The best women's dressing gowns
Teddy fleece for winter evenings, cotton towelling for after a bath and light waffle for summer: five women’s dressing gowns, compared on fabric, hood and length.
Start with the fabric. Fleece is the warm, soft choice, and every fleece gown here is polyester: light for its warmth and fine in the washing machine. Cotton towelling is the one to wrap up in after a bath, and it has a long history in Britain: Henry Christy saw the looped cloth in Turkey, by 1850 his family was making it by machine near Manchester, and after it was shown at the Great Exhibition of 1851, Queen Victoria became an early customer.
Then length and fit. A full-length gown keeps legs warm on cold stairs, while a mid-length one is easier to move about in. Sizing is what owners disagree about most, so the notes below say which gown is one size and which runs large.
What matters
- Fabric: fleece for warmth, cotton towelling for after a bath, waffle for a light layer.
- Length: full length for warmth, mid-length for moving about.
- A hood, for cold mornings and draughty houses.
- Sizing: one size or dress sizes, and which way each one runs.
#1 of 5
Best overall
Brentfords Teddy Marl Hooded Dressing Gown (One Size)
£10–£20 Price range
Soft teddy marl fleece in a natural beige, cut full length (116cm) with a generous hood, two pockets and a tie belt, for long winter evenings on the sofa.
What owners say: Owners say it’s better than they expected: soft, warm and cosy, in a lovely colour that matches the photos, and good value.
Heads up: It’s one size only, so the belt does the fitting: roomy on a smaller frame, closer on a larger one.
A closer look: Wash it at 30°C, as the maker advises, and give it a good shake before hanging so the teddy pile dries soft. It’s sold as unisex, and the same gown also comes in blush pink and forest green.
- 100% polyester teddy fleece
- Full length (116cm)
- Hood and two pockets
- One size, adjustable belt
- Machine washable at 30°C
Best for: Long, cosy evenings
- Fabric
- Polyester teddy fleece
- Hood
- Yes
- Length
- Full length (116cm)
- Washing
- Machine wash at 30°C
#2 of 5
Best lightweight
Amazon Essentials Lightweight Waffle Mid-Length Dressing Gown
£20–£30 Price range
Cotton-blend waffle is light, breathable and absorbent, so this is the gown for summer mornings, after a bath or packed for a pool holiday, when fleece would be far too warm.
What owners say: Owners find it good quality and comfortable, like how well the length and sleeves cover, compare it to a spa robe, and say it suits summer.
A closer look: An inside tie holds the front closed before the outer belt goes on, so it stays put while you move about. It takes a warm machine wash and a low tumble dry, which makes it easy to keep fresh through a hot summer.
- 60% cotton waffle knit
- Mid-length (99cm on size S)
- Inside tie plus outer belt
- Front patch pockets
- Plus sizes available
Best for: Summer and after a bath
- Fabric
- Cotton-poly waffle
- Hood
- No
- Length
- Mid-length (99cm, size S)
- Washing
- Warm wash, low tumble dry
#3 of 5
Best budget
Kate Morgan Shimmer Fleece Hooded Dressing Gown
£10–£20 Price range
Fluffy fleece with a subtle shimmer, so it looks a touch dressier than plain fleece, with a hood, a calf-length cut and proper dress sizes from 8–10 to 20–22.
What owners say: Owners love how soft and luxurious it feels, find it warm and comfortable on winter nights, and like the generous fit and the value.
A closer look: Order by dress size, from small (8–10) to XL (20–22); the fit is generous rather than tight, so there’s room for pyjamas underneath. The pockets double as hand warmers on a cold evening, and the whole gown goes in the washing machine.
- Polyester shimmer fleece
- Hood and two front pockets
- Tie belt
- Calf length
- UK sizes 8–10 to 20–22
Best for: A little sparkle
- Fabric
- Polyester shimmer fleece
- Hood
- Yes
- Length
- Calf length
- Washing
- Machine wash
#4 of 5
Best premium
RONGTAI Long Hooded Fleece Dressing Gown
£20–£30 Price range
Heavy 300gsm flannel fleece, cut full length with a wide shawl collar and a hood, for the coldest mornings and draughty houses.
What owners say: Owners find it excellent quality, soft and good-looking, and say it keeps them warm and comfortable in winter weather.
A closer look: Covering the legs on late-night trips downstairs is what the full-length cut is for, and the wide collar wraps high around the neck. Taller wearers should check the length against the size chart before ordering, as it isn’t long on everyone.
- 300gsm polyester flannel fleece
- Full length
- Hood with wide shawl collar
- Two pockets
- Adjustable outer belt
Best for: Cold houses
- Fabric
- Polyester flannel fleece
- Hood
- Yes
- Length
- Full length
- Washing
- Machine wash
#5 of 5
Best for after a bath
Undercover Cotton Towelling Shawl Collar Dressing Gown
£20–£30 Price range
100% cotton terry towelling that soaks up water like a bath towel, so it goes straight on after a bath, with a shawl collar and dress sizes up to 22–24.
What owners say: Owners find it comfortable, cosy and good value, made of good, thick cotton, and like the colour.
Heads up: It’s cut loose and some find it roomy, so if you’re between sizes, choose the smaller.
A closer look: Keep it on a hook by the bath and it’s ready to wrap up in straight away, with no towel needed first. The same gown also comes with a hood, and in blue, lilac, wine, mink, pink and green.
- 100% cotton towelling
- Shawl collar
- Two front patch pockets
- About 42in shoulder to hem
- UK sizes 8–10 to 22–24
Best for: After a bath
- Fabric
- Cotton towelling
- Hood
- No
- Length
- Long (about 107cm)
- Washing
- Machine wash
How they compare
| Feature | #1Brentfords teddy marl | #2Amazon Essentials waffle | #3Kate Morgan shimmer | #4RONGTAI long hooded | #5Undercover towelling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best lightweight | Best budget | Best premium | Best for after a bath | |
| Picked Rating | 9.2 | 9.0 | 8.9 | 8.8 | 8.7 |
| Price | £10–£20 Price range | £20–£30 Price range | £10–£20 Price range | £20–£30 Price range | £20–£30 Price range |
| Fabric | Polyester teddy fleece | Cotton-poly waffle | Polyester shimmer fleece | Polyester flannel fleece | Cotton towelling |
| Hood | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Length | Full length (116cm) | Mid-length (99cm, size S) | Calf length | Full length | Long (about 107cm) |
| Washing | Machine wash at 30°C | Warm wash, low tumble dry | Machine wash | Machine wash | Machine wash |
| Best for | Long, cosy evenings | Summer and after a bath | A little sparkle | Cold houses | After a bath |
| Check price | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
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