Nighttime Is the Right Time for Dreamy Dressing

After a long, busy day, many women look forward to a good night’s sleep. Part of the pleasure is slipping into something comfortable for the slumber ahead.

While women want comfortable sleepwear, they also look for something sexy to don before climbing into bed, says Michelle Sullivan, sales representative at Leonardo’s Boutique in the Hyatt Hotel in Garden Grove.

“Women care what they wear to sleep,” agrees Leslie Stoddard, co-owner of Intimate Concepts in Irvine. “Nightwear is moving toward a sexier look and there is a lot more variety in today’s sleepwear.”

You’ll also find many more colors than ever before. “Besides black and white, there is a lot of women’s nightwear in warm colors like brown and gold, which are very popular,” says Lena Marie Sulahian, owner of Marie’s Boudoir in Laguna Niguel.

The following sampling of stores offers nightwear perfect for snoozing and lounging.

EROGENOUS ZONE

This store carries a lot of specialty nightwear, says salesperson Lelania McDaniel, including a Classics by J & J 100% silk two-piece shirt and pants set. The shirt is long-sleeved with one pocket. The outfit is loose fitting and comes in red or white ($120, sizes small, medium and large).

The store also has an XTC Leather teddy, which McDaniel says is “very sexy.” This is sleeveless with lace on the front and spaghetti straps. It comes in black and has attached garter straps ($80-$110, sizes 34-38).

The Loves Delight baby-doll short teddy has connecting nylon shorts. The nightie comes in black or white and has spaghetti straps and a fishnet and lace top ($24, sizes small, medium and large).

343 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton, (714) 879-3270.

INTIMATE CONCEPTS

This store carries a lot of revealing nightwear, including the Shirley of Hollywood 100% stretch lace teddy. This tight-fitting sleeveless sleepwear has a lace-up front and low V-neck. It comes in black, red or white ($26, sizes small to 4X).

The store also has an Empire 100% chiffon baby-doll set. The spaghetti-strap top is sheer black with lace and embroidered red roses. There are matching sheer black panties ($25, sizes small to 4X).

The Shirley of Hollywood sleeveless form-fitting body stocking is made of cracked-ice fishnet and comes in purple, black or white. There is lace up the front and a very low back ($49, sizes small, medium and large).

5406-A Walnut Ave., Irvine, (714) 262-1010.

KRISTEN’S LINGERIE

This store carries a wide variety of women’s sleepwear, including a Varena floor-length white cotton nightie. The gown has a round neck with buttons down to the bust line. At the hem there are small white cotton bows. Available in small, medium and large and petite by special order ($90). A matching robe with long sleeves gathered at the wrist is sold separately ($115).

The Tzzz 100% cotton pajamas come in pink, sea-foam green or blue with white polka dots. The top is a short-sleeved pullover with a white organdy flower at the neck, and the bottoms are shorts. You can find small, medium and large sizes ($30).

The store also carries Treesha and Lasoie Charmeuse night slips in peach, shocking pink, purple or red. These pullover slip-style nighties have a scoop front and low back with spaghetti straps. They fall knee-length or mid-calf ($20 to $60, depending on the mummy--weight and quality--of the silk).

1036 Irvine Ave., Newport Beach, (714) 631-7399.

LEONARDO’S BOUTIQUE

This store carries a wide variety of women’s nightwear, including a Blanche long, white chiffon gown. The top part has spaghetti straps and is made of sheer lace, and the bottom half is composed of pink chiffon. There is an accompanying short-sleeved jacket, also in white lace and pink chiffon. Both are ankle-length and loose fitting ($180, for the set, one size).

The Circa 2000 teddy has a bold Hawaiian flower print in yellow, red, blue and pink. The 100% chiffon nightwear flairs out at the hips, giving a ruffle-like appearance. There are spaghetti straps ($30, sizes small, medium and large).

The store also carries a Nan Flower teddy that Sullivan says looks like a bathing suit. This comes in red, pink or blue and has a satin V on the stomach, mesh on the sides and lace at the bikini line and on the top. There are spaghetti straps and a snap crotch ($37; small, medium and large).

300 Plaza Alicante, Hyatt Hotel, Garden Grove, (714) 740-0307.

LINGERIE FOR LESS

These stores carry brand-name nightwear at 20% to 70% less than many department and specialty stores, says Santa Ana store manager Michelle Liger.

