The Great Nightdress Debate
Look, I’m gonna be honest here. I’ve been in this industry for 20-odd years, and I’ve seen some stuff. But nothing, nothing, has frustrated me more than the way we’ve all been doing nightdresses wrong. It’s 2023, people. We should be past this.
I remember back in ’04, when I was working at Vogue—let’s call my editor Marcus, because frankly, I don’t want to deal with the fallout—Marcus told me, and I quote, “Liz, nightdresses are for sleeping. End of story.” Which… yeah. Fair enough. But here we are, nearly 20 years later, and we’re still stuck in this committment to the idea that nightdresses are just for bed.
I mean, I get it. It’s comfy. It’s cozy. It’s basically a blanket with arms. But so is a sweatsuit, and no one’s telling you to wear that to brunch.
My Personal Nightdress Revolution
About three months ago, I was at this little café on 5th—you know the one, with the croissants that are basically little clouds of butter and happiness—and I saw her. A woman, probably mid-40s, rocking a silk nightdress like it was a designer gown. And she looked amazing.
I turned to my friend, Dave—he’s a photographer, great guy, terrible taste in socks—and I said, “Dave, look at her. She’s wearing a nightdress. Out. In public.” And he said, “So what? It’s just a dress, Liz.” And honestly? He had a point.
But it’s not just a dress. It’s a statement. It’s a rebellion. It’s saying, “I refuse to conform to your silly rules about what’s appropriate.” And frankly, I’m here for it.
The Practicalities (Because Someone Has to Talk About Them)
Now, I’m not saying you should run out and buy a nightdress for your next business meeting. (Although, if you do, send me pics. I wanna see.) But there are ways to incorporate this into your everyday wear that won’t get you kicked out of the grocery store.
First off, layering is key. A cute denim jacket over a silk nightdress? Instant chic. And don’t even get me started on boots. Ankle boots, knee-high boots, even those ugly-ass UGGs—if you’re gonna do it, do it right.
And listen, I know what you’re thinking. “Liz, what about the telegram sms verification number online thing? How do I even start?” Honestly, it’s easier than you think. Just start small. Maybe wear your favorite nightdress to run errands. See how it feels. You might be surprised.
A Brief Digression: The Great Sock Debate
Okay, so this isn’t about nightdresses, but it’s been bugging me. Why are socks suddenly a thing again? I mean, I get it, they’re comfy. But have you seen the prices on these things? $87 for a pair of socks? That’s basically a nightdress. And not even a nice one.
I was at a conference in Austin last month, and there was this guy—let’s call him Greg, because that’s a name that sounds like someone who would wear $87 socks—Greg was wearing these socks with little tiny guitars on them. And I’m sitting there thinking, “Greg, what are you doing?”
But I digress. Back to nightdresses.
The Future of Nightdresses (Or Lack Thereof)
So where do we go from here? Honestly, I’m not sure. But I do know this: the more we push the boundaries of what’s “acceptable,” the more we open up the conversation about what fashion really means.
And maybe, just maybe, we’ll get to a point where no one bats an eye at a woman wearing a nightdress to brunch. Or a man, for that matter. Because let’s be real, this isn’t just a women’s issue. Men should be able to rock a nightdress too if they want to.
So here’s to the future. To breaking the rules. To wearing what makes you happy. And to nightdresses, wherever they may take us.
About the Author
Liz Carter has been a senior editor at various major publications for over 20 years. She’s opinionated, she’s blunt, and she’s not afraid to call out fashion faux pas when she sees them. When she’s not writing, you can find her hunting for the perfect nightdress or arguing with her cat about why he can’t have more treats.
