Nightgowns

Nightgowns are a nightime clothing which are usually worn by women and are made in a shape of a dress.  Today there are many types of women's nightgowns and they are also referred to as pyjamas.

In the Middle Ages, unlike today, people slept in the nude. Nighgowns, nightshirts, pyjamas and any other types of night wear did not exist in the Middle Ages.

When the textile industry began,  nightgowns and nightshirts were heavy and long.  They were worn by men and women, because there were the same shape. In Europe in the 17th century inspired by Asian textile dressing gowns became popular,  The nightgowns were usually made with silk, and fashioned by the Japanese kimono.

     Nowadays, there are a variety of nightgowns in sizes, shapes, colors and fabrics and these are mostly worn by womens. The nightgowns which are worn by men are known as nightshirts. When imagining nightgowns, silky, baby doll nightgowns, come to mind  or maybe a floor length satin peignoirs, most nightgowns are imagined as sexy and associated with honeymoons, and the majority  of them are.  These kind of nightgowns, which are very colorful and revealing, are meant to make the woman feel attractive and sensual, they are deisgned for beauty and definitely not for warmth.

If you will pay attention, "Baby doll" nightgowns and chemises are usually sleeveless including some kind of thin strap, the skirt part of the nightgown is hanging down until the hips.  

There is also some confusion about Teddies. Teddies are not a type of nightgown at all. Teddies shape is more like a swimsuit.

                 

Another type of nightgown is a floor length peignoirs which is usually made of a sheer material, including spaghetti straps, and is also close fitted.

Each one of the nightgowns that are mentioned are usually used for special occasions and not for everyday. The popular nightgowns for everyday are usually the knee-length nightgowns.

  Sometimes nightgowns are almost like regular clothing, depending on the fabric which is used. Nightgowns made with cotton are the  most popular. There are a variety of nightgowns made from cotton from summer nightgowns to heavy flannel button ups. Some nightgowns are also made with silk, satin and even nylon. Most women find that they enjoy the variety and have at least one of every type. There are also more special nightgowns that include lace or silk which are very sexy.