The Bathrobe

The Bathrobe

by Nancy    

When we could finally afford to stay in really nice hotels, my husband and I discovered The Bathrobe.  You know--the white, terry cloth spa-like robe that hangs in the walk-in closet of a posh suite--just waiting for you to wrap up in the luxurious folds.  I like to peel off my travel clothes and wear one when I unpack my suitcase, which I recognize is twisted. Why do I bother packing many resort clothes when there's a fluffy robe waiting for me in the room?

(Please don't tell me those bathrobes are never laundered, okay?  That unsanitary possibility lurks in my mind, and I just don't want to know the answer.)

At home, I am also a big fan of the bathrobe.  I have a lightweight, but long, lilac robe that I wear over a nightie or my yoga pants, or just about anything that's not quite warm enough to write in.  (I keep the house thermostat set around 65.  Don't tell my husband.)  It's like my Wonder Woman cape.  Makes me feel invincible, even though I lost the belt a while back. (The dog ate it.  When the belt reappeared, I didn't bother trying to launder it.  Straight to the trash.) I love my robe's pockets--deep enough to hold an unopened can of Diet Coke or a stack of Post-it notes or a pair of gardening shears for dashing outside to clip some flowers (yay!  The tulips are up!) for the vase in the dining room.  Sometimes I realize I'm lugging a lot of extra weight and discover I've got all three items in my pockets.

I'm thinking the era of the bathrobe, sadly, is coming to a close, however.  For lounging around at home, most people seem to wear flannel or fleece pants and a t-shirt or tank top.  On Sunday mornings, my husband tends to pull on saggy sweatpants and a worn BMW motorcycle t-shirt and a pair of Crocs that are adorned with those little buttons from Disney World (he's a fan) or his favorite football team and some fish I bought for him in Hawaii. Believe me, he's no prince in this getup. But he's comfy. He makes sure nobody's on the sidewalk when he goes out to grab the newspaper, that's all.

Of course, he had a bathrobe.  In recent years, he simply chose not to wear it. I think it came from his mother, years ago. It was mud brown and possessed a smell that would. not. go. away.

Last week, however, when he came home from his hospital stay and needed a bathrobe in which to recover from his surgery, he looked in his closet for Smelly Brown. But--egad! Some dastardly villain--who, I can't imagine--must have thrown that ancient brown relic into the Goodwill box! Who on earth, I wonder, could dispose of a man's ratty old--er, beloved robe without his permission?

I was despatched to the mall to find another for him to wear his first post-surgical week when pants were basically out of the question. (Don't ask for details.) My further orders were to accomplish this shopping trip on the double because he wanted his lunch. 

Running in and out of stores, I soon discovered, though, that the cold truth about bathrobes is that you really can't buy a nice one for a man unless it's Christmastime. 

Check your calendars, folks.  It's April.

Penney's? No luck.  Sears?  Don't make me laugh. TJ Maxx?  I found plenty of bathing suits (yay!) but no robes.

Finally I staggered into Macy's and practically fell over the sale rack, where an exceedingly handsome Nautica robe (thick navy blue terry with white piping) was marked down and marked down and marked down--from its Christmas price of $95 to . . . you won't believe this . . .  $12.99.  I snapped it up, thinking it was a sign of good luck for Jeff's recovery.

My father wore his own robe for at least twenty years. It was practically in rags when it mercifully disappeared. When he wore it, for some reason my mother jumped at his every command.  (Okay, he never really commanded, but she was for reasons I still haven't grasped, at his beck and call. I can't recall him ever re-filling his own coffee cup or--God forbid--rinsing his own breakfast dishes and putting them in the dishwasher. Generational thing?  Or the Power of the Bathrobe?) 

When I think of Christmas mornings from my childhood, I can see my dad sipping coffee in his chair in that powder blue seersucker.  It's a more vivid memory than any gift I ever received--except the nearly full-sized set of kitchen appliances Santa brought one year.  (What was he thinking?  I turned the refrigerator into a stable so I could play horse.)  My friend Deb wonders if perhaps her husband is wearing the same plaid bathrobe worn by her own father back in the fifties!  It's her theory that most men wear their robes for an average of thirty years. Do you think that's so?

How do you feel about bathrobes in general?  For or against? Do you associate bathrobes with a certain smell?  Okay, skip the second question.  It's my own thing.

