All About Women's Robes

Silk Robes

Nothing says “I love you” like a silk women's robe.  Whether a woman buys a silk robe for herself or someone buys it for her, the message is: “You're worth it.”  Silk robes feel great on the skin, drape beautifully and, for the savvy traveler, pack easily in a suitcase, taking up little precious room and adding negligible weight. 

Silk is a strong yet soft fiber, and its light, breathable, flowing qualities make it a great fabric for women's robes.  Durable, beautiful and exquisite to the touch, silk robes provide women with supreme elegance at home or away.  Silk speaks of the subtle, the rich, and the sensual, and a silk robe can make a thoughtful gift any time of year.

Silk robes often come in two lengths – to just above the knee or just above the ankle.  A shorter-length robe allows for slightly more versatility and movement, whereas a longer robe will provide more coverage and some additional warmth.  As a silk robe is lightweight, it is appropriate for summer months or warm indoor settings.  Particular to silk is its tendency to wrinkle; however, this is an issue easily overcome with a slightly damp cloth and an iron with low/delicate settings. 

Cotton Terry Cloth Robes

Cotton is among nature's most fabulous fabrics due to its softness, its durability, its ability to absorb moisture and its wash-and-go ease of care.  Egyptian cotton terry cloth robes are the ultimate in cotton terry cloth robes, as genuine Egyptian cotton has the longest fibers of any cotton and will therefore be the highest quality.  Whether just out of the shower or just off the beach, an Egyptian cotton terry cloth robe envelops the body in warmth and wicks away excess moisture with ease. 

A cotton terry cloth robe will usually be of medium to heavier weight, making it very versatile and appropriate to a variety of situations and climates.  Cotton blends easily with other fibers, including soy.  Soy is a surprisingly soft fiber and, in combination with cotton, offers an excellent eco-friendly choice for the luxury women's robe shopper. 

Spa Robes

Spa robes are generally light to medium weight and are available in a variety of different styles,  textures and colors.  Cotton, modal and microfiber are some of the primary fabrics for spa robes, all of which are supremely soft, comfortable and excellent at wicking away moisture.  A luxury spa robe may have embellishments such as multi-stitch cuffs or accent trim, and can have a tuxedo style or a waffle texture. 

Spa robes are great for the beach, lounging or travel as they are usually less bulky than their cotton terry cloth counterparts.  As a spa robe carries well and looks great, it is also a good choice for boating, sailing, and other water recreation activities.    

Microfiber Robes

Microfiber exemplifies some of the best of what synthetic fibers can do for the realm of fashion and luxury women's robes.  Ultra absorbent and deliciously soft, a microfiber robe provides incredible warmth and comfort, while maintaining ease of cleaning and care.  Microfiber also has a high level of elasticity, which is a particularly nice feature for clothing that needs to accommodate the wide range of human flexibility. 

Microfiber robes, like cotton terry cloth robes, tend to be heavier weight and are a great choice for those long winter nights.  As they are also highly absorbent, they would be a good choice for athletes such as swimmers. 

Modal Robes

Modal, a fiber derived from wood pulp, has an incredibly rich, soft texture and is, like microfiber, rather elastic, allowing for flexibility in any garment that contains it.  A modal robe is eco-friendly, medium to heavy weight and will offer incredible comfort to any woman who owns it. 

Modal robes will also be highly absorbent and lighter weight than a cotton terry cloth robe or a microfiber robe, making them the famed “middle way” or “golden mean” choice for the luxury robe enthusiast.   

Monogrammed Robes

Monogrammed robes offer the ultimate in thoughtfulness.  While any robe is enjoyable, a monogrammed robe tells your loved ones that they are truly special.  Monogramming is often available in a variety of different font styles and thread colors, providing an even higher level of customization to the already unique monogrammed robe. 

Names, initials, dates, or acronyms make great candidates for monogram material.  Amazingly, a few letters and numbers can speak volumes when added to a thoughtful and luxurious gift like a silk or Egyptian terry cloth robe.

Robe Sizing

Robes used to be a one-size-fits-all affair.  Now, however, luxury and other women's robes will often break into two or three sizes – Small-Med (6-12) and Large/X-Large (14-18); or Small, Medium/Large, X-Large.  Sometimes, the distinction will be between Misses and Plus sizes, or between Small Medium and Medium Large. 

Physically trying a robe on will give you the best feedback regarding fit.  However, if you are making your purchase online or you are buying for someone else, make sure to double check the vendor's sizing chart to make sure you will be getting the best fit available.