Fashion
From velvet pyjamas to onesies, the sleepwear that will give you the best night’s kip
I CANNOT sleep, or at least it feels that way.
Between homeschooling two kids, Covid worries, oh and living with incurable cancer, I often lie awake with my 3am fear. I also have to fit in writing my weekly Sun online column, Things Cancer Made Me Say.
But maybe the answer is simpler than I think. Research by fashion brand Our Girl found velvet sleepwear gives the best sleep and onesies the worst.
As someone who usually sleeps in a silk night slip, I’d try anything to cure this coronasomnia.
And as it’s World Sleep Day today, I spent a week testing PJs, nighties and onesies to see which gave the longest, deepest kip according to my Garmin Connect sleep tracker. Here’s how I got on.
The nightshirt
THIS is “boyfriend sexy” (in my mind).
I want to wear it with jeans to Tesco, or just chill out in the garden when the sun finally shines and pretend I’m effortlessly cool.
But it was a little too thin, had too much material and was not soft enough. I threw it off mid-sleep.
Sleep time: 5hrs 57mins; 18mins deep sleep, 4hrs 56mins light sleep, 5mins awake.
Deborah wears: Silent night shirt, £25, asos.com
The sexy cami
NOT bad. My staple choice of sleep wear. The colour is not made for me.
When I dropped jam on it in the morning I realised there is a reason I opt for more practical sleepwear.
It cuts you up the middle a bit at night, too. But minus the sore butt, I slept well.
Sleep time: 6hrs 47mins; 35mins deep sleep, 4hrs 30mins light sleep, 5mins awake.
Deborah wears: Short and sexy cami, £35, bouxavenue.com
The classic PJs
THESE look fabulous. They are perfect to wear for Sunday morning brunch with the kids.
They feel silky and soft, and you can ditch the bottoms if you just want a night-shirt look.
However, there was too much material to sleep in. Halfway through the night I threw off the trousers.
Sleep time: 7hrs 51mins; 22mins deep sleep, 5hrs 31mins light sleep, 11mins awake.
Deborah wears: Traditional two piece, £22, F&F at tesco.com
The cosy onesie
I FEEL utterly unsexy. And I look like a big baby – only I didn’t sleep like one.
This felt hot and clingy, and the worst thing? A wee nearly went horribly wrong.
Who is awake enough at 4am to co-ordinate stripping to pee?
Sleep time: 8hrs 35mins; 44mins deep sleep, 5hrs 15mins light sleep, 39mins awake.
Deborah wears: All in onesie, £15, prettylittlething.com
The velvet dream
MY initial thoughts were that I had turned back the clock to “Juicy tracksuit” life.
The bra is a winner, not to sleep in, but as bras go, I like it.
I kept the trousers on the next day when I went to the shops and to get a coffee, stuffing them into wellies with a jumper and big coat over the top.
I thought they would be too hot to sleep in – they weren’t.
Sleep time: 7hrs 38mins; 47mins deep sleep, 4hrs 25mins light sleep, 3mins awake.
Deborah wears: Bra and trouser set, £22.49, shein.co.uk
The silky nightie
I LOVE this. Maybe it reminds me of the romantic vintage fairytales I dream about living in.
It makes me feel sexy. It’s the kind of dress you could almost wear out with heels.
However, I woke up with it by my armpits. I suspect that’s because I’m a fidgety sleeper.
Sleep time: 7hrs 38mins sleep; 56mins deep sleep, 5hrs 29mins light sleep, 16mins awake.
Deborah wears: Nightie, £30, marksandspencer.com
What the results tell you
DR Zoe Williams, GP and Garmin wellness ambassador, says:
Our sleep data can tell us about more than just the quality of sleep we’re getting. It also informs how we live our lives when we wake up.
Do I need to cut myself more slack if my deep sleep wasn’t that long? Am I well rested enough to really push the boundaries of my day ahead?
These insights can help us make important decisions about our wellbeing.
Based on the data gathered, the nights where Deborah got more deep sleep indicate days where she probably woke up feeling more refreshed.
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This looks to be when she was wearing the velvet set and silk nightie.
Deep sleep is crucial for physical renewal, hormonal regulation and growth.
Without deep sleep, you are more likely to get poorly and feel more blue, neither of which are good for wellbeing.
Deborah’s verdict
I learnt that tracking your sleep makes you overthink – and that stopped me from sleeping.
I felt most rested in Boux Avenue’s cami and shorts.
My favourite from a purely aesthetic view was the M&S nightie. I also learned clean sheets and pillow spray help, as does a cool room.
My advice?
Pick the PJs you would open the door to the postie in.
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