Lounge & Sleep Fabric Guide: The 6 Best Fabrics to Look for Lounge & Sleep

From natural fibers to synthetic materials, there are dozens and dozens of fabrics to choose from. And they crop up in a range of clothing items, many of which are probably hanging in your closet at this exact moment.

Although some of your apparel might be composed of perfect fabrics for dining out, hitting the gym, or running errands, they aren’t all the best options when it comes to the clothes you wear for sleeping or lounging. After all, that’s why nightwear exists in the first place—the clothes you wear throughout the day serve a different function.

But what is the best fabric for loungewear?

At the end of the day, the right nightwear offers a few distinct qualities that keep you comfortable and cozy while you’re in bed, on the couch, or draped on a loveseat. Alas, choosing the right mens sleepwear and womens sleepwear isn’t rocket science.

You just need to know what to look for. And after this guide, you will.

What Are the Qualities Of the Best Fabric For Sleepwear & Loungewear?

When it comes to your cozy sleepwear, the fabric is paramount. Just think about all the thought you put into selecting the bedding you sleep on.

If you’re like most people, there’s a strong chance you look for bedsheets and blankets that are soft, comfortable, and don’t make it difficult to keep your temperature regulated.

Well, those are all qualities you should also be looking for in sleepwear fabric.

For a good night’s sleep or a comfortable evening at home, the fabrics you’re wearing should amplify your relaxation, not disrupt it. For that reason, the best sleepwear fabric is:

Soft – For sleepwear, comfortable generally means soft fabric. The best material for sleepwear offers premium softness—they’re smooth, untextured fabrics that won’t itch or irritate your skin.

Breathable – Whether it’s the dead of winter or the hottest night of the year, the best womens loungewear material offers breathability to help keep your temperature under control. Heavy, constricting fabrics that trap heat and moisture can leave you with night sweats, so go look for fabrics that let the air out.

Able to manage moisture – Regardless of the breathability of your sleepwear, your temperature is likely to fluctuate throughout the night. Your body temperature could rise and you could start to sweat. But if your sleepwear is prepared to manage moisture, you don’t have to worry about waking up with damp sheets.

Durable – Even if you’re only wearing them to bed (or around the house), your pajamas still go through a lot. Rubbing against your sheets all night or getting snagged on sofa cushions can damage the fabric. When you choose quality, durable fabrics, you choose those pajamas for women you can wear again and again.

Now that we’ve covered the basics of the best material for sleepwear, it’s time to get to Tommy John’s top six choices.

#1 Waffle

Kicking off our list of the best fabric for sleepwear is our waffle material. Named for the popular breakfast food, it refers to the unique texture of the fabric, which closely resembles its namesake. Versatile and stretchy, you might also recognize it as a popular fabric for making bedroom and bathroom items like towels, blankets, and bathrobes.

That waffle texture is only the outside, however. Internally the fabric is incredibly soft—so soft, in fact, it might put your bedsheets to shame. Our waffle material is made from a blend of three fantastic fabrics:

Tencel – The brand name of materials like lyocell and modal, Tencel is known for being a breathable and soft fabric.¹ It also dries quickly, which helps make it one of the best materials for sleepwear. And because it’s a more eco-friendly alternative to other options, it’s also one of the best fabrics for the planet.

Polyester – Polyester fabric is easily one of the most popular textiles on the planet. It’s used to make all kinds of apparel.² We blend it into our waffle fabric because we love its lightweight, durable, and quick-drying characteristics.

Spandex – When it comes to the best fabric for loungewear or sleepwear, a little stretch and elasticity are always a bonus. And there are few fabrics with more elasticity than spandex.³ Whether you’re stretching out on the sofa or rolling around in your sleep, you don’t need unforgiving fabrics constricting your movement.

#2 Zen Ribbed

When you’re relaxing at home or winding down for bed, you want to feel calm and peaceful.

Your loungewear style can play a big part in whether or not you reach that blissful state. Itchy, uncomfortable fabrics won’t do you any favors. That’s why our Zen ribbed material is perfect for helping you find your nightly Nirvana.

The durability of polyester fabric and the forgiving stretch of spandex combined with the shape-shifting power of rayon form a nighttime fabric that’s:

Lightweight
Ultra-breathable
Insanely cozy

But that’s not all there is to rave about when it comes to our Zen ribbed fabric. Rayon is also one of the coolest fabrics for sleepwear because it’s phenomenal at absorbing moisture.⁴ That’s excellent news for anyone who tends to sweat in their sleep.

#3 Lounge Fabric

Breathability is a huge factor when it comes to selecting the best material for sleepwear. But on those crisp winter nights, you need pajamas that keep you warm (but not too warm), whether you’re cozied up between your sheets or relaxing next to the fireplace.

Our lounge fabric does just that. This tri-blend material is mostly acrylic, a synthetic fabric prized for its durability and warmth.⁵ Acrylic is excellent at retaining heat, which is why it’s such a popular choice for apparel like hoodies, hats, and gloves.

To balance out the rugged durability of acrylic, we’ve added micromodal. This fine, silk-like fabric is luxurious and soft, making for an incredibly cozy bedtime experience.⁶ Blend in a small amount of spandex and you’ve got loungewear material that anyone will love.

#4 French Terry

If you want a loungewear set that offers the ultimate comfort, you can’t go wrong with a cotton knit fabric for optimal lounging. Cotton is arguably the most popular natural fiber in the world—it’s also popular for bedtime thanks to the following attributes:

Moisture absorbency
Breathability
Softness

Made from 68% cotton, all of those great attributes are transferred to our French terry fabric. Soft and luxurious, this material takes loungewear to the next level.

Cotton fabric is strong enough on its own, but we’ve bolstered that strength by adding the durability of polyester and the spandex-like stretch of elastane for additional comfort. In doing so, we’ve created loungewear material you’ll never want to take off.

#5 Lounge Knit

At Tommy John, we’re big fans of cotton knit fabric for loungewear, so we’ve put it on our list twice. This time, we’re talking about our Lounge Knit fabric, an absolutely sublime material that strips loungewear down to the essentials—unbeatable comfort and incredible breathability.

Made from a blend of cotton and micromodal, this knitted fabric is so soft and comfy that it’s practically a medicinal-grade comfort aid. Few fabrics can match cotton for its softness and breathability, but micromodal comes impressively close. When you combine their powers, the result is a fabric that keeps you cool, dry, and comfy.

#6 Pajama Sets

If you don’t already own a proper pajama set, you’re missing out on a classic way to sleep in style. To ensure pajamas that are functional and comfortable, we make ours from a blend of three of the best materials for sleepwear:

Acrylic
Micromodal
Spandex

The acrylic brings a level of warmth that’s paramount for pajamas. Micromodal lends its silky soft texture so your skin is gently caressed with each movement of the fabric. Lastly, spandex ensures that your pajamas let you move freely and with ease.

Tommy John

At Tommy John, we believe that the clothes you wear at home are just as important as the clothes you wear everywhere else. And because we’re dedicated to making the world a more comfortable place, we’re committed to making lounge and sleepwear that’s tailored, fitted, and fashionable.

We offer a range of fantastic lounge and sleepwear styles for men and women in soft, comfortable, temperature-regulating fabrics that’ll help you cozy into sleep.

With fabric selection and improved functionality at the core of every piece of apparel we design, our loungewear can also be worn out in public. If you’d like to experience these fabrics for yourself, shop Tommy John today.

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