Customers shop for warmth as thermals are back

• Sales of thermals surge compared to last year
• Hooded blankets a best seller at John Lewis
• Onesies being bought far earlier in the season

Customers are layering up and investing in cosy clothing as they prepare for a tough winter. Thermal clothing, hooded blankets and onesies are already topping customers’ shopping lists. 

Our blanket hoodies, priced at £36, have become a top seller, and dressing gowns are already up 76% compared to last year, with sales of men’s dressing gowns particularly strong for the past couple of weeks. 

Onesies, which are normally a Christmas staple, have been in hot demand much earlier in the season. Our customers are looking to lounge in complete comfort, and onesie sales last week were already up 253% compared to last year.

Sales of women’s winter thermals are up 117% on last week, with our John Lewis Heat Generating Thermal Top and Heat Generating Thermal Leggings proving to be bestsellers. In menswear we’re also seeing the popularity of thermals grow, with sales already three times bigger than last year.

Gloves, too, are on the up with a 45% uplift in sales of women's gloves year on year.

Footwear is also being purchased for warmth and comfort. Last week slippers were the most searched for item in women's shoes on johnlewis.com and sales lifted by 43% compared to last week. The recently launched John Lewis Sheepskin Cropped Boot Slippers are proving a hit, as sales increased by 40% compared to the previous week, and John Lewis sheepskin footwear overall leapt by 84% week-on-week. 

Claire Miles, Head of Category Fashion at John Lewis, said: “With the cost of energy such a concern, we are seeing customers spend with heat in mind. Onesies used to be bought as a light-hearted Christmas gift - but this year they are being purchased much earlier in the season, along with hooded blankets, perhaps indicating people are buying them with the more serious intention of keeping warm.

“Thermals were perhaps once viewed as a little old fashioned - but this year they are in hot demand and have once again become a winter essential.”