Don’t go getting all hot ‘n’ bothered, now. It’s not what you think.
The lovely Tafline asks:
I’m hoping to enlist your help and perhaps the help of your pretty readers if this subject deserves such in-depth analysis. My husband needs a new robe and I’d like to get him a good one. He only uses it in winter and judging by his current one he likes calf-length. But he’s a very hot person, so it would need to be fairly light-weight, while still providing the snuggly factor. The one he has now is fleece and he doesn’t like it. It pils terribly and it gets static and sticks to his skin constantly. Satin is clearly out of the question (not snuggly and a little creepy on a man), as is anything as heavy at a terry robe. So what are my options? Flannel? Cotton? Soft polyester? How do I know which of these will not get static?
I really don’t want to get it wrong, because if it’s from me he’ll wear it faithfully even if he hates it (such a sweet man).
Tafline has discovered one of the Great Weirdnesses of American retail: Most of the robes available for men are very thick materials (manly?), in spite of the fact that, overall, most men I know tend to be warmer-blooded than us women. (Dear Every Clothing Manufacturer: You are dumb. Love, Mir.)
The lightweight, non-pilling, low-static solution is a spa-quality waffle weave cotton, Tafline. But you’re going to have trouble finding one cheap. I like this Turkish cotton robe from Overstock, and at $50 it’s probably half what it’ll cost you elsewhere, but that’s still a pretty penny.
Readers? Other suggestions?
Of course the ideal is expensive. But it does look oh-so-luxe!
Amazon has some great deals on robes like you are describing:
This one is a St. John’s Bay Flannel robe for only $17 (+shipping)-
And this Claiborne Flannel one is $19 (+shipping)-
This High Sierra one is cotton & only $20 (+shipping)
As for the static problem- I keep a can of Static Guard sitting by my dryer & anything I think might get staticy, I just blast it & then fold it up! 🙂
They have a nice lightweight flannel at LL Bean that my husband wears in the summer. It wasn’t too expensive.
(Dear Every Clothing Manufacturer: You are dumb. Love, Mir.) Ok, here’s where I laughed out loud, because I say this all the time! Well, except for the Love, Mir part. My hubby is so hot blooded that even though we live in ND, he refuses to wear long sleeves unless it is 20 below zero, not even kidding. So I have no idea on a robe, but Mir you made me laugh, and I needed it this week, desperately. Thanks!
Maryanne, what’s the static factor like on flannel?
Has anyone worn a bamboo robe?? Sounds exotic!
Bamboo has a really nice texture – very soft like cotton. If you want a non-chemical cure for static cling, put a safety pin on the bottom of his robe – it discharges the static.
Suzanne, I love you. And because of this moment, in this day, I will someday die that crazy old lady who always had a safety pin attached to her clothes. What was that about anyway? Crazy old ladies!
Going to find the safety pins now…
Absolutely get a natural fiber — cotton, bamboo, washable wool, or any combination of those. The synthetics are going to retain heat. Bamboo is lighter and softer than cotton — I started finding bamboo nightgowns to be a Very Good Thing once I became a woman of a certain age. 🙂 My daughter has a lovely bamboo-cotton terry robe that she carts back and forth to college. It is lighter and takes up less space than the equivalent cotton robe would be.
Lands’ End, perhaps? They, like LL Bean, have natural fibers that breathe. It might cost more than a bargain store, but their warranty is excellent.
My wonderfully environmentally sensitive Mom says that bamboo is evilly, chemically treated to turn it into fabric. Stay with cotton and away from bad, bad bamboo.
I don’t know how static-y flannel is (I MUST try that safety pin trick), but I always think a classic red plaid flannel looks quite manly, anyway. 😉
If there is an Asian store in your area, go look for a Japanese yukata. My husband loves his. They are simple, lightweight and cotton. If he is tall, be sure of the length – i.e. take it out of the package if it isn’t hanging up. My husband is 6′ and can usually find an ankle length one.