A bathrobe, dressing gown, morning gown or housecoat is a robe. A bathrobe is
usually made from towelling or other absorbent textile, and may be donned
while the wearer's body is wet, serving both as a towel and an informal garment.
A dressing gown or a housecoat is a loose, open-fronted gown closed with a
fabric belt that is put on over nightwear on rising from bed, or, less
commonly today, worn over some day clothes when partially dressed or
undressed in the morning or evening. The regular wearing of a dressing gown by
men about the house is derived from the 18th-century wearing of the banyan in
orientalist imitation. The Japanese yukata is an unlined, cotton kimono worn
as a bathrobe or as summer outdoor clothing. Several styles of bathrobes
are marketed to consumers, categorized by textile material and type of weave.
Styles of fabrics Bathrobes are generally made of four
different fabrics. Cotton: Cotton is a natural fiber
consisting primarily of cellulose and is one of the most commonly used fibers in
textile manufacturing. Due to the hydrophilic nature of cellulose, cotton
absorbs water easily and is frequently used by the beach, pool, or following a
shower. Cotton robes are especially suited to use in hot climates because
cotton tends to absorb perspiration. Silk: Another common fabric used in
robes is silk. Silk is a fine lustrous fiber composed mainly of fibroin and
produced by the secretions of certain insect larvae forming strong, elastic,
fibrous thread. These kinds of bathrobes can be relatively expensive due to the
cost of producing silk. Such robes are very thin and lightweight. These
bathrobes are not particularly suited to wet environments because they lack the
surface area and polarity necessary to absorb water. However, silk dressing
gowns are the traditional choice, since they are not worn after bathing.
Microfiber: Microfiber is an extremely fine synthetic fiber, typically made of
cellulose or polyester, that can be woven into textiles to mimic
natural-fiber cloth. Modern microfibers are developed to maximize breathability
and water absorption and can be thinner than the width of human hair. Much like
silk, robes made out of microfiber are light in weight and are very soft to the
touch. Microfiber is flammable. Wool: Wool is common in colder climates.
Nylon: Nylon is a synthetic fiber occasionally used in inexpensive
bathrobes. It is valued for its ability to be cleaned easily.
Styles of weave Bathrobes are also categorized by their
shape of weave. Flannel: Flannel is a soft woven fabric,
made from loosely spun yarn, usually cotton or wool.
Terry: Terry is a pile fabric, usually woven of cotton, with uncut loops on
both sides, used for bath towels and robes. The longer and denser the loops
are, more absorbent the bathrobes are. Velour: Velour is a fabric with cut
loops. Velour bathrobes are typically made with terry inside, as terrycloth
absorbs water better than velour. Velour gives the bathrobe luxury, coziness, and
makes the garment softer to the touch. Waffle: Waffle fabric has good water
absorbency, is loose and has a distinctive "gridlike" appearance. For
most part, these bathrobes are designed for their light weight. "Pique" is a
type of waffle weave that can be applied to cotton, velour, silk, and other
fabrics. Styles of collars
There are varieties of collars for bathrobes as well.
Shawl collar: So called because the collar closes about the neck just like a
shawl. The shawl collar is borrowed from its use on men's evening wear, the
dinner jacket and smoking jacket, and is common on traditional dressing gowns.
The shawl collar gives a feeling of warmth and cosiness.
Kimono: This is a traditional Japanese garment and the name literally
translates to ‘thing to wear’. The kimono style robe actually has no collar
per se. It generally provides more comfort to the wearer in warm weather.
Hooded: A hood is sewn into the neckline, which can be worn over the
head to keep it warm and help dry wet hair.
Styles of sculpture The sculpture refers to the texture or
styling of the bathrobe's fabric. The sculpture of a robe not only provides
aesthetic appeal, but also affects the absorbency and the hang of the item. The
sculpture is a pattern sewn into the terry cloth, velour, or other fabric
that reduces bulk, increases suppleness, and yields a more graceful hang on
thicker styles. There are several varieties of fabric sculptures for
robes: Window Pane: A box or checkerboard
pattern in various sizes Zig Zag: A plush, repeating "Z" pattern
Ribbed: A sculpture design that yields alternating vertical lines of plush
material and sewn material Waves: Similar to the Zig Zag sculpture,
but with gentler angles See also
Khalat Toga
References Further reading
Media related to Bathrobes at Wikimedia Commons