This definitely falls under the “super weird thing I did for work” bingo square, but it was 100% voluntary (and not the weirdest thing by far, lol), I promise. So basically I believe in going to bed wearing matching pajamas (which I discovered in my mid-30s and absolutely can’t go back). It’s like how I put on an apron to cook and gear up in walking clothes the second I get out of bed. These uniforms tell your brain, “and now it’s time to cook/walk/snuggle up and sleep”. But not all are equal. I think I have some sensory issues because the level of comfort I need seems to be beyond most people. I can’t have any tight elastic, skin-side buttons, no scratchy fabrics, tags, no tugging in weird places, and yet totally breathable. And while a lot of brands have great ones (I like Target’s, J. Crew, Quince, and a lot from Anthropologie), my favorite pajamas are from The Gap (both in comfort, fit, style, and affordability). Because, you see, I like to buy 4 sets in the same color so that I don’t have to search for the one top and bottom every night. I bought a round a few years ago, and after extreme, heavy nightly use, I was ready to refresh (some had stretched out and many had gone missing).
Unsure if there were other new ones on the market since my last review I tried on a bunch from different brands again and certainly liked many, but then when I put this fabric on I sighed, “oh there it is“. And as a lifelong enthusiast (perhaps a “fun bully”), I was like, “YOU HAVE TO TRY THESE” at our last retreat when people were wearing random clothes to bed!! Many were skeptical of my enthusiasm, or perhaps felt hesitant to join the matching pajama club, led by their boss. I picture them thinking, ” Isn’t sleeping in a T-shirt just as good? Will I become a middle-aged mom faster if I dress like her?” Probably! But I was genuinely curious if this was just me, or could they share in my pajama enthusiasm? And besides, we all have different body types and styles. So let’s see what they say about my favorite pajamas (and this is totally non-sponsored, and we paid for all of the pajamas and The Gap knows nothing about this – at least not before publishing, lol).
Top (in Light Heather Grey) | Bottom (in Light Heather Grey)
Typical PJ Type: Usually an oversized T-shirt (add comfy pants if really cold).
Sizes: Small for top, Medium for bottom (as recommended by Emily for zero tightness)
Review: It’s not that I doubted Em’s enthusiasm; I just didn’t think I’d also feel so strongly. Well, I was wrong! I’ve now worn them for 4 nights and am already making sure I can clean them so I don’t have to skip a night. The fabric is so, so soft and weighted just enough while still feeling so light. I thought they would be more or less the same as the Target version I bought years ago, but again, WRONG. These are in a league of their own, and I’m already planning on getting at least one more set. The only thing I would do differently is I would get the petite-length pants. My almost 5’4″ stature is a little too short for the length of the regular size, as you can see in the photo. I might also just get a pair of shorts. 100/10!
Top (in Navy Blue & White Stripe) | Bottom (in Navy Blue & White Stripe)
Typical PJ Type: Matching sets or a big T-shirt
Sizes: Medium for both (but sometimes go small in other kinds of PJs)
Review: These are CRAZY soft and lightweight (Em was not lying about that). I was surprised how thin and breathable they are while still being warm enough to lounge in on (California) winter nights (I can’t speak to the colder states’ winters haha! I got a Medium, and I think they fit well because there’s a drawstring, so you can loosen or tighten it to your heart’s desire, but I will say the pants are pretty long (I pulled them up pretty high, which I don’t mind), so next time I would probably order a small for that reason! I’m 5’7 for reference. Also, the cuffs at the very end of the sleeves are more structured, which I also don’t mind, but I was surprised by that:)
Top (in Terra Brown) | Bottom (in Terra Brown)
Typical PJ Type: T-shirt!