The silk knee-length Cassi L chemise with a scoop neck has spaghetti straps and a crisscross back. It comes in solid red, white, black or blue and is available in small, medium and large ($30). Pair this with a matching silk kimono robe made by the same maker. This is also knee-length and has a loose tie belt ($55).

The stores also carry a Sarah Jane two-piece cotton pajama short set in a paisley or floral pattern of soft peach, blue and green. The shorts are trimmed in lace ($14).

For the bride-to-be, Liger suggests their Escante floor-length gown in black, red, fuchsia or white. The nightgown has a V-style lace under-wire bra front with adjustable straps for added support. The rest of the gown consists of rayon and polyester and from the knees down chiffon, which gives a flouncy bottom ($40.99). Add a finishing touch to this outfit with matching high-heel slippers that have an exposed toe and feathers at the mid-foot. They come in all colors but fuchsia ($26).

1835 Newport Blvd., Suite G-180 Costa Mesa, (714) 645-4552; 6903 Katella Ave., Cypress, (714) 527-7734; 3218 Yorba Linda Blvd., Fullerton (714) 524-7413; 18591 Main St., Huntington Beach, (714) 841-8980; 3800 Barranca Parkway, Irvine, (714) 559-6858; 28011 Suite A, Greenfield Ave., Laguna Niguel, (714) 831-1386, and 3707 S. Bristol St., Santa Ana, (714) 546-1133.

MARIE’S BOUDOIR

At this store you’ll find a wide variety of sleepwear from sexy to romantic at many different prices, says Sulahian. The store specializes in bridal and imported sleepwear and has large sizes available.

The Shirley of Hollywood multicolored chiffon teddy has ruffles, a sheer back and spaghetti straps ($38, sizes small, medium and large). Pair this with an Intime of California short kimono-style robe. This sheer robe is chiffon with satin trim ($42, sizes small, medium and large).

The Terry Rousso ivory-colored gown and robe set has a “bridal look to it,” says Sulahian. The spaghetti-strap gown is lace and chiffon and the kimono-style robe is also chiffon. Both have beading and come in small, medium and large sizes ($80 for the set).

The store also has an Escante white bustier set in Lycra and French lace with matching Berkshire stockings ($34 for the bustier in small, medium and large and $6 for the stockings in small, medium and tall). Complement the bustier set with a Lucine Almas sheer burgundy silk chiffon robe. It is long-sleeved and full-length and has ruffles around the collar ($55, one size).

27281-L, La Paz Road, Laguna Niguel, (714) 643-0572.

PHYLLIS CAMERON LINGERIE AND AT HOME WEAR

Here you’ll find a Lucie Ann above-the-knee-length gown made of 100% polyester which looks like satin, says store owner Andrea Korbel. This nightie is white with a tropical floral pattern in coral, purple and emerald. It has spaghetti straps ($32) and can be paired with a matching long-sleeved coral-colored wrap, which is also made of 100% polyester ($40, sizes petite to large).

The Eileen West two-piece full-length gown and robe is made of 100% cotton. This white set has a pastel flower print in pink, blue and green. There is rose lace around the neck of the gown, which has spaghetti straps. The robe has ruffled long sleeves. Small, medium and large sizes available ($65 gown, $96 robe).

If you want to look like you just stepped out of a fairy tale, Korbel suggests the Wild Mint full-length gown. This 100% cotton ivory-colored nightie is trimmed with “exquisite” embroidery along the sleeves, bodice and hemline ($96, sizes small, medium and large). Accompany this with a full-length 100% cotton ivory-colored robe. This has an embroidered collar, satin ribbons to hold it shut, and long, puffy sleeves ($115, small, medium and large sizes).

384 Forest Ave., 5, Laguna Beach, (714) 497-2250.

THE PLEASURE COMPANY

Here you’ll find a Shirley of Hollywood camisole and tap pants (shorts) set in 100% satin. This loose-fitting ivory nightwear has spaghetti straps ($30, sizes small, medium and large).

The Shirley of Hollywood baby-doll nightie is 100% chiffon and comes in red, white, blue or black. This is loose-fitting with spaghetti straps and comes with matching panties ($40, sizes small, medium, large and 3X).

A Shirley of Hollywood long-sleeved body stocking is made of tight-fitting stretch lace. It comes in red, black or white ($40-$50, sizes small to 1X).

17955 Sky Park Circle, Suite A, Irvine, (714) 261-0560.