Why you need an inside-outside nightgown for spring

Another Chemena Kamali Chloé show, another great example of nightwear as daywear. In case you missed it, the much-lauded creative director presented her winter 2026 collection this week to a star-studded crowd of Chloé girls old and new, including Olivia Rodrigo, Maude Apatow, Oprah, Aimee Lou Wood, Maggie Rogers and Brooke Shields.

Numerous looks took notes from nightgowns — as has become a signature of Kamali’s shows — proving that the nightie has moved well beyond frumpy territory and is now totally acceptable for wear outside of the confines of your bedroom.

And it’s not just the runway: Over the past few years, nighties have been spotted on the likes of Bella Hadid, Petra Collins, Daisy Edgar-Jones, and the queen of cool, Zoë Kravitz.

Two types of nightgowns have emerged as the ‘It’ item for spring 2026, offering daytime and nighttime options for nightie lovers everywhere. First, there’s the white, granny-esque, traditional nightgown, beloved by Italian nonnas everywhere, but considered too dowdy for public wear until very recently.

It’s light, airy, and best paired with a quirky shoe — say, the cult Plasticana Gardana gardening clog that has had the fashion set for the last two years, or perhaps a well-accessorised pair of Crocs (Simone Rocha has you sorted there).

There is perhaps no better poster girl for this trend than Pia Baroncini, the founder and creative director of fashion brand LPA, who is, in her own words, usually “wearing one all the time”.

“They’re SO comfortable to sleep in — I wake up feeling so chic and old time-y in the best way,” she wrote in a blog post on her signature nightie look. “And I also wear them out for errands and school pickups. I pair them with chunky sweaters and sneakers when it’s cold or as/is with flats. If you haven’t tried it I promise you’ll love it.”

Then there’s the more sultry lace slip, which shows no signs of going away, especially considering how it became one of the most sought-after items from Anthony Vaccarello’s spring 2026 collection for Saint Laurent. In fact, Saint Laurent has gone particularly hard on nightwear as daywear of late, with a number of celebrities donning the brand’s lace trim silk romper (see: Hailey Bieber, Charli xcx, Rosé from Blackpink, Peggy Gou and more).

It couldn’t be better suited to the UK’s erratic springtime weather, either, with the option to be worn over jeans during a colder snap, or alone during one of the rare days that it reaches above 15 degrees. But, without sounding too much like your mum, definitely take a coat.

Chloé long silk slip dress, £2,370, chloe.com

Manito mulberry silk chiffon nightie, £365, harrods.com