I need a new robe
November 20, 2014 7:40 PM Subscribe
I need a comfortable robe where I can successfully push up my sleeves. I am short and have toothpicks for arms and I've never been able to successfully push up my robe sleeves and have them stay up.
I am 4'11" so the world is not really built for me - everything is up just a few inches too high for comfort. When I am using a sink, water almost always drips down my arms. This is a huge nuisance when I'm washing my face at night or making coffee in the morning because the sleeves on every robe I've ever owned refuse to stay pushed up. Since I pretty much exclusively wear a robe in the morning or at night and invariably want to wash my face or make coffee, I always have to take off my robe, which makes me cold, or I leave the robe on and suffer wet sleeves (and then I have to just take the robe off and hang it so that the sleeves dry out). I would prefer that the sleeves not have elastic at the wrists but if that's the best option, so be it (although I draw the line at holding up the sleeves with rubberbands, as suggested by my well-meaning boyfriend).
I think this is a function of the material robes are made of (I've tried terrycloth, fleece, and thin cotton) and the fact that most robe sleeves are really big so that the robe is comfortable. I'd also really like the robe to be warm and very comfortable but don't need to be able to fit my sleeve opening around my waist to achieve that! I spend a lot of time at home and I like to turn the heat way down because I am cheap, so I'd like to get a lot of heat from my cozy robe.
And speaking of being cheap... less expensive is better, but if it is pricey and of high quality that is totally fine as well. I just don't want to spend a lot on a robe that isn't awesome.
I am 4'11" so the world is not really built for me - everything is up just a few inches too high for comfort. When I am using a sink, water almost always drips down my arms. This is a huge nuisance when I'm washing my face at night or making coffee in the morning because the sleeves on every robe I've ever owned refuse to stay pushed up. Since I pretty much exclusively wear a robe in the morning or at night and invariably want to wash my face or make coffee, I always have to take off my robe, which makes me cold, or I leave the robe on and suffer wet sleeves (and then I have to just take the robe off and hang it so that the sleeves dry out). I would prefer that the sleeves not have elastic at the wrists but if that's the best option, so be it (although I draw the line at holding up the sleeves with rubberbands, as suggested by my well-meaning boyfriend).
I think this is a function of the material robes are made of (I've tried terrycloth, fleece, and thin cotton) and the fact that most robe sleeves are really big so that the robe is comfortable. I'd also really like the robe to be warm and very comfortable but don't need to be able to fit my sleeve opening around my waist to achieve that! I spend a lot of time at home and I like to turn the heat way down because I am cheap, so I'd like to get a lot of heat from my cozy robe.
And speaking of being cheap... less expensive is better, but if it is pricey and of high quality that is totally fine as well. I just don't want to spend a lot on a robe that isn't awesome.
I recently asked a question about getting a new warm robe and got some helpful answersanswers.
"When I am using a sink, water almost always drips down my arms"
Not a robe, but I specifically got one of these babies to solve this problem and it works great. When I wash my face with this gadget the water drips down the gadget or not at all, but not down my arms. They likely have cheaper versions.
I'm also petite and find that robes tend to be huge on me, but I've found a couple in my time that are a good size. This robe is made out of bamboo fibers and it's SUPER moisture absorbent. Nothing soaks up water like this robe. And the sleeves are short. The model int he photo has the sleeves 3/4 up her arm, but since I'm petite they were almost long sleeves on me. It was the first robe that I had where I never had to roll up the sleeves.
This robe is filled with down and is not meant for baths, but for warmth during winter . I got the XS and when I rolled the sleeves up they stayed up, but after I washed it in the washing machine (the instructions said dry clean only) The entire robe shrunk. It got 3" shorter and the sleeves also got shorter which was good because before it was too long. So I never had to roll them up again after that.
Both those robes I got years ago so assuming they haven't changed the manufacturing of them since then, I recommend them.
posted by rancher at 8:04 PM on November 20, 2014 [1 favorite]
"When I am using a sink, water almost always drips down my arms"
Not a robe, but I specifically got one of these babies to solve this problem and it works great. When I wash my face with this gadget the water drips down the gadget or not at all, but not down my arms. They likely have cheaper versions.
I'm also petite and find that robes tend to be huge on me, but I've found a couple in my time that are a good size. This robe is made out of bamboo fibers and it's SUPER moisture absorbent. Nothing soaks up water like this robe. And the sleeves are short. The model int he photo has the sleeves 3/4 up her arm, but since I'm petite they were almost long sleeves on me. It was the first robe that I had where I never had to roll up the sleeves.
This robe is filled with down and is not meant for baths, but for warmth during winter . I got the XS and when I rolled the sleeves up they stayed up, but after I washed it in the washing machine (the instructions said dry clean only) The entire robe shrunk. It got 3" shorter and the sleeves also got shorter which was good because before it was too long. So I never had to roll them up again after that.
Both those robes I got years ago so assuming they haven't changed the manufacturing of them since then, I recommend them.
posted by rancher at 8:04 PM on November 20, 2014 [1 favorite]
I recently bought and adore the Natori Nirvana Robe from Nordstrom in size XS--I'm 5'2" and usually wear a size 2, for reference. I'm wearing it as I type this right now; it's my dressing robe after I towel off in the morning and a cozy loungewear piece at night. I also tried a terrycloth robe that only came in size S and it was clearly huge on me.
