What’s a Negligee?

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The term “negligee” is a descendant of the French verb negliger which means to neglect or overlook. Today, it refers to a women’s nightgown, mainly one that is elegant, see-through, silky, and often trimmed with lace. It differs from a nightgown in that it tends to barely cover the body and is often considered “sexy” or erotic.

The first gown was of French design, hence the French origin of the word. These 18th century originals weren’t exactly revealing. They were often quite similar to the gowns worn during the day and covered the entire body, frequently covering the arms as well. In the 20th century, the style underwent a significant change, becoming immensely popular throughout most of the Western world.

By the 1920s, women’s dresses had become much more revealing affairs. They frequently lacked the petticoats associated with 19th century dress. The gown began to mimic these more nude styles, and was a single-layered garment made of silk, similar to a woman’s full slip. Although it was certainly more revealing than eighteenth-century French nightgowns, it was still more utilitarian than erotic.

This would change after World War II. The lace-trimmed robe, offering a sheer bodice, or made of lace and silk, soon began to be considered nightwear with considerable sex appeal. Pin-up girls of the 1940s might appear in a robe, and this revealing nightgown was quickly made in less expensive fabrics like polyester and nylon.

During the 1970s, many different styles of gown could be found. The word could also refer to any woman’s dress lingerie. The doll, a short version, was popular. The length of the gown didn’t really matter, and it could be floor length, knee length, or significantly above the knee.

At the same time that some negligee styles aimed to reveal everything, a typical style for women in the 1960s and 1970s was still somewhat utilitarian. Polyester or nylon robes in a variety of colors with a simple lace top became the most popular nightgown option for women. Several of these can be seen on television shows from the 1970s.

While people can still find a variety of robes, made from polyester, nylon, cotton, or silk, the most popular women’s sleepwear since 2004 has been pajamas. This does not mean that they have been completely replaced. Women in all their incarnations are more likely to view them as something to wear when the decided goal is sex appeal. There are somewhat revealing pajamas with tank tops, and certainly whimsical. Of course, traditional pajamas that fully cover the arms and legs are also quite popular, and on a chilly night, snuggling up in bed in warm pajamas just makes more sense than wearing a semi-nude, somewhat revealing dress.

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