The Review Connection | Review: Elizabeth Cotton

Elizabeth Cotton

Luxurious Egyptian Cotton Pajamas Made for a Lady

Elizabeth Cotton is a luxury pajama and sleepwear line that is unlike any other on the market. A style that is simple yet elegant, Elizabeth Cotton pajamas have been featured in numerous magazines as well as in Oprah’s “O List.” Not to mention, there is an entire Royal family (whom shall not be named) who wears their pajamas. Their pajama sets are made with all natural fibers and only 100% cotton or 100% cashmere for each item in their collection. The goal behind Elizabeth Cotton is to “create the perfect pair of pajamas” with as much care going into the selection of each fabric as well as the workmanship going into each piece. Given that they are an apparel brand, there is a focus on fashion as well, but quality is more of an emphasis here than elsewhere. While Elizabeth Cotton is not the least expensive pajamas on the market, they are likely to become your favorite pajamas as you will wear them for years.

The story behind Elizabeth Cotton started in December 2004 when Elizabeth was shopping for pajamas to wear to her Mother-in-Law’s house for Christmas. Since she wanted something just a bit nicer than what she owned and lived in Manhattan, she figured she would be able to find something amongst all the high-end lingerie stores. Unfortunately, Elizabeth did not find anything she absolutely loved, and being crunched on time and somewhat desperate, she splurged more than normal. Having worked in the retail and fashion industry for six years, she was very knowledgeable about fabric quality and garment construction. With her experience, the biggest thing she noticed while shopping was that if she was willing to spend over $150 on an item intended to make her look sexy, there were plenty of designer lines using the finest French silks and laces that were well constructed to cater to that niche. However, at the same price point, there were no options for women who wanted luxurious pajamas that appealed to her, and were something comfortable and conservative enough to be worn around the house instead of just in the bedroom.

In short, she felt that the world of sleepwear and lingerie apparel using the most beautiful fabrics were only catered towards those who wanted to look good for a man, while assuming that women purely shopping for themselves would be unwilling to pay for the same quality and workmanship. Elizabeth says, “For some reason this really irritated me, and I couldn't get it out of my head that this was the kind of business that I would be fairly qualified to start.” After that, she researched the opportunity for two months, quit her full-time job and switched to working as a freelancer so that she would have more time to devote to starting her company. Elizabeth majored in Child Development at Cornell University, but also took a fair number of courses in Textiles & Apparel and Fine Arts. In December 2005, Elizabeth Cotton was first shipped to stores and in June 2006, she was busy enough to end her freelance work and employ herself full-time.

Elizabeth Cotton Our Editor’s Pick is the Egyptian Cotton Cropped Pajamas because this classic Egyptian cotton pajama set is perfect for women with petite frames as they fit perfectly without requiring alternations. This set features three-quarter-length sleeves and a slightly cropped pant with a traditional notched collar and button-front styling. Petites have a hard time finding pajamas that fit perfectly as the pant is often too long and top too wide. This is a must-have as no hemming or alterations are needed and can be thrown on instantly with a perfect fit. Made of 100% cotton with a 280 thread count. Elizabeth has always had a creative side as she loves drawing and painting. In grade school, her 7th grade teacher often reprimanded Elizabeth for drawing clothes during class rather than taking notes, but one day she pulled her aside afterschool and gave her a huge stack of “W” magazines that she had collected. “I will never forget how excited I was to look through them, I poured over every issue she gave me until they fell apart,” Elizabeth shares. Currently, she is the mother of three so her creative outlet is mostly confined to just her work hours but in the future, she would love to take a painting course again once she has the time.

Elizabeth Cotton We also adore the Liberty of London Cotton Pajamas as they are characterized by its soft, crisp feel and sophisticated prints. Available in eight different delightfully colorful and pretty prints, Liberty Fabric has been England's most revered designer of printed fabrics since 1873. Featured here is the Kensington Gardens print, which displays an array of coral, yellow, marigold flowers against a soft aqua background. Reminiscent of the feminine allure with a touch of playfulness, this print could easily transport you to the Royal Kensington Gardens in London. This pajama set is simple yet luxurious, and will continue to look lovely after years of wearing and washing. Made of 100% Cotton with 240 thread count.

Elizabeth Cotton Among their newest collection, Elizabeth’s personal favorite is the new Swiss Cotton Shirred Chemise and Gown. As they are known for their pajamas which have always been the core of their business, Elizabeth is really excited about their new knit collection. “We have had customers buy one item from this group and then come back and buy their size in every color. People really like them and that makes me really happy,” she shares. This simple, classic gown is made from delightfully soft mercerized Swiss cotton in a fluid, interlock knit. This is a refined basic with a touch of shirring at the bust to add detail and charm. With adjustable straps, this chemise gown is great for maximum comfort while its below the knee length is appropriate for wearing around the house or in front of children.

Elizabeth is the sole creator of Elizabeth Cotton and aptly named her line after her first and middle name while Cotton is also her mother’s maiden name. Her line introduces new collections twice a year. In her travels abroad, Elizabeth learned that many European countries focus on purchasing a small number of high quality apparel pieces rather than a large number of inexpensive low quality items. She says, “clothing has become somewhat disposable at some well-known Elizabeth Cotton stores in the United States, but when you take into consideration how little wear you get out of an item that is not well made, it is not always a bargain.” Elizabeth did not forget about the men, who also deserve pajamas just as comfortable and well-made. The Men's Egyptian Cotton Pajamas were specially tailored just for men after the pajamas were featured in Oprah's "O List." An elastic waist with a drawstring closure and side pockets are features your special man will find useful while the notch collar and button-front style will keep him looking like a proper gentleman. We love the color of the Wedgewood blue with classic navy blue piping. 100% Cotton with 280 thread count.

As for growth, Elizabeth admits that she likes being a small company that focuses on a few products. Like with any business, she wants it to grow but not at the expense of growing too quickly or veering off course. “I am focused on continuing to do what we do well, and while we will continue to slowly grow the collection I do not have goals of becoming a business so large that we would need to have cubicles or a human resources department,” she says. Elizabeth is just fine with keeping it successfully small and simple. In terms of inspiration, she has always found Ralph Lauren very appealing as she interned there in college. She recalls how friendly the designer was when she would see him in the hallway as he would always smile and say hello. His office décor was gorgeous and right in the middle of the very formal lobby was a huge bowl of M&M’s. That, among other things about the company made Elizabeth like the designer a great deal.

Elizabeth Cotton is available online at their website, elizabethcotton.com as well as at many independent boutiques in the United States, European Union, and Canada. Their biggest wholesale customer is Neiman Marcus, whom have been ordering from them since May 2006 and carries Elizabeth Cotton in every single one of their stores. Visit her online store today and introduce yourself to her gorgeous collection of luxury pajamas...you will love them!

www.elizabethcotton.com

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