The 14 Best Pajamas For 40+ Women Who Are Extremely Picky And Hate Most Things
by The Candidly Team
Sleepwear as an adult is, how do you say? Ah yes. A howling hellscape. Exhibit A:
Silk offers us varying levels of annoyance regarding washing instructions, and yet most of the “fancy” sleepwear we see is silk. They expect us to DRY CLEAN our nighties each week? Pass.
Modal fabric clings to our breasts, and when we shuffle downstairs for our morning coffee when visiting our in-laws, we’re not particularly interested in having the entire outline of our aureolas visible.
Shorts are fine for some. But what about the rest of us who would rather die than expose our witch knees?
Sets can be smart, but there are so many and so often the fit on the bottom doesn’t match the fit on the top and then we hate them all.
As you can see, I have too much time on my hands and think far too much about the fact that as a grown 40+ woman, I have not yet figured out what the hell to put on my body when I go to sleep. So I usually just throw on some ratty, holey t-shirt from college and wait for my husband to divorce me.
Now, perhaps you don’t have this issue and you love your perfect pajama system. I applaud you! Though I would also ask what you’re doing in this article apart from lording your wisdom over mine.
But if you’re in a similar, hopeless pajama boat, here are the 14 best possible options for sleepwear if you’re an exacting, demanding, 40ish lady with good taste and little patience:
1. J. Crew Long-sleeve pajama short set in striped linen-cotton blend
J. Crew sets have a way of making us look crisp and fresh, but the feel is so soft and light, they become the only pajamas we want to reach for. This pair is so dreamily thin, the fabric almost feels like air on your skin. And because it’s J. Crew, it’s also probably on sale as we speak.
Price: $89.50
2. Z Supply Dawn Smocked Pant
At this point in life, we’ve typed more words about these pants than we typed into our graduate thesis. And the reason, in complete honestly, is that nothing has ever felt like this on our skin. The material has an indescribable kind of softness: a butteriness you want to shroud yourself in, yet at the same time, a feathery lightness that doesn’t make you feel hot or weighed down. It’s supremely special to the point that anyone who comes in contact with it immediately gets it. We wish we could reach through the screen and brush it against your cheek rather than use all these flowery words (in a non-creepy way, of course), but alas you’ll just have to take our word for it. Or just look at one of us wearing it.
It comes in a few variations from which we can concoct our own set: pants, shorts, tee, and even a matching bra, all spun out of this magical material. We own all of it by the way. In multiple colors. And we still kind of want more.
And some lovely news is that Z Supply gave us a (totally unsponsored) code to share with you to get 20% off off using THECANDIDLY20. So your own customized set awaits.
Price: $59 for the pants, $49 for the shorts, $44 for the tee, $34 for the bra
3. Negative Supreme Track Pant
Yes, this set is pricey. But it’s silky and delicious and washable, and you’ll feel like a real lady!! It brings a new level of luxury to your life to lounge and putter and steep tea (and sure, fine also sleep) in these pajamas. Also, on a less important but still significant note, the color singlehandedly concluded our search for the perfect pink.
Ugh, we’re done.
Price: $140 for the pants, $135 for the button-up, $110 for the tank
4. Cozy Earth Rib-Knit Lounge Short
An extra wide waist band on shorts is beyond comfortable. And for the “I would never wear a matching set or (shudders) nightie but I’m tired of looking like I’m in college when I retire to my slumbers, these shorts with a cute tank will become your go-to, cozy uniform.
And you can get 30% off using the code CANDIDLY.
Price: $95
5. Universal Standard UltimateS Natalie Jersey Sleep Set
For all of us hot sleepers out here who want to feel like we’re in our underwear but cannot stand anything clinging to our skin while we sleep, this set is the insider tip we’ve been waiting for. Comes in many pretty colors. Sizes up to 4X.
Price: $88
6. Lunya Oranic Pima Wide Leg Pant
The drapiness, paired with the high-waist has us living in these, possibly for the remainder of our days. Even better with THIS tank.
Price: $148
7. J.Crew End-on-end cotton pajama short set
Yes indeed, it’s another shorts set from J. Crew. But if you’re a short set person, you’re going to want both a long and short-sleeve set from J. Crew.
AND they have sizing up to 3X. Love.
Price: $80
8. Splendid Light Blue Floral Aurora Sleep Dress
What should only ever be meant by the phrase “slipping into something more comfortable.” The softness of this material will thrill you. So soft you won’t want to take it off. Ever.
Price: $64
9. Harper Wilde Perfect Pima Shirt
If you just can’t give up your giant, ratty t-shirt to sleep, here’s the best version of that. The UI/UX of a t-shirt is truly the ideal sleep experience. But we need more length and we need non-rattiness if we’re going to feel like real, adult women. And this sleep dress is that. Might we also throw a woven belt over it with a gladiator sandal and pretend it’s not pajamas? We might.
Price: $55
10. Printfresh Daughters of Triton Long PJ Set
If all of these safe colors and non-patterns bore you to tears, this company makes the most whimsical, joyful prints. And they’re that crispy but soft poplin cotton which we love. Zoom in on this!
Price: $168
11. Z Supply Treat Yourself PJ Set
That luxurious satin feel in the cutest boxy shape that doesn’t make us feel like we’re in negligee.
Price: $129
12. Parachute Cloud Cotton Robe
You haven’t lived until you’ve felt one of these robes on your bare skin.
Price: $129
13. Cozy Earth Rib-Knit Bamboo Boyfriend Sleep Dress
As we said before, who doesn’t prefer to sleep in a divinely soft, oversized tee over pretty much anything else? This one is so drapey and breathable, we never want to take it off.
Get 30% off using the code CANDIDLY.
Price: $150
14. Petite Plume Womens Timeless Toile Chloe Nightgown
As long as we’re unwaveringly comfortable, we can enjoy the chocolate-truffle-left-on-a-pillow feeling of wearing something pretty to bed. And toile is the most unifying pretty print for women. It’s like the true crime podcast of designs. And just like a true crime podcast, this lulls us straight to sleep.
Price: $84
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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