Being unconscious is no excuse for letting your sartorial game slip. Traditionally, around a third of our lives is spent in sleepwear, though this statistic has likely risen exponentially due to stay at home orders over the past year or so. Naturally, we’re firm believers that comfort shouldn’t come at the cost of style, with the best luxury pyjamas for men cut from quality fabrics like silk, satin, bamboo, tencel, and organic cotton, making for supremely comfortable sleepwear that looks good both in and out of bed.
From James Stewart in Rear Window to Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in The Irishman, contemporary and traditional gents alike have recognised the importance of a classic pyjama set. If you’re worried about looking stuffy, fear not. The new era of sleepwear is a world apart from the staid styles of yesteryear, with vibrant prints, modern cuts, and lightweight fabrics taking centre stage.
The best luxurious pyjamas for men
With many varieties slick enough to be worn outside, these are the best luxury men’s pyjamas brands to slumber in style.
1. Emma Willis
British luxury men’s clothier Emma Willis has been a stalwart in London’s St James district since for over a quarter of a century. The eponymous designer is known for her traditional approach to shirting, adhering to time-honoured English shirt making techniques. The brand’s nightwear takes on a similar tone, with both classic pyjama sets and louche robes and smoking jackets available.
We’re partial to the brand’s printed dressing gowns; cut from cotton, silk, or wool they make for elegant lounging during the cooler months. For best results, team with embroidered velvet slippers and a whisky, neat.
Established in: 1999
Founder: Emma Willis
Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
Materials: Natural fibres — lots of cotton, wool, and silk
2. Derek Rose
If there’s one brand that’s commandeered the men’s luxury pyjama category as its own, it’s Derek Rose. Founded almost a century ago by Jack Lewis Rose (Derek Rose’s father), the brand was established with the aim of outfitting London’s elite with the finest undergarments and household attire, with its silk and cotton pieces an instant success. The brand’s timeless designs paired with its use of natural fibres make it as relevant today as it was upon its founding, with Derek Rose remaining a go-to for a solid pair of cotton men’s pyjamas with classic cuts that draw from the world of tailoring.
For those desirous of channelling their inner James Stewart and spying on the neighbours, might we recommend these cornflower blue cotton batiste pyjamas? A timelessly elegant option, they’re made with comfort in mind, with the light, breathable cotton fabric wicking away moisture and keeping you cool and dry during the warmer months.
Established in: 1926
Founder: Jack Lewis Rose
Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
Materials: Natural fibres (mostly cotton and some silk), some modal blends for loungewear
3. Sleepy Jones
Inspired by the attire of artists, writers, and musicians, founder Andy Spade established Sleepy Jones with the intention of designing pyjamas and loungewear that fostered comfort and creativity. Designed as a uniform for resting, reading, writing, and playing, Sleepy Jones pyjamas are cut from cotton and take a design-led approach that allows many of them to traverse well beyond the bedroom. Sleepy Jones often collaborates with The New Yorker, with pyjamas featuring work by artists like Charles Barsotti and Elisabeth McNair.
Established in: 2013
Founders: Andy Spade
Headquarters: New York City, United States
Materials: Natural fibres (mostly cottons, some silk)
4. Desmond & Dempsey
Proving sleepwear needn’t be a snooze, Desmond & Dempsey designs pyjamas that turn the quotidian into the extraordinary. Akin to tuxedos for between the sheets, Desmond & Dempsey pyjamas are crafted from fine cotton or linen and adorned with hand-painted prints. Exclusively producing in nightwear and leisurewear (including robes and pyjama separates), Desmond & Dempsey has benefited from specialisation, with its approach to the art of rest and relaxation a finely honed one.
Established in: 2014
Founders: Molly Goddard and Joel Jeffery
Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
Materials: Natural fibres (cotton)
5. Olivia von Halle
Ok, so this is technically a womenswear brand, but hear us out. Inspired by the lounging pyjamas sported by Coco Chanel and her contemporaries in the 1920s, Olivia von Halle founded her eponymous brand in 2011 with the intention of creating pyjamas “glamorous enough to enjoy a gin and tonic in before sliding off to bed.”
For the kind of guy who isn’t completely sated by checks and stripes in cotton flannel and poplin, Olivia von Halle’s luxuriously rakish silk pyjamas are the ideal outfit to slink around the house in with a G&T (or whisky!) in hand before quite literally sliding into bed. The generous cuts and diverse array of patterns means the classic full length styles can easily be worn by men — we’d recommend sizing up for a better fit though.
