Comfort, In Many Forms

Hi friend,

Nothing stirs nostalgia quite as much as memories of going to Blockbuster to pick out and rent a movie. That experience was much more satisfying than a typical night these days spent searching for something we want to watch across a bunch of streaming apps. 

Take The Agency, a good new spy show streaming on Paramount+ … but only via a “Paramount+ with Showtime plan” priced at $12.99 a month, versus a basic $7.99 “Paramount+ Essential” plan. Thus thwarted, we tried to locate The Bureau, the arguably better French spy series The Agency is based upon. A Google search and much laborious remote-typing later, we found it on Apple TV+ for $19.99 a season.

Adding payment tiers is one of the new ways that entertainment companies are attempting to make streaming profitable. The ad-supported lower tiers are actually the most lucrative per user, says The Hollywood Reporter.

Of course, even if you do manage to locate a show or a movie you want to watch on streaming – and even if you pay extra to rent or purchase it – it doesn’t mean you will always be able to watch it. Streaming entertainment is ephemeral; as many entertainment journalists have pointed out, once licenses expire, the materials you purchased simply vanish. 

It’s a small inconvenience in the grand scheme of things, but: Paying extra for content on top of a subscription (that continues to rise in price, mind you), while also encountering multiple ads inserted into the programming, is enough to make you want to dig out the DVD player and go back to basics.

Finding an enjoyable show or movie to watch is just part of our pursuit of all things cozy this winter season — which also includes soft sweats, fuzzy slippers, and a thick blanket. Our shopping picks for those items and more are below, along with a few recommendations for your week. See you back here Friday.

Bye,
Your friends at Gloria

There’s a very specific pleasure that comes with hunkering down and embracing warming and comforting things — soups, sweaters, blankets, a fire in the fireplace, a mug of tea. We went in search of that feeling, and found more than 17 ways to embrace it. Our picks are below.

• The fluffiest slippers. Ruti The Hug Slippers, $76.

• A little more presentable than most sweats. Pact Airplane Wide-Leg Pant, $58. Size XS to 3XL.

• These socks are worth the hype. Bombas Merino Quarter Sock 4-Pack, $83.60.

• Two lovely candles that capture the vibe of smoky campfires and sultry nights out. PF Candle Co. Campfire Candle, $18.20; Mar Mar Saint Martin Candle, $50.

• A sweatpant masquerading as evening wear. Donni The Velvet Simple Pant, $342. Size XXS to XXL.

• A low neck makes a big, drapey sweaterdress sexy. By Malene Birger Long Wool-Yak Sweaterdress, $272. Size S, M.

• Love the color and the vibe of these retro-cool sweats. The Great Lantern Pant, $131. Size 0 to 3.

• A classic; on the holiday wish list! L.L.Bean Wicked Good Slippers, $99.

• Always-cold people know: A puffer vest inside is a winter must. Old Navy Quilted Puffer Vest, $20. Size XS to 4XL.

• A moment of appreciation for this wonderful cardigan. Romualda Clyde Butterfly Cardigan, $152. Size S, M.

• Incredibly soft and comfy. Girlfriend Millie Straight-Leg Sweatpant, $88. Size XXS to 6XL.

• As soon as it gets cold out. LynnsDraperies Cedar-Filled Door Draft Stopper, $13.

• Always appreciate a cotton sweatshirt. H&M Organic Cotton Sweatshirt, $35. Size XS to XXL.

• Throws are always too small and flimsy; give us a quilt for the couch instead. Furbish Studio Sabrina Kantha Quilt, $69 (there are tons of vintage ones, too).

• A bit cooler than a regular beanie. James Street Chunky Beanie, $88.

• Slippers that you can wear outside. Ugg Tasman Suede Slippers, $110.

• Feels old timey, but hot water bottles are amazing for both warmth and stomach cramps. Vermont Country Store Hot Water Bottle, $19.95.

Shop the Story

One of the coolest developments in health over the past few years has been the rise of highly specific lab tests you can order direct to your door. Everlywell makes the process easy: simply order the test kits you are interested in, follow the instructions, and then access lab-processed results online. We like them because the labs they use are certified with CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments), meaning you can trust the results.

Just for Gloria readers, they’re offering 30 percent off all tests from 12/10 to 12/12 with the code GLORIA30 #partner

TO STREAM Who can forget the distinctive illustrations of Lisa Frank, the ‘90s brand whose colorful binders and stickers had our generation in thrall. New docuseries Glitter & Greed: The Lisa Frank Story (streaming on Prime) goes beneath the aesthetic to describe a toxic work environment. Of course, we’d be remiss to not mention Angelina Jolie’s v. serious turn as opera singer Maria Callas in Maria, streaming tomorrow on Netflix. It looks beautiful, but reviews are mixed.

TO GIFT Artisan brand Charles Chocolates is our go-to for holiday gifts. They handcraft their chocolates in small batches in San Francisco – meaning the quality is incredible – and their boxes are beautiful. As an extra treat for Gloria readers, they’re offering a free premium chocolate bar with any purchase of $50 or more. Shop all their delicious offerings here. #partner

TO LISTEN What a joy to listen to the aristocratic-sounding and thoughtful Tilda Swinton on life and death. That’s courtesy of this New York Times Magazine interview, which offers an audio version. And to cultivate a mood, put on Jon Batiste’s new album, Beethoven Blues. Even if you aren’t into classical music; his talent is honestly shocking.

22 ideas for surviving perimenopause. • LED car headlights are too bright! • Folded into this new-to-us word is a tiny dose of gratitude. • Don’t even know what to say about this Jay Z news.

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