Just try and imagine a Hollywood bedroom scene (literally – a scene in a bedroom …) from the 1950s where the Monroe or Mansfield is wearing a floppy tee with a picture of a teddy bear holding a flower. It just doesn’t work, does it? The nightgowns of yesteryear were sensual, light and ornamental, full of poise, character and femininity. And why worry about it being a little revealing when there’s always the dressing gown to throw on when the postman knocks for a signature?
There’s no doubt about it, the nightdress is an item of clothing that really deserves to make a comeback. It’s the epitome of nocturnal style, with lashings of glamour and an undeniable hint of mystery. It comes from an age when such things mattered, an age forgotten in our era of dressing down and being relentlessly informal or cutesy. Who authorised this transition? There’s no doubt that a cotton smock can be stitched together in a fraction of the time and at a tiny cost, but are we sacrificing something important for this benefit? Let’s not forget that a good nightdress’s lifespan can be measured in years, while a cotton nightshirt’s life is measured in washes.
So the campaign to rehabilitate the glamour of ladies’ nightdress fashion starts here. You might be lucky enough to find a mainstream retailer willing to take the plunge and start stocking authentic nightdresses, but your best bet is probably to visit a specialist vintage clothing supplier, of which there are some fine examples online – as well as some cities’ fashion quarters. As soon as you set eyes on these examples of fine, delicate tailoring, you’ll want to slip into one and lounge around your home or curl up in bed with a good book. The silks, satins, laces and chiffons on offer will transport you to a world of glamour, glitz and breakfast at the Ritz.
Sure, keep your floppy tee shirt and cotton trousers for the chilly winter nights and when you’re doing your make up. Just think about bringing these iconic pieces of deeply sensual women’s wear in from the cold and give them a place in your wardrobe and in your bedroom. You can go online right now and order yourself a classic nightdress and consign your old slouchy self to the bottom drawer. All you’ll need to worry about is what to be wearing when the postman knocks with your special package.