A few months ago, I reviewed a pale blue vintage-inspired nightgown from Shadowline with intricate embroidery at the neckline and a breezy fit perfect for sleeping. Not only is the style comfortable enough to warrant frequent wear, but the gown still looks immaculate! Keeping any sleepwear in good condition is a feat unto itself considering I nestle up with two Jack Russell terrorists whose wiry coasts weave white hair into clothes like thread. A quick shake of the Shadowline fabric, and the hair floats away and falls to the floor. I was so impressed that I wanted to try another style: the Long Lace Bodice Nightgown.

As a fan of gothic novels, what appeals to me most about this nightgown is how I can envision myself alone in a cold fog in the crepuscular moments before dawn pacing about the moors in a fit of maudlin. (Hey, I told you I like gothic novels.) So being able to recreate that iconic feeling with an inexpensive but high quality nightgown is pretty flippin’ fabulous.

Because of the more fitted bodice and empire waist, I wanted to ensure the gown was snug, albeit not enough to restrict my movements while sleeping. I ordered a medium, which fits perfectly. The pleating at the waist allows the skirt to skim toward the floor in a flattering silhouette. On the top, an embellished floral lace bodice contours across the bust before tapering to a fitted band under the bust for an improved fit.

At around 5’6”, the nightgown reaches above the ankle. Shorter and taller people take note about whether this length will suit you. They do have both a shorter version and a cool high/low hemline too. Going back to childhood, all of my nightgowns were shorter, and I was eager to try something new. Besides if the nightgown is short, how am I supposed to drag the hemline through the mud of the moors?

For the photos, I am wearing my Cleo Lyzy bra (which I still love) because there isn’t any bust-support built into the nightgown. Because I prefer to sleep, ahem, free from the constraints of the day, not having the added containment works for me, but if you want sleepwear with built-in bust-support, this ain’t it.

The lace bodice boasts a moderately stretchy quality which accommodates fuller busts better than other styles on the market, and the overall design is curve-friendly. The back utilizes the same satin as the bottom in case the idea of a full lace upper during sleep worries you.

Like the blue nightgown, the airy Nylon tricot fabric moves well and requires no special care or maintenance. Considering both my dogs are white, I thought ordering black sleepwear was a disaster in the making, but the Shadowline Lace Bodice wears well and is similarly hair-resistant.

Priced around $65 and available from Small to 3X-Large, the nightgown is a steal, especially with inflation driving prices progressively higher. Y’all, bras that were $58 when we closed are now $65+! It’s refreshing to see a line which managed to keep prices lower while still offering an incredible quality.

The one caveat I will note is that this gown is translucent. The lace bodice has no lining, and the fabric itself is thinner even than the blue style I reviewed. I needed to wear black bikini bottoms for the photos just to give you an idea. They do make a matching robe, which, when layered, forms an opaque combination.

But, let’s be honest: This is a nightgown designed to make you feel beautiful and sexy and confident, not to wear around your in-laws on vacation. That said, I do hope they consider revisiting this design in the future with a heavier lower fabric. I get insomnia from time to time, and one of my favorite things to watch is Murder, She Wrote. I used to watch reruns as a kid, and I wanted to grow up to be Jessica Fletcher. Something about being widowed on the ocean, writing stories, traveling the world, and solving murders clicked off as just about everything I ever wanted in life. Don’t judge me.

Anyway, the purpose of that tangent is to say that one of the things I have no shame in admitting is how much I love some of the robe/nightgown combos you see on that show! Sure everyone somehow goes to bed with perfect hair and a face full of makeup (Who knows? Maybe they did. It was the 80s.), but there’s something so fun about waking up in the middle of the night and wrapping yourself in your matching robe to open the door to what could be the murderer.

Basically, this nightgown has vibes. It has all the vibes. And I love it.