The 11 Very Best Silk Pajamas for Women

Sizes: XS–2X | Momme: Not listed | Care instructions: Machine wash in cold water, lay flat to dry | Details: Front pocket on tee, high-low hem, angled shorts | Price: $$

For under $200, you can’t do much better than the Tee Set from Lunya. It’s a worthy entry to the world of silk pajamas — affordable, good-looking, and low-maintenance. It also has a decent size range (XS to 2X), and often comes in limited-edition colors (like “flying fig”) and prints (the latest is a very pretty lily pattern).

Years after Strategist senior editor Hilary Reid first reviewed this set as part of her investigation into machine-washable silk, the Strategist seal of approval still stands. Made from mulberry silk — the same sort of silk Quince uses in its best-in-class pillowcases — the set feels richer than its price tag. Though the momme’s missing, the pajamas are soft to the touch and smooth. I love sleeping in mine, and never feel too hot or too cold while wearing them. The set comes with a billowing tee (it’s elephantine, really) that reaches the hem of the bloomer-short shorts. These are just easy, both to wear and to care for: Machine-wash and lay flat to dry. And the set has held up through a year’s worth of regular washings without wrinkling too terribly. Sarah Flint, founder of the eponymous shoe company, and yoga instructor Kate Posch also like the set for its convenience and comfort. As Posch says, “They feel like you aren’t wearing anything.”

Sizes: XS–XL | Momme: 19 momme | Care instructions: Hand wash with silk detergent, hang dry, iron or steam to restore luster | Details: Floral pattern, racerback, elasticized waistband | Price: $$$

If you’re really going to invest in silk sleepwear, you might as well go for glamor, and these pajamas from British brand Olivia von Halle are capital-G glamorous. Harrington says the company makes an “unbeatable classic pajama.” The Lila is its signature, with mother-of-pearl buttons and the option for bespoke monogramming.

OvH (as the company is affectionately known) is most famous for its screen-printed patterns with motifs of palace gardens and Alice in Wonderland–like bows. Its sets often sell out — as I’ve seen every time I update this story — but right now, this flower-powered set is still in stock. It’s made from a light crêpe de chine. The brand also makes a selection of shinier silk-satin weave and cooling cotton and silk blends.

The label has a loyal following that includes lingerie-industry insider Ellen Lewis, Shopbop fashion director Caroline Maguire, and Catbird chief creative officer Leigh Plessner. Plessner owns a pair from when the label launched a decade ago, and compares the silk to “a kitten’s paw” and the piping along the sleeves to “the edge of an elegant pastry.”

Sizes: XS–5X | Momme: Not listed | Care instructions: Dry clean | Details: Piping, patch pocket, semi-elasticized waistband | Price: $$$

Another British brand that’s famous for its prints is Karen Mabon. These hand-illustrated designs are a little more playful than the ones from Olivia von Halle, from this not-too-twee floral to Agatha Christie’s crime novels, carousel animals, and ceramic collectibles. The extravagance of the prints has endeared the pajamas to artist Lucy Litman and former Strategist writer Chloe Anello, and Harrington praises the brand for its inclusive sizing, which starts at XS and goes up to a 5X (a rarity in the silk-sleepwear market and the biggest range offered on this guide).

I own a now sold-out slip from the brand that is made from the same mulberry silk as this set. It has a wonderful suppleness, and because the fabric contains 3 percent elastane, it’s a little springier than some of the other pajamas here that are 100 percent silk. The feel of it is divine. The one downside is that the company marks its pajamas as “dry-clean only” — though I occasionally hand-wash mine instead, and haven’t had a problem so far.

(If you’re big on fun patterns, the brand Roy G makes trippy tie-dyed silk that wouldn’t be out of place at a Grateful Dead reunion concert. Its sets run small, though — I’m a reliable medium and had to size up to a large, the largest size the brand makes — which is why I’m only including it here as an honorable mention.)

[Editor’s note: Some sizes are currently sold out, but you can sign up to receive an email when yours is back in stock.]

Sizes:  XXS–XXL | Momme: Not listed | Care instructions: Machine wash on cold, delicate cycle, line dry | Details: Rib trim with piping on top with patch pocket | Price: $$

Sleepy Jones is all about “mannish pajamas” — New York features editor Katy Schneider once stole a pair from her dad’s closet — with menswear details like plackets and chest pockets. (Karlie Kloss is another noted fan; hers say “Klossy” on a pocket.) Its silk offerings have some of the same details, including the Leonora set that I tested. It’s the most similar in silhouette to Lunya’s set, though cut more closely to the body, so it isn’t as oversized but is still looser-fitting. There’s also piped trim on the front and back patch pockets, a delightful addition to an otherwise plain pajama. The sheen of the silk is more muted, to the point where it’s easy to mistake it for another material at a glance. It’s machine washable, too, though the brand recommends turning it inside out first (I’ve always been diligent about that, just to be safe, and it’s held up well). If you want a more traditional pajama look than the tee and shorts, the brand’s Marina set comes with a long-sleeve top and pants, which are a favorite of Casey Larkin Blond of Mr. Larkin and Courtney Somer of Lake & Skye.

