I don’t need a sleeping mask. First of all, my problems these days are more about finding time to sleep, than needing clever implements to help me fall into it. Second, they tend to make me slightly claustrophobic. Who wants to wear a thing that doesn’t let you open your eyes? Third, it is my theory that eye masks are used by people who want to look like Aubrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, but not quite succeeding.

So, true to style, I bought a sleeping mask last week. What can I say? At least it’s not of the Breakfast at Tiffany’s variety, although I should stop offending people who use one of these – clearly I have no principles or backbone and will purchase one at some point. Come to think of it, I used to own a ridiculously long cigarette holder, and I cannot even smoke properly.

Anyway, back to Ööloom’s face blankets, as they are called: these are handmade in Estonia from felt and flannel, but I bought one purely because it looked cute. Mine is modeled after a polar bear, but there are several other styles, from komodo dragon to owl. I very much hope the unicorn version will go into production soon, I definitely need that one, too.

The attraction of the face blankets is not only about cuteness, however. The whole brand is just so… nice. Everything is witty and well thought out and coherent and positive. I’m very hard to please when it comes to marketing, but I like what they do and I’m perfectly willing to be manipulated by their advertising. How could you not love something with a slogan “Sleep Like an Animal”? I’ll probably give face blankets as gifts to everybody I know this year, even to persons with black dresses, pearls and cigarette holders.