WHAT ARE YOU MADE OF?: OUR CHAT WITH SOHLA EL-WAYLLY

Forget close loved ones or adoring pets—if we had to be stranded on a desert island, there’s only one person we’d want with us and that’s Sohla El-Waylly. Not just because the chef and YouTuber can rustle up a five-star meal out of seriously anything, but because she’s fun, funny and fearless. Plus, she’s pretty sure she knows how to make a net using palm fronds (!!).

Hi Sohla! How was the shoot? We were pretty high up in the hills, right?

I didn’t realize that we were high up! By the end of the day, I was a little dizzy and felt like, “what’s going on? Why do I feel a bit drunk?” It was the altitude. I definitely didn’t hydrate enough.

Lesson learned! So how did you get involved in our spring campaign?

Well, I already usually wear Madewell. I need clothes that can put up with being washed a lot since I'm always cooking. Everything gets really dirty and smells like food but with my Madewell stuff, I can wash it over and over again and it doesn't disintegrate.

That’s great to hear. And what’s your work like these days?

Every day's different. I don't like routine, so I like that at the end of each night, I have to think about what's happening the next day. Sometimes I'm developing recipes, sometimes I'm writing and sometimes I'm shooting—and I love that. I can't get bored because it's always changing.

Sounds like you wear a lot of hats—do you have a favorite?

I don’t have a favorite. If I do anything for too long, I start to hate it. That's why I really like that my schedule fluctuates so much. I like everything as long as I'm not doing it forever.

Okay, in the spirit of this campaign, we want to do a little lightning round of questions about what you’re made of. First up: what’s your favorite memory made of?

My husband and I made our own wedding cake together, which was really terrifying and also set us up for the rest of our life. We did it in a couple of days. And the day that we were transporting it to the venue, there was a tropical storm so it had to be redecorated. But that’s been our whole life since—figuring things out and weathering storms.

What a perfect answer. What’s your favorite meal made of?

Right now I want roast chicken and potatoes.

Delicious. What’s your morning routine made of?

Letting the dogs out to poop.

And this might be the same answer, but what’s your evening routine made of?

Yep, same answer.

Thanks Sohla! Check out all the looks from her high-altitude shoot here. And don’t forget, we want to see what you’re made of. Take a pic in your Madewell best and share it on Instagram. Tell us three to four things that make you who you are—from the silly to the serious to the surprising—in the caption, plus tag @madewell and use the hashtag #everydaymadewell. Can’t wait to see what you’re made of!