We Found the Coolest (Literally) Summer Pyjamas Out There

Airy, breathable and adorable sleepwear for the steamiest nights

I’ll admit it: I hate pyjamas. I am, and always have been, a nightie person, the more Victorian the better. I’m someone who finds the notion of going to bed in a pair of trousers silly, and the barest whisper of a waistband as I attempt slumber panic-inducing.

Counter-intuitively, this makes me the perfect person to seek out the very best summer pyjamas. After all, if I give a pair of jammies my approval, you can trust that you—presumably a person who often forgoes the floaty joy of a nightgown for business casual masquerading as sleepwear—will love them.

This is particularly true when testing summer pyjamas, since one of my primary complaints is how sweaty and restrictive PJs can feel. That’s why my primary criteria for judging these sets was comfort, plain and simple. (In-seams that ride up in the night? Collars so stiff they feel freshly starched from Brooks Brothers? Not welcome.) Breathability and general breeziness was a key concern, so sweat-wicking properties and lightness of fabric were important. Happily, this requirement meant more sustainable materials won out, as they tend to be more breathable. And, because aesthetics are 75 per cent of why I’m a nightgown devotee, these sets also had to look cute. (We can’t have you lying in bed watching TikTok looking like you’ve entirely given up on life.)

Behold, the five best summer pyjama sets that actually managed to convert this sceptic.

 

Winner: Athleta 

Athleta Calm Cool Cami, $65, Shorts, $59, athleta.ca. Photo: Athleta
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The cost

$65 (cami) and $59 (shorts)

The fabric

Cupro rayon

The sizes

XXS to 3X

The review

These pyjamas are the perfect marriage of form and function. They’re so elegant but technically do the most: You’ll feel like Holly Golightly in a Secret deodorant commercial. (That is to say: Utterly adorable, entirely sweat-free.) There’s something vaguely vintage about the cut of the delicate straps, peek-a-boo V-neck and shorts hem angled for maximum leg-lengthening. And the slinky fabric, a rayon designed to be “ultra-breathable” and feel cool to the touch (which, oddly, it does!) is a much-easier-to-launder alternative to silk. It also creates a wonderful drape, which means the fabric skims your skin rather than clings, ideal for airflow…and looking like you’re the main character in a French New Wave film.

 

Best for super-sweaty nights: Lusomé

Lusomé Ginger Cami, $64, Cara Shorts, $64, lusome.com. Photo: Lusomé
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The cost

$64 (cami) and $64 (shorts)

The fabric

Cotton polyester/micromodal

The sizes

XS to XL

The review

Maybe you don’t have AC, you’ve got hormonal night sweats, your dog has no concept of personal space or you just run hot (or some Hades-esque combination of all three). I feel confident saying that however high the mercury rises, you’ll keep your cool in this set designed specifically for life’s sweatier moments. Xirotex, Lusomé’s proprietary fabric, pulls moisture away from the body “within seconds,” apparently. Dryness aside, the material is jersey-esque and satisfyingly soft and stretchy, like a good quality tee, so it’s good for hanging around the house, too. If you like a baggier fit, I’d recommend sizing up. (FYI: They offer up to a 3XL in some items but not all.)

 

Best for minimalists: Parade

Parade Supersoft Scoop Bralette, $40, Supersoft Sleep Shorts, $28, yourparade.com. Photo: Parade
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The cost

$40 (bralette) and $28 (shorts)

The fabric

Tencel

The sizes

XS to 3XL

The review

This set is barely there and vaguely sporty—a nice step-up if you usually wear a worn-in tee from a 2013 Fun Run and boxers. The actual amount of material is minimal (although the bralette is surprisingly supportive, if you’re into that at night), but the touch of it on your skin is equally light, thanks to Parade’s stretchy, unstructured “SuperSoft” fabric, which lives up to its buttery-sounding name, and is temperature-regulating and naturally antimicrobial. This combo is a bit underwear, a bit loungewear and entirely cute in a cool, Gen Z way.

 

Best for doubling-as-daywear: Parachute

Parachute Top, $104, Shorts $69, parachutehome.com. Photo: Parachute
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The cost

$104 (top) and $69 (shorts)

The fabric

Linen

The sizes

XS to XL

The review

Confession: I wore this linen set outside of the house. Technically, it’s billed as “loungewear,” so I can’t take any real credit for my bravery against accepted norms of dress. I can, however, assure you that this set is perfect for those occasions where you need your nightwear to be public-facing, like renting a cottage with friends, staying at your significant other’s parents house or some other communal situation where you want to eat pancakes without getting dressed for the day first. (Could you wear these down to breakfast at a hotel? I vote yes.) As sleepwear, they’re also dreamy: soft European flax linen and a boxy fit that’s as cool as it’s comfy. Minus points for sizing that ends at XL, however.

 

Best linen pyjamas: The Sleep Shirt

The Sleep Shirt PJ Set, $265, intothebedroom.com. Photo: The Sleep Shirt
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The cost

$265

The fabric

Linen

The sizes

XS to 2X

The review

As a longtime lover of this made-in-Canada brand’s signature sleep shirts—I’ve had a couple for over six years, and they just keep getting better with every wash—I had a hunch I would like its take on summer pyjamas. From the moment I saw the jubilant turquoise colour I’d chosen, I knew my suspicions were correct. These pyjamas are all about the sublime linen, which has a luxurious weight to it (no see-through moments here) that softens beautifully with laundering. The design is minimalism perfected: Who needs lace edging or ruffles when you have carefully considered details like a perfectly-placed pocket, curved hem and an armhole that was clearly designed with restless sleepers in mind? A great fit for a curvier build—these shorts float nicely over the hips—these are also generously sized, so trust me and go a size smaller than you think you need.

 

Best silk pyjamas: Eberjey

Eberjey Inez PJ Set, $355, eberjey.com. Photo: Eberjey
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The cost

$355

The fabric

Silk

The sizes

XS to XL

The review

Don’t wear these unless you want to be instantly transported to a villa on the Amalfi Coast, where you’re sipping a cappuccino made by your lover as the sun rises over the Mediterranean. Utterly classic and beautifully tailored, these are summer pyjamas for people who’d like to live in a luxury fragrance ad but also can’t be bothered with dry cleaning. That’s because they’re made from a washable silk that you can just pop in the machine on a hand-wash cycle. Are they pricey? Yes, but it feels more than justified by the sumptuous feel of the fabric, gorgeous detailing (like the piping in an ever-so-slightly-deeper shade), and surprising breeziness, thanks to the artfully slouchy cut and the silk fabric, which is cooling when it’s hot but insulating when it’s chilly, making these a particularly good pair for milder evenings. A more inclusive size range would have led to an even more full-throated endorsement.

 

Best eco cotton-alternative: Knix

Knix Modal Sleep Top, $65, Shorts, $45, knix.ca. Photo: Knix
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The cost

$65 (top) and $45 (shorts)

The fabric

Modal

The sizes

XS to 4X

The review

When it comes to breathability, cotton has a natural advantage, but it requires a lot of water to grow it. Enter modal—which this set is made of—as a lovely alternative, since it’s made from beech trees, which need much less H2O to thrive. It also makes these PJs super soft and lightweight, with no digging in or twisting during the night. A nice plus: The top’s open neck and buttons means it’s a good option for parents of babies who might need access for feeding or skin-to-skin soothing. Also, if you’re a print lover, Knix has you covered, with a revolving array of fun colours and patterns. Heads up: The colour I tested—a very sweet pale pink polka dot—was a touch see-through.

 

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