Sizes: XS–XL | Momme: 22 momme | Care instructions: Hand wash in cold water, line dry | Details: Pleating on the neckline, tulip hem on the shorts, elastic waistband | Price: $

Another affordable silk-maker is LilySilk, which prices most of its pajamas under $200. (And regular sales mean you can generally get a set for 20 or 25 percent off.) Harrington says the pieces aren’t any less lavish for their price, and I agree after testing this silk camisole and shorts set. It’s made from a lustrous silk charmeuse (as opposed to the mulberry silk of our top-pick Lunyas), with a higher momme count at 22, so it’s supersoft. I especially like the detailing, from the pleating along the neckline to the curved tulip hem, which you don’t often see in the less-expensive silk sets. And more than a year after they arrived — I’ve had them for the longest of all those I tried on this list — the pajamas aren’t worse for wear even after I unintentionally put them in the dryer a couple of times.

Sizes: XS–L | Momme: Not listed | Care instructions: Machine wash in cold water, no specific drying instructions except don’t tumble dry, cool iron | Details: Satin trim along the neckline, seamline sides | Price: $

Hanro’s silk spaghetti-strapped camisole is unlike the rest of the recommendations here — Cadwell calls it “surprise silk,” as the silk looks like fine rib knit on first glance. According to the brand, it’s meant to act like temperature-regulating long underwear or a base layer when it’s cold out. (A delightful fact: This is the silk version of the Hanro shirt Nicole Kidman wears in Eyes Wide Shut.) The cut is comfortable to wear but close enough to be layered, with a fitted-but-not-tight design. Hanro has a whole line of this “pure silk” — including a long-sleeve T-shirt, short-sleeve tee, and leggings — as well as a line of “woolen silk” that incorporates merino wool. Caldwell appreciates the Swiss brand’s “extreme dedication to quality fabrics.”

Sizes: XS–2XL | Momme: Not listed | Care instructions: Machine wash in cold water, no specific drying instructions except don’t tumble dry, no dry cleaning | Details: Lace on the neckline | Price: $

I learned about Etam, a century-old corsetier turned lingerie label, from underwear writer Estelle Puleston. There’s a “pouting in a boudoir” feel to the intimates line — sheer tulle abounds — though I happen to like the elegance of its simple slips. I own the (out-of-stock) Pearly chemise, while Puleston owns the Milky I’ve included here; the only real difference between the two is some lace trimming. The silk feels fluttery, and it has a pearlescent shine. The slip is unlined, making for a light garment that’s not excessively delicate (I’ve accidentally caught mine in a dresser drawer, and the slip remained unscathed). Puleston suggests Etam “for anyone wanting decent-quality silk nightwear on a budget.” She has worn hers so much that it’s gotten tiny “gaps” in the fabric, but these are only really visible when the slip is held up to the light. (I haven’t had that problem yet.)

Sizes: S–XL | Momme: Not listed | Care instructions: Hand wash, dry clean recommended | Details: Chantilly-lace appliques | Price: $$$

If you’re willing to spend more, there’s a nice-looking selection of silk pajamas at Natori, including the Lolita collection, a line of silk charmeuse trimmed with Chantilly lace. I tried this chemise on Caldwell’s recommendation. It looks like traditional lingerie, cut to be curve-hugging and show off some skin. There’s a real resplendence to the intricate lace and the saturated color of the charmeuse. (I went with a bright magenta, but the chemise also comes in shades of limon, lemongrass, and chartreuse.) It feels really rich, and worth the expense. Kaplan is a fan of the brand, pointing out that its pieces have beautiful draping. “Honestly, if you’ve never worn silk pajamas, it’s a treat to feel something so cool and fluid against the body,” she says. Plessner is also a loyalist to the label, which was beloved by her own mother, and recommends the Decadence line.

Sizes: XS–XL | Momme: Not listed | Care instructions: Hand-wash in cold water; no specific drying instructions | Details: Tank-style straps; low, open back | Price: $$$

Canadian brand Christine Lingerie was founded back in 1973, and since then it’s become a regular fixture in department stores like Bergdorf Goodman. (It’s now a name that rivals La Perla and Kiki de Montparnasse, if you read through the lingerie-obsessive sub-Reddit as I do.) Because there are very few of its pieces made — you’ll often see the words sold out on its “New Arrivals” page — you really feel that you’re getting a one-of-a-kind piece when you buy one. I tried out its Willa nightgown. (It reminds me of the slip Carrie Bradshaw wore outside Big’s engagement party.) It’s luxurious in a way most “luxuries” nowadays aren’t. The silk is so wispy. It feels like a little caress on the skin. It has the luster of a pearl. It’s a wonderful thing to have on, even when you just have cucumber slices on your eyes in bed. It’s also beloved by Lewis, Harrington, and lingerie columnist Holly Jackson. Jackson says the silks are so well made that they’ll likely last a lifetime — seemingly true, as Harrington has owned a couple of the label’s old caftans for years.

Sizes: XS–XL | Momme: 22 momme | Care instructions: Hand wash or machine wash in a laundry bag in the washer with cold water, and dry flat | Details: Pearly buttons, cuff piping  | Price: $$

Petite Plume, which made a gingham set that Prince George wore to greet President Obama, has an entire line of under-$300 silk sleepwear. Its candy-stripe sleep shirts are especially charming. At $185, this nightshirt is not the cheapest, but the quality warrants the price tag. It has the same momme count as LilySilk’s set (22 momme), and feels supremely soft. It’s sturdy as well — thicker-feeling than Etam’s slip, but not at all heavy on the body. As someone who usually kicks their legs out while sleeping, a sleep shirt always sounds appealing, and this one keeps me comfortable and cool. There’s also a surprisingly nice sheen to the mulberry silk — the green’s more of an emerald color.