Wednesday, August 12, 2015

ALAS | a spring PJ giveaway


this is a sponsored post

I've spent a lot of time in my pyjamas over the past few months so I consider myself an expert on all things sleepwear, ironic considering sleep is in short supply. Alas, I love to don a lovely set of PJs come dusk and I'm in them till just before we have to leave for school drop-off the next morning. Come the weekend I fully embrace late PJ mornings peppered with coffee and, if I'm feeling particularly indulgent, croissants.




The first few weeks of my babymoon were spent in a button-up PJ set from organic sleepwear company ALAS; an acronym for All Light All Shadow. To say those pyjamas bring back memories is an understatement; they feature in most of my photos with newborn Percy.

Betony, one-part of the design duo, believes that nature is the greatest inspiration for creativity. "All Light All Shadow references the phases of the moon as well as the play between night and day, light and dark, sleeping and waking. We are constantly fascinated by the natural world, its transience, fragility and beauty. We look to the sky and the earth and all the intricacies in between for inspiration," she says.

Colour plays a big part in ALAS' current collection, mostly because it makes Betony and design partner Kelly, happy. Most designs start as drawings or paintings and sometimes independent artists contribute to the design process before printing begins in India. All the dyes and fabrics used in each ALAS collection are organic and free from chemicals but as Betony says, beautiful design has and always will be their priority. "We feel that there is no point in creating something ethical and sustainable if it's not also interesting aesthetically. We hope that our customers are drawn to the prints, colours and garment shapes and that discovering our dedication to ethical fashion is simply the cherry on top."

Betony and Kelly work from their light-filled studio in Kelly's home. They're on the cusp of outgrowing the space but enjoy the day-to-day rhythms they have created as designers and businesswomen. Each garment they design is made from organic cotton, a breathable natural fabric and the perfect choice for a settled night's sleep. They're currently anticipating the arrival of their vivid summer range and have plans in the pipeline for an on-trend yoga collection in the near future (I can't wait!).

I was lucky enough to receive a Petal Pyjama Set from the girls as a sweet it's-almost-spring gift. I love the classic cut, piping detail and super soft cotton sateen as well as the button-down top (perfect for all-night-long breastfeeding). ALAS are giving away this gorgeous floral set to one lucky reader. Simply leave a comment telling us what your ideal PJs are. The comment that resonates most, wins. Competition closes Wednesday 19th August at 5pm and the winner will be announced shortly afterward. Open to international readers. Good luck!

If giveaways aren't your thing, ALAS are offering 10% off storewide with the code SIMPLICITY (valid till August 31st). With Father's Day coming up you might like to take advantage of the stylish and super comfy men's range (Daniel highly recommends the Navy Fleece Pants).

Comments closed. The winner is Lady User - congratulations! Email your address to me at jodiclairewilson @ yahoo.com.au


38 COMMENTS

  1. Ohhh button front pjs!!! My ideal pjs would be the softest and snuggliest ones freshly dried by rays of warm sunshine -c'mon Spring! Although the amount of actual sleeping in pjs here is also much less than the wearing! They're lovely! Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  2. Gosh I love pyjamas and especially button up top ones. I wear my pjs until they fall apart. My partner calls them my old man pjs. In fact I used to buy small men pjs when I was a teenager because I didn't like any of the girl/women pjs around. Plus, as you said in your post, they're super useful for breastfeeding. Thank goodness companies are making much more stylish man style pjs for women otherwise I'd still be buying mens!

    ReplyDelete
  3. These are just perfect for my nursing self! At the moment I tend to wear a nursing bra and whatever bottoms I find myself in at the end of the day (can I get an amen for being a new mom? Ha!) my mom has always worn button up PJ's and I just think they're so classy! My ideal PJ's are ones that I don't feel like I have to get out of (or cover up) before going to the kitchen to make breakfast. They're comfortable and light. Best of all, they just make me feel goooood, if ya know what I mean!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Jodi! Love your photographs and style of writing I always get inspired by them both! My ideal pyjamas: When I was about 11 my Oma gave my mother a few metres of the most beautiful soft cotton floral fabric. She'd had it in her cupboard for years, and had no use for it so it was passed to my mother for her to fashion a new pair of summer pyjamas for me. The result when my crafty and talented mother was finished was a pair of bloomers with a matching loose top decorated with a lovely neck of lace and to my delight little flower shaped buttons. I wore them until they were so thin they were see-through, had rips all over the place, and the elastic stretched beyond return. I've never stopped searching for pyjamas just like those, and even now I still have the top which my little cousin Audrey wears as a dress while pretending to ballet dance. I think what makes a good pair of pyjamas, an ideal pair of pyjamas, are pyjamas that both feel like a second a skin and so comfortable you barely think about what you have on while simultaneously making you feel so royal and delicate- like an elegant princess lounging about the house. Those pyjamas were exactly that and still are, they still have the power to make my little cousin feel like the most beautiful ballerina, and whenever I dig them out I remember how special they were indeed to me. That in essence is what makes the perfect pair of pyjamas: eternally comfortable and elegant. Eloise :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. These are adorable! There is nothing like putting on a matching set of pjs! My idea of a perfect pj is soft, a print that I fall in love with everytime I get a glimpse of it, loose enough fit where my hands are able to be tucked in if I'm cold- but well fitted where I don't look like a saggy elephant. I also love a good pocket- just because I always tend to wear them way past sleep time and need a place to tuck my phone ;) thank you for this opportunity!

