It's time to consider wearing a nightgown to the supermarket

The best white cotton nightdresses–and how to wear them–for a soft and haunted summer.

Jun 12, 2025

Inside of me there are two wolves: a crow witch, and the friendly ghost of a petulant Victorian child. Sure, not everything is black and white, but my closet certainly is. And the dark side is not, by any means, designed for the sultry, scorching days New York so faithfully delivers in mid June through early September–devoted as I am to my own preferred aesthetic. Getting dressed for such weather is anything but inspiring for me, a person who revels in layering and leaving plenty to mystery. During the summer months, as my highest, most creative self floats somewhere just out of reach, I do become somewhat of a specter of myself. This time of year has always felt a bit haunted to me.

Enter the white cotton (lace, embroidered, etc.) nightdress. A few summers ago, I realized I had free will and could wear them anytime, including not only at night. Styled well, it’s much less Young Woman on Her Death Bed, 1621 (which, to be clear, sometimes does feel like looking into a mirror), and more Jane Birkin out with Her Candelabra Looking for Herself. It gives a nod to Sofia Coppola, particularly her work on The Virgin Suicides and The Beguiled. It reminds me of the protagonist in one of my favorite old films, Valerie and Her Week of Wonders. It’s Georgia O’Keeffe when she said: “I have done nothing all summer but wait for myself to be myself again.” (Same, girl.) And it can be worn anywhere, be it amid the haunted remains of a French chateau, the local farmer’s market, a picnic in the park, shelling on the beach, in a field harvesting corn, or on a Target run (or its more desirable Parisian counterpart, Monoprix).

Somewhere upstream in the Midwest, Summer 2023 (wearing Salter House).

Wearing a nightdress as a daytime ensemble somehow feels like the softer end of the spectrum of a femme fatale–perhaps it’s the embodiment of the sensitive soul she seeks to protect with her black and shiny armour (I wouldn’t know anything about this). Delicate, but still strong.

Below, I’ve rounded up some favorites both old (and potentially haunted) and new, as well as a few styling tips and fragrance pairings. As usual, those items in bold are available in a more generous sizing range.

Hot tip: I’ve found that many of these pieces, particularly those from Dôen, tend to be quite transparent, in which case I opt to wear a pair of little satin bloomers or cotton shorts. I’ve offered a selected of these at the very bottom!