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The Dressing Gown: A Complete British Guide
For more than four decades, Bown of London has been crafting the dressing gown into a fine British art. Below, our complete guide to choosing, wearing, and caring for the most civilised garment in your wardrobe.
What Is a Dressing Gown?
A dressing gown is a long, loose-fitting outer garment, traditionally worn over nightclothes or in moments of ease at home. The word itself dates from the 18th century, but the idea is older still — the dressing gown evolved from the banyan, the silk-and-cotton robe brought back to Europe by traders, and from the older tradition of putting on something graceful between the bath and the day's clothes.
You may also hear it called a robe, a housecoat, or, in the United States, a bathrobe. The terms overlap, but in British usage they each carry a slightly different sense:
- Dressing gown — a generous, long-cut robe of fine cotton, silk, or velour, intended to be worn over nightwear or alone at home. The dressing gown is the most refined of the family.
- Bathrobe — usually heavier, in towelling or terry cloth, designed to dry the body after bathing.
- Housecoat — lighter still, often more decorative, worn for receiving guests or moving about the house.
At Bown of London, when we say dressing gown, we mean something carefully tailored and quietly luxurious — a garment that has earned its place in the wardrobe alongside the suit, the shirt, and the shoes.
A Short History of the Dressing Gown
The dressing gown reached its peak in the 19th century, when the Victorian gentleman would slip out of his coat and into a velvet or silk gown to read, write letters, or smoke a pipe. It was the garment of the study, the library, and the late evening — a kind of quiet armour against the formality of the day. Its cousin, the smoking jacket, served the same purpose at the dining table.
In the 20th century, the dressing gown became closely associated with the great British figures of the screen: Sherlock Holmes, James Bond, Hercule Poirot. Today, it has shed none of that elegance — only added the comfort of modern fabrics and a more generous cut.
How to Choose a Dressing Gown: Six Things That Matter
A good dressing gown should last for years, soften with each wash, and feel a little better every time you put it on. Choosing the right one comes down to six considerations.
1. Fabric
The fabric does most of the work. The most luxurious dressing gowns are made of Egyptian cotton — long-staple, finely woven, beautifully absorbent. Egyptian cotton drapes elegantly, breathes well in summer, and feels warm without weight in winter. It is the fabric of choice for the classic British dressing gown.
Towelling (sometimes called terry cloth) is the fabric of the bathrobe — thicker, looped, absorbent. Look for zero-twist towelling, which is softer to the touch and more luxurious than ordinary terry. Velour finishes give a velvety, almost suede-like surface, with all the warmth of towelling and a more elegant drape.
For warmer months, choose a lightweight Egyptian cotton; for winter, a heavier weave or a velour finish.
2. Weight (GSM)
GSM — grams per square metre — tells you how heavy the fabric is. A 200–250 GSM cotton is light and ideal for spring and summer. 350–450 GSM towelling is what you want for the depth of winter, or for stepping out of a bath. Most of our dressing gowns sit comfortably in the 300–450 GSM range.
3. Length
Traditional dressing gowns reach mid-calf or even the ankle — long enough to feel complete, short enough not to drag. Shorter, knee-length cuts are easier to throw on for a quick coffee in the morning, but the longer cut is unmistakably the more elegant.
4. Collar and Cut
The shawl collar is the classic — a soft, rounded lapel that frames the chest beautifully. A hooded dressing gown adds practicality, especially in colder weather, and is a particular favourite among those who want to keep warm after a bath. The kimono cut, with wide sleeves and a straight collar, is rarer and feels distinctively contemporary.
5. Fit
A dressing gown should be roomy — never tight. Look for a generous cut through the chest and shoulders, and a self-tie waist that allows you to wear it loose or fasten it close. Bown of London dressing gowns are cut from medium through 4XL, designed to flatter rather than to hug.
6. Detail
Small touches separate a fine dressing gown from an ordinary one: piped lapels, contrast trim, two deep pockets, a hanging loop at the collar, a self-tie sash with a sewn-in belt loop on either side. Look for double-stitched seams and a substantial collar — these are the things that age well.
The Best Men's Dressing Gowns
Our men's dressing gowns are tailored from finely woven Egyptian cotton, towelling, or velour, and finished by hand. Among our most popular:
- The Mozart — £189.95. A classic Egyptian cotton dressing gown in a soft, washable weave. Quietly elegant, beautifully draped, and a favourite for both home and travel.
