Winter always seems to strike out of nowhere – one minute, you’re taking to Instagram to wax lyrical about summer sunshine in Autumn, the next, you’re rugged up in your Acne cashmere and still shivering on the way to work.
But winter needn’t be grim – it’s the time of open fires and bottomless pinot, after all. Below, five ways to have the time of your life in sub-zero (ok, sub-20°C) temperatures.
1/ Start the day with piping hot porridge
There’s nothing like a steaming bowl of creamy porridge to entice you from out under the covers on a cold winter’s morning. Forgo your usual cold breakfast in favour of Carman’s Gourmet Porridge Sachets, which come in three flavours well worth waking up for: Natural 5 Grain & Super Seed, Golden Maple and Honey Vanilla & Cinnamon. You don’t even have to wake up early to indulge, as they’re ready in less time than it takes for the kettle to boil. Hot tip: serve with warmed berry compote or stewed cinnamon apples.
2/ Upgrade your outerwear
“This season, faux fur is having a moment,” says Styled By marie claire content editor Brittany Henderson. There’s no reason why you can’t look just as chic on your way to the office as you do once you get there – look for quality wool coats with faux fur on the trims (or all over – we love this statement piece), or team a luxurious fur gilet with a silk blouse for indoors.
3/ Make your home supremely cosy
“A few easy tweaks can make the home so much warmer,” promises marie claire lifestyle editor Anna McCooe. “Huddle furniture, bringing pieces closer together away from cold external walls and embrace the ambient powers of warm lighting – using lamps with warm coloured globes (2000 to 3000K) and candles to set the mood.” A plush rug will strop draughts from coming up through floorboards and make rooms look warmer too.
4/ Book in for a toasty treatment
Winter is the ultimate time to pamper body and soul, when we crave respite from drying winds and the bitter cold. For world-class indulgence, look no further than Salus Spa at the Lake House, Daylesford. Their Salus Signature Bliss treatment offers a hot volcanic rock massage with warm oils, followed by a lime and ginger salt body polish, more massage and vichy shower. Bliss.
5/ Create a bedroom so inviting you’ll never want to leave
We change our wardrobe, skincare and diet in winter, so why not our beds? We’re not just talking throwing on a heavier doona – transform your sleep zone into a sumptuous sanctuary in winter by replacing cotton sheets with linen or flannel and adding an Icelandic sheepskin throw to keep toes toasty. Cotton flannel sheets satiate the urge to hibernate and linen feels instantly cosy in combination with woolen blankets.