Liberty is the place to go for deliciously decadent loungewear. Clare Coulson reports

Few women would contemplate spending vast amounts of money on exquisite slips in which to flounce around the house. If Liberty's latest range of nighties is representative of a wider trend, though, the clothes we choose for lounging and sleeping are certainly prettier than ever.

Silk wrap-top, £79; matching knickers, £29, both by Margo, tel: 020 8968 9845. Marabou shrug, £72, Jigsaw. Seed pearl pendant necklace, £95, by Alexis Bitter at Fenwick

The store has recently launched a homewear collection, which includes items such as sage-green, washed-silk dressing gowns edged with antique-looking braid that Virginia Woolf might have worn while contemplating her next masterpiece. There are also dusty-pink chiffon slips that tie at the neck with ribbon, dainty silk camisoles with crocheted shoulder straps, and all sorts of fabulously decadent pyjamas.

The department's walls are strewn with cosy - and pricy - throws and wraps, and the tables are covered with all manner of other lounging essentials, including cashmere bedsocks, embroidered silk eye masks, pashmina-covered cushions and silk slippers.

Silk floral-print, tie-front tunic, £110; silk slip, £79, both Alice and Astrid, tel: 020 7985 0888

These old-fashioned, feminine slips and camisoles can be paired with this winter's chunky, oversized cardigans; think of the wispy tops and cosy cardigans designed by Phoebe Philo for this autumn's Chloé collection. Young designers have also picked up on the popularity of indulgent loungewear. Margo, which showed for the first time at London Fashion Week this autumn, adorned its stand with Thirties-inspired, wispy chiffon negligees and dainty silk slips embroidered with duck and horse motifs.

Deborah Sim, formerly of Coco de Mer, has just founded Frankly Darling, a small collection of luxurious slips, cotton smocked tops and knickers decorated with blue birds. And Maisie & Lilly - another loungewear label that specialises in silk vests, shorts and slips - has just launched at Selfridges.

Chiffon slip with ribbon trim, £140; Liberty Home collection

The Notting Hill-based label Alice & Astrid, which began in 1998 by producing hand-finished, feminine pieces, has floral-print chemises with ribbon ties, dainty French knickers, diaphanous knitted wraps and silk slips and camisoles in lilac, black and lemon.

At Jigsaw, meanwhile, there are marabou shrugs in soft, sage-green, ivory, mauve and pink. Topshop's Unique collection has silk showgirl knickers in khaki or gold, which are delicate little shorts that are decorated with neat rows of silk-covered buttons. Gap has silk camisole and knicker sets in soft brown or primrose yellow, as well as lace-trimmed camisoles and pyjama bottoms.

Lace-trim camisole, £20; pyjama bottoms, £28, both by Gap

Of course, with all this glamour, what you really need is somewhere dramatic to relax. Liberty's homewear range also includes spectacular beds: a stunning rosewood bateau lit, or a sumptuous, black lacquered, Chinoiserie Louis XV style should fit the bill.