Paige DeSorbo’s Daily Rituals, Style Rules & The Story Behind Daphne | Forbes Talks Shop

Key Concepts

• Daphne (Brand): A pajama and loungewear brand founded by Paige DeSorbo, inspired by her love for comfort and the idea of bringing back distinct summer and winter pajama collections.
• Giggly Squad: A podcast hosted by Paige DeSorbo and Hannah Berner, described as a source of therapy and a fun business venture.
• Morning Routine: Emphasizes hydration (hot water with lemon, green tea), skincare, and physical activity (walking pad, outdoor walks).
• Skincare Products: Mentions Face Reality's Mandelic serum and Medicube's microcurrent device and masks.
• Mouth Taping: A technique used for better sleep, with DeSorbo using Skinny Confidential tape.
• Style Philosophy: Prefers to be overdressed rather than underdressed, gravitating towards mini skirts with knee-high boots, capris, and stirrup pants with loafers for fall.
• Workday Preparation: Focuses on hydration and prefers "no camera off" Zoom calls to maintain a sense of normalcy.
• Essential Product: The Stanley tumbler is identified as a crucial item for her job, primarily for hydration.
• Travel Essentials: Highlights a portable charger with multiple cords and Listerine strips/spray for freshness.
• Creativity Inspiration: Draws inspiration from New York City street style, social media (Pinterest), and personal experiences.
• Balance and Recharge: Relies on her father for tough love and grounding, and her childhood friends for "hometown gossip" to stay balanced.
• Dealing with Negative Comments: Avoids reading comments altogether and relies on her high school best friend to reframe negativity.
• Nighttime Routine: Uses the Hatch Restore for a wind-down ambiance, followed by skincare, teeth brushing, and LED masks (Shark brand).
• "This or That" Game: Rapid-fire preferences on various lifestyle and preference choices.

Daphne: The Brand and Its Inspiration

Paige DeSorbo discusses her brand, Daphne, which specializes in pajamas and loungewear. She expresses particular excitement for the upcoming winter collection, aiming to revive the concept of distinct seasonal pajamas. The inspiration for Daphne stemmed from DeSorbo's public persona as someone who enjoys staying in bed, which she decided to embrace as a business venture. She felt that pajamas were a more authentic and soul-aligned starting point for a fashion brand compared to ready-to-wear. The brand's name, Daphne, has a serendipitous origin; while DeSorbo felt her cat named herself Daphne, the brand name itself was suggested by a male team member, which DeSorbo found to be a "cosmic" and fitting choice. The winter collection's vibe is described as being ready to go to a holiday party and then immediately come home and get into bed, with a focus on new, cozy fabrics.

Giggly Squad: A Podcast as Therapy

DeSorbo also talks about her podcast, Giggly Squad, co-hosted with Hannah Berner. She describes it as her "therapy" and a source of immense joy, so much so that they have never taken a week off, even when their therapists do. The podcast's content is largely spontaneous, with a shared note for jotting down ideas that often become humorous "mad libs" due to their abstract nature. Despite the casual approach, DeSorbo acknowledges the need to sometimes clarify that she is not a medical professional, highlighting the unpredictable and entertaining nature of their discussions.

Morning Routine and Skincare

DeSorbo's morning routine begins with a preference for waking up an hour before needing to be active. Her first priority is a "hot water with lemon," which she considers a morning cure-all for flushing the system. This is followed by skincare. She is a fan of Face Reality products, specifically their Mandelic serum. She also incorporates Korean beauty products, particularly Medicube's microcurrent device and masks. For improved sleep, she practices "mouth taping" using Skinny Confidential tape, finding it to be a game-changer for her sleep quality, even if she only gets a few hours of benefit before removing it with a mask. She also wears retainers at night.

Style and Fall Fashion

DeSorbo's style philosophy leans towards being overdressed rather than underdressed, as she feels more confident and put-together that way. For fall, her go-to outfits include a mini skirt with knee-high boots and a good jacket, capris (a trend she embraced early), and stirrup pants with loafers. She expresses a personal fear of capris, despite their popularity, due to concerns about leg length.

