Victorian nightgowns refer to the style of feminine night gowns which were introduced and were in style during Victorian era; that is during the reign of Queen Victoria, from mid to late 1800s. Till the Victorian era there was no special nightwear grouping that was terribly unique.
But during the Victorian era, increased prosperity and consciousness plus an increased interest in hygiene made nightgowns and sleepwear more of a necessity. The voluminous style of these women’s nightgowns is associated with the excessive modesty of the Victorian period. And, while the characteristic long cotton and lace sleeves were truest to that period and comfortable for sleeping, they were not terribly practical.
The most common Victorian nightdress styles are usually seen in romantic peignoir sets, which are the nightgowns and womens robe sets that a lot of brides traditionally wear on their wedding night and on their honeymoon. And, while the classic peignoir set is comprised of a long flowing romantic gown with a robe to match, nowadays shorter gowns are also used.
The Victorian night gown is characterized by a soft cotton glamorous night gown,which combines the best of sexy and stylish while radiating shyness, femininity and passion all in one. In the modern era these gowns became very popular when vintage fashion hit the fashion scene in a big way. Recently, with the influence of romantic Victorian period movies and fashion magazines focusing on specialty lingerie and intimate apparel, the selection at affordable prices has never been better. There are many styles and designs in these gowns which cater to the needs of every woman, whether rich or poor, stylish or orthodox, slim or heavy, glamorous or ordinary. Aside from long gowns and short ones, there are also a wide range of sleeve styles to choose from like the traditional long sleeves that everyone is acquainted with. There are short sleeves, and sleeves with embellishments and details like draw string ties, lace trim, crochet and lace, appliqus in a variety of materials like cotton, satin, silk and synthetics.
Since these nightgowns have increased in popularity it has become easier to shop them for them in some department stores, vintage shops and online. Some of the specialty lingerie and vintage stores make custom made nightgowns according to client’s choices. They also offer custom made matching night gowns for mothers, daughters and sisters or different styles that can be ordered through their catalogs. Though some may come in a polyester blend, traditionalists always tend to choose 100 percent cotton ones. What is so appealing about cotton? It is cool in summer and warm in the winter and it is usually extremely comfortable to wear. Cottons are machine washable, but extra care should be taken with regard to any lace trim or and delicate buttons used in the gowns. As mentioned before, today’s Victorian night gowns are both modern and traditional at the same time, and are available every where although the style and selection will vary from store to store and region to region.