Over the last century, women’s lives have been transformed by innovation. Corsets were replaced by bras in 1917. Sanitary napkins with metal clips evolved into tampons by 1931. Athletic wear, maternity clothing, nursing bras, and shapewear have all been redesigned to support women’s bodies through change, movement, and healing.

And yet, during some of the most physically and emotionally vulnerable moments of a woman’s life — surgery, hospitalization, cancer treatment, chemotherapy, long-term care, and hospice — she is handed a garment that predates nearly all of this progress.

The hospital gown.

Thin. Open-backed. Exposing. Dehumanizing.

It is one of the last widely used medical garments that has remained virtually unchanged for more than a century — and women are the ones paying the price.

The Hospital Gown Was Designed in 1910 — and Never Truly Reimagined

The modern hospital gown was standardized in the early 1900s and widely adopted around 1910, originally designed to prioritize bedpan access and clinical efficiency, not patient dignity or emotional wellbeing. That design has persisted for more than 100 years with only minimal variation (patient gown history).

While medicine has advanced dramatically — from minimally invasive surgery to personalized cancer treatment — the clothing patients wear during recovery has not.

As a result, women recovering from many more than the following list that I quickly brainstormed are still expected to heal in garments designed for a completely different era of healthcare.

• Mastectomies and lumpectomies

• Hysterectomies and gynecologic surgery

• C-sections and abdominal surgery

• Chemotherapy and radiation treatment

• Extended hospital stays or hospice care

Ironically, the corset didn’t survive the 20th century. The hospital gown did.

Treating the Disease While Ignoring the Woman

Modern healthcare systems are highly effective at treating illness. They are far less effective at supporting the human experience of recovery.

For women, clothing is not superficial — it is deeply connected to identity, autonomy, and emotional regulation. Yet in hospitals and recovery settings, patients are often asked to surrender those things the moment they change into a gown.

Traditional hospital gowns often:

• Leave patients exposed during exams and transport

• Fail to accommodate surgical drains, ports, or IV access discreetly

• Undermine body confidence after breast surgery or cancer treatment

• Increase feelings of vulnerability and loss of control

When recovery wear ignores dignity, it adds emotional stress at the exact moment when the body needs calm, safety, and support.

The Science Is Clear: Clothing Impacts Healing and Wellbeing

The idea that “looking better helps you feel better” is not anecdotal — it is supported by research.

A 2020 study published in the British Journal of Health Psychology examined the psychological and emotional impact of hospital gowns on patients. The findings were striking.

The study found that wearing traditional hospital gowns significantly increased feelings of:

• Vulnerability

• Loss of control

• Emotional distress

Conversely, patients who wore their own clothing or thoughtfully designed alternatives experienced improved comfort, dignity, mobility, and overall wellbeing during hospitalization and recovery.

Key benefits identified in the research included:

• Greater comfort and familiarity

• Improved emotional wellbeing and self-esteem

• Increased mobility and physical activity

• A stronger sense of normalcy during recovery

In short: what patients wear affects how they heal.

Breast Cancer, Surgery, and the Emotional Cost of Inadequate Recovery Wear

For women undergoing breast cancer surgery, the hospital gown can feel especially devastating.

One recent cancer survivor shared: “Right after my mastectomy surgery, they gave me a thin piece of paper to put over my breasts. I was devastated — I had just had my breasts removed, and this was the best they could do.”

This moment highlights a systemic failure — not just in design, but in empathy.

After life-altering surgery, women deserve recovery clothing that acknowledges:

• Physical trauma

• Body image changes

• Emotional vulnerability

• The need for dignity and modesty

Paper coverings and open-back gowns send the opposite message.

Rethinking Comfort During Surgery Recovery and Cancer Treatment

At KickIt, we believe we are disrupting the cultural norm, and that there are three things that need to be disrupted in a woman's journey for healing from cancer and other illnesses.

• Disrupt the Universal Hospital Gown. Replace the gown with hospital wear that is functional, comfortable, and doesn't make the patient feel and look like...a patient. It’s time to challenge this culture norm and provide hospital and treatment clothing that is higher quality, stylish, specific to body types, and fit for purpose treatments.

• Disrupt the thinking that the comfort and quality of patient clothing doesn’t matter.  Research shows that social interactions can hasten the healing process and what a person wears can play a role in their comfort receiving visitors. "I need to get dressed; guests are coming over".  Or attend important events in our lives, "I want to attend my daughter's graduation, but can't find anything to accommodate my drains." Clothes matter and can be our armor.

• Disrupt the thinking of 'one size fits all'. Medical researchers are discovering that when we treat someone for their blood type, genetic composite, gender, we make medical advances. This approach should be the same for clothing, adapting to what people wear inside the hospital and out based on their condition and specific needs.

