New Bathleisure Brand Lady Lay Is Redesigning Every Lazy Mom's Uniform
Photos: Courtesy of Lady Lay
When was it collectively decided that our chilling-at-home uniform meant pairing an oversized logo tee (you know, the one that came in that free swag bag) with frumpy black sweatpants? While there's absolutely nothing wrong with lounging comfortably in your casa, not every time-pressed mama wants to bolt out of the house — or answer the door for UPS, for that matter — wearing the staying-in t-shirt they've had since college. (It's okay, we've all done it.)
If you're a self-described lazy mom who still wants to look like a stylish couch potato, then new "bathleisure" brand Lady/Lay is here for you. Named after Bob Dylan's iconic "Lay Lady Lay" song, the just-launched label ($30 to $220) is comprised of effortless pieces that you can wear straight from rolling out of bed and out the door: Think luxe French terry trench bathrobes that you can slip into right after showering, a relaxed ribbed tee and shorts set that you wouldn't mind wearing to the grocery store, and super-soft joggers that are actually office appropriate (depending on your shoes, obvi), among other standouts.
The LA-based brand was founded by Fashion Mamas LA member and creative director Jenny Der and designer/stylist Amy Anisgarten, who met while working together at an activewear brand and bonded over their desire for chic loungewear. Here, we sat down with Der to find out how she went from fashion copywriting to creating a new brand, how multi-tasking women inspire the designs, what her typical non-lounging days look like, and the stylish actress-turned-wellness guru she envisions wearing Lady/Lay's cool mom pieces. (Can you guess?) Get to know her brand's story and read on below for more.
What's the name and age of your little one?
My daughter's name is Emerson and she's 2 and a half.
Tell us more about your career journey: What led you to where you are today?
I started out as a fashion copywriter for brands like BCBG, Planet Blue, and Alo Yoga, but I also dipped my toes into a little bit of everything from styling and content creation to social media and public relations. All of that experience definitely led me and prepared me for where I am today. I had always wanted to start something, but it was just never the right time. The stars aligned when I met my business partner, Amy, and we just made it happen!
How did you and Amy meet and what was the moment that inspired you to create Lady Lay?
Amy and I worked together and quickly became amazing friends. We got on the subject of what we wanted for our future, and both really wanted to create something that we were passionate about and have the ability to be our own bosses. The idea started with the Trench Bathrobe and we built the entire line around that piece and the 'bathleisure' concept. We thought of the name, figured out how to take our designs and turn them into samples and final products, made a site and now we're here!
What were your previous experiences with loungewear that convinced you to start your own collection?
I'm an avid lounger and was always looking for pieces that were comfortable but still looked cute (especially now that I'm a mom). I want to be able to get out of bed, run some errands and have friends over without having to change. Plus, even though I've been married to my husband for a million years, I still want to look good even when we're just sitting on the couch watching a movie.
Who did you have in mind when designing the line?
We're inspired by all women! Women get shit done: We're working, we're moms, wives and friends, we're multi-tasking machines. We wanted to create a line that spoke to the modern woman and make it easy for her to be comfy and cute at the same time. We always secretly imagine Gwyneth Paltrow in our wears because she's so chic and natural, never overdone (and she literally does it all)!
What specifically inspired you to choose terry as the main fabric?
We chose terry for our bathrobes because we wanted women to be able to throw them on straight after the shower. We used a super soft French terry fabric (velour on the outside, terry on the inside) for our Trench Bathrobe so it's super wearable even outside of the house. We're coming out with a couple more robes for summer in a lighter but still ultra soft terry fabric, too!
What piece are you currently living in right now?
I am seriously living in our Ready Set right now. I alternate between all the colors and wear it to bed and all weekend long. I'll also wear the top with my high-waisted pants or leggings and the shorts with a blazer and flats to dress them up.
What does a typical day in your life look like when you're not lounging at home?
Sometimes I'll set my alarm early to work out and shower before my daughter wakes up or I'll stay in bed until I hear calling "mama, mama" at 7:15am (seriously, it's like clock work). We'll hang out on the couch, eat breakfast and spend some time together until I realize there's only 20 minutes until we have to leave for daycare and it's a mad rush 'til we're out the door. Then it's work work work all day long until I pick her up from daycare. Night usually goes dinner, bath, bedtime for my daughter then either work some more or watch Homeland (I know we're late to the game). Either way, a glass of wine is usually involved!
How has motherhood inspired your brand and your approach to business?
Oh, I feel like it has changed everything! I am so motivated to create something amazing and also show my daughter that she can do anything she sets her mind to. I also feel like it's super important to design with working mamas in mind — we do so much all the time and need clothes that are ultra cozy and make us feel amazing whether we're running after our kids or running into that cute neighbor guy (sorry, husband)!
Follow Lady Lay at @ladylaycollection and shop online here.