for the trip and for the life ahead of me. Somehow, right then and there, those lyrics did something to me. It’s the little things that really shape you up. My values, rather than beliefs, from back then, are still my values, rather than beliefs. The core. Hardcore. Softcore.
I’m very fortunate and grateful to have grown up doing the things I liked, whether it’s hobbies or jobs we’re talking about. I enjoy keeping my spirit and interest up. I love to write, so I wanted to be the best at it, in school. For it. I love hair, so I work on understanding it. I love adrenaline, so I worked in television, did window styling. I love fashion design, so I worked with a fashion designer. I love style and style is in anything, really, so I’m in awe of it, all the time. I love home, so I had the most fun making my home my home. I’m always looking for inspiration and, therefore, there’s no time for bulls*it. I just know that, no matter what I do, I love. I put a tiny bit of my soul into it. Or a lot. Or it all, as romantic as I have imagined it, let’s say. Family, relationships, best friends, the relationship I have with myself.
I love to go with the flow, fight for what I believe in, do my best to be the change I want to see in the world, laugh at myself, take a break that feels like heaven, get comfortable with not knowing all the time. Sometimes, the answers — surprise — come to us when we least expect them to. At other times, they’re right in front of our eyes, ooh.
Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo and Juliet is, still, one of my all time favourite movies. The mix of so many things I liked in it twisted my brain, at 11, in such a beautiful manner that I knew I wanted to be part of something fascinating for the love of it, participate, in any way that feels natural and sparkling, in the creation of it, bring more fascination into the world. La La Land is playing, for the 20th time, in the background, as I’m writing this. Thank God I’m out of the loop where lovers don’t end up together, I play forever, as Jay-Z puts it. La La Land turns off when the tone of the music changes. Managing the enormous amount of empathy was the key to letting the flow of romcoms with happy ending fill my home: Notting Hill, The Holiday, No Strings Attached, Burnt, The Notebook, Something’s Gotta Give, What Happens in Vegas, The Mirror Has Two Faces, Crazy Stupid Love, Wedding Crashers, How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days etc.
It’s been a rollercoaster ride with dreams coming true, dreams flying out the window, people entering my life, people leaving my life, hurt, but oh, loads of bliss to remember forever, major contracts I had to say no to, heal, sparks of love throughout, Vogue. I wouldn’t be here (here, here) if it weren’t for them all ideas about anything, from feelings to relationships, to meanings, to creativity, to calmness, to craziness, to originality, to design, to shows, to cover letters, to letters, to lyrics, to melodies, to films, to studying and to them all intertwining.
The Fireworks & Rollercoasters capsule pajamas collection is the fourth fashion collection I made and the story of it just flows. It was during the time I was working on a huge project – that never happened, but this is how life just knows better – that I saw this ivory fabric. It was in a warehouse – researching the s*it out of everything – that the idea of what to make of it came. Pajamas. Fabulous pajamas. Being a sensation based, instinct driven human being helps. Pajamas that make you feel fabulous the instant you put the pajamas on and look in the mirror. I tried it, on several occasions, and it works! At home or on a groovy trip with a best friend.
Or at your neighbour’s 1 a.m. gather together. I was at home, in my bed, doing something on my laptop, one Saturday evening, when I replied to my neighbour’s message to come over with Ok, but I’m coming as I am, in my pajamas. The moment I entered his house, another friend said Yeah, well, she says she’s only wearing her pajamas and then she comes looking like this. It felt good. The only thing I did, however, about my “look”, was that I’d taken a long bath, prior to getting in bed and doing something on my laptop. So, my hair looked good and the no. 3 + no. 4 below sparked. I believe it’s all about the mood, however, the attitude.
- F*ck Yeah Robe (Getting out of the bathroom before getting into bed, at night, or out of the bed and into the bathroom, in the morning)
- Mhm Dress (I’m officially… In bed. Or. Awake)
- I’m On It (Wouldn’t it be nice to always fall asleep with this thought? And then wake up in it, also?) Blouse
- You Bet I’m On It (Wouldn’t it be nice to always fall asleep with this thought? And then wake up in it, also?) Trousers
- I’m On It And I’m In This House In The Bahamas (Anytime) Blouse
- I’m On It And You Bet I’m In This House In The Bahamas (You Bet Anytime) Trousers
- Hey Panties
- Arrivederci Mask
A friend, once, told me that “I can be so easily impressed”. The problem is, in fact, that I can’t. I’m in awe of the little things, but it’s the sixth sense that sweeps me off my feet. Makes me fly. I only found it all out myself the moment I, totally unfiltered, impulsively, opened my mouth and calmly replied. Impressing has never really been my thing, it can, very easily, be mistaken for the truth, but you know how these type of friends are, called ex-boyfriends. Who cares about impressing when sharpening the senses is so much fun?
