Hey there.
Let’s talk pajamas for a second. The ones I’ve been wearing on repeat for the past several months — the ones that genuinely make me feel like a put-together human being at 7am, which if you saw my hair in the morning, is no small feat.
I’ve been testing LyreBird Silky Pajama Set — long sleeve pajama shirt and pants — from Anthropologie’s exclusive sleepwear line through ten full washes. Not ten gentle hand washes in a silk bag over a candlelit bathroom sink. Ten actual washes. Warm cycle, then into the dryer. Because I have children and a life and approximately one square foot to hang dry anything.
Here’s everything I know.
What is LyreBird?
LyreBird is Anthropologie’s in-house sleepwear and intimates line — meaning you’re only going to find their offering at Anthro, either in store or online. Fun fact, the brand takes its name from the Australian lyrebird, a bird known for adapting beautifully to its surroundings. My thoughts? The sleepwear reflects that — versatile, considered, and designed to move with you. I never find myself fighting them in the middle of the night.
But what really sets LyreBird apart from every other Anthropologie pajama line I’ve tried is the prints. Each piece is designed in collaboration with independent artists — illustrators and surface designers whose work you can actually look up and follow.
The pants and long sleeve set I’ve been sleeping in has a pretty boring basic print (brown stripes in varying widths) compared to most, but I love it. That being said, I do think I’ll run for one of the prints by artists like Emily Taylor, (think nostalgic botanicals) or Olivia Wendel who boasts playful illustrations. I adore these prints that have such a point of view and a person behind them.
The fabric — let’s be honest
LyreBird’s ‘silky’ fabric is 100% viscose. I want to be upfront about that because viscose is not a natural fiber, and if you run warm at night — or sleep next to someone who is essentially a furnace, which I do — you’ll probably notice it.
That said, the fabric feels incredible on your skin. Soft, smooth, almost silky. There’s a reason people reach for viscose in loungewear — it has a beautiful drape and a luxurious hand-feel that cotton simply doesn’t replicate. And one surprising benefit? It comes out of the dryer or out of bed in the morning looking pretty good. A little wrinkled, yes, but not iron-required wrinkled. I’ll take a little rumpled post sleep with no problem.
The fit — a note for the tall and the short
Full disclosure: I’m on the shorter side. When these arrived, I immediately thought they were going to be too long — and they were, initially. After the first wash they shrunk just enough to sit beautifully with a nice break over my foot. Not highwater. Not dragging. Just right.
However — and I say this with a little bit of height envy — if you are tall, size up or ensure you’re following those hand wash instructions. The shrinkage on first wash is real and this set will definitely not rebound. Fun fact: viscose shrinks significantly, often by 2–8% or more, especially with the first wash and I found that was true with these. What worked perfectly for my 5’something frame could leave a taller woman with pajamas that hit awkwardly on their ankle or look like a highwater. But if that’s what you’re looking for, you do you lady!
The waistband is forgiving and the overall fit is relaxed without being shapeless. Watch out for that tie on the waistband though, it’ll slip right out if you forget to knot the ends…because, I would absolutely never do that…
All in all though, I do feel pulled together the moment I put them on, which for morning-Carli is a genuine luxury.
10 washes in — the honest durability report
Here’s where I have to be transparent with you, because this is BABBLE and that’s how we roll.
These pajamas ask to be hand washed and line dried. Yep. Deal breaker for me because I am a real person with real laundry habits, and if a pajama set can only survive with white glove care, they won’t last long in my rotation. So! I tested them on a normal wash/dry cycle for all you ladies out there who know you’re going to do the exact same thing.
Ten washes in — warm cycle, machine dried — there are definitely some frays and stray threads. Not fall-apart fraying. But enough that I noticed, and enough that I’m watching it.
The fraying is a yellow flag, not a red one. At ten washes they still look and feel great when they come out of the dryer. But I’ll be watching closely at wash twenty. And maybe on my next try I will hand wash and let you know my thoughts…but the likelihood of that is slim.
The case for LyreBird
Here’s the thing about these pajamas that keeps me reaching for them: I feel genuinely chic in them. Not just comfortable — chic. The kind of chic where I could answer the door, make school lunches, or honestly, host a Sunday brunch without changing out of them and feel completely appropriate.
That is not something I can say about most pajamas I own. And for BABBLE — where the bedroom isn’t just where you sleep but where you live — that matters enormously.
The prints are joyful and considered. The fit is flattering without trying too hard. The price point — typically $68–$128 per set — is accessible enough that you don’t need to agonize over the purchase the way you might over more premium lounge/pajama brands.
If you’re looking for a place to start your pajama drawer upgrade without committing to the full splurge, LyreBird is a great way to go. And to plug a few of my favorite prints:
multi-floral | soft sea | hope olson butterfly print
The honest summary
The good: Comfortable, chic, beautiful prints, relaxed, accessible price point
The watch-out fors: 100% viscose runs warm for hot sleepers, shrinks on first wash (if you’re not following their suggested handling because you’re lazy like me), slight fraying at ten warm-cycle washes — hand wash if longevity matters to you.
The verdict: A yes — with some caveats (gah! Darn you hand wash only)
Until I babble again, Carli
P.S. These pajamas are chic enough that I’ve genuinely considered hosting a Sunday brunch in them. That post is coming. Stay tuned.
