Good Night, Sleep Tight - Times of India

What do you wear to bed? Is it your five-year-old comfy tracks or roomy shorts, a tattered old T-shirt or you go all Kareena Kapoor circa Jab We Met - read nightshirts and patialas? Sleepwear picks are mostly about comfort, not so much about style - unless you are a new bride and likely to shop for seductive sleep gowns and silk teddies to amp up the bedroom temperature. But your go-to-bed look needn't be devoid of glamour, thanks to a slew of designers making it possible to sleep in style. Be it online retailers or specialised sleepwear brands, it's time to wake up to a stylish way to snooze. Sleepwear designer Samyukta Nair started her brand when she noticed the absence of a stylish and affordable range of sleepwear in India. STYLISH SLEEPERSNair says, "In India, sleepwear is a fast growing segment. When we started we realised the few options that were available were in fabrics unsuited to the Indian climate, let alone a good night's rest." She feels women today are ready to invest in sleepwear. "After all, you spend almost eight hours in it," she adds. Co-founders of a sleepwear brand, Anuradha Beri and Ritu Arora, have noticed women ranging from 17 to 70 years shopping for sleepwear. Arora says, "Sleepwear is misunderstood in India with the young equating it to tracks and tees, most interpreting it as intimate wear or going for tailored maxis." Stylish sleepwear is about contemporary styles, good fabrics, funky prints. ABCS OF ZZZSVarious sleep researches say that what you wear to bed affects the quality of your sleep, notes Dr Kamal Gera, head of respiratory medicine at a Faridabad-based hospital and adds, "There is nothing like ideal sleepwear, as everybody has different preferences." His advice? Choose clothes that balance heat and cold as temperature is the main factor affecting sleep quality for everyone.Gera advises on keeping the fabric in mind while picking sleepwear. "Natural, breathable fabrics like cotton, wool and silk as well as soft lightweight synthetics are a good choice. Avoid fabrics that don't breathe well or irritate the skin," he adds. Arora says, "Sleepwear should definitely be soft, loose fit and with not too many buttons, frills or trims." Nair says that sleepwear is where form meets function. While herself a pyjama person, she advises that pick something that is comfortable, "as a good night's sleep is so hard to come by". Let's sleep on it.Onesie for you?The adult onesie is a thing now. An infant staple gear for sleep and lounging is accepted adult garb now - popularised by the likes of Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, Demi Lovato and Kris Jenner and daughter Kylie. The onesie comes in cutesy and athletic avatars now. Question is: Is it for you? Sleep gearSleepwear includes accessories like... - Robes or shrugs - Night slippers - Sleep masks - Night lamps, essential oils, socks, bed linen Sleep naked It regulates your skin temperature, prevents mid-sleep disturbances, keeps bacteria that thrive in warm moist areas at bay, boosts immune systemKnow your sleepwear1. Robe setsIf you are a bride-to-be or seduction is on your mind, pick these seductive, stylish robe sets. It's feminine and comes in different designs and lengths. 2. Pyjama setsMaking a comeback as loungewear too, these sets have shown a huge design improvement with better cuts, patterns and colours. 3. NightieOr nightgowns are the old-school sleepwear. But avoid roomy, printed variants and go for well-cut nighties in light cottons.4. Shorts/capri set Ideal for summer provided you double up your mosquito repellent. Or go for sexy silk teddies. (Picture 1-4: L-R)Nightshirt/dressSleep shirts are super airy. Pick from short sleeves, rolled-up sleeves to long sleeves in funky prints. Night dresses are more oversized.Playsuit/jumpsuitIdeal for a slumber party - jumpsuits and playsuits (short variant of a jumpsuit) - are fashionable and fun. Wash it wellA UK-based survey found men wear their pyjamas for 13 nights, and women for 17 nights, before washing them. Not washing jammies can lead to skin and urinary tract infections. Ideally, wash your pyjamas after 3-4 wears