best in class

The 19 Very Best Pajamas for Women

Sleep like a “Portuguese aristocrat.”

Photo: Marcus McDonald
Photo: Marcus McDonald

In this article

There’s nothing wrong with falling asleep in an oversize T-shirt or ratty college sweatshirt — no judgment here! — but if you’re looking to level up, might we suggest a pajama set? It’s the nighttime equivalent of a matching bra and briefs: It just feels right, in an I-have-my-life-together way. To find the very women’s pajamas, we turned to opinionated pajama wearers (including photographers, models, and our very own Strategist staffers) to ask them about their favorites, and dug into our archives to surface the most worthwhile recommendations. You’ll find a variety of styles below, from author Ottessa Moshfegh’s pair du jour to a silk set that one writer says has the texture of frosty blueberries. I even put a few to the test — sleeping my way through several to decide which should make the cut.

What we’re looking for

Size range

As we would with any other clothing story, we focused on finding pajamas that come in an inclusive selection of sizes.

Material

Think about the way you want to feel in bed — that’s how you decide the textile to wear there. Sweaty sleepers probably don’t need much between them and their sheets; their best bets are cotton, linen, or other fabrics of that ilk (including modal, which is what you’ll see in barely there underwear). If you’re that always cold person, look for merino, flannel, or wool. Or pick polyester, which usually comes with a cheaper price tag. And those with opulent taste might consider silk.

Design

When you’ve been on the underwear and sleepwear beat, as I have, you become rather obsessive about details. As I learned from Cora Harrington, the author of In Intimate Detail: How to Choose, Wear, and Love Lingerie, the details — a French seam here, an Elizabethan ruffle there — are what make a pair of pajamas worth it. With that advice in mind, I made sure to note standout features such as trimming, piping, and pleating.

Price

Since these are (almost all) sets we’re talking about, we’re judging the recommendations below based on three price points: under $100, under $150, and over $150, denoted as $, $$, and $$$, respectively.

Best pajama set overall

Sizes: XS–XL | Material: Tencel modal, spandex | Design: Button-front, notch collar, contrast piping| Price: $$

Sizes: XS–XL | Material: Tencel modal, spandex | Design: Button-front, notch collar, contrast piping | Price: $$

Eberjey’s pajamas have made appearances all over our archives — the brand is a bona fide Strategist favorite. But the Giseles have an especially mighty following. Whether you prefer to sleep in shorts or pants, both sets are worthy of the “best overall” distinction. These have long been our top-pick PJs by consensus, but the company recently sent me the long-sleeved version to try for myself, and I can now say firsthand that the fanfare is well earned. The lightness of the Tencel-spandex fabric won me over — I like how it doesn’t cling — and there’s no gaping between the buttons. So I’m adding my voice to the chorus of folks who have recommended the pajamas to us before: Cup of Jo’s Joanna Goddard appreciates that hers haven’t wrinkled. Content creator Yuneida Gutierrez, who owns the shorts set, describes them as “insanely soft” with enough of a cheeky cut that there’s not much separating you from your sheets. Photo editor Joanna Muenz calls them “swanky loungewear” and notes that after becoming a mom, they made her feel put together with their breastfeeding-friendly button-down top. These pajamas are also one of the only pairs on this list that you can monogram (for an additional $15).

Best (less expensive) pajama set

Sizes: XS–4X | Material: Modal, spandex | Design: Button front, notch collar, piping, chest pocket | Price: $

This set from Stars Above, a Target-exclusive (and Christmas-pajamas- enthusiast-approved) label, is the cheapest on our list, around four times less than the Giseles. You could even call them a dupe of sorts as they have a similar silhouette and piping along the hem, sleeves, and collar.

For TikTok creator and curve model Remi Bader, pajamas have to check off two points: comfort and charm. These fulfill that first requirement with a supersoft modal that makes you feel nearly naked. (As the owner of Stars Above’s now sold-out cropped pajama pants, which are made from the same modal, I can attest to this.) And Bader points out that these go up to a size 4X, making them a standout among other brands with more limited size ranges (as a regular loungewear reviewer, she knows this all too well).

