At Home in Athens with Natalia Georgala
After a staggering six weeks, more or less, confined to one living space, like most of us around the world, Athens-based content creator & creative director of contemporary label WOERA — Natalia Georgala — is staying home. Virtually inviting us to #StayIn with her, Georgala takes us back to basics and shows us how to remain powerful and poised through this pandemic.
Not our first conversation with minimal maven, Natalia Georgala, this Grecian beauty has traveled to the world’s most desirable destinations, collaborated with the biggest names in fashion, and has trended with her authentic approach in the digital realm. Yet it is her connection to herself, her family, and her tailored label, that keep her grounded in this time of uncertainty. Self-employed and fortunately well-versed in working from home, Georgrala’s day-to-day structure resembles nuances of normalcy. In fact, she opts to keep her schedule exactly as it was: “I wake up at 8am, have coffee with my boyfriend, and then straight to my laptop to read the morning news. I tidy up a little bit,” admitting her tendency to become distracted by household duties - an attribute we all can relate to — “[I] then start working around 10-10:30, respond to any emails and requests, I work on some content creation, then I dedicate my time to WOERA.”
While it may seem as though Georgala’s motivation is unencumbered, like everyone else she too has moments where her energy contrasts her productivity. “It really depends on my mood,” shares the influencer. “There are days that I don’t feel productive at all, and I just want to lay in bed all day doing nothing. And that’s what I do. Nothing at all!” Refreshingly unapologetic and humbly in ownership of her inner struggles, she continues, “It’s really important to listen to your body and embrace your feelings nowadays.” Expressing her camaraderie for her fellow community going through a similar experience, “I’d like to point something out. This time sucks for everybody. I really mean that. There are days that even the thought of leaving my bed seems unbearable, there are nights I cry non-stop. It’s really important to let ourselves process and experience those feelings. It’s ok not to be ok,” heartens Georgala.
Enlisting and harmoniously syncing old and new pastimes to amp up her productivity, Georgala continues to turn to her saving grace for positive reinforcement, fashion. As we have all made note of the unofficial covid-uniform, sweatpants have become the go-to; but, “dressing up really motivates me to get up and start my day as it gives me something to look forward to in a way. Not knowing when quarantine will end is stressful for all of us — it makes us feel a lack of control, you know? Well, the only thing we can control right now is how we look, so there you go. Get up and dress up ladies!” That being said, the designer further reiterates that there are days that wearing sweatpants or joggers is just as equally therapeutic. “Making an effort to look good always helps to feel a bit better. That doesn’t mean you have to wear you suit to work from home — that’s unnecessary if you ask me. You can simply dress up your loungewear a little bit, wear nice jewelry, or swap your pajamas for a nice tailored boyfriend shirt (I wear my WOERA’s every day).”
If you are familiar with this latest wardrobe staple, WOERA is prided on its class, its minimal motive, its elegance, its power, and its undeniable gift to be timeless. No slouch to the iconic LBD, “little black dress”, it is safe to say that a crisp and quality tailored men’s shirt for women is following suit. “Because it’s classy, sexy, elegant — all in one,” says Georgala. “It can be worn in so many different ways, from so many different types of women. There’s no style limitation. I don’t think there’s a woman out there who doesn’t have the ability to pull off a crisp white shirt.” Simplicity can speak volumes when wearing the modern minimalist designs of WOERA. “Pair it with your vintage denim, sneakers and gold jewelry for the ultimate casual chic look. Pair it with a tank top, joggers & chunky necklace for your daily supermarket run during quarantine. Wear it as a beach cover-up. I cannot wait to wear my WOERA’s over my favorite swimsuits from dusk till dawn this summer.” Now neither can we!
As we look for more ways to manage the anxieties brought to the surface during this “new normal” we are forced to live in, we were eager to divulge how this self-made entrepreneur is staying sane and in tune with herself coping with covid. “All my efforts are in trying to be happier with just being right now,” says Georgala. “Meditation helps me a lot, as well as moving my body every day. Some days I run, some days I train inside, some days I just go for a nice walk in the park. It keeps me sane. Sometimes doing nothing — but literally nothing all day helps as well. I also enjoy putting on a fancy outfit once a week to have dinner with my boyfriend — it’s like our version of the ideal quarantine date night, but it is also important to stay in your sweatpants if that’s how you feel. No need to put extra pressure on ourselves. When I put extra pressure on myself, it makes me even less creative. I’m simply trying to embrace this phase. I know the inspiration will come back at some point, it’s just a matter of time. So that’s what I’m telling my fellow creatives — take a step back and breathe. We need that.”
Looking forward to the time when these restrictions have passed, Georgala too cannot wait to see and hug family, get back to traveling and exploring her beautiful home. “I literally cannot wait to squeeze my parents, go for a nice lunch by the sea with my boyfriend and best friends & dance till dawn. I remember during fashion week back in February complaining about my busy schedule and how I’d rather spend my days at home. Well, I’ll never want to take any of these experiences for granted again. Ever. Being busy is what keeps me alive. I cannot wait to be busy again and complain about it all over again,” laughs Georgala. Until then, “We are all in this together and when the crisis is over, we will all emerge stronger and more united than ever. I truly believe that. For now, stay home and stay safe. We’ve got this!”
