Not Ready to Give Up Your Pajamas? Slip Into One of These Hostess Robes

The perfect middle ground for people who want to dress up, without sacrificing comfort.

Living in New York City right now feels like the equivalent of living in an about-to-be-popped bottle of Champagne. It’s practically bubbling over with excitement of a potentially raucous summer, filled with vaccines, rooftop picnics, and, maybe, even some parties. Just as exciting is the prospect of what we’re going to wear. Much has been written about this being the summer of slinky, bold, party dresses—almost as much as had been written about sweatpants a year ago. I will be splitting those down the middle and focusing on hostess attire: dresses, caftans, maybe even some sleek pajamas. I don’t want to pack into a bar, I just want to host a fabulous dinner party and look the part.

I’ve been constructing this fantasy for some time now. Last summer, my moodboard was filled with images of women in bright caftans, statement, Edie Sedgwick-worthy earrings, and colorful tapered candles. I’d dream of wafting around a spacious villa (notably not the place I currently reside in) refilling wine glasses, carefully cutting up and serving a Victoria sponge cake, asking loudly “do you want some more?” over gales of laughter. It feels like a movie, and I intend to dress the part.

The idea of a hostess outfit as somewhere between loungewear and partywear has been around since the 1920s. In 1925, Vogue decided pajamas were de rigueur, especially should you be able to acquire an Elsa Schiaparelli housecoat and pajama pants set. In the ’60s, caftans and palazzo pants became the hostess outfit du jour. Since then, the idea of dressing up for company tends to mean something fancy and not all that comfortable (though, most of the time, I’m not dressing up at all).

This summer does feel special, and I would like to mark it as such. But, I’m not quite ready to surrender the comfort I’ve grown accustomed to the past year. A fantastic, vintage, printed caftan or (my ultimate dream) a late ’60s printed pants and tank top set is really only a sidestep from the luxurious loungewear of 2020. Vive la palazzo! Vive la hostess dress!

RetrouverBiz vintage 1970 Leslie Fay personal Mod psychedelic maxi hostess dress

$46ETSYShop Now

La Vie Style House floral-embroidered poplin kaftan

$550MATCHESFASHION.COMShop Now

La DoubleJ Rio skinny crew neck in extrafine wool

$490LA DOUBLEJShop Now

La DoubleJ palazzo pants in extrafine wool

$595LA DOUBLEJShop Now

Urban Cowgirl Chic 1970s floral hostess dress

$50ETSYShop Now

Tory Burch embroidered caftan dress

$798NORDSTROMShop Now

Sue Sartor Paloma dress

$395THE SILShop Now

Swift & Faire Co. 1970s mixed-print op art maxi dress

$98ETSYShop Now

Savannah Morrow the Label the Jaipur cropped tie-front printed silk-Dupioni top

$384NET-A-PORTERShop Now

Savannah Morrow the Label the Ahimsa printed silk-dupioni flared pants

$504NET-A-PORTERShop Now

Bernadette floral-print silk charmeuse pajama set

$835BERGDORF GOODMANShop Now

House of Renata vintage 70s David Brown striped hostess house dress

$178ETSYShop Now

Kokeshi vintage 1970s maxi vest duster hostess dress

$128ETSYShop Now

Miscreants Belle set in pink animal print

$180WOLF AND BADGERShop Now

Zimmermann Poppy cropped ruffled floral-print linen top

$350NET-A-PORTERShop Now

Zimmermann Poppy cropped floral-print linen wide-leg pants

$375NET-A-PORTERShop Now

StyleBack vintage 60s satin lounge set

$224ETSYShop Now

Zazi vintage Saïda dress

$925THE SILShop Now

Cult Gaia Joey wave cropped top

$258SAKS FIFTH AVENUEShop Now

Cult Gaia Marais geo-print wide-leg pants

$398SAKS FIFTH AVENUEShop Now

Veracious Vintage Co. late 1950s green silk lounge wear set

$268ETSYShop Now

Rianna + Nina midi-dress

$1,250$937YOOXShop Now

Emilio Pucci printed caftan long dress

$930LUISA VIA ROMAShop Now

Hester Bly Orah Huhulu belted cotton-poplin kaftan

$535MATCHESFASHION.COMShop Now

This story originally appeared on: Vogue - Author:Sarah Spellings