Best long-sleeved pajama set

Sizes: XS–3X | Material: Pima cotton, modal | Design: Button front, notched collar, satiny trim piping, patch pocket | Price: $$

Former Strategist writer Chloe Anello says there’s no better word than buttery to describe the Bellas (which were gifted to her by the brand). The set is made from equal parts cotton and modal with a relaxed cut adding to their indulgent feel. Even though they’re long-sleeved, Anello says she doesn’t overheat while wearing them. Writer Laura Lippman agrees — she discovered the Bellas during a trip to Miami in May, and despite the excruciatingly hot temperatures, she found they kept her comfortable. And as someone who would live in pajamas if she could, Lippman says these are the best for making her seem “fairly put together for someone walking around the house in pajamas” at 3 p.m., as she is wont to do.

Best T-shirt-and-pants pajama set

Sizes: XS–XL | Material: Modal, elastane | Design: High-low hem, scoop neck, deep pockets on pants | Price: $$

Strategist writer Arielle Avila turned me to Hass, a loungewear line from Avocado, the maker of some of our favorite mattresses. Until she tried this set (after they were gifted by the brand), Avila never wore PJ pants to bed because of how hot she would get. On top of being breathable, the coordinating tee and pants almost feel cool to the touch. And though they’re lightweight, neither the T-shirt nor the pants are see-through at all. Avila now considers the bottoms a work-from-home essential, though she’ll also wear them to grab the mail or go to the bodega.

Best cotton pajama set

Sizes: XXS–3X | Material: Cotton | Design: Button front, notched collar, piping, chest pocket, tie waist | Price: $

Moshfegh, who is best known for writing My Year of Rest and Relaxation, owns these very pajamas. The author, a self-professed pajama obsessive, added them to her collection of more than a dozen sets after misplacing the top of a similar set. The set features a distinctly menswear-style silhouette that’s a little more lax in terms of fit. It’s an updated (read: nearly identical) version of J.Crew’s ostensibly discontinued — and highly popular — Vintage Pajamas that former Strategist writer Hilary Reid and Strategist contributor Hermione Hoby are fans of. “They have a slight air of formality to them — they’re the kind of pajamas I imagine wearing while trying to finish the last half of Swann’s Way or reading a newspaper in bed,” Reid says. These also have a literal airiness: Made from a cool cotton, they work well year-round, even when Reid has her air conditioner on the highest setting. There’s some comfort in the color: Reid and Hoby own them in a shade called hydrangea, which they describe as “vaguely medicinal” and “soothing, almost hospital-y,” respectively. It helps that these pajamas also remind Hoby of the pair Daniel Day-Lewis sports in Phantom Thread. And you can get this set monogrammed for a $10 fee, choosing between thread colors and including up to three initials.

Best boxer pajamas

Sizes: XXS–3X | Material: Cotton | Design: Side pockets and logo waistband | Price: $

These boxers are a cousin of the End-on-End pajamas mentioned above. Anello previously penned an ode to a (now-sold-out) version of them. Anello has even taken to wearing hers out of bed, as they’re “actually chic, not like a bad Risky Business costume.” The pair doesn’t have an opening in the front and features pockets (unlike traditional boxers), she explains, adding that the shorts “swing out from my hips in a way that my other shorts do not, allowing more airflow that keeps my legs cooler.” I was convinced to buy them myself for that very reason, as someone who frequently kicks their sheets off in frustration in the middle of the night. The boxers feel almost next to nothing. These can get slightly wrinkled — granted, I move around a lot while asleep — but that’s not something I mind much in a pair of pajamas. (J.Crew also recently released a cotton-poplin boxer-short set — though those boxers have a button-front.)

Best nightgowns

Sizes: One size (fits sizes 2–12) | Material: Cotton | Design: Square neckline, bell-shaped sleeves, embroidery| Price: $

Sizes: One size (fits sizes 2–12) | Material: Cotton | Design: Ruffled collar, crochet trimming, embroidery| Price: $

Sandeep Salter, owner of general store Salter House, is known as a “nightgown doyenne.” Her shop’s nightdresses are romantic, reminiscent of 19th-century undergarments in a “Victorian, Picnic at Hanging Rock” way, says Lucy Weisner, co-founder of Café Forgot. Many of the style names carry their own cultural references — the Darcy is Regency-inspired, for example, while the Wendy features a Peter Pan collar. “Their look is very sleepy Portuguese aristocrat,” adds Lauren Mechling, creator of @thecloglife. (All costs are under $100 as well.) Stock can be limited at times, though there are three styles that are almost always available: The First Nightdress, which is a replica of one that Salter received for her 13th birthday, as well as Lamb and Sisters. The Lamb has a square neckline and is embroidered with a plum-tree branch and lamb-holding boy, while Sisters features more prominent embroidery of flowers, branches, and two girls (modeled after Salter’s daughters) below the ruffled collar. Both are diaphanous and indulgent, ideal for idling around. I hand-wash mine, though the brand says you can also machine-wash on delicate before hang-drying; the cotton and embroidery have held up well and I haven’t seen so much as a loose thread in more than a year.

