This is a question I get quite often–what about nightgowns as opposed to sweatpants and a T-shirt?
As a former T-shirt, sweat pants, and PJ set wearer, let me offer a personal opinion to stimulate some thoughts:
- -Doesn’t wearing lovely things make us feel lovely? Then what’s wrong with feeling lovely at night, too?
- -Does it make sense to flow through our day modeling grace and femininity, then slip into our husband’s shorts and T-shirts at night?
- -Speaking of the men, how about husbands? If they appreciate how charming we look during the day and how it raises their chivalrous feelings and behavior, how do they feel about how we look at night?
- -How about children? If they see us as the epitome of womanhood during the day, how does seeing us dressed like a rugby player at night affect their perception?
How about it, ladies. Care to share what you wear to bed? What your husband thinks? What the children think? Or any comments?
Nightgown pattern, Butterick 5061
Now, where to get nightgowns. Please share your favorite resource!!!
UPDATE: Here’s a pattern I used for a nightgown and bed-jacket (robe). I added machine embroidery to it, too!
Bedjacket/Robe (Butterick 5061)
If you sew, this is my favorite pattern (and I found it nearly 20 years ago):
Other also read:
Hey, Colleen …
I love the new look of the website. Good work.
Well, I’m not married so I can’t tell you what my husband thinks but my general rule of thumb for sleep wear is: if there was a fire or something and I had to rush out of the apartment, what would I want people to see? So, often times I wear old comfy skirts and T-shirts with appropriate undergarments. This idea came from the days of being a house mother in St. Mary’s and a nanny. If I had the money I would buy pretty nightgowns but some of those could be sheer so a nice robe would be good covering.
Well, for what that’s worth …
In Corde Jesu!
Has anybody found any patterns or websites for *pretty* pajamas? I hate the way I get tangled up in a nightgown, and don’t find them warm enough in the winter. Most pajamas, though, look rather mannish.
I wear night gowns/shirts made out of knit material so it gives when I move instead of pulling and resisting. They are so much more comfortable. You can buy simple ones in a t-shirt style and add lace and embroidery yourself.
Great idea!!!
Thanks, Erica! We had the website and Blog cleaned up and fixed by a pro.
Pretty nightgowns with a robe, YES. I made this one, but it CERTAINLY needs the bed jacket to go with it!
I think you raise an important point that I’m only going to touch upon briefly for obvious reasons: as St. Thomas Aquinas says, we dress for our husbands. Robes and bed-jackets go over the top of it. But, chastity for our state in life goes hand-in-hand with that! As always, virtue lies in the middle.
Here’s some vintage nightgown patterns, Mom of 4: http://www.sovintagepatterns.com/lingerie.html
Tangled? I worry more about a nightgown creeping up (which only happens when a nightgown is NOT a full cut). The tangling doesn’t bother me. But I don’t move much when I sleep, either. (Except to deal with child noises in the night!)
Oops…
This is the pattern I use. I add embroidery throughout.
Butterick 5061, views B & C. http://butterick.mccall.com/b5061-products-7674.php?page_id=916&search_control=display&list=search
I like the look of frilly, frothy nightgowns but find them typically awfully uncomfortable, often not warm enough and as the other poster said … if I have to get up in the middle of the night, dressing gown notwithstanding, I don’t feel well covered or “safe.” Worse would be an emergency situation. It’s a tough one due to conflicting feelings.
I’m sorry about sounding negative in my previous post. Actually the gown pictured is lovely … is that from a site that sells gowns?
No problem, Lisa! I knew what you meant.
Yes, it’s the pattern from Elizabeth Lee designs. I’ve made it short and long, with short sleeves and with long sleeves. Quite simple and I find it very comfy!
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Colleen, I try not to think about sleepwear too much, but after reading what you said in “Dressing with Dignity” on the matter, I could not agree more.