Silk nightwear earns its place every month of the year. But summer is when the case makes itself. The pieces I reach for first on a warm evening aren't the newest arrivals, they're the silk nightdresses, camisoles and pyjama sets that come into their own the moment the windows open and the pace slows.
We sell more silk at Christmas than any other time of the year, which makes sense because it's often bought as a gift. However, there is sometimes an assumption that silk belongs to autumn and winter, something to wrap up in when the temperature drops. It's only half right. Silk is just as good in the heat, for the same reason it's good in the cold. It works with your body rather than against it.
This isn't a marketing claim; it's how the fibre behaves. Pure silk is naturally breathable and regulates temperature on its own, cool against the skin the moment you put it on. It sits as a light, fluid layer that never clings, drawing moisture away while staying weightless against you. In winter that same quality holds warmth; in summer it sheds it. Either way, it's why silk is worth wearing all year, not saving for one season.
The Myth of the 'Special Occasion'
Years ago I bought a beautiful silk chemise and convinced myself it was too special to wear. It stayed folded in a drawer for well over a year while I waited for the right occasion. One evening I came across it and realised how ridiculous that was. The occasion I'd been waiting for had never arrived. I could have enjoyed wearing it dozens of times, but instead I'd spent months protecting it from... what exactly?
Luxury has a habit of making us save things. The good candles, the expensive perfume, the silk nightdress. But I've come to think that using those things on an ordinary Thursday evening is actually the greater luxury.
My Favourite Silk Collections
One of the things I enjoy most about buying silk nightwear is that every brand has its own personality. Some feel unmistakably French. Others are cleaner and more fashion-led. Some are all about craftsmanship, while others give you the freedom to build a collection over time.
These are the silk collections I find myself recommending most often, and the reasons I love each one.
Marjolaine - My Favourite Silk House
I've bought Marjolaine for years and I still don't think anyone combines silk and French lace quite like they do.
Their nightwear is beautifully made, with hand-cut Calais lace that feels like part of the design rather than something simply added on. And then there are the colours. Every season they seem to come up with combinations I wouldn't have imagined myself, but somehow they always work.
If someone asked me where to start with luxury silk nightwear, Marjolaine would probably be my first recommendation.
In all the years I've been buying lingerie, I've never come across a brand that I love more for silk than Marjolaine. And honestly, I don't think I ever will!
Simone Pérèle Love Me - A Collection to Build Over Time
Love Me is one of those collections you can come back to season after season because it's so versatile.
Rather than one fixed pyjama set, it's a collection of silk separates that you can build around the way you like to wear nightwear. There are camisoles, shorts, trousers and slips, with the option of beautifully clean silk pieces or styles finished with delicate embroidery.
Some evenings I want nothing more than a simple silk camisole and matching shorts. Other times, I'll reach for one of the embroidered pieces instead. Quite often, the camisoles become outerwear for me too.
I like that the collection doesn't force you into one look. You can build something that's entirely your own, then add to it over time.
DISCOVER SIMONE PÉRÈLE LOVE ME COLLECTION
Lise Charmel - Heritage Polish
I've always thought Lise Charmel does elegance exceptionally well.
Their silk nightwear feels timeless. Beautiful camisoles, matching shorts and night dresses that never seem to date. They're the sort of pieces you can wear for years and still enjoy just as much as the day you bought them.
Everything feels considered, from the cut to the finishing touches, without ever trying too hard. They're pieces I can imagine wearing for a very long time.
DISCOVER LISE CHARMEL NIGHTWEAR
Fleur du Mal - A New York Point of View
Fleur du Mal has a completely different feel to the French houses we stock.
It's a New York brand, and I think you can see that in the collections. The silk feels cleaner, sharper and a little more fashion-led.
The Angel robe is still one of my favourites. Those sleeves!
If your style leans more towards modern tailoring than traditional romance, Fleur du Mal might just be your brand.
Aubade Midnight Whisper - Build the Set Your Way
Aubade's Midnight Whisper isn't one piece, it's a wardrobe. Camisole, night dress, shorts, trousers, a silk shirt, a bralette and a kimono. Silk separates you combine into your own set, rather than one someone else assembled for you. Black and Opale are the two to build on: they classic and don't date, and they carry straight through the year. It's also the collection that travels furthest past the bedroom - the trousers and bralette are as much weekend-morning as they are bedtime.
DISCOVER AUBADE MIDNIGHT WHISPER COLLECTION
Beyond the Bedroom: Don't Overlook Silk as Loungewear
One thing I think we underestimate about silk is how wearable it is outside the bedroom.
Part of making luxury a daily habit is rethinking how you wear it:
- The tailored layer: a fluid silk camisole with wide-leg linen trousers and sandals, for a long summer lunch.
- The evening layer: a silk robe loose over a slip dress as the temperature drops on a warm night out.
- The Sunday uniform: a crisp white cotton tee over silk pyjama trousers, for a morning with a book and an espresso.
The more ways I wear silk, the more I appreciate it. Instead of sitting in the drawers waiting for bedtime, it becomes part of everyday life.
Looking After Silk
One of the questions we're asked most often is whether silk is difficult to look after. Honestly, it's much easier than people think.
Some brands, such as Coco de Mer, recommend dry cleaning to protect particularly delicate finishes. Most silk, though, is perfectly happy being washed gently at home.
A few simple habits will help your silk stay beautiful for years.
Wash gently. Hand wash in cold water using a detergent that's suitable for silk.
Avoid high heat. Don't wring it out or put it in the tumble dryer. Carefully wrap in a towel and press gently to remove excess water. Then hang your items and let them dry naturally, away from direct sunlight.
Store it carefully. Fold it neatly or hang it on a padded hanger to help it keep its shape.
That's really all there is to it.
A Final Thought on Summer Luxury
I don't think luxury is about owning more things. It's about getting genuine enjoyment from the things you already own.
If a beautiful silk nightdress only comes out for anniversaries or weekends away, it's spending most of its life on a hanger or tucked away in a drawer. I'd much rather wear mine on an ordinary Thursday evening, with the windows open and absolutely nowhere to be.
For me, that's what luxury was always supposed to be.
DISCOVER THE SILK NIGHTWEAR EDIT
- Sarah Northey, Founder of Naughty Knickers. Sarah has spent over 15 years buying and curating luxury European lingerie, with a particular interest in French craftsmanship, independent houses and collection design.