In a world that often demands resilience, women deserve clothing that honours both their strength and their softness. The Florence Nightgown was designed with this in mind — a piece that strikes a balance between playfulness, dignity, and timeless elegance.
When I first sat down to design Florence, I thought about all the women I knew who wanted something simple yet not plain. Something feminine but not fragile. Something that could move with them across seasons of life — from everyday evenings at home to moments when they needed comfort most. Florence became my answer to that.
Why Florence Matters
Florence is not just a nightgown. To me, it’s a kind of love letter to femininity in its most authentic form. I wanted to design a piece that carried small, thoughtful details without tipping into fussiness.
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Frilled sleeves bring a romantic detail that softens the silhouette. They are a nod to traditional femininity, but reimagined in a way that feels modern and wearable.
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Sheer cotton fabric adds delicacy while remaining functional. Breathable, soft, and natural against the skin, it makes Florence just as practical as it is beautiful.
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An elastic neckline allows styling versatility — you can wear it softly draped for quiet evenings or off the shoulder for a more playful, romantic mood.
Florence is available in sizes 4–34, because beauty and elegance should never stop at an arbitrary number. That was always at the core of Hank & Hera: creating nightwear that is design-first and inclusive always.
And of course, Florence was launched in pale pink and pale blue and now also comes in two deeply considered colours: classic black and timeless navy.
When to Wear Florence
One of the most important questions I ask when designing is: How will this fit into her real life?
Florence was created to move across the stages of life and the rhythms of every day:
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Hospital stays & recovery: Florence’s natural cotton is gentle against sensitive skin and healing bodies. Many women have told me it was the first thing they reached for after surgery, childbirth, or treatment — not only because it was comfortable, but because it gave them dignity when they needed it most.
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Every day evenings: We often underestimate the power of what we wear at home. Slipping into Florence at the end of the day is an act of intention — choosing elegance for yourself, even when no one else will see.
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Hosting visitors: One of the most practical joys of Florence is that you don’t need to change when someone stops by. Whether you’re welcoming a neighbour for tea or saying hello to family, Florence allows you to feel beautiful, covered, and confident.
Florence is, in many ways, about dissolving the line between the private and the public. It allows you to feel prepared and dignified without giving up the comfort of softness.
The Story Behind Florence
Every gown at Hank & Hera is named after a woman of strength, grace, or personal meaning. Florence was inspired by two threads that came together in my mind.
First, Florence Nightingale — a symbol of care, resilience, and feminine leadership. She transformed the way the world thought about nursing and the importance of comfort in healing. That connection to recovery and care felt like an important anchor for this design.
Second, Florence as a city. Known for the way it balances beauty with strength — marble statues standing tall, delicate lacework in shop windows, women moving with an ease that felt timeless. It's a place where elegance feels natural, not forced.
I wanted Florence the nightgown to carry both of those legacies: the practicality of care, and the effortless elegance of timeless design.
Why Florence Resonates with Women
Since Florence was released, I’ve heard story after story from women about how it made them feel. Some customers have said it’s the first nightgown they’ve owned in years. Others told me they never thought they could find something size-inclusive that still felt so unapologetically feminine.
One woman shared with me that she wore Florence during her hospital recovery. She said, “It was the first time I felt like myself again — not a patient, not just a body healing, but a woman with dignity.”
Another told me she bought it simply for evenings at home: “When I put Florence on, I feel seen — by myself, if no one else.”
That is why Florence matters. It’s not just about fabric and frills; it’s about restoring the connection between how you feel and what you wear.
Natural Fabrics, Honest Comfort
Part of what makes Florence special is what you don’t see at first glance: the fibres. At Hank & Hera, we work exclusively with natural fabrics, including cotton, linen, and silk. For Florence, I chose cotton voile because it offers the perfect balance of breathability and softness that women need throughout various stages of life.
Synthetic blends often feel stifling against the skin, and they rarely last. Cotton, by contrast, moves with your body, allows air to circulate, and softens with every wash. It’s a fabric that honours longevity and comfort, not just appearance.
For me, choosing cotton voile for Florence was about ensuring it could be there for you — whether through countless washes during recovery, or years of quiet evenings at home.
Florence Across Life’s Stages
One of my greatest joys in hearing from customers is seeing how Florence adapts to different lives:
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Pregnancy & Postpartum: The elastic neckline makes Florence nursing-friendly, while the soft cotton is gentle against skin that’s more sensitive during these times. Many women have told me they’ve packed it in their hospital bags.
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Perimenopause & Menopause: Breathable fabrics become even more important in these stages. Florence’s cotton supports comfort through night sweats and changing temperatures.
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Travel: Florence is light enough to pack and versatile enough to wear in a hotel room, on a balcony with morning coffee, or even styled with a robe when you’re away from home.
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Everyday Rituals: Ultimately, Florence is about the everyday. Journaling. Reading. Watching the evening light shift across your room. These are the rituals where Florence shines — because it reminds you that even in the smallest moments, you deserve beauty.
When I see Florence worn by women of different ages, sizes, and stories, I feel the full circle of why I began Hank & Hera. I wanted women to feel included. I wanted them to feel beautiful without compromise. I wanted nightwear that honoured both strength and softness.
Florence is all of that. It’s a nightgown that adapts to your life, honours your body, and quietly says: You are seen, you are worthy, and you deserve beauty in your everyday.
