I Can’t Stop Buying House Robes. These Are My Favorites.
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I live in Los Angeles, where it’s finally (and thankfully) getting cold enough that all I want to do is shuffle around my house snuggled up in a robe. Not abathrobe, though — while soft and plush,bathrobesonly really feel cozy right after a shower or straight out of the dryer, and wearing one over any kind of clothing makes me feel slightly damp even if the robe is dry. I’m talking about an L.L.Bean-catalogue-esque robe — the kind you wear with a pair of proper pajamas and fur-lined slippers while watching snow fall outside. With winter less than a month away, now seems like the perfect time to pull together some of my favorite and coziest pieces. (Also, I lied: There’s really no time of year I don’t want to spend wrapped up in some kind of non-bathrobe robe.)
The picks below include robes owned and loved by myself, my husband, and our 4-year-old daughter, plus a few more I’d like to try next. They’re made of myriad materials, from obvious cold-weather choices like flannel, cashmere, and whatever heavenly synthetic marshmallow blend Skims uses forits knit robeto lighter-weight options like cotton, linen, and seersucker. Their vibes are varied, but the underlying sentiment is the same: Put it on, cinch that belt, and ease into a life of leisure. And because ’tis the season, I’ll also note that a nice robe of any kind makes a really excellent gift.
The robes I know and love
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Say the word “robe,” and the L.L.Bean Scotch Plaid flannel robe is exactly what comes to mind — specifically themen’s versioninthis color, which is what my dad wore throughout my childhood until it was basically beyond repair. That particular plaid isn’t available anymore (the closest is themen’s sherpa-lined robe in Wallace plaid), but I still think the overall style in any color is about as classic as it gets. I currently own the women’s Black Watch colorway shown here. It’s soft, relatively lightweight but still warm, and absolutely timeless. Like my father before me, I plan on wearing it into the ground.
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Oddbird is a Los Angeles–based slow-fashion brand offering handwoven robes, towels, and select apparel and accessories made from artisanal Turkish textiles. Small-batch creation is a core part of the brand’s production ethos, so it applies a “limited edition” designation to newer styles it’s testing before determining whether they should be added to the core collection or discontinued. I recently started wearing the brand’slimited-edition XO Waffle Robe, which is made of 100 percent Turkish cotton woven in a deep waffle pattern. My husband has thelimited-edition Aksam Robe, which is similarly thick and made from a 50-50 Turkish cotton-bamboo blend. It’s still unclear whether either style will live on past the testing stage, but we both love them — they’re unisex, incredibly soft, feel nice and floppy to wear, and are made of heavier-weight fabrics that the brand says are “winter-ready,” though we’ve both worn ours on some legitimately hot L.A. days with zero complaints. Our daughter has thekid’s Sabah Robe, whichispart of the core collection. It’s still a bit big on her but should fit by summer, at which point it will make an excellent extra layer for beach days.
While all three are unquestionably excellent, I doubt any will take the place of my first-ever Oddbird piece, the Rainbow Robe, a mid-weight, flat-woven Turkish cotton robe that’s very breezy but also densely knit and quite cozy — and, sadly, no longer in production. (The currently availablelimited-edition adult Sabah robehas the same cut, same fabric weight, and similarly colorful striped print; and, for reference, you can see the original stripe onthese nearly sold-out mule espadrilles.) The Rainbow Robe robe isn’t necessarily better than anything else the brand currently sells, but it does have deep sentimental value — and incredible staying power: It was a mid-pregnancy gift that I have continued to wear year-round for the past five years, and it has held up amazingly well despite near-daily wear and regular runs through the washer-dryer. In fact, it’s gotten even better with age — and I expect nothing less from our three newest acquisitions.
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I received a sample of this Skims robe a few years ago, and while it’s absolutelynotmy style, the comfort was so extreme that I couldn’t not wear it. It’s so soft, so squishy-spongey, so hard to take off. I don’t have it anymore because I wore it with such frequency and general carelessness that the off-white bouclé material started to look very shabby, even for around the house. But had I received a darker color and taken better care of it (and not had several other robes vying for hook space around the house), it would still be in my daily lineup.
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I’ve tried a few of Hill House Home’s adult robes, and they’re great.The Ivory Robeis made of simple, 100 percent organic cotton that’s breezy, breathable, and has a bit of natural stretch yet with a substantial weightiness that makes it feel vastly superior to other basic cotton robes I’ve tried.The Hotel Robeis also lovely — plush but not so thick that it feels like it’s wearing me, well-made (I really like the allover jersey piping trim), and certainly worthy of hanging in a multi-star hotel suite. But the real winner, in my opinion, is the child-sizeTiny Robe. The main reason for this is the trellis print, which I adore on theNap Dress(especially inEmerald) but feels a bit too matronly in robe form. On my daughter, however, the whole thing is absolutely darling — definitely girlie enough for her tastes but without being too saccharine for mine. Like the adult Hotel Robe, it’s made of highly absorbent, zero-twist cotton that plants it quite firmly in the bathrobe category, and she does indeed ask for it after her bath. But she also loves it so much that she often asks to sleep in it (which I’ll let her do as long as it’s not damp).