Established in: 2011
Founder: Olivia von Halle
Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
Materials: Mostly natural fibres (silk, cashmere), with some natural and synthetic blends (viscose and silk)
6. Zimmerli
Swiss luxury underwear and sleepwear brand Zimmerli has specialised in imbuing unseen garments with elegance since 1871. The brand takes a thoughtful approach to its men’s pyjamas, with classic cuts and both plain and patterned options rendered in natural fibres like silk and cotton. We’re most drawn to the brand’s silk pyjamas sets for men, which are the epitome of louche luxury — you’ll want to continue slinking around in these sets well past sunrise.
Established in: 1871
Founders: Pauline Zimmerli-Bäurlin
Headquarters: Aarau, Switzerland
Materials: Natural fibres (cotton, silk, and wool)
7. Eberjey
Particularly sweaty sleepers should save the silk and satin iterations for lounging and opt for breathable, moisture-wicking fabrics for the actual sleeping part of the evening. Sleepwear brand Eberjey has an array of tencel modal (made from wood pulp cellulose) pyjamas for men, with the sustainable fabric boasting breathable, moisture-wicking properties. For those who want the luxury of silk without the hassle of maintenance, Eberjey also has a selection of washable silk pyjama sets.
Established in: 1996
Founders: Ali Mejia and Mariela Rovito
Headquarters: Miami, USA
Materials: Natural fibres (silk, cotton) and sustainable man-made semi-synthetic fibres (tencel)
8. CDLP
Swedish lifestyle label CDLP got its start making luxurious underwear for men using silky soft lyocell material (a semi-synthetic fabric made from wood cellulose). The brand extends this fabric to its pyjamas for men, with its tencel lyocell poplin fabric forming the basis of pants and shorts sets. The shirts tend to have a boxy fit while the trousers are straight-cut, resulting in a fit that feels good in bed and looks good out of it.
Established in: 2016
Founders: Christian Larson and Andreas Palm
Headquarters: Stockholm, Sweden
Materials: Natural fibres (cotton) and sustainable man-made semi-synthetic fibres (tencel lyocell)
9. Not Just Pyjama
In line with its moniker, Not Just Pyjama creates luxurious pyjama sets designed to transcend the bounds of the bedroom and enter the street without a second glance. Not Just Pyjama’s silk pyjamas for men are among our favourites on this list and are best teamed with a pair of the brand’s velvet slippers for the ultimate post-dinner cocktail outfit.
Established in: 2015
Founder: Ying Zhang
Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
Materials: Natural fibres (silk)
10. Tekla
Copenhagen-based brand Tekla dominates all realms of the subconscious; while it got its start producing beautiful bedding, the brand has successfully applied the same form follows function ethos to its elevated array of pyjamas for men. Crafted from cotton poplin or sateen, Tekla pyjamas feature relaxed cuts and are available in solid colours as well as the brand’s signature stripes.
Established in: 2017
Founder: Charlie Hedin
Headquarters: Copenhagen, Denmark
Materials: Natural fibres (cotton poplin and sateen)
11. Daniel Hanson
Nothing says louche lounging quite like a robe. While most robes are cut from terry towelling or utilitarian jersey cotton and intended to make the journey from bathroom to bedroom a touch less exposed, British brand Daniel Hanson takes a more sartorial approach. Imbuing tradition with a welcome dose of style and eccentricity, Daniel Hanson creates the type of robe for rockstars to be photographed in and dukes to smoke a pipe in — ornate, lavish, and crafted from fabrics like jacquard, velvet, cashmere, and silk.
Established in: 1989
Founders: Daniel and Julie Hanson
Headquarters: Nottingham, United Kingdom
Materials: Natural fibres (silk, cashmere, wool)
12. Bonsoir of London
Founded during the era of the cocktail pyjama, Bonsoir of London has been producing luxury loungewear for almost a century. The heritage British brand’s selection of luxury pyjamas for men spans soft cotton and silk styles, with both classic pyjama sets and robes available in solid colours and patterns.
Established in: 1926
Owner: John Prenn
Headquarters: Crewkerne, Somerset, United Kingdom
Materials: Natural fibres (cotton, silk)
Enjoyed this guide to the best pyjamas for men? Check out our other men’s style guides here.
Words by Theo Rosen
Feature image courtesy of Craig McDean for GQ
