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Definitions

For the purpose of this article it might be useful to begin with a few definitions of the various descriptors that are most commonly used when referring to a robe worn around the house as loungewear:

Robe

The English word 'robe' is taken from the middle English word of the same name meaning 'garment', the word 'robe' has its routes in the Frankish language as 'rouba'. It is thought to have originated with the meaning of 'booty' or 'spoils' referring to items and clothing stolen and related to the word 'rob'. The word was adopted by the Old French language to originally refer to the same 'booty' or 'spoils' however the meaning has evolved to the present day to now refer to 'a woman's dress.'

The point of distinction between a robe and similar items such as a cloak and cape are its sleeves.

Bathrobes

Bathrobes are made using absorbent fabrics, most commonly terry toweling, this has the benefit of drying the body after bathing. The bathrobe serves two benefits; as a towel, absorbing moisture after bathing and as an informal garment of clothing, to be worn around the house after waking in the morning in addition to wearing in the evening after bathing.

Dressing Gown

A dressing gown is a term that was traditionally associated with men's clothing garments. Dressing gown for women are loose open fronted robes that usually close with a fabric belt about the waist, much more on this to come!

Housecoat

Although commonly done, the dressing gown for women should no be confused with the housecoat, this was a very popular item of attire in the 1940s. Also known as a duster, the house coat was a very useful garment; it was longer in length than an apron and more modest in coverage than a pinafore. At a time when women would rarely leave their houses without looking their absolute best the housecoat was the perfect way to protect the chosen outfit of the day, women would simply switch into their housecoat to perform their daily chores.

Housecoats varied in style but were usually knee length or longer to cover any under garments, they were made from a light fabric which was sometimes quilted for warmth. The housecoat would fasten at the front with either buttons or a zipper.

The use of the housecoat evolved over time, becoming more elegant, sophisticated and feminine in form, many women started to wear their housecoats in the evenings, even when hosting guests, the housecoat took on a similar role to the male 'dressing gown'.

In recent times the housecoat has become a rather dated term that is rarely used. Most people prefer to adapt the term dressing gown as unisex for both male and female house robes. On a recent poll that was run by thestudentroom.co.uk, 91% of male and female respondents preferred to use the term dressing gown.

The History of the Dressing Gown

It is thought that the wearing of a dressing Gown for women in the western world has its routes in the mid 17th Century, it was originally only worn by men and it was called the 'banyan'. The term 'banyan' encompassed many different styles of robes that were popular amongst men between the mid 17th to the early 19th Century.

Europeans began to adopt dress style and influences from other cultures in the early 17th Century and the banyan is the earliest example of this. It is thought that men adopted the 'banyan' design from Persian and Asian inspired clothing (Banyan in Portuguese, Arabic and Gujarati all meaning 'merchant').

At the time of the mid 17th century a popular penchant for the exotic and oriental had become a mainstream fascination in Europe. This coincided, and could be attributed to, strengthened trade routes with the East. The Chinoiserie style emerged as a popular fashion. This French term meaning "Chinese-esque" has since become a recurring theme in European artistic styles. Chinoiserie reflects Chinese artistic influences.

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