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TheOpheliaisn’t a visual standout (it comes in just three basic, solid colors and has a subtle diamond-jacquard quilting that’s only visible close up), and the long, slim cut is a bit more prim and proper than I typically go for (it’s definitely more “dressing gown” than knock-around loungewear). Still, I adore it because it just feelssogood to wear. The pima cotton is thick, luxurious, and simultaneously cozy and cooling, and the flatteringly lean fit feels very grown-up and even a bit dressed up — which is lovely worn over my fancier (a.k.a. matching) pajamas but also a really nice way to feel put-together when I’m in even my sloppiest house clothes. And while it’s a bit heavy for summertime, it’s perfect to wear from fall through spring.
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I’m basically forcing my daughter to channelKevin McCallisterin this robe. (OrEloise, which will be totally on point once she unwrapsthis pajama seton Christmas.) Thankfully, she’s into it, especially because she’s really into stashing stuff in the front patch pockets. In addition to being totally adorable (there’s nothing much cuter than a particularly short 4-year-old strolling unironically through the house in a proper, adult-style robe), it’s also made from supersoft felt that’s both CPSC-certified flame-retardant and chemical free. I didn’t personalize ours with a monogram, but that’s an option and an especially good choice if you’re thinking of gifting one.
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This Parachute robe is similar in weight and warmth to thePetite Plume Opheliaabove but with a much more relaxed, casual fit and feel. If the Ophelia is a trim button-down cardigan, this one is that favorite oversize sweatshirt you’ve been lounging around in for years. The material, a cotton-Tencel-poly-linen blend, is soft and cushy. The fit is generous as is the shawl collar that you can flip up and wrap around your neck for extra warmth. Of all the robes I own, this one is the easiest to curl up and fall asleep in, which is exactly what you’d expect from a brand that got its start in bedding.
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This is my most recent acquisition and my only linen robe. While Quiet Town bills it as a bathrobe, I personally find it too lightweight for that. As an around-the-house robe, however, it’s really excellent: comfortable, soft, a unisex fit that drapes very nicely, and who doesn’t love a little linen? The patchwork style is inspired bybojagi, the Korean art of quilting with household materials, and was achieved by using leftover fabric scraps that would otherwise have made their way to a landfill. It’s a limited-edition style, so grab one while you still can. (Though if you do miss out, L.A.-based Block Shop also makes somelovely linen options.)
The robes I want to try next
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I really love seersucker, and this Pistachio color from Serena & Lily feels especially fresh and welcoming. Even in pale green, the robe itself reminds me ofMolly McIntire’s now-retired pajama set, so the nostalgia factor is huge for me. If you prefer Molly’s exact red (which definitely feels more holiday-ready), or prefer your seersucker in classic blue and white,Matoukalso makes some promising options.
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Given how many robes I have, I’m actually surprised one of them isn’t cashmere. Of course, cashmere is notoriously pricey so I think I’d ease my way in with this reliable and affordable option from Quince. While it’s not cashmere, the semi-reasonably pricedKassatex Alpaca robealso looks nice. And if I ever decide to really level up, thecashmere robe from Papinelleseems like a very fine choice.
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We allknowandlovetheOffhours Homecoat, but I’m very intrigued by this similarly quilted option from Piglet in Bed, which looks similarly cozy but a bit less overwhelming to wear. I’m also a fan of the patterns.
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Given how muchI love The Great’s actual sweatshirts, I have every reason to believe its Sweatshirt Robe will be nothing short of excellent.
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I think my selections make it clear that I’m not a fan of anything too precious when it comes to robes, but I’m certainly not above a boudoir-ready piece, and I have been longing for a floral kimono style for ages. This one’s vibe feels right while also being much less slinky-sexy and way more fun than a lot of what’s out there. I’ve also started wearing more red lately, so this Spell option really appeals to me.
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This “robe” is made from bathrobe-style terry cloth (albeit a heavy, jacquard-woven version) and ties at the waist, yet it’s patterned as a double-breasted coat and has functional tortoise-shell buttons — so, what is it? The split personality, especially in bright emerald green, makes the whole thing supremely weird and also completely alluring. And while I have no idea when or where or how to wear it, I really want it.
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I suppose it’s technically a robe, but I’ll follow the brand’s lead and call it agownon account of the sumptuous-yet-delicate silk-velvet blend (it’s dry-clean only, cannot be ironed, and is easily damaged by liquids) and dramatically drapey cut. It’s also very aspirationally priced, but maybe that’s a small price to pay for wrapping oneself in such luxury? (Chartreuse is one of my favorite colors, so I’m even a fan of the lining.) There are some more affordable and very nice velvet robes out there, including stylesRalph LaurenandNatori, but there’s something about this Toast robe that makes me doubt anything else would come close.
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