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
