Powell Craft Ladies Cotton Nightdresses Sizing Guide

Powell Craft ladies cotton nightdresses come in a variety of styles and lengths, but they are all free size so it can be difficult to choose the right style for your size and shape. Some of the nightdresses are knee length, some are ankle length and some are just in between. Some of them fit up to chest size 48 inches but some of them are more suitable for smaller chest sizes, so we have attempted to make a short guide to the different designs available. All of the nightdresses are handmade from 100 per cent pure cotton and the majority of them are white with some kind of embroidery or lace detail as many of the designs are based on Victorian originals.

Longer Length Nighties

The longer length nightdresses are about ankle length on most ladies, although where they come to exactly depends on your height. The longest length nightie is the Vivienne, which is 49 inches (the length is measured from the neckline to the bottom of the hem).

The Vivienne is white cotton with long sleeves with delicate embroidery on them, a collar and a v-neckline finishing with large mother-of-pearl buttons down the centre, and pin tucking on the chest. It will fit a 32 to 44 inch chest.

There is the only one other Powell Craft nightdress that is 49 inches long, and that is the Prudence, a short sleeved nightdress.

The other longer length nighties are 48 or 47 inches from neckline to the bottom of the hem. These styles include the Eliza, Veronica, Emma, Jodie, Lorna, Betty, Felicity, Madeline and Jennifer.

The Veronica, Emma, Jodie, Lorna, Betty, Felicity and Jennifer all have short sleeves, while the Eliza has long sleeves and the Madeline is sleeveless with straps.

The Eliza is free fitting with a bib front opening and will fit a size 36 to 48 inches. The Madeline has vintage lace trims around a v-neckline and the waist, with a lace patchwork rose in the centre of the chest just under the v-neck. It fits a 32 to 44 inch chest.

Shorter Length Nighties

The shorter length Powell Craft nightdresses include the Maria, which is approximately knee length at 37.5 inches. It has strap sleeves and ribbon ties under the bust. It fits up to chest size 34 inches.

The Camilla and the Katherine are also approximately knee-length (or just below the knee), both being 40 inches.

The Camilla is sleeveless, white cotton with swiss dot detail and an embroidered front panel. It is made from lightweight cotton, so it's suitable for summer, and has an elasticated back. It fits from a 32 to a 38 inch chest. The Katherine has short sleeves with an embroidered yoke and hem. It will fit a 36 to 42 inch chest.

The Nora is another 40 inch length white cotton, sleeveless nightdress. It has a round neckline with rose embroidery, pearl seeding and a ribbon tie. The hem is ruffled with a ribbon trim, and it fits chest size 34 to 38 inches.

The Elizabeth is a long sleeved mid-calf length nightie at 44 inches. It has three quarter length sleeves and lace detailing on the front. It will fit a 32 to 36 inch chest.

The Juliet is another mid-calf length nightie at 44 inches. It has short elasticated puff sleeves, a round embroidered neckline and a ruffled hemline. The Joanna is also this length and both of these nightdresses fit a 32 to 42 inch chest. The Joanna has a plunging v-neckline and pretty white embroidered roses on it, and white ribbon detail under the bust, making to adjustable.

The Verity is 45 inches long, which falls just above the ankle (depending on your height of course). It has short sleeves with lace trim around the square neckline and hem, and it will fit a 32 to 38 inch chest. The Margo is the same length, with frilly cap sleeves and fits chest size 32 to 44 inches.

Nighties with Larger Chest Sizes

The Valentina nightdress is probably the largest free size nightdress in the Powell Craft range. It is oversized and floaty with mid length sleeves, a square neckline and white bird/floral embroidery around the neckline.

The Prudence is another of the larger styles, fitting up to a 50 inch chest. This white cotton nightdress has short sleeves and a square neckline, with white embroidery and a mother-of-pearl button fastening down the centre.

The Eliza will fit a 36 to 48 inch chest, and the Betty is also suitable for larger ladies, as it will fit from a 32 up to a 48 inch chest. It has short sleeves with lace and embroidered sleeves and front panel, and a mother of pearl button fastening down the centre.

The Veronica will fit a 34 to 46 inch chest. It is a sleeveless soft white cotton nightdress with pearl seeded embroidery detail and mother-of-pearl button fastening down the centre. This has a matching white cotton, pearl seed embroidered, full-length housecoat, the Samantha, which is also suitable for a 34 to 46 inch chest.

The Molly, Margo, Emma and the Jodie all fit a 32 to 44 inch chest. The Molly is cap-sleeved nightdress with delicate white rose embroidery on the bodice. The Emma is a white sleeveless nightdress with pearl seeded butterfly embroidery and fabric covered buttons. And the Jodie is white with broderie anglais trim.

The Katherine and the Sophie both fit up to a 42 inch chest, but the Sophie is also suitable for a smaller 32 inch chest and has a matching rose embroidered dressing gown, that comes in sizes small, medium and large.

Nighties with Smaller Chest Sizes

As already mentioned above the Maria is very suitable for more petite ladies as it will fit up to a 34 inch chest. It is knee length and sleeveless, with ribbon ties under the bust so it can be altered and pulled in. It has a pretty lace trims and is a slightly more flirtatious style of Powell Craft cotton nightdress.

The Elizabeth (the long sleeved, mid-calf length nightie) will fit a 32 to 36 inch chest, as will the sleeveless Felicity, which has wide embroidered straps, a square neckline and a pretty embroidered trim detail.

The sleeveless Camilla and short-sleeved Verity both fit a 32 to a 38 inch chest so they are suitable for smaller ladies, and the Nora fits a 34 to 38 inch chest.

The Lorna will fit from a 34 up to a 42 inch chest. But it has adjustable side ties to make it more fitted if required.

So there really is a style of Powell Craft ladies cotton nightdress for every shape, size and taste. All of the free size nightdresses are cleverly designed to look good on all the sizes they span but some are made for larger ladies than others, so it's worth finding out which ones are suitable for you before you buy. Some of the nightdresses also have adjustable straps, fastenings, or elastic so that they cater for a range of sizes.