How Do You Naya: Style Expert Bridgette Raes
Bridgette Raes is the founder of Bridgette Raes Style Group and author of Style Rx: Dressing the Body You Have to Create the Body You Want. We were lucky enough to catch up with this busy fashionista to find out how she renews her body and soul.
How do you like to relax?
I workout five days a week which makes a huge difference on how I handle my day and how relaxed I am. Also, avoiding too much caffeine and sugary foods makes me feel less jittery and more centered. I am a bit of a homebody so nothing relaxes me more than just being at home after work with my husband and two cats, Clementine and Titus. Sometimes when I am really stressed or need to relax, stopping and petting my cats, who never seem to have a care in the world, gives me a moment to catch my breath, slow down and be present.
How do you help soften your footprint on our earth?
Of course I recycle and avoid using disposable paper products like paper plates and paper napkins. I also choose more natural beauty products that have less of a harmful impact on the environment. Jojoba oil is one of my favorite moisturizers and I love Rahua’s natural haircare products that were created by my former hairstylist of 15 years.
Sleep is a huge part of renewing your mind body and soul. What is your routine before going to sleep each night? Any tips on how to sleep soundly?
I try to keep my evenings as low key as possible. I don’t watch the news at night or anything else that will get my mind stirring. I also swear by a sleeping mask which works wonders for helping me sleep well. I try to get to bed no later than 11:30pm and use a sleep app on my iPhone to track the quality of sleep I’m getting. Another thing I do is kick my husband on to the couch if his snoring gets to be too loud!
What is your favorite drink to help you relax?
Probably Valerian tea. It smells awful but it really works! A glass of wine from time to time helps too, of course.
Do you have a favorite song that helps you renew yourself?
There are so many but the first one that comes to mind is “Feeling Good” by Nina Simone.
Do you participate in any outdoor activities that renew your mind, body or spirit?
I’ve never been much of an outdoorsy person but I do see the importance of getting outdoors even for a little while, especially considering I work from home and it would be easy to never see sunshine. One thing I love to do is go to the park around the corner a few days a week. My daily routine is to get a large iced tea, or a hot cup of tea if it is cool, and sit in the park and people watch, read or just enjoy the trees.
What is your favorite Naya shoe and why?
The shoe I lived in all summer was the Eternal Wedge in Bright Yellow. As a style expert who is on their feet a lot, my struggle was always finding stylish shoes that were comfortable. The Eternal Wedge was my go-to shoe because I could be on my feet all day without pain! I literally walked over a mile one day in them and never felt a bit of discomfort. My favorite fall shoe is the Gazelle boot in Banana Bread. Once the cold weather hits, I don’t wear anything but boots and how can you not love these boots? They work perfectly for my stylishly casual lifestyle.
Hey guys! Thanks for featuring me! I am such a fan of your shoes and it was a lot of fun!