The Scestra Living Notes arrive every Sunday: a short letter on the art of living at home, a few small things worth your attention, and a ritual to try before the week begins.
A Note
This is the week the air changes. The windows stay closed a little longer in the morning, the duvet comes back out, and suddenly the question of what we sleep in feels worth a second thought.
We spend roughly a third of our lives in bed, yet sleepwear is often the last thing we choose with care. This week, a short guide to choosing cotton pyjamas you'll keep for years, not seasons.
How to Choose Cotton Pyjamas
1. Start with the weave. "Cotton" describes the fibre, not the feel. The way it is woven changes everything:
- Poplin is a tight, plain weave: crisp, cool and breathable. It sleeps light, suits warm sleepers and softens beautifully with every wash.
- Flannel is brushed for a fuzzy, warming surface. Lovely for the coldest nights, but it can feel heavy the rest of the year.
- Jersey is a knit, like a T-shirt. Soft and stretchy, though it tends to lose its shape over time.
- Sateen is smooth with a gentle sheen. It feels silky, but it holds more warmth than poplin.
If you want one set that works through most of the year, poplin is the quiet all-rounder.
2. Look inside. Turn a garment inside out before you buy it. Raw, overlocked edges can scratch and fray. French seams enclose the raw edge inside a second seam, so there is nothing against your skin and the garment holds together wash after wash. It is a small detail that tells you a great deal about how something was made.
3. Choose room to move. Pyjamas should never pull across the shoulders when you reach, or tighten at the knee when you curl up. A relaxed, easy fit lets the fabric move with you and air circulate, which is part of what keeps cotton cool.
4. Think beyond the bedroom. The best pyjamas are the ones you don't rush to change out of: morning coffee, a slow breakfast, an afternoon with a book. Choose a set that looks as considered as it feels.
5. Care for it gently. Wash cool, skip the high heat and line dry when you can. Heat is what shrinks cotton and wears it out. Treated well, a good cotton set only gets softer with time.
The Sunday Ritual
Edit the sleepwear drawer. Take everything out. Keep what you love wearing, set aside what you never reach for, and fold the rest so you can see it all at a glance. Ten minutes, and the week's evenings start a little calmer.
The Slow List
- To do: Make the bed with the window open while the kettle boils.
- To notice: How different a room feels in lamplight after the clocks change.
- To keep: One set of pyjamas that feels like a small luxury, for no reason at all.
From the Studio
Scestra 001 is everything above in one set: 100% cotton poplin, French seams throughout, and a relaxed, oversized fit that is true to size. Made in limited quantities in Blue Stripes and Pink Stripes, in Small–Medium and Large–Extra Large.
Until Next Sunday
What do you look for in the things you sleep in? Tag us on Instagram. We may share your answer in a future issue.
Scestra ❤️