Meanwhile, the other day we took off Jeff's new bathrobe long enough to go over to the surgeon's office for the removal of a surgical drain and the official Hearing of the Preliminary Biopsy Results.

Great news! THE PRELIMINARY BIOPSY CAME BACK FABULOUS!  So now he's wearing the beautiful blue Nautica like the robe of a triumphant Roman emperor. I play the happy slave girl. Next week, though, I'm kicking him out of the house.  The happy slave girl needs to get some writing done. When I do, I might borrow the emperor's bathrobe.  It looks comfy. And empowering.

Comments

[Harley]

Nancy, I don't know what's more exciting -- that nice biopsy, or a Nautica bathrobe reduced from $95 to $12.99. Oh, lucky day! Go, Jeff, go.

[Doc In CA]

I think the last bathrobe I owned was back about 1980, and it was one I got in my sophmore year of high school. Most mornings, I tend to be more of a gym shorts & t-shirt kinda guy during warm weather and a ratty ass jeans & t-shirt guy in cool weather.

Congratulations on the good biopsy news!

[Peg H]

Great biopsy news!!!

I could never find a bathrobe that fit my criteria of a simple belted and long. Most woemn's belted robes came short, short, short.

DH seldom wore the long belted robe that I bought for him one year long ago...I still wear it occasionally.

[Laura (in PA)]

Amazing, awesome news on the biopsy. And I'm bowing in respect at your bargain.

I have a couple of bathrobes, though I don't wear them every day. I usually am in shorts/t-shirt/bare feet in the summer (or now, when it's 88 degrees in early April, for God's sake), or sweats/Ugg slippers in the winter. My husband bought me a wonderfully thick, fuzzy, long belted robe a couple years ago, and I wear it on frigid winter mornings when nothing but thick and fuzzy will do. I also have a pink terrycloth shin-length belted robe with a big yellow duck on the back, that I wear occasionally in warmer months.

My husband doesn't wear a robe. I don't really remember my father wearing one either. Nor do they own pajamas. Uh oh, I think I married my father.

[William]

Nancy, GREAT news about the biopsy! Bathrobes rule, all I'm going to say.

This one's for Jeff; play it REAL loud for him:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRPtsJ1487w

[nancy martin]

William, I must wait until he gets out of bed to play your offering. (He sleeps later and later every day. When the first day of work rolls around, he's going to be really unhappy.)

Okay, I have good info for buying nice bathrobes for women. Talbot's catalog usually has a long, lightweight version, as does Lands End. But they're expensive. You won't find the $12 bargain either place.

Laura, my sympathies for marrying your father. Me, too. I just hope my husband didn't marry his mother.--Eep!

[Josh]

Great news on Jeff.

I'm sitting here in my red terry cloth bathrobe that I've had for 10 or so years. (I'm also in pajamas--which are also hard to find except at Christmastime.) But I don't wear the robe or pj's just to hang out during the day.

[nancy martin]

Long or short, Josh? Uh . . . wait a minute. Nevermind.

[Nora]

I'm with Harley...but I think the biopsy wins! Great news Nancy!! There is an art to wearing a bathrobe that the youngun's just don't seem to understand...sigh...

[Ramona]

A few years ago, my mother bought me a fleece cape. Super warm and comfy, so much so that my boys were always asking to borrow it. So she bought them capes, too. For a while, we all walked around in capes. They were the bomb.

I have a super soft summer robe (from Kohl's, $40 IIRC) that feels like bunny fur.

Yay for Jeff! But, a question. When you are playing the slave girl, do you wear tie up gladiator sandals?

[nancy martin]

The gladiator sandals gave me blisters. Jeff prefers his slave girls barefoot, anyway.

[judy merrill larsen]

Fabulous biopsy news! Yay!

I have a super comfy "spa" robe from a mall store I cannot for the life of me remember the name of (not Hammecher Schmeller but like that--they always have cool stuff . . . ) but I'm more apt to pull on yoga pants and a sweatshirt. My husband doesn't even own a robe. But my dad always had the flannel robe in winter, seersucker in summer.

[Hank Phillippi Ryan]

Hurray hurray hurray--I;ve been thinking and thinkng about Jeff (and you) and wondering what was up--and I guess what's up is our spirits! Yay.

