Those Kitten Socks are So Hawt

October 14, 2009 11:14 AM

How can I stay sexy in the winter without getting frostbite?

My usually winter bedtime wear consists of sweatpants and a huge red, Coca Cola bear sweatshirt. I also wear socks. It's not a get-up that inspires much affection from my fiance and I feel rather frumpy all winter. Are there any attractive, flattering, warm winter pajamas out there?

Bonus points for easy, um, accessibility.

posted by mmmbacon to clothing, beauty, & fashion (32 comments total)

Speaking as a male, let me just say, long flannel nightshirt. Please do keep the socks.
posted by Naberius at 11:19 AM on October 14 [5 favorites]

Get a lot of thigh high stockings and socks.
posted by spec80 at 11:19 AM on October 14 [9 favorites]

The sweatpants have to go, I'm afraid, but you can get some thigh-high cozy 'socks' that can be awfully sexy. As a bonus, they'll keep your toes warm without normal socks being necessary.

Combining those with a long, button-down* shirt that doesn't quite cover everything would make me melt, anyway.

* or better for playing Winter Ravage: snaps!
posted by rokusan at 11:20 AM on October 14 [2 favorites]

Also, if you can close your bedroom up, an electric space heater can give you summer-or-hotter temperatures in that one room, along with a nice orange-red candle-light or 'fireplace' glow to the room. A pretty good romantic hack, anyway.
posted by rokusan at 11:22 AM on October 14

Thermals, that fit properly to show your shape? Silk ones are nice. They come off very easily. The silk ones look almost as good on the floor as lingerie, especially if you get them in black.
posted by padraigin at 11:23 AM on October 14

Cuddl Duds. Very soft and silky and warm. Mr. Arkham finds them quite attractive and calls them my "superhero pants," but then he's kind of a comics nerd.
posted by JoanArkham at 11:28 AM on October 14 [3 favorites]

silk long underwear?
posted by amtho at 11:32 AM on October 14 [1 favorite]

Sock-dreams!
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 11:33 AM on October 14 [4 favorites]

Maybe I'm just crazy, and I know I'm not answering your specific question about PJs but--I used to have this problem too, and then discovered the best solution was actually a combo of my boyfriend's new fancy high-tech (as in much safer than the crappy old ones I remembered as firetraps from my childhood) electric blanket, sexy legwarmers from sock-dreams.com and/or Stockingirl.com, and uh, nothing else. A warm robe or occasionally some of those very flattering flannel oversized nightshirts mentioned above, if I have to get up out of bed to answer the door or something. But I found bare skin sealed up (don't let the bedsheets or comforter let air in; tuck them neatly) with my guy's made the bed super toasty.

(Cats/pets sleeping on you helps too.)
posted by ifjuly at 11:33 AM on October 14 [2 favorites]

A thick fluffy feather comforter always kept me warm enough in the winter I could sleep in much, MUCH less.
posted by Windigo at 11:39 AM on October 14 [1 favorite]

The flannel nightshirt sounds good. Just watch cotton flannel around the space heater or fireplace.
It can burn extremely quickly, and fabric softeners (PDF) will make it burn even faster.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 11:43 AM on October 14

a white v-neck american apparel t-shirt + knee-high or thigh-high socks = very happy mr. anthropomorphic in chicago winters. i try for my bed to keep me warm rather than my bedclothes.
posted by anthropomorphic at 11:44 AM on October 14

Ha. mr. desjardins calls my winter getup "Frederick's of North Dakota."

Another vote for a space heater, and I'll add the suggestion of a heated mattress pad. Heat the room and the bed, then you two can make your own heat. After he's sleeping, you can put the sweats back on. :)
posted by desjardins at 12:04 PM on October 14 [1 favorite]

Silk long underwear for you and possibly for him. Has a nice slippery feel when you rub it up against another person. Cuddl Duds are a great in-betweeny option.
posted by jessamyn at 12:05 PM on October 14

Whatever suggestions you look up, he should probably be looking over your shoulder, so you can gauge his interest.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 12:07 PM on October 14

Don't treat the symptoms (cold feet, extremities, etc..).
Fix the cause.
posted by webhund at 12:13 PM on October 14

I've had M&S thermals sent over on a semi-regular basis for a while. The options for women are pretty decent, too. Not as slinky as silk, but they do the job and they look pretty decent.

They deliver internationally now, so expats who have been deprived of M&S skimpies can rejoice.
posted by holgate at 12:30 PM on October 14

satin nightgown
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 12:49 PM on October 14

Just get a warmer comforter. Nothing else is required and I do mean nothing else. If one comforter is not enough then two should work.
posted by JJ86 at 12:57 PM on October 14

A duvet or comforter scaled to keep one or more bodies warm in winter, and/or flannel sheets, should give you the freedom to wear as much or as little as you like. Keep a warm robe by the bed if needed.

But if you use flannel sheets and also decide to wear sexy flannel -- well, remember the flannelboard your kindergarten teacher used at storytime? Yeah, that. Being stuck to the sheets may be either feature or bug for you, so choose wisely.
posted by maudlin at 1:05 PM on October 14

In addition to more/thicker blankets and comforters and the thigh-high socks, I will also heat up one of those microwaveable neck heaters with rice or beans in them. I'll stick it in bed a minute or two before I get in, then push it down to my feet where it continues keeping me warm.
posted by rhapsodie at 1:49 PM on October 14

Flannel sheets.
posted by sinfony at 2:30 PM on October 14 [1 favorite]

Hot water bottles.
posted by wyzewoman at 2:39 PM on October 14

Sheepskin rug under you on the bed keeps you nice and warm (preheat before you get in if you need to). Combine this with a wool blanket and a down comforter, and you can be comfy or possibly even too hot in the altogether or wearing sweet little nothings at below freezing temperatures.
posted by yohko at 2:43 PM on October 14

Seriously - down comforter. I usually end up kicking off my socks and PJ pants even in the middle of winter. Added bonus: neither of you will want to get out of bed ;) ;) (Which is a major negative on a cold, rainy morning such as today!)
posted by sararah at 2:45 PM on October 14

If you opt for the bedding rather than the outfit route, I'd recommend getting a comforter/blanket one size larger than your bed. Ex: king comforter on a queen bed. The extra length keeps the blanket snatcher at bay and you warmer. Sorry, no suggestions if you are already sleeping on a king.
posted by sarajane at 2:52 PM on October 14

Body stocking / catsuit beneath sweats, to be found as a surprise.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 3:13 PM on October 14

Body stocking / catsuit beneath sweats, to be found as a surprise.

Excellent idea. This would go over extremely well in the desjardins household.
posted by desjardins at 3:57 PM on October 14

Nthing silk. Silk pj pants, little tank top, silk robe. Comfy and sexy and surprisingly warm.

Love the Sock Dreams, too.
posted by desuetude at 7:05 PM on October 14

Satin with the brushed lining.
posted by x46 at 8:15 PM on October 14

Consider the possibilities inherent in the iconic drop-seat union suit.
posted by Halloween Jack at 12:22 PM on October 15

Thanks for all the very helpful suggestions! I think I'll be trying several of them out in the future.

So excited for the giant Sock Dreams socks as well!
posted by mmmbacon at 8:17 PM on October 17