- The Earl Navy — £189.95. A piped, navy Egyptian cotton dressing gown in the British tradition — the gown for the study, the library, the long winter evening.
- The Cancun Towelling — £99.95. Our most-loved zero-twist towelling dressing gown, perfect for the morning bath and the after-swim chill.
Browse the full range of men's dressing gowns to see all sizes and finishes.
The Best Women's Dressing Gowns
For women, our dressing gowns are designed to flatter the figure without compromising on comfort — a generous, draping cut, a soft sash, and the same fine cottons that distinguish the men's range.
- The Daylight Hooded — £139.95. A hooded women's dressing gown in a beautifully striped cotton — warm, generous, and very easy to wear.
- The Duchess Navy — £189.95. The women's version of our Earl, in piped Egyptian cotton. Equal parts elegant and comfortable.
Explore the full collection of women's dressing gowns.
How to Care for a Dressing Gown
A well-made dressing gown should last for years. Care for it well and it will reward you.
- Wash cool. 30°C or 40°C with a gentle detergent. Avoid bleach and avoid fabric softener — softener coats the cotton fibres and reduces absorbency.
- Tumble dry on low, or line dry. Egyptian cotton softens beautifully with each wash — resist the temptation to over-iron.
- Hang it properly. A wide wooden hanger keeps the shoulders from creasing. Use the loop at the collar for storing on a hook by the door.
- Treat marks promptly. Spot-clean small stains with a little gentle soap and water before they set.
Why Choose a Bown of London Dressing Gown
We have been crafting dressing gowns since 1985, and we have built our reputation on the belief that the small, quiet rituals of the day — the morning coffee, the evening read, the moment after a bath — deserve a garment that honours them.
Every Bown of London dressing gown is:
- Cut from the finest Egyptian or zero-twist cotton
- Available in sizes from medium through 4XL
- Optionally finished with personalised monogramming
- Beautifully gift-boxed, ready to give
- Backed by free UK delivery on orders over £250
One Last Thought
The dressing gown is, in its own quiet way, a statement. It says: this hour is mine. It says: this morning, this evening, this fire-and-book moment matters. To slip into one is to take a small, deliberate step out of the rush of the day and into something more graceful.
If you have not yet found yours, we hope you will let us help.
Bown of London — Fine Leisurewear Since 1985.
For more than four decades, Bown of London has been crafting the dressing gown into a fine British art. Below, our complete guide to choosing, wearing, and caring for the most civilised garment in your wardrobe.
What Is a Dressing Gown?
A dressing gown is a long, loose-fitting outer garment, traditionally worn over nightclothes or in moments of ease at home. The word itself dates from the 18th century, but the idea is older still — the dressing gown evolved from the banyan, the silk-and-cotton robe brought back to Europe by traders, and from the older tradition of putting on something graceful between the bath and the day's clothes.
You may also hear it called a robe, a housecoat, or, in the United States, a bathrobe. The terms overlap, but in British usage they each carry a slightly different sense:
- Dressing gown — a generous, long-cut robe of fine cotton, silk, or velour, intended to be worn over nightwear or alone at home. The dressing gown is the most refined of the family.
- Bathrobe — usually heavier, in towelling or terry cloth, designed to dry the body after bathing.
- Housecoat — lighter still, often more decorative, worn for receiving guests or moving about the house.
At Bown of London, when we say dressing gown, we mean something carefully tailored and quietly luxurious — a garment that has earned its place in the wardrobe alongside the suit, the shirt, and the shoes.
A Short History of the Dressing Gown
The dressing gown reached its peak in the 19th century, when the Victorian gentleman would slip out of his coat and into a velvet or silk gown to read, write letters, or smoke a pipe. It was the garment of the study, the library, and the late evening — a kind of quiet armour against the formality of the day. Its cousin, the smoking jacket, served the same purpose at the dining table.
In the 20th century, the dressing gown became closely associated with the great British figures of the screen: Sherlock Holmes, James Bond, Hercule Poirot. Today, it has shed none of that elegance — only added the comfort of modern fabrics and a more generous cut.
How to Choose a Dressing Gown: Six Things That Matter
A good dressing gown should last for years, soften with each wash, and feel a little better every time you put it on. Choosing the right one comes down to six considerations.
1. Fabric
The fabric does most of the work. The most luxurious dressing gowns are made of Egyptian cotton — long-staple, finely woven, beautifully absorbent. Egyptian cotton drapes elegantly, breathes well in summer, and feels warm without weight in winter. It is the fabric of choice for the classic British dressing gown.