When Jonathan and I got married--13 years ago? Some cousins who we had no idea who were gave us matching bathrobes, sort of cream-colored terry, long, with our names embroidered on them.

We thought they were SO SILLY, and laughed and laughed, but of course, we were stuck with them because who else would need a bathrobes with "Hank" and "Jonanthan" on them. Regifting was pretty much out.

And then..we put them on. Turns out, they're turkish cotton. And soft and cozy and drapey and warm enough but not too warm and, turns out, they wash beautifully and, I'm not kidding, still look as perfect as they did 13 years ago.

I have a short little white terry one that I wear more, and a am kind of a sweatpants and tank top girl on weekend mornings, but Jonathan wears his turkish cotton every morning.

Oh,I'm still thinking about Jeff. Hurray!

[Josh]

Nancy,

Long. Something in my life has to be.

[Joyce]

Great news about the biopsy!

I love robes. I recently departed with a thick red terry cloth robe that was well past its prime. Not to mention that being in "that time" of my life, it was too darned warm. I found a lightweight flannel one after Christmas at Target on the clearance rack. It's navy with little white dots and white satin piping on the collar and sleeves.

[Karen in Ohio]

Yay for Jeff! I'm doing a happy dance you guys, Nancy.

And you are singing my sister song on the robes, one of which I wear each and every morning of my life, and as I read the blog every day, too. When Steve and I got married he was adamant about the heat being set at 64 (I have inched it up until it's now set at 67 in the winter, tiny victory), so for our first Christmas he gave me a lovely, full-length salmon down robe. I'm on my third or fourth one now (they're getting really tough to find). This year, though, I found the ultimate down replacement in a yummy powder blue microfiber one. Always floor-length for winter. But I also have the floor-length cotton knit one I'm wearing now, and a short knit that I travel with, and a couple big Turkish cotton ones.

My friend who has a dude ranch in Wyoming bought a couple dozen Turkish cotton robes for the guest rooms, embroidered with the name of the ranch. The ranch manager, a woman who has lived out there her entire life, was horrified. There ain't no robes in the Wild West, apparently. But what else would you wear to get out of the hot tub, I ask you?

[ArkansasCyndi]

Great robe bargain! plue GREAT NEWS on the biopsy. Don't know what Jeff had biopsied, but that doesn't matter. Good news is good news.

My hubby has a robe that MATCHES the flannel tie pants he wears all the time. Honestly, the flannel is getting so thin (from constant wearing and washing), it won't be long before we'll have to go on the REPLACEMENT ROBE SEARCH. Shudders at the thought.

[nancy martin]

Cyndi, is Hubs the metrosexual of bathrobes, or what?

And I think we need pix of Hank and Jonathan in their matchy-matches.

[Alan P.]

Good news from the Dr. is always a great way to start the day.

My robe is a big heavy terrycloth one that reaches to the floor. I'm 6'2" it is a lot of robe. It is about 20 years old. I can't remember if I was married or not when I was given it. But about 20 is right. I have asked DW for a new robe for the last three birthdays. She doesn't see anything wrong with the one I have, other than it takes up an entire closet when it isn't on me. Yep, that and the parts that have worn to uncomffy are the reasons why I need a new one. But, I do have a Macy's gift card from some great sales and bad math on Macy's part so I will swing by the Galleria after work.

Truthfully I prefer my cargo pants styled sweats and old bike ride t-shirts, but the robe still gets used, just not out of the house.

[Edie]

Great news on the biopsy report!

My spouse doesn't wear a robe much, but I wore his a lot when I broke my arm a few years ago. It was the only thing that was loose enough and would keep me warm. I wore it all day for weeks. The next Christmas, he gave me a robe just like it, so now I have my own.

[kellee]

Very happy to hear about the wonderful biopsy results. Yipee!
My hubby wears holey sweat pants he has cut into shorts. Ugh. Truely hideous. And no shirt. Hmm.....
I get dressed as quickly as possible. I'm not pretty in anything too revealing.

