If you’ve ever got up in the morning, stared into your cupboard and felt somewhat overwhelmed at the prospect of choosing an outfit, you might be delighted to hear that, this summer, you need hardly get dressed at all – because the most stylish look going is, in fact, the one you slept in.

The humble nightie has been given a makeover and rebranded as on-trend daywear, with airy, cotton smocks (of the type championed on the runways by Miu Miu and Chloé) leaving the bedroom for jaunts to the pub, festivals and garden parties. The kind of styles once seen advertised at the back of knitting magazines have now gone mainstream – and far from being worn by your grandmother, are now more likely to be spotted on the likes of Alexa Chung and Bella Hadid.

“Nighties feel very nostalgic, and I think that vintage feel has really taken hold for people,” says Emily Campbell, owner and creative director of If Only If, an independent British nightie brand that has become something of an if-you-know-you-know sensation among the style set.

Campbell should be poised for her designs to sell out soon: in Lena Dunham’s new Netflix rom-com Too Much, which launches on July 10, lead actress Megan Stalter wears pieces by If Only If in nearly every episode, which will surely catapult the brand to stratospheric success.

Megan Stalter in ‘Too Much’ wears British brand If Only If, whose nostalgic nighties are set to become this summer’s cult favourite - Netflix

“The idea of seeing your designs on screen is nerve-racking, as you don’t know how they’re going to be portrayed,” says Campbell. “But I knew that with Lena, who is a devoted nightie wearer herself, that wouldn’t be a problem. I don’t know what Megan’s character will be like, but I hope that she’s everything we love in what Lena creates: an independent, flawed, wonderful and eccentric personality.”

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So enamoured was the costume team with If Only If’s designs that they asked for permission to create a tiny, dog-sized version of one of the brand’s most popular styles, the “India’ in red-and-white gingham. Both Stalter and her four-legged co-star sport their matching nighties in the promotional images for Too Much – and it’s safe to say that their double act will continue to inspire the nightie’s renaissance.

“It’s clear that this trend is an extension of the bohemian revival. In the UK, we’ve had an unusually warm summer so far and, personally, I naturally gravitate at this time of year towards more relaxed styles made from breathable fabrics like cotton and linen,” says Net-A-Porter’s fashion director, Kay Barron.

To her, it’s no surprise that the retailer has seen a 110 per cent jump in searches for cotton dresses on the platform in the past three months: “A nightie-style dress is a modern take on the timeless silk slip, and its simplicity makes it incredibly easy to style.”

A billowing nightie like this one from The White Company feels effortlessly chic at home

Of course, breezing around your house in a billowing nightie is all very well, but venturing beyond your doorstep in one feels understandably risky. After all, there’s a thin (cotton) line between sun-baked nonchalance and looking as if you’ve been caught short popping to the corner shop for a pint of milk.

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For Campbell, the secret lies in “having a commitment to the look from the start – add some good statement jewellery, and perhaps a masculine shoe like a brogue or loafer to counterbalance the ribbons and frills”. Barron agrees, and recommends “layering a nightie with an oversized denim or leather jacket, and finishing the look with a pair of boots” for a more toughened-up finish.

If you’re yet to be convinced, try experimenting with one of the many brands currently designing nighties specifically to be worn as day dresses. Daily Sleeper has a variety of breathable, linen “lounge” dresses that, with a pair of slides and some chunky gold jewellery, could be easily styled up for a barbecue.

Smock London’s loose, patterned dresses, reminiscent of vintage Laura Ashley pieces, give a nod to the trend while still providing much-needed structure. Meanwhile, many of Faune’s soft, cotton dresses, which feature delicate lace detailing and pretty pleats, include separate slip linings to protect your modesty. If Only If also sells two lengths of nude slip, so that you won’t bear all and sundry in designs that border on too sheer for everyday wear.

Smock London’s vintage‑inspired dresses offer romantic ease with enough structure to stay chic beyond the garden gate

“Nighties used to be a bit of a dirty secret – they were slightly embarrassing,” says Campbell. “Like, are we Miss Havisham? Are we Jane Austen with a candle at the window? Now, that reputation is changing, and I’m excited for nighties to have their modern moment.”

Perhaps Miss Havisham was onto something after all…

Get the ‘granny’ look...