Towelling (sometimes called terry cloth) is the fabric of the bathrobe — thicker, looped, absorbent. Look for zero-twist towelling, which is softer to the touch and more luxurious than ordinary terry. Velour finishes give a velvety, almost suede-like surface, with all the warmth of towelling and a more elegant drape.
For warmer months, choose a lightweight Egyptian cotton; for winter, a heavier weave or a velour finish.
2. Weight (GSM)
GSM — grams per square metre — tells you how heavy the fabric is. A 200–250 GSM cotton is light and ideal for spring and summer. 350–450 GSM towelling is what you want for the depth of winter, or for stepping out of a bath. Most of our dressing gowns sit comfortably in the 300–450 GSM range.
3. Length
Traditional dressing gowns reach mid-calf or even the ankle — long enough to feel complete, short enough not to drag. Shorter, knee-length cuts are easier to throw on for a quick coffee in the morning, but the longer cut is unmistakably the more elegant.
4. Collar and Cut
The shawl collar is the classic — a soft, rounded lapel that frames the chest beautifully. A hooded dressing gown adds practicality, especially in colder weather, and is a particular favourite among those who want to keep warm after a bath. The kimono cut, with wide sleeves and a straight collar, is rarer and feels distinctively contemporary.
5. Fit
A dressing gown should be roomy — never tight. Look for a generous cut through the chest and shoulders, and a self-tie waist that allows you to wear it loose or fasten it close. Bown of London dressing gowns are cut from medium through 4XL, designed to flatter rather than to hug.
6. Detail
Small touches separate a fine dressing gown from an ordinary one: piped lapels, contrast trim, two deep pockets, a hanging loop at the collar, a self-tie sash with a sewn-in belt loop on either side. Look for double-stitched seams and a substantial collar — these are the things that age well.
The Best Men's Dressing Gowns
Our men's dressing gowns are tailored from finely woven Egyptian cotton, towelling, or velour, and finished by hand. Among our most popular:
- The Mozart — £189.95. A classic Egyptian cotton dressing gown in a soft, washable weave. Quietly elegant, beautifully draped, and a favourite for both home and travel.
- The Earl Navy — £189.95. A piped, navy Egyptian cotton dressing gown in the British tradition — the gown for the study, the library, the long winter evening.
- The Cancun Towelling — £99.95. Our most-loved zero-twist towelling dressing gown, perfect for the morning bath and the after-swim chill.
Browse the full range of men's dressing gowns to see all sizes and finishes.
The Best Women's Dressing Gowns
For women, our dressing gowns are designed to flatter the figure without compromising on comfort — a generous, draping cut, a soft sash, and the same fine cottons that distinguish the men's range.
- The Daylight Hooded — £139.95. A hooded women's dressing gown in a beautifully striped cotton — warm, generous, and very easy to wear.
- The Duchess Navy — £189.95. The women's version of our Earl, in piped Egyptian cotton. Equal parts elegant and comfortable.
Explore the full collection of women's dressing gowns.
How to Care for a Dressing Gown
A well-made dressing gown should last for years. Care for it well and it will reward you.
- Wash cool. 30°C or 40°C with a gentle detergent. Avoid bleach and avoid fabric softener — softener coats the cotton fibres and reduces absorbency.
- Tumble dry on low, or line dry. Egyptian cotton softens beautifully with each wash — resist the temptation to over-iron.
- Hang it properly. A wide wooden hanger keeps the shoulders from creasing. Use the loop at the collar for storing on a hook by the door.
- Treat marks promptly. Spot-clean small stains with a little gentle soap and water before they set.
Why Choose a Bown of London Dressing Gown
We have been crafting dressing gowns since 1985, and we have built our reputation on the belief that the small, quiet rituals of the day — the morning coffee, the evening read, the moment after a bath — deserve a garment that honours them.
Every Bown of London dressing gown is:
- Cut from the finest Egyptian or zero-twist cotton
- Available in sizes from medium through 4XL
- Optionally finished with personalised monogramming
- Beautifully gift-boxed, ready to give
- Backed by free UK delivery on orders over £250
One Last Thought
The dressing gown is, in its own quiet way, a statement. It says: this hour is mine. It says: this morning, this evening, this fire-and-book moment matters. To slip into one is to take a small, deliberate step out of the rush of the day and into something more graceful.
If you have not yet found yours, we hope you will let us help.
Bown of London — Fine Leisurewear Since 1985.