[Mary]

GOOD NEWS.........I'm a hotel General Manager and can tell you the robes are definitely laundered after each guest's stay. Oh, good news about Jeff too! :)

[Cindy from Oregon]

I'm so glad about the good biopsy news! There's nothing so worrying as the possibility of poor health. My husband has two wonderful robes, and they never see the outside of the closet. Too warm, I think. I suffer from cold feet/ankles/calves so I wear fleece footie pajamas (unzipping and discarding the top part during hot flashes) and for cool evenings I LOVE my snuggie.

[Terry Odell]

I'm a robe person. LOVE the "Bathrobe Hotels". Hubster doesn't wear them. I made him once early on in our marriage (and it was HARD) and he did wear it while rocking a baby back to sleep, but then it hung in the closet until one daughter went off to college and comandeered it. Before we moved from Florida, he'd just pull on shorts. Now that we're in Colorado, it's sweats. And forget slippers. One of my first purchases when we moved. He wears socks.

[Holly Gault]

Steve has a terrycloth robe that is Old. I've patched it where it ripped (the shoulder not the butt!). He wears it for approximately ten minutes at night between shower and bed, and about the same in the morning. It's going to last a long time. He wears it only because our front door is all glass and right in front of the stairs. Booty on display all the way down to the street.
I have an OLD, long pink terrycloth from Land's End. It's heavy. All the nap is worn away from over the boobs. It is past time to get a new one.
I once made a long, hooded robe from gray sweatshirt jersey. I looked like a puffy monk.

[Amy]

First, congratulations on the happy biopsy results. Excellent news.

Second, I've never stayed in such a posh hotel that you get thick terry robes. Nice.

When I was in 6th or 7th grade, my mom and I went shopping downtown. Isn't that quaint? I don't remember what we were looking for. She wasn't much of a shopper. But we wandered into Penney's on the square, and they had the most lovely bathrobes my young eyes had ever seen. They were royal blue velour with matching piping, a pocket (!) and an inner cord, which just sold me right there. I thought they were exquisite, oh-so-fancy, and very mature. (Gimme a break, I was an adolescent.)

The trouble was, they were misses' sizes. I may have been an adolescent, but I was rather a stick of one. My mother, though, knew about girls my age, and found a size small. She told me it would surely fit me well enough and give me a little room to grow. I don't remember how much it cost, but I felt so grown up that day, Little Miss La-Dee-Da.

As time wore on and I grew out of my cherished bathrobe, I realized how tacky it looked. But it didn't matter by then. I had loved that thing and worn it to death.

[nancy martin]

Alan, thank you for the confirmatino on the 20-yr lifespan. Good luck at the Galleria! Report back.

Mary, I am SO RELIEVED to hear the robes are laundered. Thank you. And I've discovered that a hotel manager is a very useful friend to have. (Barbara, are you here?)

[nancy martin]

Is anyone else wondering why the nap on Holly's robe is only worn out over her boobs?

[nancy martin]

Amy, I think the whole point of a bathrobe is that it's tacky! Okay, and warm. Or empowering. But tacky is definitely part of the package. You were not alone, girlfriend.

[marie]

Wonderful news on the biopsy results, Nancy!
You are both so great!

I am wearing my lucky Ladybug robe as we speak.
It's ten years old and as God is my witness I will be wearing it until it disintegrates because it's my lucky robe.
I wish that I could do the tank tap and shorts thing that the kids wear but I would just look downright silly.

[storyteller Mary]

Nancy, wonderful news. I'm sitting here in a thin cotton robe I bought (from Lillian Vernon, I think) when I moved into the condo 25 years ago. I also have a cotton kimono my aunt brought me (but it has no pockets). I've discovered that the thicker robes I used to favor in the winter months are just TOO HOT (we know why, but that's just part of life, too. Red Hot Mama in flashes now). Land's End has great robes and long knitted night shirts, too, on sale right now.
I'm sure hotels launder the robes in the hot water, just like the towels and sheets . . . and Holiday Inn just told me they launder all the bedding now (probably read Elaine's _Murder with Reservations_).
Hank, _Prime Time_ happy point -- Your introduction of "A uniformed police officer" on page 156, later referred to as "she." I love that she's not initially referred to as a female officer -- there's a sense of acceptance, that gender is not primary -- progress!
When became the first female insurance agent in Prudential's Minneapolis office, the office vernacular of "men" and "girls" had to change to accommodate a "girl agent" and I heard a child call his mother to the phone, "Mom, it's the insurance man, and he's a girl." We've come a long way, baby.

