Haute Hibernation
January is meant for hibernation. Say no more than you say yes. Protest putting on hard pants. Make soup every night. Read twelve books. Stay inside. If January were a word, some words that come to mind are soft, gentle, slow. It’s time to get really cozy; to luxuriate. Here’s how to best haute-hibernate.
Around the house.
A cozy fire.
My next big house project will be to have a gas line installed for my fireplace (I am too lazy; I don’t make real fires often enough), but in the interim, I have this little 18″ ceramic log insert, which is actually pretty great. You add these little inserts. (Thank you Jess Graves for this rec!). Put on the Netflix crackling fireplace when all else fails and light a candle. It will feel like you have a fire!
Good candles.
Now is the time; we must burn our good candles with reckless abandon. Sidia Braless is an excellent hibernation candle. It’s warm and woodsy with amber notes; it smells very sexy, in my opinion. Other notable candles: anything from Hotel Lobby Candle (hibernating in a house that smells like a high-end hotel is super aspirational to me), especially Signature. I also love this one from Lavune–the throw is amazing, and my whole house will smell of sandalwood and amber. And DS & Durga’s Portable Fireplace is a perennial favorite. It smells just like it sounds. Right now, I’m burning Hotel Lobby’s newest candle, Blue Skies. It has notes of champagne + leather . . . like flying first class, from the comfort of your living room.
The best blankets.
No place makes me happier than being on my couch with a good book and a great blanket. No blanket will ever compare to my Elder Statesman cashmere blanket. It’s the softest cashmere I’ve touched, even softer than Loro Piana. These blankets are wildly expensive, something to search for on sale. I snagged mine (the rainbow one, brand new!) for 1/5 retail on The RealReal. I highly recommend a saved search. I also love my Chappywrap blankets (review here!). Other blankets to love include Schoolhouse’s collab with Pendleton, Cushendale’s mohair throws (Rowan is the ideal shade of moss green), and Uniq’uity’s Judd and Allen throws.
What are we wearing?
We are keeping things cozy but chic. Just because you are hibernating doesn’t mean it’s time for ratty sweatpants and old t-shirts (both totally fine from now and then), but in the spirit of “haute hibernation,” let’s raise the bar a bit.
A solid base:
A pair of ultra fine knit pull on cashmere pants (these are incredible; worth every penny) and an easy tee.
A robe.
Of course. Lots and lots of robes. Right now, my favorite robe is Lake’s cozy robe. It is lined in the softest fleece that stays soft no matter how many times you wash it. I like it so much that I got it for my mom. I have it in white, she has the pale green. I recently noticed that they make it in men’s, and I would actually prefer that. Bigger, cozier, longer, etc. . . and I love the grey. Other robes to love: hefty, organic cotton, basically a sleeping bag, a (luxe!) classic from Frette, Soho House’s version.
Good socks.
These Maria La Rosa stripey socks are insane and just went on sale (half off!). Amazon stocks some highly underrated (but very soft and affordable) 100% cashmere socks that I’d definitely recommend.
Slippers, for sure.
Ruti’s Hug Slippers are luxe and cozy. I also really love my Bombas gripper slippers. Others I’ve been eyeing: these satin slippers in the perfect shade of green, cashmere ballerinas (so chic!), TKEES shearling slippers (just marked down 50%), these ultra-fancy shearling slippers (wow!).
Wellness Stuff.
At least once a week, I use my HigherDose sauna blanket. This is everything. I will lay in it for an hour, and put on a show. This blog post has a full review and tips for using it, but I love it because a) it feels really good . . . b) you really SWEAT, and c) you feel incredible afterward, and your skin GLOWS!
On the stove
Soup, soup, broth, and more soup. The Oh She Glows vegan creamy tomato soup is a perennial favorite. Dan Pelosi’s tortellini soup is next on my list to make. I probably have Kroma’s chicken broth once a day as a snack (it’s great as a meal, too — just add chicken + veggies). It has the yummiest miso flavor + 12 grams of protein.
Bathtime.
Bathtime is important. Bathtime is a sacred ritual of hibernation season. I aim for a bath at least a few times a week. I’m a broken record about Kate McLeod’s breathe pebbles. They are magic. Two in the tub means I can skip moisturizer after my soak. You can also rub one all over yourself in the shower (and also skip moisturizer). I am also a massive fan of Flewd’s soaks (especially the insomnia ending one–epic, before bed.
Bedtimes, Bedtime Rituals.
We are going to bed early. For me, that means 10pm because that’s the earliest I can get away with, given that my boyfriend is on the West Coast. I’ll often get in around 9/9:30 and read. I always try to read for an hour before bed. It is the best way to relax. I have a TV in my bedroom, but I only let myself watch TV in bed on Fridays and/or when my boyfriend is visiting. I am naturally a bit slovenly, so I have to set these boundaries with myself–it is a special treat!
We are taking our magnesium supplements every night (I love Moon Juice Magnesi-om but have also been testing something wonderful from Sakara). I find that with consistent use, when I take magnesium, I am nicer, I sleep better, I poop better.
I love this overnight mask. When I use it, my skin glows (and fine lines are less visible) for days. The key for me is to put it on at least an hour before I go to sleep so that it can set (read: stick to my skin as I move around a lot in my sleep). I also end up pulling it off somewhere around 4am. I also really love this overnight lip mask. (Use GRACE-15)
Some other sleepy little things:
I adore my Snooz sleep machine. It’s just very simple white noise. My cats love to run around at night and this drowns out any light noise. I sleep with this weird Amazon pillow (there is truly nothing better for side + stomach sleepers), and more recently, I’ve gotten very very into my Sleep Crown. That was a TIBAL recommendation, of course. It’s an extremely soft pillow that you place over the top half of your face. I am not sure why, but it is very soothing. I definitely sleep better when I use it.
If you must leave the house . . . (ew, gross).
We can’t stay completely indoors. Jobs, life, meetings. But you can try to carry the snuggly indoorsy feeling with you wherever you go. I bundle up, even in Charleston. This sapphire blue scarf from La Ligne is super soft and the perfect blue pop.
I am wearing a large amount of brushed cashmere. J.Crew has quite a bit. This sweater from La Ligne is wonderful, but G-Label really made a perfect sweater. It’s heavenly soft. And look at this Toteme sweater with an attached scarf. Blissfully cozy! These brushed cashmere mittens from Lisa Yang are a splurge but heavenly. I smile every time I put them on.
For ultimate coziness, I love a hoodie under a sharply tailored coat. This does not need to be fancy, in fact, something a little worn in looks best (this is all about contrast!). I just got this charcoal grey hoodie from American Eagle, and it looks great under my Ralph Lauren camel coat (purchased 6 years ago, still a favorite buy). I also have and love this sweater knit hoodie from Simkhai.
Also, the coolest little accessory! Carly found this hybrid sweatshirt scarf from Tibi, and I ordered it immediately. I love it.
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