Sizes: XL Tall for bottoms
Review: Coming at you straight outta the sheets, with the bed head and no makeup to prove it! I am not normally a PJ person. Usually I just fall asleep in my undies and whatever T-shirt I had on that day. I’ve never been someone who needed a matching top and bottom for bed, let alone a separate outfit just for sleeping. But Em told us that these Gap PJs could convince me otherwise. And well, consider me convinced! Never in my LIFE have I felt or worn something THIS soft. Holy crap. I am genuinely in love with the material. It is so stretchy and roomy and cozy, and I really don’t want to take these off. They feel like butter against my skin and truly do add that special something to my sleep experience. I definitely felt cozier last night wearing these. I bought an XL top (normally a L in Gap stuff), and I’m really happy with the fit, where it hits and how it drapes on my body. My only regret is that I opted for an XL Tall in the pants and really didn’t need to. I’m 5’9″, and while they definitely work fine for me as is, what you don’t see is the waistband hiked all the way up to almost my underboob. Whoops! But with fabric this soft and smooth, I am not complaining. I want a head-to-toe bodysuit in this material!
Top (in Tonal Blue Stripe) | Bottom (in Tonal Blue Stripe)
Typical PJ Type: Usually I wear an oversized T-shirt and underwear to bed
Sizes: Small for both
Review: This is gonna be really thorough, but stick with me: I would like to preface this review by saying that when it comes to clothes, I am probably the most “sensory-sensitive” person I know. When Em pitched these pajamas to me (which was over a year ago at this point), I was not sold. I hate getting hot when I sleep; I HATE when you’re wearing sweatpants and they get all bunched up on your leg, and I’ve honestly just never been a matching set person (not aesthetically, just because the idea of buying 2 items just so they match felt like a waste of $$$). I probably haven’t owned matching pajamas since my mom bought me Hanna Anderson PJs as a kid. When I tried these on, I was actually very excited to wear them for lounging around the house. They’re definitely softer than any other loungewear I own, so as I was cozying up in them the first night, I was like, “okay, maybe Em is on to something.” Now, when it came to sleeping in them… omg. First, these were 1000x softer on my skin than my scratchy cheap Target sheets…it was like heaven. Second, my bedroom gets very cold, and I loved being able to have my arms out from under the duvet without freezing. Third, and most importantly, these pajamas are so lightweight that you almost feel naked…so even if they were bunching up on my leg as I tossed around in my sleep, it wasn’t bothering me because the fabric is so thin and soft. I’m a stomach sleeper, so I was also concerned that the buttons were going to hurt pressing on my torso, but it didn’t bother me at all. Also, I felt really cute in my matching set. This is going to sound really nutty, but these pajamas have me questioning everything I ever thought about myself. I’m already thinking about a holiday pair… now for my only complaint. The band around the wrist is not stretchy like the rest of the pajamas. This isn’t uncomfortable at all or really even a problem; I just kind of like stretching the sleeves up around my hands sometimes, and you can’t do that with them. But overall, I might be a matching pajama person now. Thank you, Em, for enlightening me and buying them for us (because I wouldn’t have bought them for myself, but I might now).
Top (in Pink & Red Stripe) | Bottom (in Pink & Red Stripe)
Typical PJ Type: Oversized T-shirt and undies. For a while, I did the whole matching set thing, but it’s hard for me to sleep with pants on because I get hot but also overstimulated by the feeling of anything twisting around my body. I can maybe do shorts sometimes if I’m at someone’s house, but I tend to take them off and just chuck them by my bedside until morning. In winter, when it’s chilly, I might sleep with a long-sleeve top from one of my old sets…maybe.
Sizes: XL Regular for both top and bottoms (I would have preferred petite, but they only went up to a large, bummer)
Review: I owned a pair of these modal Gap PJs maybe a decade ago (again, back in my matching PJ set days), but I forgot how soft they were. Since then, I’ve owned other modal pajama sets, which I wore mostly through my pregnancy and early postpartum days, but those were a thicker fabric. At first I thought I preferred that, but after wearing these around the house for a day or two, I can say the “light as air” feeling is far better. I do wish I had sized down on the pants to a Large (I typically wear a 16 in pants), but maybe then it wouldn’t feel like the fabric was just skimming my skin. The XL fits, but they are a bit roomy. I’ll admit that I haven’t slept in these. I know what I like to get shut-eye in, and at the moment, it’s not a full get-up. BUT, I love that I have these to wear around the house for myself, and if we have guests staying over. Typically, I look fairly unkempt with my mix-and-match ratty T-shirt and whatever sweatpants I manage to pull on to go down into the kitchen. But now I feel like a Christmas elf! My biggest holdup with button-down sleep shirts is that the holes always seem to enlarge, and I end up with half my chest hanging out unexpectedly while sleeping because it all comes undone. From my memory, these were much better at staying closed, though I haven’t worn them long enough to know whether they’ll still ::ahem:: keep you decent.