[Holly Gault]

My boobs are big, my upper arms brush against them -- there is corresponding wear on the upper arms.

I didn't add my congratulations to you and Jeff for the great biopsy report. This is wonderful news.

[Melissa]

That is super news, Nancy! I love bathrobes too, recently realized must start wearing the lightweight one because, it's spring!

[Karen in Ohio]

Oh, yes, pockets. Doesn't everyone have tissues in every righthand pocket of every garment with pockets they own? I take comfort in knowing that I can fish around in any pocket with my right hand and find something with which to ease my seasonal allergies. Robes, in particular!

Amy, I love your story about your first robe.

When my youngest daughter was in about the third grade she, Holly, had Molly the American Girl doll from the 1940's. I made them identical pj's and robes for Christmas. Which Holly was able to wear for maybe a month, and then she grew out of it. Molly's still fits.

[Debby]

I do love bathrobes, although I am definitely not a Sunday wearer of one... usually trying to get to choir practice before church! LOL!!

I do love my current cold-weather robe... an oh so soft and cuddly light blue with Eeyore on it.

Most excellent news on Jeff's results!! Yeah!

[Marcia in OK]

Congratulations on the medical reports.

I have robes I wear regularly in cooler weather. Our winter thermostat is set at 65. Our summer thermostat is set at 80. The robe is retired to the closet and I have a lovely collection of men's XL T-shirts that I've purchased for myself that are put into service. They hang to my knees.

[marie]

Wardrobe items speak volumes.
I have a long tunic sweater that I have worn for years. The other day when I wore the long red tunic I noticed that it suddenly was longer.
"Look, honey" I said. "I must have lost weight because soon the sweater will be down to my knees!"
Husband to me: "Mmm, maybe you're just shrinking."
And that is why I sometimes call him the Terminator instead of the Motivator!
Gotta get out of this lucky robe!

[gaylin in vancouver]

I had a shorty summer robe when I was younger that I realized at one point I had grown and it was extremely short, it was turfed. Then I had a thick orange (yes, my favourite colour) robe that I had for years until I realized that I had also outgrown it . . . maybe not in a good way! Now I have a light yellow thick terry robe that I only wear when I am really cold. I have also been known to wake up cold at night and zip out of bed, grab it off the hanger and throw it over top the blankets to add some warmth.
I have never stayed in a hotel room with robes, one day!

Whew, happy news about Jeff. Nancy, I know you both must have done the bathrobe dance of happiness when you found out.

[bea]

Talk about burying the lead! Glad to hear the good news about Jeff's biopsy.

I love robes, as does my husband. I scored a beautiful fleece robe for him for Christmas last year, and it was his constant companion through the long and hard winter of 2009-2010. Over sweats, jeans, flannel pants--whatever. The robe was a layer of warmth. We spent most of January fine-tuning our layering techniques; his top layer was always the robe (except for shoveling).

[Hank Phillippi Ryan]

LOVE the hotel robes!

And Mary, I didn't know that about yoru career--may I use you for a source for a possible character at some point??

And Nancy--photos of me and Jonathan in our robies? Ahhh....not on this planet, sister.

[marie]

When I stayed home with my first girl I got on the sewing bandwagon.
I had no idea what I was doing but I ended up at the fabric store and miraculously a quilted yardage of fabric caught my eye and the birth of my daughter's robe began.
Luckily all I had to do was cut the robe from the pattern. The material was a beautiful pink circus motif with balloons, elephants etc.
After the robe was sewn I cut out one of the elephant designs and attached it as a pocket.
Lace edging was placed at the neckline and pocket. My daughter wore it for quite a while and I was so proud that I could actually make something for her.

[storyteller Mary]

Hank, anytime, anything you need!
Nancy, I'm trying to think of robe-tie replacements . . . best idea so far is an old necktie . . .

[storyteller Mary]

oh, and my favorite almost-worn-out now nightgown was from a resale shop. It's amazing what you can find!

Gaylin, does "turfed" mean thrown away?

[JanetLynn13]

Congratulations on Jeff's news!

I love the idea of my big fluffy white cotton bathrobe, but I am always warm and never actually want to wear it.

[Becky Hutchison]

Awesome news for Jeff! Congrats!

