The nightie’s fashion stock has been rising ever since Miu Miu and Chloé brought it out of the bedroom and onto the catwalk at the spring/summer 2025 Paris shows.
For a piece to go viral, there is more involved. The catwalk versions are a strong foundation, but people need to start wearing them for them to truly take off. It’s only when we see clothes alive that they become recognisable, and more of us make a beeline for them. In the case of the nightie dress, its initial influential patrons included Kaia Gerber, Alexa Chung, Addison Rae and Sabrina Carpenter. The final catalyst for lift-off was its strong presence in Lena Dunham’s buzzy new Netflix romcom series, Too Much. The show’s heroine, played by Meg Stalter, is a fan of two If Only If designs – feminine, vintage-inspired, ruffled styles that have a strong Jane Austen energy. Walk through any East London street this weekend and you are bound to spot a 20-something hipster wearing a sweet broderie anglaise nightie with oval shades, and fisherman sandals.
Ebba dress, £231, Ciao Lucia
This isn’t the first time the nightie has entered the fashion lexicon. Courtney Love used to wear babydoll styles with chunky boots and tiaras back in the 90s, and the current obsession is more than a little influenced by the whimsical, pretty and faintly Victorian designs worn by the Lisbon sisters in Sofia Coppola’s iconic 1999 film, The Virgin Suicides. The reason they make perfect summer dresses remains the same – they’re feminine, breezy and comfortable, which feels particularly relevant in a summer of heatwaves. There is a dreamy charm to the nightie; they’re gentle and soft, two things we definitely need more of in 2025. Conveniently, they also travel well – a rolled up nightie takes up very little space in a suitcase.
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To keep them grounded within the daywear space, style with a solid shoe – a chunky sandal or a loafer, or a boot if you’re festival-bound – and a bag with substance, something in leather or suede. Don’t forget jewellery – a few layered necklaces and a chunky bracelet will ensure that you don’t look like you’ve just rolled out of bed. You don’t need to go far to find the perfect style either – If Only If is leader of the pack, but Damson Madder and Reformation also do good options. I love East London boutique Straw London for white cotton styles that have nightie appeal, but with a touch more shape. Don’t overlook Vinted or eBay, both of which are treasure troves for pre-loved iterations that won’t cost the earth. My favourite place to find nighties are in markets on holiday where they are abundant, and often come with the sort of delicate detailing that are very catwalk-adjacent.
Here, we’ve rounded up our favourite dream-like nighties with daywear staying power:
Lead image: Too Much courtesy of Netflix
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