Nightgowns

A nightgown is worn for sleeping, varying in length from a baby doll with matching panties to a full length gown.

Over their history, nightgowns have been made in almost any fabric, including cotton, silk, linen, rayon , wool and nylon.

Styles vary from the figure encompassing high collared, long sleeved and ankle length cotton and linen nightgowns of the 19th Century, to sleeveless batiste and silk shifts of the Teens and 1920s. Up to the rayon glamour gowns of the 1930s – 1950s. Nylon has been extremely popular in more recent years in both sheer and tricot as a hard-wearing, wrinkle free and easy to launder fabric. Cotton knits have had their day, too.

Nightgowns have traveled by many names: nightdress, nightshift, night smock, and nightie among them.

Written by HollisJ enkins-Evans/pastperfect2

Vintage 1930s Barbizon satin nightgown

Courtesy of pinky-a-gogo

Vintage 1930s bridal nightgown

Courtesy of gilo49

Vintage 1940s Aristocraft nightgown

Courtesy of thespectrum

Vintage 1940s Duchess nightgown

Courtesy of gilo49

Vintage 1940s nightgown pattern

Courtesy of joules

Vintage 1950s Van Raalte Sheerio nightgown

Courtesy of thespectrum

Vintage 1950s Darling nightgown

Courtesy of gilo49

Vintage 1950s nightgown set

Courtesy of clubvintage

Vintage 1950s Lady Duff nightgown set

Courtesy of clubvintage

Vintage Vanity Fair nightgown

Courtesy of pinky-a-gogo

Vintage 1950s Trillium baby doll nightgown

courtesy of dancingdresses

Vintage 1950s Fisher Heavenly Silk nightgown

Courtesy of route66gal

Vintage 1960s Kayser nightgown

Courtesy of thespectrum

Vintage sheer black chiffon nightgown

Courtesy of gilo49

Vintage 1960s chiffon nightgown

Courtesy of gilo49

Vintage 1960s chiffon nightgown

Courtesy of gilo49

Vintage 1970s High Life nightgown

Courtesy of gilo49

Vintage 1970s Silfra nightgown set

Courtesy of gilo49

Vintage 1970s Glydons nightgown

Courtesy of gilo49