Holiday Gift Guides 2017: Solo Sundays
Products for taking time to log off and unwind
Much more than just treating yourself to something expensive, self-care is about switching off and focusing on your mental, emotional and physical wellbeing. The most important factor, of course, is taking time out to do all this. Logging off for an extended period can be difficult for many of us, and we sometimes need a distraction, so we’ve selected some of our favorite products to enjoy while you (or a loved one) stay home and take some “me time.” Take a look at our full BUY section for many more gift ideas this holiday season.
Baby Alpaca Throw Blanket
While pure Peruvian alpaca wool blankets can set you back $300+ easily, direct-to-consumer bedding obsessives Brooklinen have a slightly less expensive version that doesn’t sacrifice quality. The sumptuous, soft throw ($229) keeps warmth without the weight—you’ll be wrapping yourself in it year-round—and makes a reliable Netflix and chill partner.
Unimug
This all-in-one teapot and mug ($25) is made for solo time, and takes a few tips from the traditional Japanese tea ceremony at the same time. Heat-resistant to save your hands, this cup keeps your tea warm while it steeps and you concentrate on getting zen. The vibrant touch of color adds just the right amount of energy to an object that encourages serenity.
Winter Room Boots
Made from absorbent washi (Japanese paper) threads that are infused with Kumazasa plant fibers, these room boots ($82)—aka boot-shaped slippers—are breathable, moisture-wicking and antibacterial. Even more importantly, they’re super-cozy and warm for the winter months. Shuffle around your house in comfort while the snow falls outside. Available in gray or navy.
Waffle Robe
Less formal, lighter and cooler (temperature-wise) than “hotel style” plush robes, this 100% Turkish cotton robe ($119) dries the body beautifully. Thanks to its woven waffle texture, it also feels like being wrapped up in a cloud. Parachute understands how hard it is to keep things white—especially if you’re a coffee drinker—and offers two different non-white colorways: tan or grey.
Reflexology Kit
Easy to use and affordable, Saje’s kit ($40) makes it simple to incorporate reflexology into your daily routine. With two essential oils—one for energy and one for stress release—the kit also includes a mat that works with your own weight to massage contact points on your feet. Promoting better balance and general wellbeing, this kit is for anybody who needs a little time to relax.
Fingernails Sleep Mask
This sleep time product is a tale of two cities: produced by The Glad Hours, the silk pajama-makers based in LA, and stocked at the one-floor Austin Motel. The blood red fingernails on the silk eye mask ($85) match the red-orange vinyl cushion bed-frames and lip-shaped bedside phones—and signal the wrath to come of whoever disturbs thy beauty sleep. It’s a hotel-level amenity worth bringing home.
Haori Kimono
Available in several prints and colorways, Fleur du Mal’s lovely Haori kimono ($595) is made from super-luxurious 100% silk and designed to take its shape from traditional kimonos. The newest print is bold and floral, and can be worn as a robe or blazer.
Bush Bath
Jamaican botanicals and flowers—including lemongrass, Jack in the Bush (Chromolaena odorata), and more—combine in Balmyard Beauty’s lovely Bush Bath ($44). Detoxing and excellent for calming inflammation, these bath sachets work somewhat like teabags—simply add them to your bath, and the longer you leave them, the more potent the benefits.
Claremont Candle
Hand-poured candles ($68) made from 80% vegetable wax and 20% paraffin, PHLUR’s newest addition not only offer delightful fragrances and a warm glow, they are also lovely design objects. Each candle sits inside a round, custom ceramic vessel (complete with a lid) that can be reused to store trinkets and tchotchkes. Our pick is the Claremont fragrance, which was adapted from one of our favorite perfumes from the brand—Olmsted & Vaux. It’s citrusy, without being acidic, and is cruelty- and paraben-free.
The Slip-On Camp Sole
A 100% natural wool composition whisks moisture away while sustaining, maintaining and amplifying the natural heat your feet produce. There’s enough flexibility to allow for an easy slip-on experience every time, while this particular Huckberry-exclusive version offers a slip-resistant rubberized sole. Further, these indoor shoes ($135) are entirely handmade in Denmark.
Naptime Candles
Fragrance design studio Joya and artist Camilla Engstrom—NYC neighbors—have collaborated on a candle for enhanced Zs ($35).
To avoid a common, on-the-nose traditional lavender scent, oak moss, smoky incense, cedar leaf and a hint of burnt sugar complement the main ingredient for a sophisticated, intricate fragrance. Within the series of three, choose which napping position (portrayed by Engstrom’s alter ego, Husa) you like best: back, side or front.
Queen of Hungary Face Mist
Purifying and hydrating, Hungarian brand Omorovicza’s Queen of Hungary mist ($90) also smells divine. With notes of neroli and rose, this mist was inspired by the Queen of Hungary Water—the world’s first perfume on record. Made with mineral-rich water from Budapest, it’s refreshing and can also work as a post-cleanse toner.
Images courtesy of respective brands
