Snuggie

Photo: Martha Williams

MY SNUGGIE AND ME If there’s a buzzword for this winter, it’d have to be Snuggie. The ridiculous-looking blanket with sleeves has become a postholiday pop-culture phenomenon thanks to its even more ridiculous commercial. I love viewing it so much that I’ve even stopped fast-forwarding on my TiVo to catch it. Do I love (and love to make fun of) this 30-second clip because the blankets make people look like monks or extras from a Harry Potter movie? Is it because the makers of the product actually believe it’s that difficult to change the TV channel while wrapped in a blanket? Or is it because of the scene depicting a Snuggie-clad family, warm and cozy, with arms waving about at a football game? All of the above, really. And I’ve been obsessing about this commercial so much that when I saw the fleece covering for sale at Bed Bath & Beyond ($15, locations around the city), I decided to pick one up. First of all, the blanket is much thinner than I expected. It’s basically a very staticy, thin layer of ugly royal-blue fleece with wizard sleeves. I can’t help but feel silly wearing it—especially when I attempt to type on my computer at the office. And because it’s backless, I wouldn’t recommend wearing this thing to a football game or any other outdoor activity. But if you want to get cozy on the sofa, Snuggie does the trick. Be warned, though, it’s difficult to seriously make fun of Snuggie when you’re actually wearing one. And if I had to choose, I think I’m more obsessed with mocking the commercial.

We know you own one. E-mail photos of you in a Snuggie to snuggie@timeoutchicago.com. The best will be featured on timeoutchicago.com.