Getting Cosy
And as we hurtle toward 2022 in our weighted blankets, will comfort still be key?
Picture a wood-burning fire, crackling softly.
A comfortable sofa with a soft throw to encase yourself in as the rain pours outside.
A candle that somehow smells of fresh linen, a steaming cup of tea placed in your lap.
Cosy is described as giving a feeling of comfort, warmth, and relaxation.
Unlike its trendy Scandi sisterhygge, cosy is specifically a British feeling.
A feeling of warmth, safety, and contentment.
A feeling of comfort.
Its the antithesis to hustle culture and the glorification of being busy.
With a focus on low stress and staying in, cosy culture is all about slowing down.
From the British landscape to kitchen design, cosy has an impact on everything from our economy to ourselves.
But what is it about cosy that really drives the way we live?
That said, lockdown is also responsible for our increased search for comfort.
Meanwhile, social media searches for cosy aesthetic outfits are up 100% in 2021.
Hence the cosy coin, aka the new economy for comfort spending.
Rebecca Fisher, the owner ofHomeshaped Interior Design, explains that our choice of aesthetics are becoming increasingly cosy.
She notes that our more nostalgic trends are also influenced by comfort.
When we need to feel safe and supported, colour trends tend to err toward earthy shades.
Even micro-trends like cottagecore are all about cosy feels, lived-in textures, and creating nostalgia, Fisher continues.
And, its not just about aesthetics.
Over lockdown, however, this has shifted to refer to a brand new category of spending.
Fashions Cosiest Collection
Cosy is also on the rise in fashion.
Cosy collections think oversized jumpers and fleece-lined trousers have seen an increase in sales year-on-year from 2019.
In part, this is due to a change in our lifestyles.
According to the 2019 UK Working Lives report,54% of workers are putting in nontraditional hoursas flexible working booms.
With so many of us working from our kitchen tables and sofas, comfort is paramount.
We essentially had limited control over our own wardrobes when working a 9-to-5.
You wouldnt wear joggers or knitted clothes for comfort to the office, due to it being deemed unprofessional.
Comfortable shoes and trainers would be tucked away until 5 p.m.
Priorities have shifted over lockdown, and we have witnessed this with rentals on the app, she explains.
Demand for items such as the Daily Sleeper sets and cosy dresses are at an all time high.
Styles and silhouettes have changed and adapted.
Now more than ever we see people dressing for themselves and their own personal comfort.
Especially after the uncertainty of the pandemic, weve all been looking for new ways to feel secure.
Cosiness really just encompasses that feeling of safety.
I think thats why so many of us are feeling driven by it right now.
Music hasnt escaped, either.
Well, like everything, its complicated.
The homebody economy doesnt look like it will crash anytime soon.
As Dorothy once said: There is no place like home.
And, when youre feeling the perfect level of cosy, its hard to argue with that.
This article was originally published onNovember 13, 2021
