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Dressing Gown: A robe worn in the bedroom or dressing room literally before or while dressing. Always a long sleeved and ankle garment, often in the wrap style with sash, although it has been seen with a button front. The style often is derived from the men’s robe style, with shawl collar, cuffs and tie belt. Over time, they were made in heavier fabrics suitable for general at home wear. The lines tend to follow current fashion.

Negligee: From the 19th C, a loose fitting , attractive robe worn informally at home. Usually trimmed with lace or ribbon, this was worn for rest with out a corset, or over a loosened corset. Supplanted by the tea gown in the early 1900s, it is now a feminine dressing gown in sheer fabrics.

Peignoir: From the French ‘peign’ to comb. Originally a combing jacket worn over undergarments while dressing the hair. By the late 19th and 20th C, became a lightweight, often sheer robe worn over nightwear or undergarments in the bedroom. Always a loose garment with a tie at the neck and an open front. Worn in various fabrics from as early as the 16th C.

Written by Hollis Jenkins-Evans/pastperfectvintage.com


Edwardian silk dressing gown  - Courtesy of anothertimevintageappearal

Edwardian silk dressing gown

Courtesy of anothertimevintageappearal

Vintage 1940s novelty print dressing gown - Courtesy of thespectrum

Vintage 1940s novelty print dressing gown

Courtesy of thespectrum

1940s dressing gown - Courtesy of poppysvintageclothing@sympatico.ca

1940s dressing gown

Courtesy of [email protected]

Vintage 1950s baby doll peignoir - Courtesy of gilo49

Vintage 1950s baby doll peignoir

Courtesy of gilo49

Vintage Gossard black lace peignoir set  - Courtesy of vivavintageclothing

Vintage Gossard black lace peignoir set

Courtesy of vivavintageclothing

Vintage 1950s negligee pattern - Courtesy of bootyvintage

Vintage 1950s negligee pattern

Courtesy of bootyvintage

Vintage 1960s Schiaparelli peignoir set - Courtesy of thespectrum

Vintage 1960s Schiaparelli peignoir set

Courtesy of thespectrum

Vintage 1960s peignoir  - Courtesy of poppysvintageclothing@sympatico.ca

Vintage 1960s peignoir

Courtesy of [email protected]

Vintage 1960s Lucie Ann peignoir set - Courtesy of thespectrum

Vintage 1960s Lucie Ann peignoir set

Courtesy of thespectrum

Vintage 1970s peignoir  - Courtesy of themerchantsofvintage

Vintage 1970s peignoir

Courtesy of themerchantsofvintage

Vintage 1970s peignoir set  - Courtesy themerchantsofvintage

Vintage 1970s peignoir set

Courtesy themerchantsofvintage

Vintage 1970s peignoir set - Courtesy of themerchantsofvintage

Vintage 1970s peignoir set

Courtesy of themerchantsofvintage

Vintage 1970s nylon set - Courtesy of Jazzbug

Vintage 1970s nylon set

Courtesy of Jazzbug