Victorian Nightgowns - Which Is The Best For You?

Style

When it comes to shopping for romantic sleepwear, one of the first things you need to decide is what style you're looking for. Not sure? Let's break it down for you.

• Are you a traditionalist who loves the timeless beauty of true vintage pieces?
  

• Or, are you more of a modernist, who, while you enjoy the look and style of vintage inspired clothing, prefer new all the way? 

Here are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to true vintage and vintage-inspired nightgowns -

• Traditional or real vintage Victorian gowns are flouncy and exaggerated in styling

• They have a lot of extra detailing like lace, silk or satin ribbons and eyelet trim

• While these beautiful nightgowns are fabulous, they can be a) quite hard to find, b) very expensive, and c) extremely delicate and require extra care
  

• Modern night gowns with a Victorian flavor offer the same flowing silhouette, but do not have traditional frothy lace, billowing sleeves and / or fussy necklines

• These night gowns tend to focus on the simplicity of vintage styles, often with straight sleeves and pleated front panels

Length

Another important thing to consider is the length of your night gown and what you're most comfortable wearing.

There are three basic lengths that are available. Full length, ballet or mid-calf length, and above or just slightly below the knee.

Full length or long nightgowns are a good option if you are sensitive to colder temperatures and like to keep warm by wrapping your nightie around your legs.

Mid-calf length or ballet nightgowns are another great option. Not quite as long as full length gowns, many prefer them for the spring and summer months.

And finally, if you live in a warmer climate, have hot flashes or tend to feel too warm when you sleep, short nightgowns and sleeveless styles are a comfortable alternative.

Budget

Another thing to consider is how much you are comfortable spending. As with a lot of beautiful lingerie and sleepwear, the sky is the limit in terms of cost.

So, for example, if you've fallen in love with an exquisitely crafted Victorian nightgown, it can be quite expensive.

Hand made night gowns easily run several hundred dollars, depending on the quality of fabrics, such as cotton and linen, and detailing.

Egyptian and pima cotton are among the finest in the world and generally tend to be a fair bit more expensive than regular cotton and other fabrics.

What to do if cost is a big factor? Here are a few tips to keep things more affordable -

• Instead of high-end cotton nightgowns with pricey lace trims, check out nighties imported from India. India has a long tradition of beautifully-made cotton sleepwear that's affordably priced

• Consider cotton blends and / or simpler styles that are not embellished with expensive details such as lace or pearl buttons

• Shop off season. After Christmas sales are a wonderful time to score significant savings on nightgowns that otherwise would have been too expensive; though this will mean keeping a close eye on the styles and sizes that you want, and the timing of the sales.
  

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