Worried About Winter? Here’s How Hygge Can Help

As a recovering fast-fashion consumer, the “cashmere” sweaters I’ve bought in the past must have come with a hidden warning reading “Actually made of plastic; itching and discomfort 100% guaranteed.” So when I tried on this real, and totally sumptuous, cashmere shaker-stitch cardigan, it absolutely blew my mind.

If you only buy one article of clothing during the rest of this year, I implore you to make it this cardigan. It’s 100% cashmere, but feels like it could be 200%. The v-neck cut hits perfectly at the clavicle, and the big statement buttons look right at home against the creamy fabric. If I put it on and close my eyes, I feel like I’m sitting on a hill in the Scottish highlands, watching the sunset while snuggled up next to a very gentle highland cow. It essentially pairs with every single item in my closet. I’ve worn it with a skirt, over leggings, and with jeans. Untucked, tucked in, buttoned up, buttoned down, draped over my shoulders, and even wrapped around my waist. Instead of getting your family goofy matching holiday pajamas this year, give this cardigan to everyone. Every time the recipient feels this cozy fuzz on her skin, she’ll think of you and smile. 

Picture this: you’re doing Thanksgiving at your in-laws house, where they keep the heat at a brisk 62 degrees all winter because, “Do you think we own the electric company?!” 

Instead of layering on every ratty old pair of sweatpants you own like you’re Joey from Friends, we’ve got a better idea: Haven Well Within’s cashmere joggers. 

They’re surprisingly flattering and easy to move in, considering how toasty they make your legs. The only downside is that once you try on a pair of cashmere pants, you’ll never want to wear any other material again. (I mourn for the woman I was before I realized that this gentle, plush material doesn’t just have to come in sweater form.)

Have you ever rested your foot on top of a big, fluffy sheep? Well, neither have I, but I imagine that wearing these booties is about as close as I’ll ever come. They’re so soft that when I took them out of the package, the first thing I did was softly caress my face with them. 

Once I reluctantly pulled my cheek away, I was elated to realize that the entire inside of the boot is faux fur-lined. Wearing them feels like walking on boot-shaped clouds, and since Haven Well Within correctly assumed you’re never going to want to take these off, they’ve got a structured rubber sole. Perfect for popping out to your stoop to grab the spaghetti carbonara you ordered from your favorite Italian place, to enjoy during your feel-good movie marathon. Very cozy, very hygge.

These are the pants that could inspire me to leave my home on a 30-degree day.They fit snugly but don’t have a drawstring, which is ideal, since that’s the item my washing machine always seems to be most hungry for. You can wear them to bed because they’re both soft and stretchy, they’re great to lounge in, and you’ll feel totally confident opening the door when your friends come by for an impromptu book club hangout. These joggers are so cute, they could make even the most sedentary woman want to pick up yoga. And they have pockets.

As a candle connoisseur, I always thought diffusers were the slightly fancier version of a pine-shaped car air freshener. But lighting a candle in your house and forgetting about it could be… problematic. 

The Vitruvi stone diffuser is a work of art, and won’t set your curtains aflame. I’ve displayed it prominently in my living room — the thing is pretty. It’s also super easy to use: Just screw off the top, fill the water reservoir, and add about 20 drops of oil. A timer lets you decide how long you want it to diffuse. 

Scents-wise, the Haven Well Within Morning to Midnight oil blend kit comes with four oils, one for every mood. Boost is a refreshing citrus scent ideal for morning, Retreat smells like a fancy hotel (I imagine it could be the signature scent at The White Lotus), Dusk is pure lavender (perfect for winding down), and Sleep smells like bedtime — clean linen sheets beckoning you to doze. 

Have you noticed that when you wear cheap, unsupportive slippers, you end up doing an awkward shuffle just to keep them on? That can lead to awkward mishaps, like the time I fell while shuffling for a bag of popcorn, and had to tell people I was bruised from a “running injury.” It’s time to give your feet a treat:  These mules have soles made of structured leather, so they look and feel like slippers, but have the grip of shoes. They’re comfortable, warm, and look like footwear you’d compliment if you saw someone wearing them on the street. They’re perfect for women who prefer a slip-on, but have a floor they don’t want to slip on. 

I’m not embarrassed to admit that I’ve worn the same graying, shapeless socks since college. Although they fall down to the arch of my foot almost as soon as I put them on, they’ve served me fine thus far. So when I heard the words cashmere socks I thought, “How great could they be? They’re socks.” Well my friends, you have no idea what you’ve been missing. 

Just like all of Haven Well Within’s cashmere items, these socks perfectly embody hygge. They’re soft, warm, beautiful, and available in comforting earth tones that’ll match anything you wear this season. (And I love the delightfully classic cable-knit pattern.) The socks are long enough to pull up if you’re looking for some extra warmth underneath a pair of pants, but you can also scrunch them down for that supremely cute slouchy look with a pair of boots and a skirt. 

I can’t sleep without an eye mask — my reaction to nighttime light exposure borders on vampiric. While some masks have those adjustable straps that loosen in the night, this one has a comfy ruched elastic that stays secure and plunges me into the darkness my body craves.

I’m also at an age where my nighttime routine involves applying various salves and creams before bed. The downside of this is waking up with a mask covered in lotion, but washing cheap masks either makes them shrink, or lose their elasticity. The silk from this mask is gentle on my skin, and it looks like new even after a spin through the washing machine. 

Is it too much to ask for a candle that smells like rain softly falling on a peaceful Nordic forest? Haven Well Within apparently heard my prayers, and created a scent that makes me want to stay snuggled up on the couch forever (even if Barbie 2 suddenly hits theaters). The pine smell is exactly right for winter, but the citrus notes remind you that spring is just around the corner. 

It’s hard to find candles that are fragrant enough to fill a room, but subtle enough that they won’t make your house smell like you spilled a bottle of cologne on your rug. This candle strikes that balance with ease: I had a few friends over the other night and the first thing they said when walking in was, “Your apartment smells amazing.” 

The Haven Well Within candle comes in two other scents, both of which smell equally hygge-licious. Ember has notes of woody vetiver, earthy patchouli, and warm amber, which will make you feel like you’re sitting beside a roaring fire in a log cabin. Breeze is a perfect scent for all seasons, with brighter notes of fresh-picked jasmine, soothing lavender, and amber. 

Silk pajamas are something I’ve never been able to master — they make me feel like I’m dressing up in a fancy outfit just to go to sleep. But any awkwardness was banished as soon as I put on this washable silk matching set — it’s the one and only pair of silk pajamas I’ve ever felt relaxed in. They’re the tiniest bit sexy, but aren’t so revealing that I’d feel awkward wearing them to  breakfast with my parents on a holiday morning. The silk helps regulate my temperature, which makes me sleep better, and feels absolutely luxurious on the skin. They’re even washable, which saves me the trouble of hand-soaking them in my sink and hanging them from a clothesline in my apartment.