Think of how you feel when you’re the most at home, cozy, and in tune with yourself. Think of yourself totally at ease, engaging in activities you love, and just feeling as comfy as possible. Did you picture yourself in restrictive and tight clothing? Super uncomfortable heels?
Nope, and we didn’t either. What you wear is a big part of how you feel and move throughout the world. When you reject discomfort, you can open yourself up to living a more fulfilling and comfortable life.
Embracing ‘Hygge’
Nordic culture has long embraced the concept of ‘hygge’.
The exact origins of the word are not known, but it may be traced back to an Old Norse word meaning “protected from the outside world.” Today, the term is used to describe the feeling when surrounded by things and people that make you feel comfortable.
The term is flexible in its meaning. So, it can be fitted around the specific things that make you feel comfortable and cozy in your life. Part of this may be embracing loungewear for everyday wear.
The Rise of Loungewear
Loungewear has crept its way into mainstream fashion and become an acceptable alternative to uncomfortable formal clothing. Now, chic loungewear is perfectly acceptable as everyday wear.
Ever since the lockdowns of 2020, folks have been reaching for more comfortable clothing to go about their days in. After all, many more people started to work partially or fully remote!
When we were all inside, there was no need to feel the pressure to wear what we didn’t want. And so, loungewear became more of a norm!
The Cozy Closet
So, how do you build out your cozy closet? How do you incorporate these hygge principles in your everyday wear? We have some steps that will optimize the space and clothing you already have, so you can add in key pieces to take everything to the next level.
Assess What You Have
Who among us hasn’t had some things tucked away in the back of closets that we have not seen in forever? Clean it all out!
Try the Marie Kondo method and identify which items in your home and closet no longer ‘spark joy.’ Being able to hold each item in your hands and identify exactly what does and doesn’t work for you anymore can lend a gravity to the practice.
Now, try to see your favorite pieces in a new light! Could that vintage sweatshirt make for a cozy, retro ‘fit? How about that old T-shirt? What if you layered it over a turtleneck for chilly days?
Plan For What You Don’t
Now it is the time to find the gaps in your wardrobe. Got plenty of pullover sweaters, but want a few low cardigans you can wrap yourself in? Did you notice that you don’t have enough cozy pants, and the thought of pulling out the uncomfortable ones makes you squeamish?
Make a list of what you want to buy. Then, identify 3-5 other items in your closet that would match well with it. This way, you won’t be impulse-buying something that doesn’t actually go with what you already have.
Dedicate Space
Who wants to dig through an unorganized pile of clothing to get ready in the morning? Clean out your dresser or closet and organize the clothing to not only be functional, but look calming and nice.
You can apply this to other parts of your home, too. Organize your skincare products in a nice basket and place it in a visible part of your bathroom. Get air fresheners or oil diffusers for each room, so you can always walk into a pleasant scent.
Taking care of yourself, whether it be hygiene, fashion, or cleaning up around the house, can feel like a calming ritual if done right. Living the cozy lifestyle means taking small steps that help you to feel it every day.
In many ways, your closet should be an extension of you and your personality. And it can reflect back on you. If it feels chaotic, disorganized, and messy, then chances are you will feel that way too. When your closet feels clean, organized, and calming, you will also feel a sense of calm in your life.
Take It Outside
We’ve established how to clean, organize, and curate your home, but what about when you are not at home? Whether it is your car, office space, or classroom, the “hygge life” can follow you anywhere.
What about your outfits outside of the home? Thanks to the rise in fashionable loungewear and women’s athleisure clothes, you can bring this lifestyle into every part of your life.
The philosophy is simple: When you feel comfortable, it seeps into every part of your life. You may find yourself more at ease at work, with friends, and in your outlook on life.
Dedicate Yourself To The Cozy Life
When you begin to dedicate yourself to making these parts of your life more comfortable, you will notice something.
Little things, like the time you take to drink your coffee in the morning, the cozy nook you read your book in, and that comfy sweater you reach for again and again, will start to feel so much fuller in your life.
Embracing the “hygge” life can open up so much for you. Are you willing to step into it?