by Erika Lenkert

Over my 15-year travel-writing career I have tested the full range of beds, from sagging sponge-like mattresses blanketed with scratchy, stiff sheets to the finest pillow-top palaces draped in gazillion-thread-count imports of luxury properties. While I can grin and bear the basics with the best of ‘em, I have come to appreciate that given we (hopefully) spend one third of our lives in bed, luxury beds and bedding are one of the most practical splurges out there. Hence, my rationale for buying the Ritz-Carlton mattress and Kashwere blanket that tops it.

Ironically, unlike Jessica Simpson who famously touted her $1,500 splurge on bed linens, and two of the nation’s top interior designers, Emma Jane Pilkington and Jamie Drake, who declared sheets are one thing you should never skimp on when decorating, the notion of actually owning exceptional sheets eluded me.

But that was before I had the opportunity to test out the new SFERRA Giza 45® sheets.

Made from a super fine yarn called Giza 45—the crème de la crème of Egyptian cotton exclusively allocated to one of the world’s finest Italian shirt makers until now— SFERRA Giza 45® sheets don’t boast their impressive thread count, but its glorious feel. Light and silky, dare I say almost buttery, these sheets never feel cold at first touch and have an indulgent quality that literally makes me notice and relish them every single time I get into bed.

Now I truly understand why Pilkington and Drake consider great sheets a must-have. Not all home splurges need be trumpeted to every visitor. In this case, private indulgence is even better. And if you’re going to go the designer distance on your bedding, it doesn’t get any better than this.

The Details
Available in percale, sateen and jacquard in Ivory or White finished with SFERRA’s classic hemstitch treatment.
Prices range from $250-$1,120.
For more info visit www.sferralinens.com.