The Best Pajamas for Women Who’d Rather Stay in Bed

If you’ve ever wished your sleepwear had the soul of a Nancy Meyers film, Lake Pajamas will make you look like a coastal grandmother on an artist retreat. Think: watercolor florals, nautical stripes, and botanical prints. The three-quarter sleeve scoop-neck top and pant set are made from 100 percent Peruvian Pima cotton, which is soft, airy, and cool on the skin. It’s ideal for hot sleepers or those prone to night sweats. They’re not cheap, but they’re the kind of classic pajamas you’ll wear year-round.

Lake’s Pima cotton does shrink a bit after the first wash (mostly in length), so if you’re between sizes, take the brand’s advice and size up. I went up to a large and still found myself wishing I’d gone bigger for a roomier fit. The pajama pants come in three lengths—cropped (26”), regular (29”), and tall (32”).

Material: 100 percent Pima cotton.

Sizes: XXS through XXL.

Care Instructions: Machine wash cold water. Use a mild soap on delicate cycle. Never use chlorine bleach or Oxiclean. Lay flat to dry.

These are the pajamas I imagine they hand out at wellness retreats, right after they take away your phone and offer you a cold-pressed green juice. It’s made from 100 percent organic cotton (see certifications here) and enzyme-washed, so it feels soft and stretchy from the first wear. The fabric is also preshrunk. The long-sleeve button-down is designed with ruched shoulders, a high-low hem, and a notch collar that make me feel like a distinguished gentlewoman. The relaxed pants are high-rise with a flat, elasticized waistband that doesn’t dig in. If you’re in between sizes, go up one because the set will naturally shrink a bit after the first wash, but nothing tragic.

Material: 100 percent organic cotton.

Sizes: XS through XXL.

Care Instructions: Machine wash cold with like colors, inside out on gentle cycle. Tumble dry on low.

I run hot, thanks to a cocktail of caffeine, overstimulation, and good old-fashioned anxiety. Many brands claim to sell sweat-wicking sleepwear, but Dagsmejan is one of the few I’ve tested that deliver on its promises. The magic is in the Nattwell tech fabric—95 percent MicroModal spun from sustainable beechwood—that’s engineered with both hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties. It somehow pulls sweat away from my skin and keeps me from overheating. According to the brand, it is six times more breathable than cotton, two times softer, and four times better at wicking moisture. I can’t verify the math, but I can tell you I wake up bone dry and that these are the softest PJs I own. Plus, there are no scratchy seams or tags, and the loose fit feels like butter.

Material: 90 percent modal, 10 percent spandex.

Sizes: XXS through XXL.

Care Instructions: Machine wash cold; tumble dry low.

This Petite Plume set is what I imagine a young Blair Waldorf changes into after peeling off her mulberry silk lingerie and kicking Chuck Bass out for the zillionth time. It’s a cropped riff on the classic long PJs, with a short-sleeve button-down and loose mid-thigh shorts. I love the Cherry Orchard print, but it’s also available in a blue Bristol Bay pattern and leafy Palmier design. The Pima cotton fabric is yarn-dyed, so the refined piping and vibrant colors survive the laundry cycle. It’s also preshrunk, but expect to lose about 3 to 5 percent after the first couple of washes. You can even get the shirt’s pocket monogrammed for $20, which feels snooty in the best way.

Material: 100 percent Peruvian Pima cotton.

Sizes: XS through XL.

Care Instructions: Machine wash cold with like colors. Machine dry without heat.

If you’ve ever wanted to feel like you’ve just stepped off a French terrace, these cotton pajamas are as close as you can get without leaving your apartment. Designed from the same high-quality fabric as La Ligne’s bestseller, these shorties are comfy, crisp, and just feel like you should be sipping un café au lait in Paris. The white piping along the collar, cuffs, and waistband adds an elegant touch to an otherwise effortless design.

Made from 100 percent cotton, the button-down, short-sleeve shirt and elasticated shorts don’t have much stretch to them, and the sizing is restrictive, with the largest size only going up to XL. Size up if you’re on the fence about the fit. I ordered an XL, expecting an oversized fit, but found it true to size. Any snugger, and my skin would have no room to breathe. They are expensive but cheaper than a round trip to Europe.

Material: 100 percent cotton.

Sizes: XXS through XL.

Care Instructions: Machine wash cold; tumble dry low.

As the weather warms, the need for breathable, functional loungewear becomes essential. Designed with a non-pilling, four-way stretch fabric, this two-piece offers an ultra-comfortable silhouette that moves with you. The T-shirt is extremely lightweight, and the thick waistband stays put without rolling down or pinching your skin. It delivers a stylish fit reminiscent of the iconic Calvin Klein look but with added functionality. This set also has practical details that elevate its everyday wearability, like two side pockets for your phone, lip balm, or midnight snacks. The set comes in black and springtime prints like lavender and pink floral. Plus, there’s a heather version made from a cozy modal-polyester blend.

Material: 90 percent modal, 10 percent Spandex.

Sizes: XS through XXL.

Care Instructions: Machine wash cold; tumble dry low.

If you’re trying to be more intentional with your purchases but still want to feel like a cupcake, Stripe & Stare is designed by women, for women. The Pale Pink Stripe set is reminiscent of an early-aughts Victoria’s Secret aesthetic. These PJs are made from 95 percent Tencel MicroModal, a biodegradable fiber spun from trees. It’s breathable, moisture-wicking, and antibacterial. According to Stripe & Stare, it’s also more than twice as soft as cotton. My skin agrees. It feels like sleeping in a baby blanket. If I’m being nitpicky, the pants could use an extra inch or two—I’m 5’8” and still felt a bit ankle-bared, even after sizing up. Bonus: One tree gets planted with every order.

Material: 95 percent Tencel modal, 5 percent elastane.

Sizes: XS through 4X.

Care Instructions: Wash in a cool, 30-degree wash or by hand. Dry flat.

Neendi is for maximalists, for people who believe sleepwear should be loud and spark joy. The Takeout Long Pajama Set is my favorite—it’s covered in pink takeout boxes and chopsticks—but the rest of the menu is just as yummy: Breakfast, Vintage Buttercream Cake, and ’Shrooms, plus Abstract Daisy and Checkered Swirl. Both pieces are cut loose and flowy; it’s not silk but feels like it. The button-down top has a flirty, deep V line, a high-low hem, and flat buttons. The breezy pants are high-rise with split hems and deep pockets.

Material: 51 percent rayon, 49 percent viscose.

Sizes: XS through XL.

Care Instructions: Machine wash cold in delicate cycle. Hang to dry.