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A bathrobe isn't exactly a necessity, but having something soft to slip into after a shower certainly makes daily life a little more enjoyable. Our favorite robes to wear this summer let you enjoy the simple pleasure of airdrying after a post-beach shower or a dip in the pool.
To determine the best robes for women, we washed each of our contenders three times to evaluate durability and wore them while making coffee, washing dishes, reading on a couch, and working at a desk to determine their overall function and comfort level. We also noted additional features like pockets and hanging loops.
For more ways to complete your day-off outfit, our guide to the best women's slippers includes the best companions to wear with a new robe.
Best overall: Parachute Classic Turkish Cotton Robe
The Parachute bathrobe is not only the softest of all the best robes for women we tested made from 100% cotton, but it's also slightly fluffy and absorbent like a towel. It's made from long-staple Turkish cotton, which is exceptionally durable, and it has a 400 GSM (grams per square meter, a measure of fabric weight). That's a middle-of-the-road weight — not the most lightweight and cool, but not heavy and stifling, either.
And if you're not in the mood to towel off, you can put this robe on directly after a shower and it'll do the same job.
If luxury is at the top of your priority list, this is the bathrobe for you. It's long enough that it hits the top of my foot on my five-foot-one frame, but if you're taller it will hit somewhere between the ankles and the knee.
My favorite feature of this robe is the different materials on the interior and the exterior. On the inside, it is lined with absorbent terry cloth so that you can wear it right out of the shower. But on the outside, it's plush like a really soft blanket. So you get the best of both worlds.
This robe from Luxome is absolutely made for lazy days when you get out of the shower and dawdle for hours before putting on real clothes. — Samantha Crozier, style editor, Insider Reviews.
If the first thing you do after checking into a hotel is hit the spa, then this waffle robe will transport you there.
Together, the soft organic cotton and textured weave of the Coyuchi Organic Waffle Robe provide airy, cool, and non-slippery coverage. Your waist tie won't come undone and there are large front pockets to hold small, light items like lip balm. Unfortunately, they're not thick enough to carry smartphones without being dragged down by the weight. The sleeves are wide and can get in the way of tasks, but you can cuff them.
The robe is absorbent, though not as much as our cotton terry top pick. For those who run hot but still want to dry off, it's among the more light, attractive, and comfortable versions of the best robes for women.
Natori's robe is hands-down the softest and most comfortable lightweight option out of all the best robes for women we tried. If you don't like the other specialty fabrics mentioned above, chances are modal jersey will win you over, the slightly stretchy material is commonly used to make underwear and loungewear.
While the pockets are sizable, they're located on the sides rather than the front, so bigger items like smartphones may fall out. If you stick to smaller belongings, you should be fine.
If you tend to wake up sweaty or you like to cool down after a hot shower, slipping into this kimono-style robe feels like a breath of fresh air. At first touch, the fabric is cool and slippery. It looks like any other poly blend, but it's made from a combination of eucalyptus fibers and elastane, which is smoother than silk, lighter than linen, and more moisture-wicking than cotton.
I tested this robe alongside the best cooling pajamas, and it did its job of regulating my body temperature. Besides that, though, I recommend this robe because of how soft and lightweight it feels against my skin. It has spacious pockets, a relaxed and flowy fit, and three-quarter sleeves that make it practical to wear while I'm preparing breakfast.
This Rough Linen robe was my favorite robe to wear while working and doing household tasks because it felt like the perfect middle ground — it wasn't so luxurious that it enticed me to lay down in bed, but it wasn't exactly something I'd wear in the outside world, either.
Linen naturally wrinkles, and it's especially apparent with lighter colors. If you're not a fan of the rumpled look but still like the feel of linen, the robe is available in three darker shades (gray, navy, and black) that partially camouflage the wrinkles. It's also best to take the robe out of the dryer while it's still a little damp, so you can smooth out unwanted wrinkles by hand.
The site offers a large variety of beautiful designs to choose from, including cherry blossoms and cranes. Just keep in mind that all of Kim + Ono's designs are dry clean only, and the silk creases and wrinkles easily; you'll need to steam or iron your robe on the warm setting to maintain its sleek, pristine appearance.
After I stopped admiring the robe to actually put it on, it felt very cool, glossy, and slippery. In addition to an exterior waist tie, there's a thin interior waist tie to help keep everything secure. The robe only comes in one size, and on me, it fell all the way to my ankles. If you're petite, I'd recommend buying one of Kim + Ono's short robes instead.
