If you favour donning luxurious silk nightwear as you head to the land of nod, you’ll be of the same mind as many stage stars who opt to impress. For them, though, a long robe is better worn for dramatic on-stage performances rather than between the sheets. We've picked our favourite outfits from stage and screen - all nightwear and all worn by artists who favour loungewear to astound their audiences.
Jazz era silk gowns
The elegant, louche style of jazz-age costume lends itself perfectly to a long silk gown. Think Eartha Kitt in floor-length satin; Julie London with silk pooling around her toes; Josephine Baker in a nearly-there negligee. Nothing says ‘watch me’ like a luxurious long robe, but some take it to the max…
Diana’s park kimono
Diana Ross set crowds ablaze in 1983 when she wore a gem-studded catsuit and kimono cape while singing in Central Park. The billowing kimono was an inspired addition to the sparkly skin-tight suit – great for highlighting all those amazing moves, we guess.
Florence Welch cape dreams
For style queen Florence, the 2016 Brit Awards meant turning up to the party in a liquid gold Gucci silk slip and velvet fringed cape. At Chime for Change, draped in Alex Noble’s hippy goth cape she flexed her wings like a super-muse and mesmerised crowds. Backstage at Milan Fashion Week she bewitched in floaty teal Gucci chiffon. She even loves loungewear so much she created a whole loungewear collection in collaboration with the shop Liberty of London in 2018!
Lady Gaga silk dressing gowns
Lady Gaga’s collection of wild and wacky outfits includes a Franc Fernandez steak gown (VMA red carpet 2010); a ruffle-necked Elizabethan-style Alexander McQueen gown (2018 London premiere of A Star is Born); and a see-through rubber nun naughty lingerie outfit (2011 Monster Ball tour). However, for chic and casual daywear she's fond of a kimono or two, our favourite look being the luscious peach silk number.
Elton John’s 50th birthday robe
What price sheer drama? Not everyone gets to dress like Louise XIV for their 50th birthday party – well, not unless they’re Elton John. The flamboyant singer topped a floor-length fluffy robe (attended by toga-wearing followers) with a three-foot-high wig at the Hammersmith Palais in 1997. And tucked into the top? A miniature Spanish battleship and teeny tiny canon, of course.
Bjork's fashion-forward kimonos
Many artists favour kimonos, but no one styles them quite like Icelandic singer Bjork. From raspberry pink to ruby red, Bjork’s iconic Japanese-style kimono robes offset her dark angular features. Her outfit for the cover of 1997 album Homogenic – a regal Alexander McQueen kimono dress – was included in the 2020 V&A kimono exhibition. Posed formally and framed by a deep red lining, she cuts an imposing profile in silk nightwear. If you’re going to sing loud you may as well dress accordingly.
Rita Ora fluffy dressing gown
Some stars prefer to take it back to basics. Who can forget Rita Ora walking onto the red carpet at the MTV Europe Music Awards dressed in a white fluffy dressing gown with matching terry-towelled hair? A sleepy look perhaps, where a shot of silk might have elevated the effect, but there’s no denying Rita is gorgeous whatever she throws on.
Freddie Mercury silk kimono
The ultimate costume-wearer, Freddie knew a thing or two about posing in bedwear and robes. On show as part of the V&A’s 2019 exhibition, his 1970s batwing patterned silk kimono was a classic show-stealer, making fashion news when he wore it while singing to huge crowds during a tour of Japan in 1976. Presumably the crowd wore shades.
Flaunt your nightwear
We think silk robes are too good to keep behind closed doors, and when artists wear them on stage that's surely a sign. Ours are worn as evening capes and glamorous beachwear just as often as homewear. If you're shopping for versatile loungewear that also looks amazing out, we have an array of beautiful silk robes in stunning prints and patterns, so ditch the milk and cookies, wrap yourself in silk and head on out.
Search for silk
We're with the top stars when it comes to wearing your loungewear wardrobe as outerwear. Search our site for a silk gown in your favourite colour and print. We've categories to suit all styles: belted and draped for nights out, or worn loose by the pool - all in beautiful silks; silk satin, sandwashed satin, silk crepe and silk cotton. Shipping and returns are free within the United Kingdom; just pop your robe into your basket, and your beautiful gown will be on its way.
