Vogue: #IWokeUpLikeThis: Dita Von Teese Reveals the Strategies Behind Her Morning Routine
by Chioma Nnadi
For most of us the act of getting ready for the world each morning is a blurry-eyed, caffeine-fueled affair—hardly what you’d called chic—and yet there are stylish women that seem to make the whole thing appear so easy. Each day this week, we’ll ask one of them to reveal the secrets to their a.m. routines. Today’s subject: performer Dita Von Teese, who makes perfectly painted matte red lips and pressed waves look truly effortless. Here, her tricks to waking up on the right side of the bed on a regular basis, from her favorite detox smoothie to daily mood-changing Pilates sessions.
What is the very first thing that you do when you wake up?
Drink a large glass of water, preferably with fresh lemon.
Early bird or night owl?
It depends. I am an early bird normally, but when I’m on tour with my revue, Burlesque: Strip, Strip, Hooray!, I’m a night owl. I do prefer mornings and having full days.
What time do you like to get up in the morning?
I just like to have seven to nine hours of sleep. Ideally, when I’m not performing, I’m up by 8 or 9:0o a.m. But when it’s a show day, I have to be at peak alertness from 8 to 11:00 p.m., so I try to sleep until noon or later.
Do you press the snooze button, or jump right up?
I sometimes hit snooze when I don’t have to be anywhere, but I’m up quickly and easily when my alarm goes off. I am a very light sleeper. I wake up to quiet harp sounds or little bells. I can’t stand traditional wake-up calls or alarms.
What is your morning beauty regime?
Drinking water, taking vitamins, washing my face, and moisturizing. Obviously, brushing teeth comes before everything though!
What do you do to prepare mentally for the day?
I do Pilates nearly every morning. Ideally I’d have sex too!
When it comes to deciding what to wear in the morning, do you plan ahead?
It always depends on the weather and my day. On a casual day, I usually go out and about in ballet flats and a dress or a voluminous fifties-style skirt with a slim-fitting T-shirt. It feels free, comfortable, and casual, yet still in keeping with my personal style. I love dresses because I can zip and go, no fussing around putting a look together.
What is your breakfast of choice?
I have a green smoothie, which is 70 percent green and 30 percent fruit, as advised in Kimberly Snyder’s book Beauty Detox Foods. If I’m still hungry, about an hour or two after that, I have toasted millet or rice bread with avocado on top and a sprinkling of smoky or truffled sea salt. I love infused sea salts!
How much time do you give yourself to prepare for your day in the morning?
I usually block out around 30 minutes when I wake up to get ready for Pilates, so I can make my smoothie, have some tea, and a swipe of red lipstick. If I have a lunch date with a friend, I might spend about 45 minutes on it. If I have to turn on the full-power glamour, I block out an hour before I have to leave. I rarely spend more than 20 minutes on beauty when I’m not going onstage or on a red carpet. My look seems high-maintenance, and maybe it is for some people, but it’s been my everyday routine for over 20 years, so I can do it quickly and easily—which is why I rarely like a glam squad. They require between three to four hours to make me “me”!
Outline your routine for a typical morning.
Typically, at home, when I have my day to myself, I will wake up at around 8 or 9:00 a.m. and have a cuddly lie-in for a bit with my cat or my beau—or both, if I’m lucky! I like to sleep in full darkness so I open the curtains up to lie in bed for about half an hour to really wake up. I usually then go through my basic beauty routine and then have my green smoothie and tea. I get dressed in my Pilates “uniform,” or black capri pants, fitted black or white T-shirt, ballet flats and either a coat or skirt. I always do a sweep of powder and matte red lipstick, and always a chignon.
How important is a morning ritual for you?
Starting the day right is everything! I think that what I eat and drink in the morning sets the tone for the day. I have much more energy when I have water with lemon and my green smoothie. Exercising also makes me feel great, uplifts my mood, and allows me the kind of freedom for indulgences later in the evening. The morning is about a practiced, healthy discipline that I can see the effects of, so I stay true to a routine as best I can.
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