Men's Nightshirt

Discover the Mariner Underwear collection of cotton nightshirts: two flannel checks with a buttoned collar, offered in a comfortable, relaxed fit and breathable enough for a full night under the duvet. Both colourways come in sizes M to XXL, cut for anyone who prefers one piece over two.

A nightshirt is one garment, not a top and a bottom. It goes on like a long shirt,falls above the knee and needs nothing else underneath. The style is older than the pyjama pair: before pyjamas became common sleepwear in the UK, a long shirt was the standard way for men to sleep, simple to make and simple to pull on and off. Mariner Underwear has kept the design close to that original shape, a single piece with a buttoned collar and enough length to do the job of both a top and a bottom.

The shape has stayed popular for practical reasons rather than nostalgia. The nightgown does not have a belt that could tighten. For men who sleep warm, it also leaves the legs freer than a fitted pyjama bottom.

Warm Cotton Flannel for Cold Nights

Both nightshirts in the range are cut from 100% combed cotton flannel. Flannel is woven, then brushed on the surface, which lifts the fibres and traps a thin layer of air against the fabric. That brushing is what gives flannel its soft, slightly fuzzy hand feel and its extra warmth next to a plain cotton weave. It sits with our other cold-weather pieces, built for the months when a lighter jersey top would not hold enough heat.

Combed cotton also means the shorter, weaker fibres have already been removed before spinning, which leaves a smoother, more even yarn than standard carded cotton. On a brushed fabric like flannel, that shows up as a softer surface that keeps its shape wash after wash, while cotton itself stays breathable enough for a full night under a duvet.

A Relaxed Fit for Comfort at Night

The collar closes with a row of buttons at the neck, a detail carried over from the traditional style nightshirt rather than a modern sleep top. The cut is straight and roomy rather than fitted, so there is space to turn over in bed without the fabric pulling across the shoulders. Mariner Underwear cuts this style for a relaxed fit: take your normal size and the shirt sits comfortably instead of snug.

Two Classic Checks for the Season

We offer two colourways, both in the same 100% combed cotton flannel. The first is a red and navy check, a classic winter combination. The second is an anthracite grey check lifted with touches of purple and petrol blue, a darker option for anyone who prefers a quieter pattern. Both nightshirts have a gently rounded hem, and both run true to size from M to XXL.

How a Nightshirt Differs from Pyjamas

A nightshirt and a pair of men's pyjamas solve the same problem in different ways. Pyjamas separate the top and the bottom, which some men prefer for the fit around the waist. This one piece is longer than a shirt, worn on its own with nothing underneath, and it removes that waistband entirely if pyjama bottoms tend to twist or ride up overnight. For a warmer two-piece option in a comparable brushed weight, our men's brushed cotton pyjamas use a similar napped finish across a fitted top and bottom instead of one long shirt.

Part of Our Nightwear Range

The nightshirt sits inside our wider men's nightwear range, alongside dressing gowns and loungewear for the rest of the evening. It follows the same approach Mariner Underwear has used for more than half a century, since 1967: a classic shape, a natural fabric, and nothing added that the garment does not need.

Sizing: M to XXL

Both nightshirts run across four sizes, M, L, XL and XXL. Take your usual size rather than sizing up or down: the cut is already generous through the body and the sleeves, built to leave room for movement overnight rather than to sit close to the skin. If you are between two sizes, the relaxed fit tends to sit better on the smaller of the two.

Comfortable Night After Night

Comfort here is not a one-night thing. The warm, brushed flannel keeps its softness through repeated wear, and the straight, roomy cut leaves space to turn over without waking up tangled. It is built to feel just as good night after night.

A nightshirt is a small, specific category with one job: warmth without extra layers underneath. Mariner Underwear has kept this piece in cotton flannel because it does exactly that, night after night through the winter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should men wear nightshirts?

A nightshirt suits anyone who finds pyjama bottoms twist, ride up or feel too fitted overnight. It is a single garment, so there is nothing to adjust in the night beyond the shirt itself. It works particularly well in winter, when a longer, warmer cut is welcome.

What is the best fabric for a men's nightshirt in winter?

Cotton flannel is the standard winter fabric for a nightshirt. It is brushed on the surface after weaving, which traps warmth close to the body and gives the fabric a soft, slightly fuzzy texture. Both Mariner Underwear nightshirts use 100% combed cotton flannel for this reason.

What is a male nightgown called?

The correct term is nightshirt. It describes a long, single-piece garment worn to bed by men, distinct from a nightdress or nightgown, which are typically women's styles, and from pyjamas, which separate the top and the bottom.

Why did men wear nightshirts before pyjamas?

Before pyjamas became common sleepwear in the UK, a long shirt was the simplest, cheapest way to sleep. It needed one piece of fabric rather than a fitted top and bottom, and it was easy to wash. The design has stayed close to that original shape ever since.

What is the difference between a nightshirt and pyjamas?

A nightshirt is one garment, worn on its own. Pyjamas are two pieces, a top and a bottom, usually with an elastic or drawstring waist. Both do the same job of keeping you warm and covered at night, but the nightshirt removes the separate waistband entirely.

How do I choose the right size nightshirt?

Take your usual clothing size. Mariner Underwear cuts its nightshirts for a relaxed fit through the body and sleeves, so the normal size sits comfortably rather than tight. Sizes run from M to XXL across both colourways.

How should I wash a cotton flannel nightshirt?

Both nightshirts are machine washable. A gentler wash cycle and a lower heat setting help keep the brushed cotton surface soft over time, rather than flattening the nap the way a hot, heavy wash can.