Best sleep slip

Sizes: S–XL | Material: Silk | Design: Scoop neckline, adjustable straps, racerback | Price: $

Underwear writer Estelle Puleston introduced me to century-old corsetier Etam in our guide to the best silk sleepwear. Because of her recommendation, I bought the brand’s Pearly chemise (Puleston has the Milky from the lingerie label, which features front lace trimming in lieu of a racerback). It’s a decadent piece to sleep in — feeling barely there (it’s unlined), with the sheen on the silk making the slip seem more expensive than it actually is. For $89, it’s a good bargain on silk. Puleston has worn hers often enough that the chemise has gotten little “gaps” on the fabric. I haven’t had that problem in the months since it arrived — and I haven’t exactly been delicate about mine (I have fished it out of a dresser when it was caught in the corner of a drawer). Note: Size up for a looser fit.

Best sleepshirt

Sizes: XS–XXL | Material: Cotton | Design: Button front, piping, ruching on shoulders | Price: $

The Strategist archives are full of Boll and Branch’s bedding (duvets, down pillows, the sheets Suzanne Somers swears by) — so when the brand reached out to try its sleepwear collection that officially launched a couple of months ago, it was an immediate “yes” from me. I went with this sleepshirt. Partly because we didn’t have one on this list already — plus, it just looked like something that would be soft to sleep in. (There’s a more suiting shirt-like version as well.) The cotton the shirt is made from — which is long-stapled and organic, according to the company — is as smooth as expected, with well-knitted threads. There’s a good drape to the shirt, which makes it hang rather than cling. I don’t feel glued into it.

Best sleep jumpsuit

Sizes: XS–XL | Material: Modal and spandex | Design: Drawstring waistband, side pockets, keyhole back cutout | Price: $

I first wrote about this jumpsuit in our guide to loungewear, but since then, I’ve been wearing it more to bed than just on the couch. It’s a glorified onesie, really. Part of the reason I started sleeping in the jumpsuit is its modal-and-spandex blend, as the fabric reminds me of my favorite (now slightly ratty) college sweatshirt: supersoft, worn-in, and doesn’t pill in the wash. (The jumpsuit looks the same as it did when it arrived almost a year ago.) It doesn’t feel smothering underneath the sheets, either — without sleeves and with a low V-neck and keyhole in the back, the style is actually pretty airy. You can also layer around it — I’ll put a pullover over it or wrap up in a robe on chiller nights.

Best linen-pajama set

Sizes: XS–XL | Material: European-flax linen | Design: Stonewashed, crew-neck collar, tie-waist | Price: $

Strategist writer Katherine Gillespie never saw herself as a linen-pajama person, but she eventually came around to this set from Magic Linen (which was gifted to her by the brand). Her change of heart comes down to the fact that the pair doesn’t “particularly look like pajamas, especially in this linen-obsessed, loose clothes era.” That looseness can be attributed to the high-quality linen (made from top-tier European flax) that drapes in a “supremely flattering” way. In the winter, Gillespie considers them a savior, especially with the hit-or-miss heating in her prewar apartment.

Best silk-pajama set

Sizes: XS–2X | Material: Silk | Design: Oversize top, no-twist waistband, chest pocket | Price: $$$

Our pick for the best silk pajamas, this set from Lunya has been on our radar since Reid tested it for her investigation into washable silk sleepwear; it not only survived the spin cycle but came out looking “impressively smooth and unwrinkled.” She also declared, “If I could replace all of my pajamas with these, I would.” More recently, I tested the set myself. The top is really oversize, but I found it helped the set feel fresh to sleep in. And I agree with Reid that Lunya’s silk excels at temperature regulation; I am a sweaty sleeper, and I wasn’t too hot or too cold. Yoga instructor Kate Posch even compares the set to wearing nothing in bed.

Best (less expensive) silk-pajama set

Sizes: XS–XXL | Material: Mulberry silk | Design: Adjustable shoulder straps, double-layer shorts, pleated V-neck | Price: $$

I plucked this set from the aforementioned silk-sleepwear guide to include here, too. Harrington called out LilySilk for its affordability and value, noting that the quality is comparable to that of higher-end sleepwear labels. So I asked the company to send me this lingerie-inspired set for review. I liked the little details that make the pajamas feel especially sumptuous — including pleating along the V-neck (the camisole offers only a slight dip so it doesn’t show a lot of cleavage) and the petal-like cut on the shorts. The pieces wash well, too, without becoming laughably wrinkled.

