When we moved into our new house last year, we got a new King Bed. Previously we'd slept in a Queen, which meant we needed all new bedding.
At that time I had a two week old baby and a house in chaos, so I was looking for the easiest fix. I went to the store, found a high thread count sheet that would not break the bank, and was in and out in under 5 minutes.
We slept on the sheets about two weeks before they began to pill and fuzz and basically fall apart. Not knowing any better, I returned to the same store, picked out a higher thread count sheet with a higher price tag, and I assumed it was worth it for a good night's sleep. Two weeks later I was in the same situation.
About that time I remembered an article on my favorite blog "Cupcakes and Cashmere" about bedding, so I took to google. (This also demonstrates the power of blogs! Yea!) The article is titled "11 Enlightening Facts you Never Knew About Bedding." The expert advice was provided by Ariel Kaye of Parachute.
When I got to their website, I became completely enthralled in the company's story. Ariel made a trip to the Amalfi coast and fell in love with the bedding. She said it was the best she's ever slept. When she got home she could not find sheets that compared to those she'd slept on in Europe, so she decided to make them. My family and I also wen to the Amalfi coast a few years ago, and I remember that bedding! I knew I could trust her.
Ariel had a few tips for finding the perfect sheets
1. Go straight to the source
If you want European Sheets, get sheets that are made in Europe. Parachute bedding is made in Tuscany and shipped straight to you, which is why it's so much less expensive. There is no middle man.
2. It's not all about thread count
It's the length of the fiber, not the thread count, that makes a perfect sheet. Brilliant marketing makes us think that the higher the thread count and higher the price, the better the sheet, but that's not true. Parachute sheets are made from long-staple Egyptian cotton and woven in a way that removes all imperfections.
3. Try before you buy
The easiest way to know if you will like a sheet is to feel it. I always dig my fingers into the side of sheet packages before I buy them so I can feel the finish. Parachute sheets come in two finishes, Sateen and Linen. This page explains the difference in the two and allows you to order swatches of each (in different colors) to make the most informed decision.
4. You don't have to buy a top sheet
In Europe it's normal to not sleep with a top sheep, and almost half of Americans forgo it as well. When you order from Parachute, the base set does not include a top sheet, but you can add it.
5. A higher price tag does not necessarily mean higher quality
Most brands up the price for adding things like "non-wrinkle" and "permanent press" to the label. To get these features they pump the sheets full of formaldehyde. The sheet sets at Parachute include only what you need for a great night of sleep and start at $89, which is more than affordable.
Jimmy and I got our sheets last week, and we could not be happier. I believe Jimmy's exact phrase was, "these sheets are so awesome they are melting my face right now." I don't even know what that means, but I know it's good.
I've slept better in the last week than I have in 18 months, and I am so thankful to Parachute for making these sheets! I forgot that sleep could be this good! At the end of the day it doesn't really matter if Jimmy and I are happy, only one person needs to love these sheets!
Our morning snuggles have never been better!
Please click out the FAQ page of their website if you have any questions about the types of sheets. Thank you!
If you liked this you might also like:
The 5 Elements of a Perfect Bath
The Top 10 Southern Made Products, Written By Sweet Peach Blog
P.S. Thank you to Caroline Fontenot of Back Down South for featuring me today! Caroline was featured on Southern Living as one of the 30 bloggers to follow in 2015, and her blog is awesome. As always, major props to Flock Boston for having the best clothes ever.
