Perfect PJs: The restful middle ground between snooze-worthy and nightmarish

I look like someone who’s given up on life, as well as the day, when I hit the sack at night. What can I do?

Sleepwear sees the light of day at Fiorucci’s spring 2025 show at Milan Fashion Week.Credit: Getty Images

Experts suggest that success in life starts with making your bed when you get up. Perhaps the same logic applies to turning in in style. Does stripping off to count sheep in underwear that’s as exhausted as we are (think blown-out boxers and a rapidly greying corporate T-shirt on its last legs) really promote productive sleep? In which case, maybe our choice of PJs should be as important a part of our evening ritual as our cold cream, hot milk and snore strips. (Conscious nightwear is, of course, a necessity if you live in a share home, are prone to sleep-walking in upmarket neighbourhoods, or are still waiting for curtains to arrive in your apartment.)

In recent years, nightwear has been either totally snooze-worthy (hospital blues) or nightmarishly REM-busting (garish cartoons). We recommend a middle ground of classic stripes, bold checks and soft florals that will always be more restful than SpongeBob SquarePants – unless, of course, your age matches your bedtime. Consider investing in soft slippers and a statement robe. The trick, as always, is to not get too comfortable: it’s still best to get dressed before answering the front door, nipping out for a carton of milk or braving the school run.

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