Greetings, friends! And welcome to Caroline Finds It: my new weekly newsletter where I reply to submissions from YOU for objects and products you need recommendations for.
Our submission this week is for a thoughtful item of clothing:
Clara in Hamberg, Germany says: “I am expecting my first child this September and I have been looking for a nice robe, for when I'll be mostly stuck at home. I gather that postpartum is a time for pyjamas and lying down as much as possible. I associate lots of bed rest with my depressive episodes so I would like to change it up, in whatever small way I can. The obvious practical choice is terrycloth (warm and washable), but I would like to feel "dressed" and not frumpy. Any suggestions?”
Dear Clara,
First of all — woo hoo!! I’m very excited for you in this next massively important phase in your life, and I’d love to help you find the right robe to make the transition in.
In college, I was a design intern for a not-yet-launched sleepwear company (hi, Sleepy Jones!) and my first job in NYC was at a lingerie store called Journelle, and I just love buying nice sleepwear. I find that it makes a massive difference in the day-to-day enjoyment and quality of my home life to have pjs and loungewear that I actually like wearing. Buying a robe is a little tricky, though, because it’s basically the loungewear equivalent of buying a coat — you only want to own one or two, so you better get it right! Here’s the criteria we’re considering:
You’ll be wearing it during colder months in Germany so it needs to be warm and SOFT! This means no terry, because terrycloth is for bath robes, not wearing-around-the-house robes. And it also eliminates anything lightweight or silk. Don’t get me wrong, there is no loungewear I love more than a silk robe, but our goal is to get you comfy for a postpartum autumn/winter!
It needs to look put together enough that you’ll feel great in it, and so that you’re ready at a moment’s notice for any surprises that show up at your door.
Most importantly: you need to feel good in it! You hit on something really important here, and as a person who also has frequent and often intense depressive episodes, I hear you loud a clear. I really believe that wearing clothes that you really, truly love and look forward to wearing can mean the small difference between “I need to be left alone in a dark room for 24-48 hours” and “Maybe I’ll go for a short walk around the block”.
Must be easily washable! This is an assumption I’m making, but having a newborn seems like it can be very messy! What’s the point in investing in a fancy robe if you can’t care for/maintain it in a way that suits your lifestyle?
My first instinct for cozy/chic/non-synthetic would be cashmere, but “washable cashmere” is a hoax, in my opinion. Anything marketed as “washable cashmere” is treated with a chemical coating, and personally, I’m not paying $$$ to buy cashmere that isn’t as lovely and natural as it can be! And you’re going to be busy, anyway! There’s no way I’m going to recommend something delicate that you have to wash by hand.
The other thing I want to avoid here is the thick, fluffy synthetic fibers that a lot of robes are made of. This material feels so soft when it’s new, but after a few washes and heavy wear, it’ll start to matt and attract every hair and dust particle in your house. No thank you!
These are my recommendations for you, by fabric type. At the very least, this should help you figure out what type of robe is right for you! Each one is made of natural fabrics that will stand up to whatever you need to put them through:
100% Cotton Flannel: Is there anything warmer and cozier than flannel? I especially like it because it’s soft and toasty without being bulky. This one is from The Vermont Flannel Company ($129), which is a small business that makes the most delicious organic cotton flannel clothing. The one downside is that it’s one-size-fits-all, so you may want to inquire about exact measurements first. I can speak from experience — this fabric is impossibly cozy, and washes beautifully.
Brushed cotton: This is the most versatile choice, as it’s a little lighter weight and could comfortably be worn in all seasons. Brushed cotton is like a normal woven shirting cotton, but brushed to be extra soft. British Boxers makes many gorgeous options like this one (on sale for about $106)
Similar, but in a much more outrageous style, this Emilia Wickstead cotton voile robe is on sale for 60% off on Net-a-Porter and is truly irresistible.
Velour: In case you do decide you do want something more bathrobe-y, I found a 100% cotton velour option from Christy ($67), which will feel significantly better on your skin than terrycloth.
Quilted cotton: This is my favorite option. Literally a quilt you can wear! What’s better than that? It’ll only get softer over time, and will be sure to hold up through anything your new life as a mama brings you. While searching for “quilted cotton robe” all over the internet, I kept coming across the same brand — Happy Cabbage London ($108), who make gorgeous pieces in a variety of traditionally block printed fabrics from India. This also led me down the deliriously fun Etsy rabbit hole of “1960s quilted housecoat”. Can someone please bring them back, but not in nasty synthetics?!
Bonus: This airy, gauzy robe from Skin ($169) looks like it feels impossibly soft. I’d buy this for someone having a baby in the spring/summer.
Clara, may you find exactly what you’re looking for and discover endless pleasure and joy in your nesting process. What a rewarding adventure it will be!
Quick disclaimer: With requests from shoppers outside the U.S., I do my very best to find you options that can be shipped to anywhere. My area of expertise is in shopping local, so most of the brands I know and love are small and U.S.-based. This week, I’m writing from London, so my search results skew British!
FAVORITE PRODUCT OF THE WEEK
For the past few days, I’ve been really missing one comfort from home: my Sleep+Sound SE adaptive sound machine. I’m staying in a hotel and the people in the room next to me are always thrashing about and are just making it harder to get over my jet lag. I bought this sound machine during the pandemic to drown out the noises around my apartment, and it has truly changed my life, by way of drastically improving the quality of my sleep. There are sixty four different sound profiles, and you can set it to “adaptive”, which automatically adjusts the volume as the noise around you changes. I usually have mine set to one of the meadow profiles because I like the wind and the crickets, but there are many more obscure options, like: washing machine, oscillating fan and crowds. Loving this machine has made me curious about how many other Sharper Image-esque electronics there are out there, just waiting for me to discover them.
Is there a product you’re looking for? Submit your request here. See you next Friday for a SPECIAL EDITION, all about my favorite everyday products in the UK! xo Caroline