    ReplyDelete
  6. My ideal pyjamas.....something that cuts a dash when I'm caught putting out the bins at daybreak! That petal design is soooooo pretty.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Nothing better than beautiful button up pj's! Practical for nursing (currently nursing 3 month old baby girl no.2-her name is Anaïs and she is pure chubby perfection). Perfect thing for making you feel elegantly refined while going about your morning routine,, even in your most chaotic absent mindedness. And a dream to put on at the end of the day, slip into clean, crisp linen sheets, and quietly drift of into happy slumber. But most of all, they remind me of my mum and all the wonderful memories and traditions of my childhood.

    ReplyDelete
  8. These are gorgeous. I've been wearing (barely) a series of tees and nursing tanks feeding my third (YES, the third is JOY, despite the all night things). Would love some pretty new pjs

    ReplyDelete
  9. I hear you! I spend A LOT of time in bed clothes these days. My little love is three months old. My intention was to go shopping for some pajamas before she was born. Somehow that didn't happen and I think these days my money would be much better spent on clothes that actually fit! My perfect pajamas would have buttons (for night time breastfeeding which my little love wants to do hourly at the moment,) be nice material and a pretty pattern- pretty much the pajamas featured! My current pajamas are hand me downs from my sister and are about ten years old! Love your blog by the way :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. They've gotta be soft! I love buttons too and piping if I can have it all!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Nothing beats a good pair of jammies that you can wear all morning! My current faves are rather old and shabby but I'm loathe to stop using them because they are now at a perfect level of softness! Those flowery ones are so beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  12. There is nothing better than a nice pair of pjs that you can lounge away a day in when you take a special day for yourself (at last) when you stop and smell the roses, have that extra bit of chocolate and let the chips fall where they may!!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. There is nothing better than a nice pair of pjs that you can lounge away a day in when you take a special day for yourself (at last) when you stop and smell the roses, have that extra bit of chocolate and let the chips fall where they may!!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. My ideal PJs are comfy, and breathable. They have a pattern that inspires and relaxes. They keep my body company during bedtime snuggles, midnight moonlight, and sunrise tea at the dining table. Ideal PJs are luxurious but practical - because even my sleeping body deserves something beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I wear pjs all the time. For example, once I get home ! work I automatically change into my PJs. PJs are so comfy and I am all about comfort. I love the top and short sat in the warm more months and then a long sleeve top and pants in the colder months. Regardless they have to have a cute print or pattern because I'm wearing it all the time!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I lvoe pyjamas that are comfy yet still make you look good - I still like to look cute in bed and these look perfect for the job!

    ReplyDelete
  17. I love PJs that are comfy and cute (and could MAYBE be worn all day on a few occasions....). My only real PJs that I wear are winter ones that my mom and I get to match on Christmas morning (which I absolutely LOVE, but aren't great to wear year round since they have snowflakes on them), and I don't buy many PJs because it's something I feel can "wait until next time" again and again because I don't wear them out of the house and no one sees me in them!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Cosy in winter but cool and breathable enough to wear in summer. PJs that make you want to curl up with a book and a cup of tea, or cuddle up next to someone, be hugged by little toddler arms. Stylish enough to linger in in the morning with a morning coffee.
    Good PJs are everything ;)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Ideal pajamas- clean, comfy and breast accessible for my little nurser ;)

    ReplyDelete
  20. My ideal pjs are soft, snuggly, warm, breast feeding friendly and easy to care for with a good dollop of colour and fun! Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  21. My ideal pjs are comfortable, that feel like slipping into a warm hug on a cold day, or swallowing a cool drink on a blistering day. They make me smile when I see them, and they make every night special, and every morning filled with sleepy smiles! :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. I'm a sucker for all things soft, whether a cozy blanket, plump pillows, organic baby clothes, or the perfect pajamas. Comfort is everything, especially now that I'm pregnant. And recently I've been starting to eye nursing-friendly designs for day- and night-wear that are both soft and simple, and appeal to my whimsy. I must confess that I have a particular thing for pajamas, often attributing a whimsical power to their designs--wearing snowflake prints, for example, when I long for the serenity of a snowfall, and then tucking them away in my drawer when winter lingers longer than I "intended." A bright spring print like the the ALAS ones pictured above would make me feel alive and rouse my joy, ushering warmth into my life even when worn out of season.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I love soft cotton pj's that fit well and are very comfortable.