Top (in Tonal Blue Stripe) | Bottom (in Tonal Blue Stripe)
Typical PJ Type: Sweats and a T-Shirt
Sizes: small in the pants and medium TALL in the shirt
Review: I’ve been wearing pretty much the same pajamas for as long as I can remember. In the colder months, it’s Le Bon Shoppe Sweats with a T-shirt or sweatshirt, and in the warmer months, shorts and a tank top. There was a brief period during both of my pregnancies when I got really into nightgowns, but I have never been a pajama set gal. So, when the EHD crew started talking about the Sisterhood of the Traveling PJs on our shoot last week, I knew I needed in. The fabric is lightweight and stretchy without feeling too tight or cheap. We sleep with our bedroom window open or the fan on most of the time, and these jams keep me comfortable without being too, too warm. Also, before the EHD crew sent me this set, I had already ordered the kids’ version for my daughter’s birthday. The fabric isn’t quite as nice as the adult version, but they’re still really cute, and she loves that we can match 🙂 Okay, sizing! I’m pretty particular about shirt lengths. I either want a fairly cropped shirt or one that’s long enough to cover my butt. Anything in between is a no-go for me. I know they’re just PJs, but I knew I wouldn’t wear them if I didn’t like the way I felt in them. I went with a small in the pants (love that they have a drawstring!) and a medium TALL in the shirt. If you’re like me and prefer a longer top, I’d definitely recommend going with the tall. For reference, I’d typically wear an XS/small in tops and a small in bottoms.
It’s Em again:) Well, there you have it! I feel very good about my “fun bullying” and maybe changed some pajama hearts with my most favorite pajamas. Sadly, Caitlin had an address mishap with hers, but she still says she wants to try them after everyone said how much they loved them. Anyone else curious or have thoughts? Are any of you matching set enthusiasts like me? xx
Love this post and seeing multiple members of the team!! More of this, please! (Assuming they are willing. 🙏)
It’s super helpful to read others’ perspectives on the famed favorite pajamas, and the consistent theme to size down on the pants is really helpful.
pro tip: if you order these PJs, consider sending them to the place where you actually live and not the house you sold in july 🤦♀️ (you all look SO CUTE!!!!!!)
I was Em-fluenced into buying these last year, and I like them, but don’t love them. I actually bought these last year for my daughter first, as she was graduating from kids sizes and wanted to keep the same level of softness some kids pj’s have. She does love them and wears them all the time. But for me, it feels like the sizing is just off. They are a really high rise, yet the legs are almost too long (I’m 5’6” and usually wear an XS top and S bottom and went XS all around for these). The sleeves are a little too long and the neckline falls a little too low. And I have another shirt in this same modal from Gap that I love, but the elastic in the material that makes it so bouncy and “weighty” also wears out really fast for PJ’s that run nearly $100 for the set. Then they are just saggy. I am so glad Em loves them, but wanted to share a slightly different perspective. Are they soft? To the max! But the magic of the modal had drawbacks for me. If you can try them on in a store, highly… Read more »
I mean, it’s a weird mystery in life that the average women’s clothing size is 16, but most
major stores make 16 or so their BIGGEST size. Why can’t you get XL in petite? Just whining, but it is weird that clothing stores don’t even want the money of half the population.
