Shirley 96273 Bow Tie-Front Stretch Lace & Mesh Babydoll

What the Shirley 96273 babydoll is

The Shirley 96273 is a strapless babydoll nightdress from Shirley of Hollywood, built from a floral stretch lace bodice band, a satin ribbon tie at the under-bust line and a loose, sheer mesh skirt that flares out below it. The colourway is a soft pale pink throughout, set against a deeper rose-pink satin ribbon that reads as the single strongest line in the whole garment. It is a short, lightweight piece in the classic babydoll shape rather than a full-length gown, and it sits in our Babydolls range.

Style number 96273 is the maker's own reference for this design. If you have seen Shirley of Hollywood numbers quoted on a packing slip or a boutique tag before, that is the same system — a five-digit style code that identifies one specific design rather than a size or a colour.

Fabric and construction

Three distinct materials do three distinct jobs in this babydoll, and all three are clearly visible in the product photograph.

• Floral stretch lace bodice. The top section is a band of scalloped floral lace with a rose-and-leaf pattern running through it. It is openwork and semi-sheer, and it stretches, which is what lets a strapless bodice stay in position without any hardware showing at the neckline. The scalloped edge finishes the top border of the garment — there is no separate binding or trim across it.
• Satin ribbon tie. A wide satin ribbon in a deeper rose pink runs around the body directly under the lace band and knots into a bow at centre front. The tails of the bow hang loose down the front of the skirt rather than being stitched flat, so the bow is a real tie you fasten yourself, not a decorative applique.
• Sheer mesh skirt. Below the ribbon, the skirt is a fine, soft mesh cut with enough width to swing and drape. It falls in an A-line from the ribbon seam and finishes with a narrow rolled hem. The mesh is light enough to move with you and sheer enough to read as lingerie rather than as a slip dress.

The seam line sits high, directly beneath the bust, which is the detail that defines a babydoll as a shape: the garment is fitted across the top and then released into a loose skirt, rather than following the waist and hip. That construction is why a babydoll skirt skims the midsection instead of tracing it, and why a piece like this packs down to almost nothing in a drawer or a weekend bag.

How to wear it

Put the babydoll on, settle the lace band straight across the bust, then tie the satin ribbon last. Tying the ribbon last is the part worth knowing: the knot is what sets how closely the garment sits under the bust and how much the mesh skirt flares, so a tighter bow gives a more defined empire line and a looser one lets the whole piece hang softer. Centre the bow before you pull it tight, or the tails end up off to one side.

Choose your size from the options on this product page before adding it to your basket. Because the bodice is stretch lace and the skirt is unfitted, the ribbon does most of the adjusting once you have the right size in hand.

Caring for lace and mesh

Handle this as a delicate: fine lace and sheer mesh are the two fabrics most easily damaged by a machine cycle. Hand washing in cool water with a mild detergent, then pressing the water out between a towel rather than wringing, is the approach that keeps a scalloped lace edge intact and stops mesh from snagging or pulling. Hang or lay flat to dry away from direct heat. Untie the satin ribbon and let it dry loose so it does not set with a crease across the knot. Do not bleach, and keep the lace away from anything with a hook or a rough seam while it is stored.

Who it is for

This is a straightforward, feminine babydoll for adults 18 and over who want something light and sheer rather than structured. The pink-on-pink palette with a contrast ribbon is soft rather than severe, so it suits anyone who finds black lace too hard-edged, and the bow-front detail gives it obvious gift appeal for an anniversary, a birthday or a honeymoon. It also works as warm-weather sleepwear, simply because there is so little fabric to it. Browse more pieces in the same fabric family in our Mesh lingerie section, or see the wider Lingerie range.

Good to know

• Lace and mesh are delicate by nature. Expect to look after this piece the way you would a stocking, not a T-shirt.
• The bodice is semi-sheer openwork lace and the skirt is sheer mesh, so this is lingerie and sleepwear, not outerwear.
• If you have a known sensitivity to synthetic lace or elastic, check how the fabric sits against your skin before wearing it for a full night.
• Intended for adults 18 and over. Keep out of reach of children.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Shirley 96273 babydoll see-through?

Yes — both fabrics in this babydoll are sheer. The floral stretch lace bodice is semi-sheer openwork and the mesh skirt below the ribbon is a fine transparent net, so the piece is made as lingerie rather than as a cover-up.

Does the bow at the front actually tie?

Yes, the satin ribbon is a functioning tie that you fasten yourself. It wraps around the body directly under the lace bodice and knots into a bow at centre front, with the tails left hanging loose over the mesh skirt rather than stitched down.

Is this babydoll strapless?

Yes, it is fully strapless. The garment finishes in a straight scalloped lace edge across the top with no shoulder straps or halter tie, and the stretch in the lace bodice is what holds it in position.

How should I wash a stretch lace and mesh babydoll?

Hand wash it in cool water with a mild detergent and let it air dry. Machine agitation is what snags mesh and tears scalloped lace edges, so skip the washer and the tumble dryer, do not wring the garment out, and untie the satin ribbon so it dries without a crease set into the knot.

How is this order packaged for delivery?

Every order leaves in plain, unmarked outer packaging. Nothing on the outside names the contents, pictures the garment or identifies the category of store it came from.

Product information compiled and reviewed by the Gear Isle product team. We transcribe product specifications directly from manufacturer packaging. Found an error? Tell us.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Adult novelty device for adults 18 and over. Consult a licensed healthcare professional before use, especially if you have a medical condition. Keep out of reach of children.