Keeping cozy with—clockwise from left to right— a faux fur-lined trapper hat, a set of sweats, a faux fur throw, shearling-lined mittens and oh-so-soft pjs and cushy slippers.
By MyLittleBird Staff
HAPPY 2025, everyone. In case you’re wondering, I took a break the last week of December, but now I’m right back here in the considering what’s cozy—wardrobe-related, mainly. The frigid temps sending chills and pouring snow down the East Coast have given me loads of inspiration.
When it’s freezing outside, nothing keeps me as warm as my shearling coat. Shearling slippers also make cold feet a non-issue. To avoid the shivers on the seriously under-heated pickleball courts I play on, I rely on a fleece jacket and sweatpants, plus a Uniqlo HeatTech turtleneck. My neck is jonesing for a trendy triangle knit scarf. I’ve recently bought a couple of corduroy pants that are much more insulating than jeans; the same goes for corduroy shirts.
Take a peek at my cozy picks directly below. I also asked my colleagues—Nancy McKeon, Kathy Legg and Meredith Gallo—to chime in with their thoughts on what makes them feel cozy.
If you want to feel warm, don’t forget your feet. L.L. Bean’s Wicked Good Squam Lake slippers keep tootsies toasty with shearling-lined collar and insole.
Everyone from H&M to Hermès is embracing triangle scarves. These from Free People are the perfect size to keep your neck warm and come in five colors.
Soft and snuggly pjs feel like a big hug for the body.
Corduroy has made a comeback for cold weather. This shirt in pale khaki from L.L. Bean comes in nine other colors.
Nancy
As for cozy, if you want to be truly warm in temps that drift below 15 degrees or so, strap on a dead animal. Sad but true: My 37-year-old knee-length sheared mouton jacket (yes, it has exaggerated shoulder pads) is what I trot out when the temperature truly dips. Also, one December more than a few years back, it was 14 degrees in NYC and I happened to be walking (with Janet) through the Fur District; hence my fox-trimmed trapper hat, complete with furry earflaps.
My problems are my fingers and my earlobes. so even in relatively mild winter weather, even 40 degrees, I wear ear muffs (they just look as though I’m listening to music like everyone else on the street) and Ugg shearling-lined sheepskin mittens (mittens are cozier than gloves because your fingers can keep one another warm).
Water-repellent quilt fabric lined with faux fur on Eric Javits’s trapper hat keeps heads dry and warm.
Long-haired shearling on these Coach muffs ensure warm ears.
The embroidery is a nice touch, but the warmth of these Ugg mittens comes from the sheepskin inside and out.
Kathy
I tend to run hot, plus I HATE to be smothered in a lot of layers, so cozy really doesn’t describe my wardrobe. However, I do have a couple options I depend on when things cool down.
When I turned 60 I splurged and bought myself a beautiful long black shearling coat. It’s gorgeous and incredibly warm. I feel very swank wearing it. But as the winters have gotten milder I’ve worn it less and less. It’s heavy. Last winter I decided to go for something lighter weight and turned to Eileen Fisher and one of her puffer coats. I think it’s even warmer than the shearling. And I swear it weighs less than a butterfly. It’s stuffed with some recycled material (garbage bags I’m guessing)(not really)(maybe), and no amount of cold wind seems to penetrate it. I wouldn’t say I look swank (who does in a puffer coat) but I also don’t look like the Pillsbury Dough Boy thanks to the Eileen Fisher aesthetic.
My only other recommendation for apparel that verges on cozy is the Tommy Bahama half-zip sweatshirt, which has been my winter uniform for years. I have at least a dozen in different colors. Plus multiple white ones. They’re soft and warm and really don’t look like sweatshirts. Casual but not sloppy.
This Eileen Fisher puffer coat is lightweight, warm and wind-repellent.
Kathy’s winter uniform comes in a slew of colors.
Meredith
I’M THE opposite of Kathy. I run cold. To me being cozy always means throwing on a big cashmere sweater. This is a really obvious one but I’ve re-fallen in love with layering long-sleeved t-shirts under my wool or cashmere sweaters. I invested in a few Heat Tech T-shirts from Uniqlo, and they’re my new favorite thing. They’re just so warm and feel like a second skin.
I was just visiting my family in Atlanta over Christmas and I unfortunately found myself at Lululemon queuing with about 100 other people to buy or return something. The line was mostly young girls and their moms and nearly all of them were in some sort of sweatsuit or planning to buy some sort of sweatsuit. My own mom is a big proponent of the sweatsuit as something cozy to wear at home or while running errands. I’m less convinced, but she got this Spanx half-zip and wide-leg pants set for Christmas that I love.
On the topic of coats. I just gifted myself this wool blend wrap coat from Banana Republic. I haven’t tested it yet on a cold day, but it’s very chic when I wear it in front of my bathroom mirror.
I also love a big cozy blanket and saw that Pottery Barn is having a sale on most of their throw blankets. This one caught my eye.
A matched set in black looks chic.
Meredith’s double-face wool coat from Banana Republic.
A blanket invitation to snuggle.
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