Best silk-pajama pant set

Sizes: XS–XL | Material: Mulberry silk | Design: Button front, chest pocket, side slits on pants | Price: $$

Quince is another affordable-silk-pajama maker that Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillo introduced me to. She compares the texture of this set to “blueberries or grapes early in the morning that have a little frostiness to their skin.” Unlike other silk she’s tried, the button-up shirt and pants simultaneously hold heat well on chiller nights and feel breathable on warmer ones (the top’s cropped length and trousers’ side slits help too). And out of curiosity, I asked the company to send me the top (and matching shorts) to test out. Like Liza, I was impressed by the quality of the silk, which does have a more matte appearance than the glossier look of the Italic set above. The cheeky, cropped top does occasionally show a hint of skin when I raise my arms, but I don’t mind that.

Best cooling pajamas

Sizes: XS–XXXL | Material: Viscose (bamboo-based), spandex | Design: Button-front, notch collar, contrast piping | Price: $$

This set from bedding brand Cozy Earth is made from a breathable, moisture-wicking bamboo viscose, and according to Strategist associate editor Jenna Milliner-Waddell, the pajamas are very refreshing. She sometimes wakes up soaked in sweat, so when the company sent her a gift card so she could try some pajamas, she chose these for their cooling properties — and found that they delivered on their promise. It helps that the fabric is supple and stretchy. Milliner-Waddell says that when she wakes up in these and looks up at the mirror first thing, she feels ready for the day — though she stays in the PJs as long as she can. “I just feel important in them,” she says. (Part of the reason, she thinks, is because they also have Oprah’s stamp of approval.)

Best (less expensive) cooling pajamas

Sizes: XXS–XXL | Material: Cotton | Design: Scoop-neck with matching trim, slight cutaway on hem of shorts | Price: $

Strategist writer Dominique Pariso — another self-professed sweaty sleeper — suggested this set from Lake as a more affordable alternative to Cozy Earth’s. (Corsillo is another on-the-record fan of Lake’s pajamas.) The brand sent her this shorts set for review, and she found that the lightweight pima cotton was not only “so, so soft” but kept her cool through the night. Pariso confirms that, per the washing instructions, the set shrinks slightly the first time you put it through a washer (and you should definitely air-dry it). “It was fine and to be expected for pima cotton,” she assures, but if you prefer a very loose fit or are between sizes, you may want to size up.

Best maternity pajamas

Sizes: XS–XXL | Material: Micro-modal, spandex | Design: Button-front, notch collar, contrast piping | Price: $

When Strategist writer Lauren Ro was pregnant with her second child, that maker of her favorite nursing-pumping bra, Larken, mailed her a set of its signature pajamas. Although she didn’t try them out until after the baby was born, she “still wears them nearly a year later” and likes them even more than the Eberjey Giseles that top this list. Ro says she always felt like she was “swimming” in the Eberjeys, and the ones from Larken have a closer-to-the-body silhouette that she prefers — while still having enough drape to feel comfortable in, she adds. “These are the only pajamas I want to wear now, and I recommend them to everyone, whether they’re expecting or not,” Ro says. With that said, they do have pregnancy-specific features like a no-digging waistband for growing bumps and a button-front that pairs with the brand’s aforementioned bra.

Some more women’s pajamas we’ve written about

Our experts

• Chloe Anello, former Strategist writer
Arielle Avila Strategist writer
Remi Bader, TikTok creator and curve model
Liza Corsillo, Strategist senior writer
Katherine Gillespie, Strategist writer
• Joanna Goddard, founder and editor of Cup of Jo
Yuneida Gutierrez, content creator
• Cora Harrington, author of In Intimate Detail: How to Choose, Wear, and Love Lingerie
Hermione Hoby, Strategist contributor
Laura Lippman, writer
Lauren Mechling, writer and @thecloglife creator
Jenna Milliner-Waddell, Strategist associate editor
• Joanna Muenz, photo editor
Dominique Pariso, Strategist writer
Estelle Puleston, underwear writer
• Hilary Reid, former Strategist writer
Lauren Ro, Strategist writer
Lucy Weisner, co-founder of Café Forgot

Additional reporting by Lori Keong and Chloe Anello

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The 19 Very Best Pajamas for Women