Ode to my dressing gown

[nineveh_uk]

I love my dressing gown. I bought it in Marks and Spencer's for £40 either in the end of 1999 or beginning of 2000, making it unquestionably wear-for-wear the best value garment I have ever purchased. It is magenta, a sort of polyester velveteen, and infinitely nicer than that sounds, for it is tasteful in texture, not garish. It is incredibly washable, so that even I don't iron it. I have worn it every day for about three-quarters of the year* for over twenty years, and it doesn't look like it. It is cosy, it is comfortable, and as last winter I am already throwing it on over my clothes at tea-time quite a lot because I get ridiculously cold**. I can cosplay Nirvana in Fire's Prince Yu in it***, or anyone else who would be swanning round in a swishy magenta robe who takes my fancy. I am writing this post in it. The past 20 months would have been a lot more miserable without it.

My dressing gown, you deserve all my praise! May you last many more years, because I'll never get another quite as good on every front as you have been and continue to be.

*I have other dressing gowns for summer and travel. I like dressing gowns. When I win the lottery I am going to buy a £600 cashmere (woven) one. Also in magenta. I just like dressing gowns.

**Not my thyroid.

*** Though he would undoubtedly prefer a slightly less tasteful version, with more embroidered gold dragons.

Comments

[naraht]

Wonderful! I have a Toast dressing gown (£50 on sale in 2015 or so) of which I'm very fond, but it's cotton so it's not particularly warm.

If I won the lottery I would buy this: https://store.melintregwynt.co.uk/dressing-gown-collar-lagoon-28832.html

[nineveh_uk]

Very nice - and reasonably priced! And since they're made to order they could add a couple of extra inches on the bottom if necessary to make it really long and swishy.

[azdak]

In fairness to Prince Yu, the more embroidered gold dragons the merrier.

[nineveh_uk]

There is a lot to be said for them in Jinling, but they feel a bit excessive for my sofa. Now, if someone offered me his wife's giant peacock-tail robe, OTOH...

[caulkhead]

This one is probably a bit excessive for my sofa, too, but I don't care. I stalked it for literally years, and managed to grab it in a sale for less than half price. Still expensive, but thoroughly worth it. I lived in it last winter, and I'd wear it to the office if I could get away with it.

https://www.shibumistyle.com/collections/all-casual-wear/products/reversible-dressing-gown-in-moss-rose

The dressing gown, though, is a yukata in by now rather faded red cotton with a bunny rabbit-and-blossom print (more abstract and less cute than it sounds!) which I was given in Japan over 20 years ago, and I shall mourn bitterly when it falls apart.

[whimsyful]

OMG those are stunning! dry clean only though :(

[antisoppist]

Ooh that looks like the warmer version of the ones I covet, which are these (and look surprisingly cheap now by comparison)

https://courthouseinteriors.com/collections/clothing

[clanwilliam]

Ooh, I was about to come and mention the Shibumi ones. I am so tempted, but it would have to wait until I could collect in the UK as the VAT would be ruinous. How did you find the sizing?

I'm torn between Imperial Blue and Venetian Red.

[caulkhead]

Mine's L, and it's quite generous. I could probably wear M, but who wants a skimpy dressing gown?

[azdak]

Ooooooh! My daughter is getting married in August and now I know what jacket I want to wear!

[nineveh_uk]

That sounds like an excellent idea! (And congratulations)

[nineveh_uk]

That is absolutely gorgeous! No wonder you stalked it. The colours is gorgeous and the price well worth it, especially at less than 50% (speaking as someone who once bought Liberty silk pyjamas on 50% off). How thick is the fabric? It is too good for the office, but thoroughly deserves theatres, restaurants, and Christmas parties

The yukata sounds charming!

[legionseagle]

They aren't dragons; they're just Very Fierce Serpents.

[nineveh_uk]

Plausible deniability!

[white_hart]

I have an M&S dressing gown of a similar vintage (Christmas 2001, I think), though mine is pale blue towelling. I have always kind of longed for something fabulous and Chrestomanci-ish in silk but towelling is definitely cosier and more practical.

[nineveh_uk]

Sometimes one must choose between the height of elegance and being adequately warm. I do have a silk dressing gown, but it is summer and holidays (packs small).

On another subject, what age are the Chrestomanci books aimed at?

[white_hart]

Probably the 8-12 sort of age group, I think? They feel like a similar reading age to Harry Potter.

[joyeuce]

That sounds about right. I am going to read Charmed Life to my 9-year-old once we've finished The Box of Delights; she'd be entirely capable of reading it herself, but Recommendations From Mummy tend to go down better if read by me.

[nineveh_uk]

Excellent, thanks. Nephews are getting books for Christmas this year,

[antisoppist]

The posh shop in the village has some amazing kimono dressing gowns and when I am rich I shall buy all of them and float around in them but they would not be as warm as yours.

[nineveh_uk]

That sounds an excellent plan. And because you are rich you could have one (or more) of them lined with fleece and be warm as well.

[tollers_and_jack]

I'm so happy for you! Mine is a fluffy dark blue ond from costco,dark enough to disguise its fluff factor and v warm (I do steal my partner's lovely woven cotton one though)

[clanwilliam]

I had a lovely men's fleece M&S dressing gown for over 20 years, but it did not make the cut on the move as it really was time for it to go and stay on a farm in the country.

Currently have a Debenham's John Rocha that I got in a charity shop for £8.

[nineveh_uk]

Sometimes even a faithful old dressing gown must be allowed to rest.

[pensnest]

My brother gave me, and my Beast, gigantic fleece dressing gowns for Christmas many years back. They are amazingly warm and utterly unstylish, but they fit over *everything*. We could probably both fit into one. My Beast wears his beige one around the house constantly, whereas I generally prefer to moan about being cold, but I will put my PINK one on at need.

A good dressing gown is a wonderful thing.

[nineveh_uk]

A good dressing gown is a wonderful thing.

It certainly is. Though I can acknowledge that moaning about the cold can bring its own pleasures, albeit not ones I share!