    dlatany at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  24. My ideal PJs are THESE! They came up as a facebook ad in my newsfeed a week ago- the only facebook ad I've ever clicked on! I would love to buy them but we're heavily saving right now for a big expense coming up and my husband will kill me. Needless to say that link has been open in a tab on my screen to be visited every day, I'm hooked. The detail is just so gorgeous. So this competition is fate, I think!

    I've never entered a blog competition before because I've never really known- or desperately wanted- the prize, but this I do!

    ReplyDelete
  25. the ideal pyjamas need to be beautifully soft and dreamily comfortable whilst being stylish enough that you are proud to wear them in the morning (especially when your on holidays with friends and your on breakfast duties!)

    ReplyDelete
  26. The perfect pair of joy sparking pjs for me are comfortable, ethical, breastfeeding friendly and something with a tasteful pattern and colours. With a second baby due any day now, I am now remembering (with my firstborn) feeling so tired and dishevelled, and so consumed with everything baby, the round the clock breastfeeding and having little time for my own appearance. It would be so lovely to feel a bit special…without having to leave my pj's! (and not feeling guilty for it!)

    ReplyDelete
  27. A beautiful crisp pair of freshly laundered pyjamas are my idea of heaven. It is what I look forward to after the daily duties of being a mum. It is almost like a special treat- something just for me, without soils or spills. What I cannot compromise on however is organic fabric. I feel safe having something so close to my vulnerable body for hours as I rest knowing that it has not been showered in harmful chemicals that would intern seep into my skin. Yes, organic pyjamas are my heavenly luxury.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I kid you not, one of the things on my to-do-before-baby-list is buy the perfect PJ's! So this giveaway could not have come at a better time, fingers crossed!

    So... my ideal pyjamas have to tick quite a few boxes. They need to be soft, breathable cotton, preferably organic. Drawstring pants (for comfort) and a button up top (for breastfeeding) are a must, as is a bright, colourful print to hide any stains (because, childbirth). And of course they should be cosy and stylish, to make my upcoming babymoon as enjoyable as possible. x

    ReplyDelete
  29. Those pyjamas look so beautiful and cosy! My ideal pj's are ones that get more comfortable the more they are lived-in and washed. Bonus points if they keep me warm in winter and cool in summer. Nothing beats a good pair of pj's!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Comfortable, loose and made using a natural fabric. Actually, often just extra large pure cotton t-shirts. But they aren't as pretty as these ones!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Because I spend more time in my pjs then I like to admit, comfort and fit are paramount.. I normally buy in a size larger than usual, which creates breathability, and allows for a better nights sleep. Pure cotton, linen or silk is best - not only kinder to my skin, but also ultimately the wallet, as quality always outlasts - and all grow more comfortable with wear. Lastly, a pretty and feminine print is desirable, so when unexpected guests arrive (at an hour when I really should be dressed!), the embarrassment factor is eased!

      Delete
  31. I've fallen into the worst trap, something I swore I'd never do after I saw my own parents doing it ... pyjamas, for me, have sadly become an old band t-shirt I've stolen from Shane on the top, and, well, nothing on the bottom. Unflattering to say the least! Kellie xx

    ReplyDelete
  32. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  33. I was recently told I remind someone of their favorite old pair of PJ's ....warm and comforting, always looked forward to and a pleasure to spend time with. I was so honored. What greater compliment could I ask for?

    ReplyDelete
  34. The best pjs for me are the ones that get softer and softer the more I wash and wear them!

    ReplyDelete
  35. I love a pair of comfortable button down pyjamas, it's one of the things I love most about the cooler months, wearing nice loose fitting pj's. Thanks for the chance to win a pair of beauties xx

    ReplyDelete
  36. Because I spend a not inconsiderable amount of time n my pj's, while comfort is key, I do want them to be pretty & flattering. I am well overdue a new pair too.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Hi:) my ideal PJ would be a one that is comfortable at night, on cozy evenings and lazy mornings. Soft and breathing, pretty, cheerful and inspiring. Made from natural material and produced with no harm to the environment or other people so that wearing it I could feel embrased by mother nature and not worry about hurting it. For good and for bad days, always ready to make me feel like at home. To share with it all future moments to come and turn them into beautiful memories.

    ReplyDelete

© 2014 Jodi Wilson. You may not take images or content from this site without written permission.