And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course. On love, The Prophet, Kahlil Gibran
I hadn’t met Oana, yet. She took most of the pictures of the collection. I thought about contacting her to help me get what I wanted from the shoot the moment I saw the four pictures shot by her, on my neighbour’s wall, and thought Hm, interesting. I hadn’t, at all, thought about the fact that she hadn’t, in fact, been on a shoot before. I only cared about the passion. We talked on the phone, a lot, and I told her about my vision. The reference I gave Oana was Franca: Chaos and Creation (2016), the documentary. Franca Sozzani is one of my heroes and this is how I introduced Oana into this world I’ve been virtually in, since forever. She got the point I wanted, with pleasure, to hit. Everything took place at home, I knew exactly the angles I wanted the pictures to be taken from. The shoot morphed into an ode to home.
A friend, passionate about photography himself, came and took a few more shots. The neighbour came, too, and boom, it felt real; friends, fun vibes and a whole lot of dedication.
I wanted the pajamas to make you feel at home, no matter where you are. Home makes you shine just as much as the space does, I dare to dream. When you are in the pajamas and about to go to bed at night, or about to make the most delicious, simple breakfast in the morning, or about to whatever it is you want to do, ladies, please watch and listen to Beyoncé’s Halo (Live From Wynn Las Vegas).
This is the next level of writing — with music and a movie playing, at once. I, almost all the time, listen to music, music that I love. The critical moment in the movie has just come, La La Land, remember, I stop it and, luckily, this is how I come across a live performance. I’m a fan of live amazing things. Live, read differently, means to live and I adore how the magic of whatever this is that is happening here is happening. A live performance, read and spelled differently, is alive and alive is… Everything. I believe in everything connecting just as much as I believe in a connection. I haven’t seen the performance, in a while, and there was a time when I was obsessed with it and, now, I know why. I’ve just watched it four times and I couldn’t help not to watch the second half of it one more time. I like the gravity thing. The can’t get enough of thing. So, what I wish for you, ladies, each time you get into these pajamas, is to feel exactly what this video makes you feel when you stand up, in front of the screen, and, without even realising, dance.
And, so, we don’t just go to bed, we have a party first. Hm, a good state to fall asleep in.
Or dream.
It’s a whole thing with this collection. It’s meant to only be made by the seamstress I’ve been working with for many years, because the process of making the Fireworks & Rollercoasters in large amounts, within a factory, never happened either, but this is how life just knows better x2.
The fabric is limited, we can only make a couple dozens of sets, but that’s what I came to like a lot about it. That and the story behind it. The fabric was only made once, it’s from a warehouse that saves gorgeous fabrics from factories that dispose them around the world, so no one really thinks of buying them for business. No one except me, it seems. Limited edition, I must’ve said to myself, at the time. I was excited to save it, buy it all and have the idea of what to do with it, all at once, in the moment. To make something out of it that would make someone else happy, too. And forget about business.
What I later found out was something that fascinated me even more. Most people told me I should be scared of it. Most people would have not made pajamas out of it, but I only thought of pajamas as soon as I saw it. The fabric has two sides and is only paper crisp once. I chose the 50% cotton side for the cozy feel on the inside and the 50% silk side for the fabulous effect on the outside. This combination creases in a way that I absolutely love. Why? It becomes your own and nobody else’s. It becomes about you, how you deal with it, how you take care of it, how you wear it, how you choose to feel and the memories you gather in it. I’m sure that no two Fireworks & Rollercoasters pajamas out there look alike and there’s something that I really like about that. Every piece of it becomes unique, just like guess who is!
It’s important to find the pajamas you feel your very best in, undress and feel the same, better, in your own skin. This is where the finger gun comes in and the finger gun is pointing at you. Ideally, it’s that special someone, in the rollercoaster with you, finger gunning back at you. Did you think this is about the pajamas only? Since we’re on a rollercoaster, anyway…
You know what it feels like when you knock your fist with intense surprise against the kitchen counter as soon as you take a bite of something and feel instant pleasure that keeps on growing, completely takes over your body and mind, you close your eyes and when you open them, you feel like you’ve just traveled into space or had an orgasm? In sync climaxing is just as cool as sharing the bite of the aforementioned something. Is life spectacular or what?. It’s like a dream. Now scream. Screaaaaaam.
Now, get in your pajamas. Or out of them. Wink!
Dear men, and women, let a girl breathe for a second and enjoy the joy after an orgasm. Or don’t, but do it as she does it. You know how she does it. Like a cat. Wait, who needs to worry about that when it’s in sync that we’re talking about?
Christmas
brings us together
just like a miracle can do.
Intimate, over the dinner table,
yet connecting us together,
as a human kind,
on the most lush planet in the universe,
is what we, from the world of Oz, mean even more.
It snows here and the music is playing throughout.
While toasting to health and happiness, we can see you and us saying ‘thank you’, looking into each other’s eyes
and living completely in the present moment.
Present also stands for gift.
Gift also stands for talent and we’re all gifted.
Isn’t that magical?
We know what Christmas day feels like and
if you know someone who doesn’t, let’s help them to.
Shakespeare said that ‘journeys end in lovers meeting’.
We believe that ‘journeys are lit up by fireworks in lovers meeting’
and dare to dream that Shakespeare might actually like it now,
four hundred years later.
What do you believe in?
This might not be the card you would have expected for Christmas, yet we wish you to enjoy the unexpected
and see your dreams coming true in 2022. It rhymes.
Life looks a lot like poetry and poetry is forever.
Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!
For order or to say Hi! or both, write to oz@ozinparis.com.