THANK YOU! It’s maddening. As someone who isn’t quite plus (that often starts at 18, though sometimes 16) and always petite, it’s nearly impossible to find clothing that fits just right! Most “plus” retailers also assume I’m at least 6 feet tall, too. Like, HELLO, not everyone who is a size 16+ is tall!!!
Nope. Absolutely LOVE modal as fabric for nightwear. But wearing pants and buttons to bed is a hard no for me.
I was influenced into buying these too, and I’m say to say they didn’t wear well. After just two years they had small holes from wash and wear. I am sticking with 100% cotton( Printfresh purchased from Poshmark to save on $$.) jammies.
I have two pairs of these, one from two years ago and one from last year. These are really soft and light weight enough to enjoy wearing year around. The bottoms are long on my 5’4” frame as others have said. The pair from two years ago has a wide waistband, which I love. The pair from last year has a skinny waistband, which is just ok. Also, the top on the one from last year has loose button holes that are forever coming undone while I sleep. I like them enough to try a new pair this year, but if the button situation is a trend, it will be a no-go for me.
I agree. I love these but the material does wear after a year or two. They become somewhat saggy and see through. I’d love to try PrintFresh one day!
Would love to see what a perimenopausal woman with excessive night sweats thinks of these!
Try Soma jammies they have some great options. The Gap ones fit me weirdly too, the Soma’s I have had for several years and still feel great!!
Plus one for Soma pjs!!! They have a “cooling” fabric that isn’t cold when I go
to sleep but is there if I need it!
Same. Even in winter in MN I know I would wake up irritable and hot with this much fabric covering my body. No thank you.
I’m with Em – my pajamas HAVE to match along with a coordinating robe 🙂
ok hot take… do people wear underwear under pants/shorts when they sleep in pjs? I have been a birthday suit sleeper for years, but now that my kids are older I am dabbling in sleepwear. But no one talks about what they wear under the bottoms! I can’t imagine wearing dedicated bottoms (i.e. not a nightie) for more than one night without undies on is super hygienic, or it wouldn’t be for me anyway… what’s the secret here?!
I’m an undies-on-all-the-time type of person haha. So I sleep in undies even if I’m wearing shorts or pants.
I am learning so much! thank you!
I sleep in undies and a top. Even if I wear matching PJs, I take the pants off before I actually get in bed. I hate when pants bunch while I sleep!
I buy cute, organic cotton boxers (some stretchy, some regular) a size larger than my usual size with a matching loose-ish tank for sleeping. And I have a cute cardigan or zip-up hoodie nearby to throw on for warmth when I get out of bed. I cannot stand to be hot when I sleep or have too much fabric twisting around my body. And buttons are an absolute no-go for me.
But I have a few pair is cute matching pajama sets (flannel and cotton pants/short sets) for lounging around the house. LLBean flannel and Garnet Hill make super cute sets that have held up super well over the years and very cute prints. Then I change into my sleeping clothes when it’s time
For bed
Button-up PJs aren’t for me. I don’t like feeling the buttons and hate needing to monitor gaps if anyone else is around. I’m a confirmed fan of the Asian wrap PJs from Garnet Hill. Shorty style for summer, long pants/sleeves for winter. Always purchased on sale.
These are my faves also! And their flannels are great. As are LLBean pj sets. I have a few for winter and then short sets for summer to wear for lounging. Then mostly Soma boxers and tanks for sleeping in bed.
My very favorite pajamas are Bedhead PJ’s.
I go for the cotton stretch knit. They come in gorgeous prints, and lots of styles. I too, have some sensory issues, and my oldest sets are my very most comfortable. soft and drapey But the fabric is exceptionally smooth and almost silky.
The newer ones are great for lounging. They are substantial enough that there’s not a lot of nipple show through. if I sleep in them, I may pull off the pants for sleeping.
the kind of fun thing is, they have a very classic PJ style, that I often see when I’m watching TV or movies. The company is based in California, and I think they might be in with some costume folks in Hollywood.
I’m team (organic) cotton knit with absolutely no buttons. I’m living in my Hanna Andersson bottoms until they fall apart.
HA has the best long john style PJs!! And they last forever.