Like Hank, my hubby and I received bathrobes for a wedding present from a wonderful friend of mine. They are white, with our initials on them in blue, and are the thickest, warmest, best robes ever! And we still use them (me more than he) almost 22 years later.

[nancy martin]

Speaking of tissues in pockets, did anyone see Paula Deen on the Today show yesterday? I heard she tucked a used tissue into Al Roker's pocket. I looked for a clip on the show's website, but gave up. (Who is their web master? Yeesh!)

[Pam aka SisterZip]

That is such great news, Nancy. I had been wondering how things were going.

I have had various robes over the years. The one I brought into my marriage was a hunter green, belted thin velour that had worn through on the seat. I prefer the belted kind of robe, but one year I saw the perfect zip up robe at Famous Barr (now Macy's). It was winter white with a small amount of quilting on the bodice (from the shoulder to about where my boobs used to start). It was fleece & just beautiful. It pleased Dear Hubby to no end because he couldn't stand that green monstrosity (his words, not mine). When the zipper broke on the white one (it cost more to fix than to buy a new one), I did without a robe for a long time. I started with the 'pre'menopause at age 33 and was too hot to wear much of anything over my night clothes. Barely needed that, much to Dear Hubby's delight. When the insurance bastards finally agreed I needed a hysterectomy (at age 46 in 2002), I had to find a robe that wouldn't have me running for an ice bath. It was a thin cotton, lace around the cuffs, neckline, and at the empire bodice. White with huge blue cabbage roses. I got it more as a joke, but it was comfortable. I ended up staying in the hospital for 9 days and was just horrified that I had to walk up & down the halls in that thing. When I finally got home, it was the only thing I could wear. It became a 'comfort' thing. Whenever I was sick or just down, the robe came on and it made me feel better. Unfortunately that poor thing just fell apart recently and I spent the bucks to get a Land's End jersy robe. Dear Hubby hates it, but he doesn't have to wear it. Warm & comfortable, can't ask for more.

[Rita Scott]

Congrats on the good news! And the great sale price!
I had a long black velvet robe for close to 30 yrs (till it finally fell apart!) When I went shopping for a new robe, all I could find was pastel colors in seminole prints, not what I wanted at all. Then I found a long fake fur one in leopard print! It was so ridiculous, we cracked up laughing & bought it!
But Gaylin, I have thrown it on the bed on cold nights when I'm too lazy to get a quilt out of the closet! LOL!

[gaylin in vancouver]

Storyteller Mary, yes turfed means thrown out. Must be a Canadian word thing . . .

Rita, glad to know someone else does the robe as blanket thing!

Oh I forgot to agree with the whole good pocket on a robe. What use would a robe be without good pockets, especially for kleenex. Actually I use cotton hankies at home, way easier on the nose.

My mom actually has 2 robes in the closet of her spare bedroom, one for summer when I visit and one for winter! Such a nice mom.

[Kathy Sweeney]

Mazeltov on the biopsy news!!

Tip for people who order bathrobes for hotels:

There is no such thing as one size fits all. I am too round for the kids size and too short for the grown up size. I have enough trouble walking around without various terry cloth hazards fluttering about. Even when I do find one that fits, it will not stay closed over my bust and there is always something half way out. This, for some reason, acts as some kind of trigger for my husband, regardless of the time of day or the plans.

[PJ Parrish]

The sisterhood of the traveling robes!

I am also a hotel robe fan. Am sitting here in a Ramada, in fact. Nice view of Gulf but no robe. So I brought my own.

Elaine Viets told me the groddy truth about hotel room coffee makers and bedspreads (she found out working as chambermaid for her Helen books!) but I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT ROBES!

[nancy martin]

Rita in a black velvet robe! Now *that's* classy!

[Jan in Norman, OK]

My father still has a beautiful dark blue silk robe that my mother gave him for Christmas not long after they were married. The belt has about 6 inches of maroon fringe on each end, gives it just the right amount of weight to keep it neatly tied. He still wears it when he's not feeling well and doesn't want to get dressed.

By the way, my parents have been married nearly 63 years.

[Marie]

Nancy, I love Paula Dean!
I did not see her episode on the Today Show but Paula is bigger than life.
I watched her early on before she hit it big and loved her immediately.
My son-in-law loves her too because she is really is motherly and nurturing.
Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution is hitting it big too.
I love all the TV chefs. If I could turn out meals that good on my table I maybe could be revered too.