With respect to the sleeves, these are exactly the right length unrolled, which is surprising. They won't stay pushed up, but if I roll them twice then they'll stay above my elbow for a few minutes. There is a wide "cuff" of fleece fabric on the ends of the sleeves which is a different texture than the outer cotton terry of the robe, which I think helps the roll stay put.
posted by serelliya at 8:17 PM on November 20, 2014
With respect to the sleeves, these are exactly the right length unrolled, which is surprising. They won't stay pushed up, but if I roll them twice then they'll stay above my elbow for a few minutes. There is a wide "cuff" of fleece fabric on the ends of the sleeves which is a different texture than the outer cotton terry of the robe, which I think helps the roll stay put.
posted by serelliya at 8:17 PM on November 20, 2014
I am in the same situation and I only wear short sleeved terrycloth robes for exactly the reasons you describe. They can be hard to find and not quite as warm as long sleeved robes, but I find that the convenience of not having to roll up sleeves (or take off robe to use a sink) outweighs this.
posted by Mallenroh at 8:46 PM on November 20, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Mallenroh at 8:46 PM on November 20, 2014 [1 favorite]
Nthing rolling or folding rather than just pushing the sleeves up (if that's what you're doing). I've always worn terry or fleece robes and often have to fold the sleeves. I've never had a problem with the sleeves unfolding themselves.
You will probably end up with damp sleeves from washing your face, regardless of what you do though.
posted by kinddieserzeit at 10:03 PM on November 20, 2014
You will probably end up with damp sleeves from washing your face, regardless of what you do though.
posted by kinddieserzeit at 10:03 PM on November 20, 2014
Here's a robe that looks like it's made out of sweatshirt-type material with sweatshirt-type cuffs. Here's another similar one. Here's one from Norm Thompson at a higher price point.
This much-less-granny-looking one from Duluth Trading Company specifically mentions that "pushed-up sleeves stay scrunched up"
posted by drlith at 3:27 AM on November 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
This much-less-granny-looking one from Duluth Trading Company specifically mentions that "pushed-up sleeves stay scrunched up"
posted by drlith at 3:27 AM on November 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
Don't mean to be rude, but what about a step-stool in front of the sink?
posted by charlemangy at 5:41 AM on November 21, 2014
posted by charlemangy at 5:41 AM on November 21, 2014
what about a step-stool in front of the sink?
Speaking as a taller person who has the same problem, I don't think height is really the issue. I would dearly love a robe who's sleeves would just. stay. UP already!
posted by Koko at 6:45 AM on November 21, 2014 [2 favorites]
Speaking as a taller person who has the same problem, I don't think height is really the issue. I would dearly love a robe who's sleeves would just. stay. UP already!
posted by Koko at 6:45 AM on November 21, 2014 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Well, I tried actually rolling my robe sleeves and they still just flopped down. But I think that technique would work on a better robe. Thanks! I've got a few now to look at and think about. :)
As far as the stepstool, that's definitely not offensive - in fact, I unconsciously look for one every time I need to reach the second shelf in anyone else's kitchen since I have two in my own kitchen! - but my bathroom is too small for one.
posted by sockermom at 4:12 PM on November 21, 2014
As far as the stepstool, that's definitely not offensive - in fact, I unconsciously look for one every time I need to reach the second shelf in anyone else's kitchen since I have two in my own kitchen! - but my bathroom is too small for one.
posted by sockermom at 4:12 PM on November 21, 2014
the fact that most robe sleeves are really big so that the robe is comfortable
If the robe is otherwise perfect, here are two ideas off the top of my head:
1. Sleeves are pretty straightforward to modify. Pinch in the extra width along your arm, flip the sleeve inside out, and sew a straight stitch from wrist to elbow. You (or boyfriend? as a gift :) ) can do this by hand.
Also easy: 2. if you have a hairband, tie it in a figure eight and sew one end inside the sleeve. Sew a big button on the outside. You now have loops for holding up rolled cuffs. (You could also do this with a ribbon inside and looped ribbon outside, whatever you want.)
posted by ana scoot at 10:21 PM on November 23, 2014
If the robe is otherwise perfect, here are two ideas off the top of my head:
1. Sleeves are pretty straightforward to modify. Pinch in the extra width along your arm, flip the sleeve inside out, and sew a straight stitch from wrist to elbow. You (or boyfriend? as a gift :) ) can do this by hand.
Also easy: 2. if you have a hairband, tie it in a figure eight and sew one end inside the sleeve. Sew a big button on the outside. You now have loops for holding up rolled cuffs. (You could also do this with a ribbon inside and looped ribbon outside, whatever you want.)
posted by ana scoot at 10:21 PM on November 23, 2014
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But have you just tried rolling them properly? Here's the trick, it's not just rolling up the edge, it's folding:
Fold the sleeve up full until it's a little below your elbow, smoothly along itself. Fold it again in half on itself, and again. If you want the sleeves shorter then you roll it up on itself. But the folding in half and half again will sort of lock it in, and keep it from rolling back down. Like so.
posted by Mizu at 7:53 PM on November 20, 2014 [4 favorites]