INTERVIEW NO 26
Clémence
PLENTY OF SLEEP
“Sometimes I do remember my dreams. They are quite action-packed, and extremely stressful. Usually, there’s a kidnapping or I have to escape some kind of disaster. They are super high-budget dreams, with crazy special effects, like in a Bourne Identity or Mission Impossible way.“
Clémence was born in France and raised in Dubai. After stop-overs in Paris and London, she now lives in Brooklyn. She runs a blog called Passerbuyswhere she features portraits and interviews of inspiring female New Yorkers. I spent a Saturday morning in her lovely Greenpoint apartment, chatting about morning- and nighttime rituals.
SEPTEMBER 2016
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK
HAVE A LOOK AT PASSERBUYS ON INSTAGRAM
INTERVIEW: VM
PHOTOS: VM
“I love the cinema and take movies very seriously, but I must admit I sometimes enjoy dozing off at the movies. There’s just something so so peaceful about sleeping in a theatre.“
WHAT ARE YOU DOING DURING THE DAY?
I do content for a start-up called Splacer.
WHAT IS PASSERBUYS?
Passerbuys is this hybrid of a shoppable style blog, recommendation site, and consignment store with portraits and interviews of women who fascinate me. The “Passerbys” as I like to call them will recommend everything from beauty products to books and music. The idea developed from this feeling of having grown tired of tastemakers / influencer style blogs which I admittedly turn to all the time for inspiration… They’re useful, but at the heart of it I just find that they lack realness. I’m big on people watching, and am always so curious about the women that pass me by, I watch them with so much admiration, and so I wanted to take that to another level - giving a glimpse into their everyday lives. Rather than instruct on how to be, I wanted these features to inspire. Everyone is killing it in their own way, I feel like we focus too much on what we don’t have or don’t know. Passerbuys aims to focus on what we do have and do know.
ARE YOU AN EARLY BIRD?
I try to get up at 7:30am, but I’m big on snoozing, and end up getting up around 8:15am and rushing to work. I am not a morning person...
HOW DOES YOUR ALARM SOUND?
I got the iphone classic - Xylophone.
WHAT ARE THE FIRST THINGS YOU DO IN THE MORNING?
I should really stop doing this, but the first thing I do is look at my phone, going through emails & social media - trying to ‘wake up’. For Passerbuys, I’ve been asking everyone about their morning routine, and it really puts mine to shame. I wish I could just get up, stretch, drink a glass of water, and maybe listen to a podcast - perhaps my New Year’s resolution.
DO YOU LIKE HAVING BREAKFAST?
Yes, and I don’t like to rush having it. I typically will make an avocado toast, sometimes add a fried egg then brew some coffee. I have this weird habit of wanting to watch something while having breakfast… I get cranky otherwise. Currently, I'm watching Better Things, Atlanta, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Transparent & Empire.
ANY FAVORITE BREAKFAST / BRUNCH SPOTS?
WHAT TIME OF THE DAY ARE YOU MOST PRODUCTIVE?
Anytime before lunch.
DO YOU THINK SLEEP INFLUENCES YOUR WORK?
I think it’s the other way around. Work really influences my sleep. If I have a lot going on, there’s no way I’ll be able to go to sleep, despite otherwise going to bed everyday at 10pm with no problems.
DO YOU THINK YOU GET ENOUGH SLEEP?
Oh yeah, plenty.
HOW DO YOU UNWIND?
I typically begin working on Passerbuys after work, so it doesn't leave me much time to unwind. Maybe I'll catch-up on a show or on some reading right before bed, but usually I'll be on my computer working ‘till late. If I really need a break though, I'll just head over to Film Society of Lincoln Center.
ANY RITUALS BEFORE GOING TO BED?
I’m big on having a night-time beauty routine, I wash my face, tone, and then moisturize religiously. I will also have a full glass of water right before going to bed. Also, I have had a lot of ideas right before falling completely asleep, which I usually jot down on my phone.
WHERE DO YOU SLEEP BEST?
It kind of doesn’t matter where, but with who. I sleep the best when my husband is next to me, despite him taking over half of the bed. When he’s away on tour, I sleep terribly! Clemence’s Husband Makes Eexperimental Electronic Music under the name of Oneohtrix Point Never.
DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR DREAMS?
Sometimes I do remember my dreams. They are quite action-packed, and extremely stressful. Usually, there’s a kidnapping or I have to escape some kind of disaster. They are super high-budget dreams, with crazy special effects, like in a Bourne Identity or Mission Impossible way. But slowed down… Not so enjoyable.
DO YOU CARE ABOUT WHAT YOU WEAR FOR SLEEPING?
Not really; I usually wear a T-shirt. If it’s winter, I’ll add some pajama pants. I only wear comedy t-shirts to bed for some reason; I have this Tim & Eric T-shirt that I’ve designated as sleep wear.
WHAT DO YOU KEEP ON YOUR NIGHTSTAND?
I don’t have a nightstand but my husband does. He keeps all his electronics there, so no room for me!
YOUR BED IN 3 WORDS.
Big. Fluffy. Deep.
WHAT IS THE WEIRDEST SPOT YOU’VE EVER SLEPT IN OR FALLEN ASLEEP?
I love the cinema and take movies very seriously, but I must admit I sometimes enjoy dozing off at the movies. There’s just something so so peaceful about sleeping in a theatre.
WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENS WHEN WE SLEEP?
Our brain processes our day and organizes itself.
HOW MANY SHEEP DO YOU COUNT?
I listen to Jeff Bridges’ sleeping tapes instead.
IF YOU COULD CHOOSE, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DREAM ABOUT TONIGHT?
Something less stressful than an action film sequence. Like dreaming about eating pasta would be ideal.
“I’m big on having a night-time beauty routine, I wash my face, tone, and then moisturize religiously. I will also have a full glass of water right before going to bed.“
– RELATED INTERVIEWS & STORIES –
Sand & Such is a magazine dedicated to sleep and everything around. The moments before and after, rituals, snoozing, slumbering, drifting, breakfasts, brunches, the night, the morning, insomnia, dreams and snores ... read more.
Sand & Such is a magazine dedicated to sleep and everything around. The moments before and after, rituals, snoozing, slumbering, drifting, breakfasts, brunches, the night, the morning, insomnia, dreams and snores...
Sand & Such is a magazine dedicated to sleep and everything around. The moments before and after, rituals, snoozing, slumbering, drifting, breakfasts, brunches, the night, the morning, insomnia, dreams and snores...
Sand & Such is a magazine dedicated to sleep and everything around. The moments before and after, rituals, snoozing, slumbering, drifting, breakfasts, brunches, the night, the morning, insomnia, dreams and snores...
Sand & Such is a magazine dedicated to sleep and everything around. The moments before and after, rituals, snoozing, slumbering, drifting, breakfasts, brunches, the night, the morning, insomnia, dreams and snores...