Five years ago the thought of fronting up to a fashion event in my PJs would have filled me with horror, but this year I'm slipping out of the house in them at every opportunity. And I'm not alone. 

Pyjama dressing is having a major fashion moment, with Prada, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana and Stella McCartney among the luxury labels offering chic silk ensembles. Also delivering a stylish twist on sleepwear are Australian brands Masini & Chern, Chelsea De Luca, Romance Was Born and the aptly named In Bed.

Australia's most anticipated fashion soiree of the year, the Hermès On A Summer Day party in Sydney, is always a sumptuous blend of VIPs, French champagne and fine food. This time round, the French luxury house held the event at Carriageworks, trucking in 350 tonnes of sand to create a retro-style surf club set.

I'm used to frocking up in evening gowns to do it justice, but this year I pulled on my pyjamas. A pair of teal and gold silk rococo print pyjamas by Sydney label Romance Was Born, to be precise. 

I was not alone. The event was a veritable pyjama party, with Harper's Bazaar fashion director Naomi Smith, Brisbane designer Chelsea De Luca and Russh editor Jess Blanch among the guests who turned up in their PJs.

The occasional fashion-forward man is also embracing pyjama dressing. Romance Was Born designer Luke Sales wore a pair to the David Jones collections launch in February, and my husband loves wearing my RWB pair as a thoroughly unisex outfit.

Tricks to nail trend

But if you want to ensure you look more Prada than Peter Alexander, there's a few tricks to carrying off the pyjama dressing trend in style.

First, choose pyjamas in a heavy silk or linen rather than anything see-through or flimsy, and look for a set with piping and cuffs to add extra finesse. Opt for darker tones such as navy, bottle green or burgundy, or choose a vibrant jewel tone for the ultimate sleepwear statement.

Wear pyjamas belted for evening with heels and a clutch, or try them with slides and a trenchcoat for daytime.

Pyjamas look good on all body types. They deliver comfort in spades and are a dream to pack for travel. The beauty of pyjama sets is also their versatility. You can wear silk print pyjama pants with a simple top and accessories or a pyjama top as you would a silk shirt – with structured wide-leg pants or cropped flared jeans.

Or if pyjamas aren't your thing, why not consider a kimono-style robe?

De Luca launched a beautiful range of printed loungewear in January, with a highlight being a gorgeous jewel-toned print kimono that can be worn belted as a dress or loose over a camisole and wide-legged trousers. Akira Isogawa reliably gives good kimono: I recently wore one of his to a friend's wedding.

The ultimate joy of pyjama dressing? At the end of the night you can simply step out of your shoes and hop into bed.