The "personality" and separate identity of the nightdress began to emerge towards the end of the 17th century, when men part of the wealthy upper-class wore ankle-length embroidered nightgowns and women wore long white shirts to bed.
In the early 18th century, ‘negligée’ appeared in France, a sensuously baggy, sheer nightdress decorated with lace, bows, embroidery and ribbons. It became a nocturnal symbol of opulence, a spreading worldwide forerunner of the modern pajamas. An antithesis of the uncomfortable but protocol-proof dress, a comfortable piece, yet unsuitable for grand display. Although the French term ‘negligée’ means a literal neglection, in the household it did not mean slovenly, but functional everyday wear of the 18th century. Nightgowns became the body of daily wear at home and the bedrooms. The negligee of a lady of the 19th-century was a loose-fitting home dress for breakfast, morning activities, haircare, and a transition before changing.
The peak of the negligee’s incredible appendix was the infamous ‘Belle Époque’ period at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, when gorgeous fashion and sophisticated lifestyle of the European aristocracy made an impact on the American demography. The immense wealth of tycoons and bourgeoisie, the mysterious home dresses of their more spectacular, sophisticated lifestyles than ever before, became the negligee. The wearer's almost regal splendor was enhanced by the crisply starched cotton robe, but the 'robe d'intérieur' - made of inordinate amount of breathing organza, with its decorative stitching, intricate lace inserts, silk ribbons and ruffles - become more an more fabulous. In the 20th century, negligee became an instrument of sensuality. The mysteriously sheer nightdress, with brilliant patern lines, is more for seduction than the vacant act of relaxing. The word negligee was used almost pejoratively, meaning an inadequate garment, unfit to be appearing in infront of others.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the nightgown became so sought-after, it conquered the pattern lines of day dresses. In the 1930s of Paris, a blooming invasion of the casual dress was almost integral when Madeleine Vionnet revolutionized the free flow of silks by losing the corset. The Hollywood stars' wardrobe was given a delicate sensuality by the subtle draping of the body in silk net shirts. Tenuous eroticism - further enhanced by feathers, furs, pearls, lace trimmings and matching net dresses.
The beautiful history of the evolution of nightdresses is not only a development of craftsmanship and fashion, rather a symbol of the culture of hygiene and behavior of the time period.
By the 2000s, the fan base for antique nightgowns bloomed. Collectors and fashion enthusiasts are bidding at auctions for unique garments. Today's style trendsetters wear ‘the grandmothers’ nightdresses' - mixed with contemporary fashion components, as a piquant extravaganza, as casual or sophisticated everyday attire - as a dream which came true.
Pajamas
In the late 1800s, the traditional nightdress was replaced in the metropolises and resorts by the Indian territory inspired pajama. With its relaxed elegance and comfortable exotic style, women's pajamas soon became a symbol of the fresh lifestyle.
