Women's Sleepwear

No longer is it just nightgowns, chemises, pajamas and bathrobes. Women now sleep in everything from boyfriends' boxers to camisoles and boyshorts. You still have your traditional women's pajamas, and nighties - these are sleepwear staples. However, women are now branching off into more comfortable and/or sexy sleepwear areas. On the comfortable side you have soft cotton knit and woven sleepwear and loungewear that you could sleep in, or feel comfortable wearing if you had to answer the door. On the sexy side you have sexy gowns that are sheer, clingy, embellished with lace trim, very short, and worn with thongs. And the babydoll lingerie category has become very popular.

You may have wondered where the terms pajamas, negligee, chemise and babydoll lingerie came from to describe various women's sleepwear garments. Well, here's a brief history.

The word pajamas was the name given to a loose, lightweight drawstring trouser worn in South and West Asia. The name was picked up in British Colonial India when such pants and a tailored loose top were combined into a sleepwear garment. The 50's TV shows showing couples in single beds also showed them completely covered up in pajamas in order to let bedroom scenes pass the sensors' scrutiny. Today, pajamas are affectionately referred to as "pjs".

In French, negligee meant "careless" or "neglected." This word transitioned to mean an informal gown of soft sheer fabric to be worn by women at home. Back when tight corseted clothing was common, women would take an afternoon rest by removing their corsets and slipping into a loose-fitting negligee. Over the years, this term has evolved and now means a woman's sheer, loose nightgown or dressing gown.

The word chemise is actually the original word given to underwear garments. Back when fabrics were not as soft, a chemise was a one piece, loose hanging garment worn underneath to provide protection and padding from the outer garment. Chemises were much easier to clean than the outer garments, so it was common to have several chemises and rotate them between washings. Today the word chemise has evolved to mean a long or short a-line sleepwear nightgown.

Ladies Sleepwear Today:

When you think of women's sleepwear today, items like nightgowns, cotton nighties and women's pajamas come to mind. But there are several variations. Take the nightgown. A woman's nightgown can be hip-length to floor length. Nightgowns can be full as in our Amanda Rich nightgowns fashioned after the famous Lucie Ann nightgowns of the 1950's. They can also be straight with slits like our Hanro and Natori nighties.

As for women's pajamas, they can now be short sleeve or sleeveless like the Oscar de la Renta pajamas. Cotton pajamas are popular, like those made by PJ Salvage, P-jamas and Hanro. But Vanity Fair pajamas made of nylon are still a classic. The pajama style is a classic one, but there are sexy pajamas out there as well.

As mentioned above, the babydoll has been very popular. Its popularity stems from the fact that it's short and usually teamed up with a thong to make for very sexy sleepwear. Babydoll lingerie is not going away any time soon. HerRoom carries babydoll sets by Dreamgirl, Oh La La Cherie, Shirley of Hollywood and Seven 'til Midnight.

Plus Size Sleepwear:

HerRoom has worked very hard to create a plus-size sleepwear collection. For some reason, most manufacturers don't consider that full figure women need plus-size sleepwear. We're excited about our Natori plus size gowns and robes, in vibrant solids and prints. Eileen West offers beautiful nightgowns for plus sizes as well, in short, ballet and waltz lengths.

Robes and Bathrobes:

A robe just isn't a robe. When it comes to robes, there are several types. For example, spa robes are the soft white terry cloth styles that you put on to get dry or to feel warm. Bathrobes (or bath robes) are what you want to put on when getting out of a tub or shower. Kimono robes can be a silk or satin robe with long full sleeves and a wrap design. And of course, there is that comfortable flannel bathrobe that always makes you feel better even if you happen to be under the weather.

Caftans are robes without the wrap design. Front zip caftans are very popular, since they can be stepped into and put on quickly. A caftan is a great travel outfit. It doubles as a robe or as an outfit. And, women with limited dexterity can easily put them on. Moroccan caftans slip on over the head and generally have embroidery or embellishment. They also tend to be made in lively colors and prints. Natori, Ellen Tracy, Urban Muu Muu and Oscar de la Renta make fabulous caftans.

HerRoom carries a great selection of robes and bathrobes. Josie Natori is famous for her beautiful women's sleepwear and robes. In fact, Natori makes beautiful matching nightgown and robe sets as does Oscar de la Renta. Hanro cotton robes are classic and glamorous, coming in long and shorter versions. If you are looking for a more youthful robe, P-Jamas has great soft and comfortable wrap robes. Betsey Johnson Intimates also makes great robes for the young-at-heart.

Women's sleepwear as you can see is diverse in terms of silhouette and lifestyle. Sleepwear with wicking technology is a new category. Designed for women entering menopause, wicking sleepwear moves night sweat away from your body. The result is a more restful, comfortable night's sleep. Knock Out! nightgowns, Softies by Paddi Murphy and Cuddl Duds sleep separates feature this technology.

Sleepwear makes a great gift, and we offer free shipping. So, stock up!

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