Workday Preparation and Essential Products

When preparing for a workday filled with calls, DeSorbo emphasizes the importance of having multiple liquids readily available, including Duncan, Stanley, and extra water, along with green tea. She prefers "no camera off" Zoom calls, viewing them as a way to maintain a sense of normalcy and "cheat the system" by appearing as if she's not working from home. When asked about a product she cannot do her job without (besides her phone), she unhesitatingly names her Stanley tumbler, citing her love for drinking water and incorporating UTI powder.

Travel Essentials

DeSorbo considers her carry-on a "work of art" due to her professional packing skills. Key items include a portable charger with integrated cords for various devices and Listerine strips and spray for maintaining oral freshness, as chewing gum is not always feasible during work engagements. She notes that Listerine strips are not commonly offered, making those who do offer them instant friends.

Creativity and Inspiration

DeSorbo finds inspiration for her creative work, particularly for Daphne, in several areas. Living in New York City is a significant source, with its diverse street style offering glimpses into future trends. Social media, especially Pinterest, is another tool. She specifically mentions seeing a woman on the Lower East Side wearing a baby blue silk outfit that resembled a nightgown, which directly inspired the use of light and baby blue colors for Daphne, matching her cat's eyes and evoking a pajama-like feel.

Balance and Recharging

Maintaining balance is crucial for DeSorbo. She relies on her father for tough love and grounding when she feels down or sorry for herself, stating he "snaps you right back into it." Her parents, in general, keep her balanced amidst the potential for spiraling in her career. She also finds comfort in connecting with her childhood friends for "hometown gossip," which provides a pure and non-career-related distraction.

Dealing with Negative Comments

DeSorbo actively avoids reading comments online to protect her mental well-being. She acknowledges that negative comments can sometimes slip through, but her high school best friend helps her reframe them, often by making jokes or reminding her of the fleeting nature of online discourse.

Nighttime Routine and Sleep Aids

DeSorbo's nighttime routine involves using the Hatch Restore device, which emits a red light and plays calming music or meditation sounds, signaling it's time for skincare. She uses the Shark LED mask for red light therapy, believing it contributes to skin health over time, especially as a preventative measure before considering Botox. She is not a bath person but enjoys her shower. Her cat, Daphne, also plays a role in her wind-down routine, with her jumping into bed signifying it's time to sleep.

"This or That" Rapid Fire

In a "This or That" segment, DeSorbo revealed her preferences:

• Nighttime journaling over sunrise meditation.
• Infrared sauna over cold plunge.
• Naps over no naps.
• Espresso martini over natural wine.
• Farmers market over Michelin-starred restaurant, citing a negative experience with a Michelin meal that smelled like cat food.
• Notebook and pen over tablet and stylus.
• Late night scrolling over a phone-free bedroom.
• Prada over Miu Miu.
• Kitten heels over ballet flats.
• Voice notes over FaceTime calls.
• Jersey Shore over the Hamptons, advocating for New Jersey pizza over New York City pizza due to a higher concentration of Italian people.
• Square nails over almond nails.
• Eating ravioli in Italy over bed riding at home.
• Hulu over Netflix, citing "Love Thy Nater" and shows like "New Girl" for rewatchability.
• Shoulder pads over swimsuits.
• Romcoms over thrillers.
• Reese's cup over Bon Bons or "A Little Sweet Treat."

Conclusion

Paige DeSorbo's approach to her career and life is characterized by embracing authenticity, prioritizing comfort and self-care, and drawing inspiration from her surroundings and relationships. Her ventures, Daphne and Giggly Squad, reflect her personality and her ability to connect with an audience through relatable experiences and humor. Her routines, from morning hydration and skincare to nighttime wind-downs, are designed to support her demanding schedule, while her creative process is fueled by the vibrant environment of New York City and her personal connections. Her emphasis on balance, self-awareness, and a strong support system allows her to navigate the pressures of public life.