• Disrupt what we give. We are often at a loss on what to give a loved one, friend, or colleague when they tell us they've been diagnosed with cancer or other illness. During this time, it's important to show empathy. Flowers are oftentimes not permissible, food is tricky as the patient can lose their appetite or be averse to certain foods, and, finally, fragrances such as candles or lotions can cause nausea. The gift of comfort and dignity will be a winner every time. 

Wearing more specialized and tailored hospital gowns, or even one’s own clothing, during a hospital stay or after surgery can improve healing and enhance the overall patient experience and emotional wellbeing in several ways:

1. Comfort and Familiarity: Wearing familiar and comfortable clothing from home can provide a sense of security. Patients may feel more at ease in their own clothes, contributing to a positive emotional state that can benefit the healing process.

2. Improved Emotional Well-Being: Wearing personal clothing can help maintain a sense of identity and autonomy, which is particularly important in a hospital setting where patients may feel stripped of control due to their medical condition. Having the freedom to choose what they wear can uplift patients' spirits and positively influence emotional well-being.

3. Increased Mobility and Activity: The current, revealing design of hospital gowns may inhibit a patient’s willingness to be mobile. Thoughtfully designed personal clothing is typically better suited for movement and daily activities, which is essential for patients' physical rehabilitation and recovery.

4. Encouragement of Normalcy: Wearing personal clothes helps patients maintain a sense of normalcy and routine, despite being in a hospital environment. This improves the patient's mindset and supports the healing process.

Comfort during recovery is not a luxury. It is a clinical and emotional necessity.

Patients who are comfortable:

• Sleep better

• Move more

• Experience less anxiety

• Heal more effectively

Thoughtfully designed recovery wear — including modern alternatives to hospital gowns — bridges the gap between medical access and human dignity. The best hospital gowns for women should address issues critical for women navigating surgery recovery, chemotherapy, radiation, and extended healing at home.

The Best Hospital Gowns for Women

Here are some of the best hospital gowns for women designed for comfort, dignity, and functionality.

1. Hospital Gowns with Easy Medical Access

These hospital gowns with snaps feature closures along the shoulders and sides, allowing medical professionals to access IV lines, ports, and other areas without the need for patients to fully undress. This is particularly helpful for chemotherapy patients, post-mastectomy patients, and those with mobility restrictions.

Our Recommended Options:

• KickIt Hospital Gowns – Soft, breathable, and stylish hospital gowns for women specifically, with easy-access snaps from hand through collar for medical needs. Also features internal drain pockets for women needing drain management post surgery.

• Gownies Patient Hospital Gowns - Colorful, soft and features front snaps allowing for easy access for medical examinations

2. Post-Surgical Gowns with Drain Pockets

For women recovering from surgery, having a hospital gown with built-in drain pockets can make a huge difference. These gowns provide discreet and secure places to store post-surgical drains, eliminating the need to pin them to clothing or carry them separately.

Our Recommended Options:

• AnaOno’s Miena Mastectomy Recovery Robe – Designed for post-breast surgery patients, this gown includes a belt with internal pockets for drains and is made of ultra-soft fabric.

• Brobe Surgery Recovery Robe – Features 6 internal pockets for drains and a loose fit for easy movement.

3. Stylish and Feminine Hospital Gowns

Who says hospital gowns have to be dull and boring? Some brands now offer hospital gowns in stylish colors and patterns, allowing patients to maintain a sense of personal style even in the hospital.

Our Recommended Options:

• Arkeras Hospital Gowns – Are chic and feminine hospital gowns made of quality materials and feature a full length versus knee-length option

• Get Janes Hospital Patient Robe – These robes are simple and designed specifically for women

4. Hospital Pajamas with Medical Access

For those who do not necessarily need constant access to the bottom half of their body, they may opt for a pant instead of an open and drafty gown.  

Our Recommended Options:

• KickIt Hospital Pajamas  – Same soft, breathable fabric as their hospital gowns, also with easy-access snaps from hand through collar for medical needs and internal drain pockets for women needing drain management post surgery. Also feature an elastic-free adjustable waistband that can be worn high-rise or low-rise to ensure each and every patient is comfortable.

• Gownies Recovery Pajamas– These pajamas are simple and designed specifically for women post surgery.  They feature a button front open and 4 internal drain pockets.

The Future of Hospital Gowns and Recovery Wear for Women

Women’s healthcare has advanced in extraordinary ways — except in one glaring area.

What women are asked to wear during recovery still reflects a system built for efficiency, not empathy.

Reimagining hospital gowns and recovery wear is not about fashion.
It is about respect, dignity, and better healing outcomes.

After 100 years, it is time for change.