When I would sleep at my grandparents’ Florida apartment as a child, my grandmother would check if I was awake on her way to get a midnight snack in her cotton nightgown. She is a loud talker and a bold dresser (she prefers vibrant-colored monochromatic looks she calls the “Crayola Crayon Method”), and these moments are some of the few when I’ve seen her quiet and without a daring outfit. Her nightgowns are knee length (floor length if she is feeling conservative) and sometimes made of slightly sheer fabric (but never anything too flashy). On those nights, we’d tiptoe into the kitchen together and she would quietly warm up chocolate fudge to arrange ice-cream sundaes, which we would eat from bowls while sitting on the floor in the dark because moving chairs or turning on the lights would wake the rest of our family.
Even as a 7-year-old, I knew there was something so glamorous about my grandmother secretly eating dessert in a fancy-looking nightgown. Years later, so many girls on TikTok are making lists of things they “find chic,” and every time I watch one of these videos, I find myself revisiting those moments in my grandparents’ apartment. And so, in an attempt to re-create her luxurious look in my life, I began my hunt for an old-fashioned, cozy, grandmother-esque nightgown.
All of my grandmother’s nightgowns were purchased via catalogue, which didn’t help my hunt. (“I’m the catalogue queen,” she tells me, a Gen Z-er who shops in person and online and has no experience wearing high-end pajamas.) What exactly did I have in mind? My ideal nightgown was a cheeky, romantic one that was delicate yet comfortable. I wanted it to have a vintage vibe that was somehow still youthful so I didn’t look like I was playing dress-up. I also wanted a garment with personality — something playful. It’s a lot easier to tell you what I was not looking for: a silky slip, anything stuffy, anything too modern or lingerie (at least from the point of view of anyone born post-1950).
Early contenders
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I bought three nightgowns from the Slessic’s “Vintage” section, which is vintage inspired and not actually vintage. All three felt too formal and bridal for a regular couch nap, despite being pretty. This one is the most unique of my Slessic order — a two-piece made of a see-through robe layered on top of a slim-fitting slip. It’s romantic and elegant, but the layering-and-mesh combination feels too stuffy for what I’m looking for. The chest area was tighter than the rest, which was not ideal for sleep. To be honest, it doesn’t seem like the kind of thing someone would actually sleep in. I do, however, see a bride getting her hair and makeup done in it.
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I’ll start with the best feature of the Hanro Juliet nightgown: The straps. They’re adjustable — and actually easy to adjust — which makes this one versatile for different chest and torso sizes. The straps are also the thinnest they could be while still covering my bra straps, a rarely reached gold standard of spaghetti straps, in my opinion. It would make a good nightgown-sundress combo for anyone willing to spend big bucks (this was one of the more expensive on the list). Unfortunately, the lack of detail and the cool-toned white made this nightgown a little too modern for my liking.
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This is the most comfortable nightdress I tried on, and I wish it came in a size smaller so it would fit me correctly. The Tencel Modal and spandex fabric is so soft and slinky on the skin that I wanted to take a nap in the dressing room right on that messy chair in the background. Thanks to the cap sleeves, high sweetheart neckline, and extremely relaxed fit, it has a traditional look, which I can imagine working well on some people, but on me looks somehow both too mature and too childlike. It also runs large, so I recommend going one or two sizes down. I’d get this if the priority was texture only.
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I was skeptical about this one — I thought the long sleeves and wide chest would swallow me or look like a bedsheet. It kind of does both, but also makes me feel like a 1960s/’70s diva. I’d definitely prefer something more youthful and fun for everyday, but it’s a statement piece if you’re hoping for something more on the vintage side. Because of its long sleeves, it’s warmer than most of the others, so I recommend rotating it in during colder months. And so what if I kind of feel like Lena Dunham in Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood?
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I tried on a handful of Jacaranda Living nightgowns, and I would describe all of them as the nightgown equivalent of white sheets: simple yet elegant, cool to the touch, airy and comfortable. This one is very short but didn’t ride up when I lifted my arms. It’s too plain for what I’m hunting for, but I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a nighttime basic that shows off some leg.
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Can’t you just see Zooey Deschanel in this Kate Spade number? With black bows on the shoulders and polka dots across the pink Modal-spandex fabric, it’s the perfect nightie for a twee revivalist. I tried it because it reminded me of the Pink Ladies in Grease. It’s buttery soft and airy enough for summer nights. Plus it doesn’t have any requirements for washing and drying aside from “machine wash,” which is nothing compared to most of the gowns’ instructions. However, the nightie is more sheer than I was expecting (my bra lines show through), and the seam at the top of the chest accentuates the bust area — which makes this gown too showy for this hunt.
Runners-up
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I love this nightgown’s fuchsia color and its unintentional fit-and-flare fit (it looks loose on the website but fits me tighter at the top than the waist and hips). The small size of the paisley pattern makes it blend together and not overwhelm my five-foot-two frame. My grandmother is a fan too. “I’m a sucker for color,” she texted me in response to a photo. This was just about as flattering as a non-lingerie nightgown can be. The one downside is that it feels a little modern and trendy rather than classic — a key component of my hunt.
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I’m a Reformation lover, not only for its impeccable dressing-room lighting and bizarre in-person shopping experience (highly recommend the “magic closet” locations), but because a lot of its clothes rock. The brand’s first-ever pajama dress is no exception — it has adorable detailing, a fit that flatters my chest (with and without a bra underneath), and it comes with a matching scrunchie “while supplies last.” It’s so cute and would not be too sheer to wear with guests over. However, it feels like a cop-out to lean on a brand so synonymous with millennials and Gen Z to achieve the classic look I’m going for.
Winners
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I tried 30 nightgowns for this hunt — many of which weren’t even worth showing as contenders here — and I have three winners. For me, this one is a winner because of the ruffled butterfly straps, which add playful femininity to an otherwise simple gown. It looks very cute from the back, too, though the straps need some adjusting every now and then. It hits right above my knees. The fabric is softish but structured enough that I could wear it as a summer dress with sandals. The one thing I don’t like is the bottom detailing, which adds weight around the knees — but I appreciate that it might help me in the wind if I were to wear this outside. I had to buy it for its versatility!
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My grandmother told me she used to wear pinafores all the time in the ’50s and ’60s, and this felt like an homage to that. The sides are entirely open and tie together, which reveals a lot of skin but in a way that doesn’t feel too sexy. I love the unexpectedness here, the delicate balance between modesty and sexiness. Grandma thinks it’s “really beautiful,” and I agree, though I do think it’s too bridal for everyday. If you have naturally curly hair like me, I’d also recommend wearing your curls with this gown. It adds something!
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This little blue number makes me feel like a doll in the best way. The gown is traditional in its thick cotton fabric and pleating, but also incorporates playful details in the floral trim, lace cutouts, and flower-shaped buttons. It’s also the one I could most picture my grandmother wearing in 2007, and considering that’s literally what I’m looking for, we have a winner! Just one downside to note: It’s hard to put on and take off without undoing the buttons, so I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone with limited mobility. It’s also not particularly soft, so I’d prefer it for lounging (by the looks of it, with Nicole Kidman in Nantucket) instead of sleeping. After all that hunting, I was pleasantly surprised when I texted my grandmother a photo of this one. She replied: “I think I have that nightgown.”
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