Best monogrammed: Crane & Canopy Plush Cotton Bathrobe
Samantha Crozier/Insider
This Crate & Canopy robe feels like something you'd don with cucumbers on your eyes and a clay mask on your face. It's luxuriously soft and made of rich Turkish cotton. The plush cotton makes it even softer than similar robes made of terry cloth, which I loved. Plus, it has huge pockets.
But perhaps my favorite part of the robe is the option for monogramming. It will cost you an extra $10, but it's the perfect touch if you're giving this as a present. You can choose from a bunch of different fonts and thread colors for the monogram, but the robe itself is only available in white, gray, and light gray. — Samantha Crozier, style & beauty editor, Insider Reviews
Best for lounging: Quince Mongolian Cashmere Robe
The Quince Mongolian Cashmere Robe in black.
Gabrielle hase/Insider
The Quince 100% Mongolian cashmere robe has a basic kimono design with a waist tie closure and two front patch pockets. The material is beautifully soft, and feels insulating despite being thin. I styled it over a cami and sleep shorts, and still felt warm enough on a chilly fall morning. It can even easily pass as a long cardigan if you take out its belt.
Shedding is natural with new cashmere, and because I chose black, it was immediately noticeable on my first wear. But after a few wears, the excess fibers thinned out and it was smooth enough to wear on bare skin. —Gabrielle Chase, Associate Style & Beauty Editor
Barefoot Dreams is the ultimate place to find the coziest blankets and throws around. Their signature plush microfiber material is famous for its softness and warmth. But the only thing better than getting under a cozy blanket is actually wearing that cozy blanket wherever you go.
Made from the same material as their famous blankets, this robe is the ultimate plush companion. You can feel the quality from the first touch; we guarantee you won't want to take it off. This robe also makes the perfect gift for a loved one.
This flannel number from L.L.Bean is an internet favorite among the best robes for women thanks to its classic plaid prints, long-lasting cotton fabric, and a relaxed fit that lets you wrap yourself up into a cozy bundle. Insider Reviews deputy editor Malarie Gokey has owned the robe for more than a year and loves it. As someone who runs cold, she appreciates not only the warmth but the fact that the fabric isn't stiflingly thick (a common problem with winter robes).
Like most flannel garments, the robe, unfortunately, is a magnet for stray bits of fuzz and pet hair, so cuddle with your pets at your own risk. It's also worth noting that L.L.Bean offers a wider spectrum of sizes than the other brands in this guide, from regular and petite (both available in XS-XL) to plus (1X-3X).
What should I look for in a bathrobe?
Parachute
There are plenty of features to consider as you shop for the best robe, including style, fabric, breathability, and durability.
A kimono-style design is the standard. "Kimono robes offer a classic tailored fit, with wrist-length sleeves, and have a streamlined flat collar," says Rosy Nuboer, a romance planner at the Hyatt Regency Resort in Aruba. In other words, you can personalize a kimono-style robe's measurements via its waist tie, but you'll still have enough freedom of movement for tasks like putting on makeup, brewing coffee, or picking up the morning paper.
When it comes to material, plush cotton terry allows you to skip toweling off post-shower, while less absorbent fabrics like waffle weave or silk require a pat-down first. The material also affects the warmth and breathability of a robe, as well as how it holds up over time.
Jenny McGrath is a senior science reporter, covering archaeology, paleontology, and more.She's written about science throughout history, technological innovations, and women in science. Some archaeological and paleontological research she has covered include Neanderthal cave drawings, some of the oldest stone tools found in the US, a tiny "ice mouse" that lived among dinosaurs, and Pleistocene extinctions.Other areas of interest include invasive species and scientific mysteries.Before joining the science team, Jenny covered smart-home technology and home appliances. Prior to working at Business Insider, Jenny was a senior writer and home editor for Digital Trends. She launched the site's home section as its first home editor in 2014, before Amazon released the first Echo and the same year Google bought Nest. At trade shows including CES, KBIS, and IFA, she's watched smart-home and home appliance trends evolve. She always has podcast recommendations.
Samantha Crozier is the women's style editor for Insider Reviews. She spends her days testing the newest it-bag, the workout set that's all over Instagram, or that lipgloss that everyone is talking about on TikTok.Two of her foremost areas of expertise are women's workwear and heeled shoes. In fact, she wrote a guide to the most comfortable heels that entailed her walking a mile in over 70 pairs of heels to find the best of the best. Before joining Insider Reviews, she was an editor on the Health Reference team where she focused on articles about sex and relationships, skincare, nutrition, and mental health. She graduated from Tufts University with degrees in English and Political Science and had jobs in book publishing before coming to Insider in 2020. Although she now lives in Brooklyn, she still travels back and forth to her hometown of Honolulu, Hawaii. You can reach her at: scrozier@businessinsider.com.
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Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@businessinsider.com.
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