Where Can You Buy A Nightie That's Not £195?

And why isn't M&S the go-to?

Nightie that I bought this summer, £105, If Only If

Hello from my sweaty balcony, there’s often a wonderful breeze in Nerja (the Costa Del Sol used to be called the Costa Del Viento (windy coast) before a smart rebrand in the 1950s) but today it’s 35 degrees and still and this is the only thing I want to wear.

I love a chic pyjama set, a few years ago I decided to invest in some decent sets and it made such a difference to my state of mind without having to necessarily get ‘dressed’ to feel good. But in the recent 30-40 degree summers I’ve reverted to just wearing pants, which is totally fine but sometimes it’s nice to feel dressed (esp if you’re sharing an apartment with another family on holiday like we did last summer).

I love the romance of a nightie and my kids love them too, I got one for my 40th birthday from If Only If and the quality is beautiful - so light it’s like nothing on (but yes, it does mean it’s quite sheer, too). So I bought a sleeveless version (the ‘Poppy’) for this summer. I’m getting used to wafting down to breakfast feeling (if not quite looking) like a goddess pouring the kids’ cornflakes with yesterday’s mascara streaming down my face. My brain and face might not be in action yet but my nightie makes me feel I can achieve anything.

The ‘Pandora’ pink nightie, £135, If Only If (please excuse the interim of old and new hair pics)

The problem now is I would really like a whole drawer of nighties (or at least one more to add to my collection). But for some reason, this is one of the few trends the High Street has not quite caught up on. And it baffles me. Surely a cotton nightie should be the mainstay of Marks & Spencer’s nightwear section? Nope, it’s all modal jersey or satin slips.

How about John Lewis? A few, but not a lot. Monsoon? Surely it’s their territory. Nada.

I really think that High Street brands are missing a trick here. What with the rise of romanticism and Italian nonna style. Or simply those who enjoy the lack of waistbands at this time of year.

So I’ve been researching this very topic and ended up buying a £28 one from Next for my holiday. It wasn’t an easy find, sidled next to a jersey nightie saying ‘let’s avo spa day’ and it’s not as light as the If Only If one, granted, but it is 100% cotton and looks good on. It has a tighter neckline than the pricier alternative (which glides over your head easily), but all in all I fully recommend.