[Al_S]

Great news on the biopsy. My robe is 34 years old, I know because it was a Christmas gift from my wife's brother the first year we were married . It's terrycloth in black with gold trim and very imperious. It's in perfect shape. I don't wear it every day, but several times a month. I see no need to get a new one.

[storyteller Mary]

Gaylin, I'm with you on cloth handkerchiefs -- one of Mom's friends in assisted living pointed out to me how much gentler they would be. I found some at Vermont Country Store, and they have nightgowns and robes, too (but not cheap)
http://www.vermontcountrystore.com/browse/Home/Apparel/Womens-Sleepwear/Eileen-West/D/30002/P/1:100:1010:10240:100510?searchid=7LG1SRCH&feedid=googlesitelinks

[storyteller Mary]

. . . and you do have a very nice mom.
I have an extra robe and nightgown in the closet by the guest bath, partly for nieces, and partly in case I forget to bring in a nightgown when I use the tub . . . glass on my front door and back of the house would make it . . . interesting to have to go get one after the bath.

[Holly Gault]

One winter about five or six years ago, Costco had long cashmere robes. They were warm and light. I yearned for one, but they didn't carry the XXL size.

[nancy martin]

A cashmere robe? It would take me 5 minutes to spill hot milk on it.

[Marybeth Valentine]

OK, Nance, We've known each other since that day when we both showed up to elementary band rehearsal wearing the same dress. Luckily, it's a cool thing to do when you are 11, but I digress. I have never told you about "the bathrobe" and now, I see, it's time.
I own more bathrobes than anyone I know. There is one in every closet and hanging on the back of every door of every house, lake house and apartment that we own. My secret is out.
Here's the back story: My maternal grandmother slipped into dementia a long time before she could teach me how to cheat at cards. She wore a bathrobe like a uniform; sometimes even mid-summer under a mackinaw going up the back road in a "sundowner" visit to a long dead relative.
One day, many years later, I treated myself to a hunter green robe from Victoria's Secret. I called my sister to tell her about it. During the conversation I said, "I love this robe so much, I don't think I'll ever take it off." OMG!! At that point I realized that I had inherited "the bathrobe gene" and it was ticking away like a timebomb. My sister reminded me that when our aunt Priscilla turned 70, she "bought a bathingsuit and flew to Hawaii" This was my only hope. Maybe the "Bathing suit gene" can counteract the "bathrobe gene"
So now, just to make sure, I always wear a bathing suit UNDER my robe. I also like to wear suede high heels to complete the outfit...but that's another story.
Love your blog.
Keep reading and no one gets hurt. XXOO --mb

[mary alice at mystery lovers bookshop]

Mazel Tov.......great news.

R has an Oatmeal (when he eats that) and a Black bathrobe for the other days. He dons the robe each AM and make our breakfast and brings it to the bed. Since we got the Ipad........he no longer gets on the elevator to the lobby for his daily WTJ-----sans editorials.Who knows what the future brings?

[Laraine]

So glad for Jeff's good news!
Man, today's blog and backblogging are fine material for a sartorial novel of some sort or other. My grandfather's maroon silk/wool robe with the beautiful maroon & long-fringe tie so nicely described by someone earlier today still hangs in my closet and is still in great shape, although my grandfather died long before I was born. It is just a marvel of quality and beauty, but too itchy for me.
During a rough patch some years ago, I saved and scrimped and bought a big, fluffy, white, super-soft cotton 'spa' robe (mid-calf, belted) from Victoria's Secret for the astonishing price of $80 . . . love it, but it is subject to Nancy's rule of nice things--I spilled on it almost immediately and have unfortunately continued to do so over the years. A friend gave me a lavender 'summer-weight' robe, knee-length, belted, that is also a spilled-upon and now somewhat faded item. Both hang on my bedroom door year 'round, but I now forget to use them unless I'm having a luxuriously relaxing weekend or have company--the rest of the time, I'm in sweats or dressed for work.

[Janet]

I have a fab fleece robe I got at Target a few years ago, and I got my hubby one from LL Bean or Lands End or somewhere like that. We only get use use them for about 2 months a year, but we (and our cats) love them over our PJ's and scruffy slippers!