Hibernation Season Essentials

Books, blankets and... murder?

I might not be an expert in much but I would back myself in the art of hibernating. The Scandis tend to get a lot of credit for giving the world ‘Hygge’ but given us Brits do bah humbug better than most, I feel it’s only right we too can stake a claim of expertise when it comes to shutting the world out. And no I don’t include Netflix in that statement, just real humans. My summer self is aggressively haunting me right now everytime I take a brief glance at my camera roll from month’s gone by. She both reminds me of what I’ve lost and what I might one day be capable of again - Glowing skin! No bags under my eyes! And while my dermatitis might thrive in the winter, so too does my introverted soul thanks to the seasonal prediliction, Christmas parties aside, for settling in properly at home. So without further do, here are my ‘hot’ takes on leaning into Goblin mode over the coming months.

The TV

I know it’s very chic and all, but I can’t quite trust someone who says they ‘don’t watch much tv’. A true 90s kid in every sense, TV has long been my go-to for unwinding on a daily basis and I can be staunchly defensive of the cultural relevance and emotional potency of good telly. And while I love Bridget Jones and The Holiday as much as anyone, when it comes to really bedding down, I look to crime dramas. You are welcome to label me a psychopath for this penchant for dark grittiness in the season of good cheer, but in order for me to really get cosy I need to be utterly gripped and not looking at my phone which normally means some kind of murder-based drama, preferably with subtitles. Right now, I’m already hooked on A Murder at the End of the World by my favourite creative duo, Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij. I think I’ll always pine for The OA series 3 but this new whodunnit starring Emma Corrin and Harris Dickinson is definitely plugging the gap and it’s rightfully getting rave reviews. It sees Gen Z hacker and sleuth Darby Hart head to a billionaire tech entrepenur’s intimate retreat, only to be sucked into a very personal murder investigation while there. Plus it’s set in Iceland for that extra level of feeling smug while enconsed at home. We’re also currently mid binge of A Nearly Normal Family on netflix, a Swedish drama (based on a book of the same name I believe) about what is essentially every teenage parent’s worst nightmare. Less of a whodunnit and more of a why did they do it. It’s very, very good at keeping you glued and guessing throughout. I’m also excited for the Netflix adaptation of Leave The World Behind with Julia Roberts and Mahershala Ali. Nothing like an exitenstional, apocalyptic drama to make you feel even more cosy in a blanket am I right.

The Socks and slippers

Cashmere socks are the ultimate little luxury to me and yes I sleep in them, feel free to judge. My favourites are Johnston’s of Elgin or Rosie Sugden but I also just got the most incredible pair from Finnish brand Santosh. I bought the fluffiest sheepskin slippers known to man in Ireland recently which are essentially these - I also saw lots of great pairs on Toast.

The Blanket

In a dream scenario I would have one of Saved NY’s or Gods True Cashmere decadent cashmere ones or but I’m equally into something simpler and tartan right now, like this beauty. On a recent J.Crew trip to Ireland they gave us all tartan blankets from The Tartan Blanket Co which do exactly what you’d imagine; I always like a red-based one personally, espeically for winter. I also have the blue version of this Shrimps blanket but adore the brown and it just drapes and falls so nicely over you. The green and grey ones below are both from Toast, a regular go-to for me for great quality but affordable home textiles.