Men's dressing gowns: lengths, weights and styles

Most men are best served by a knee-length or slightly longer dressing gown in cotton towelling for after a bath, or heavy fleece for a cold house. Go full length for the most warmth and shorter for a warm bathroom. The classic style is a wrap gown with a shawl collar and tie belt; a zip-up gown stays closed.

Where the men’s dressing gown comes from

The men’s dressing gown grew out of the banyan, a loose gown that 18th-century men wore at home. By the middle of the 19th century both men and women wore dressing gowns, in printed cotton, silk damask or velvet. Men’s gowns tend to be longer and more structured than women’s, and the plain wrap gown with a shawl collar is still the look most men pick.

How long a men’s dressing gown should be

A longer gown is warmer and a shorter one cooler, so the length follows the house. Match the gown to where he wears it:

Taller men should check the maker’s length measurement rather than the size alone, since a gown that falls at the knee on one man can sit well above it on another.

Dressing gowns, including men's styles

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Light or heavy: choosing the weight

Weight is the other half of warmth. A heavy cotton towelling gown is warm and dries you well, since its longer, denser loops absorb more water, but it is slow to dry itself. A waffle gown is light and dries quickly. Fleece runs from light to heavy depending on the grade, and the heavier grades are warmer. Fleece holds almost no water, so it is a gown for once you are dry. Plush gowns are often lined with fleece or velour, which adds warmth.

Towelling or fleece for men

The choice comes down to when he wears the gown. A man who puts it on straight from the shower wants towelling, which does the work of a towel. One who wears it on the sofa through a winter evening wants fleece or a lined gown. Towelling is usually cotton, sometimes mixed with polyester, and washes easily at home. Fleece is polyester and should be washed cool, since high heat can damage it. Some men keep one of each: a towelling robe on the bathroom door and a fleece gown for the evening.

Wrap, zip or hooded

A wrap gown with a shawl collar or a flat kimono collar is the classic, closed with a tie belt you can adjust. A zip-up gown has no belt, so it stays securely closed. A hooded gown, often in fleece or towelling, adds warmth round the head and neck and suits a cold house. For a smarter gown to wear over pyjamas in the evening, a plain cotton or a heavier woven fabric in navy, grey or a simple check is the traditional look.

Fit across the shoulders

Size a men’s dressing gown from the maker’s size chart, then check the length. A gown should wrap over at the front with room to spare, so it does not fall open when you sit. If the shoulders feel tight, the next size up is the fix, since a dressing gown is meant to sit loose. For collars, pockets and care labels, see how to choose a dressing gown.

If you are buying one as a present, see the dressing gown gift guide. For fabrics side by side, see dressing gown fabrics compared, and for towels and the rest of the bathroom, the UK luxury bath guide.