Sleep & Loungewear

Sleepwear is designed primarily for sleeping — pajama sets, nightgowns, chemises, and robes that prioritise softness and comfort against the skin overnight. Loungewear overlaps but is made to be worn around the house and potentially in public — camisoles, wide-leg pants, matching sets that sit between dressed and undressed. At Journelle, most pieces in this collection work as both, which is the point.

Silk and silk-satin are the most luxurious — temperature-regulating, smooth against the skin, and genuinely beautiful. Modal and Tencel are the best everyday options: soft, breathable, and more forgiving to wash than silk. Cotton is reliable for warmth and comfort. The fabric to avoid for sleep specifically is synthetic microfibre — it doesn't breathe, which affects sleep quality.

If you sleep in them regularly, yes. Silk regulates temperature better than most other fabrics — cooler in summer, warmer in winter — and the feel against skin is genuinely different from anything else. The care requirement (hand wash or delicate cycle, no dryer) is the main consideration. A well-made silk pajama set lasts years with proper care, which makes the cost-per-wear reasonable.

A chemise is a slip-style sleepwear piece — typically a loose, lightweight dress that sits at mid-thigh or knee length, worn without anything underneath. It's one of the oldest sleepwear silhouettes and also the most versatile: a silk or satin chemise works as a slip dress under sheer clothing as easily as it does as a nightgown.

Weight and length are the two decisions. A lightweight silk or satin robe is for warmer months or layering over sleepwear — it's more glamorous than functional. A heavier cotton or waffle-knit robe is genuinely warm and better for cooler weather. Length is personal — long robes feel more enveloping, short robes are easier to move in. Hardware details (loops, quality belt ties) are a quick indicator of overall construction quality.

Hand-wash in cool water with a gentle or specialist silk detergent — never hot water, which shrinks and damages the fibres. If machine washing, use a mesh bag on the most delicate cycle available. Never wring or twist; press gently in a towel to remove water and lay flat or hang to dry away from direct sunlight. No dryer, no iron on high heat. A cool iron on the reverse side is fine for satin-finish silks if needed.