When I grew up there were clear lines of distinction between what was considered day wear (CLOTHES) and night wear (PJ's). Each stayed within it's respective boundary, night wear was worn only around the house and to bed, it was that simple. I've witnessed, in the last ten years, those lines grow fuzzy if not disappear entirely. I've seen my share of pajama-clad shoppers in the grocery store and similarly attired travelers in the airport. I have to admit that I honestly don't understand this behavior and am puzzled by the fact that it has become so widely acceptable to wear pajamas out in public that no one thinks twice about it anymore, or so I thought! Sunday afternoon we stopped at the local department store, my mother- in-law went in one direction and my husband in another, I waited at the top of the escalator for both of them to return. This mannequin, dressed in coral, waited beside me; her dress is made of the finest, softest, cotton knit. As I waited, I was privileged to hear almost every person's opinion of this particular dress as they stepped off the escalator, I quickly jotted down these quotes:~"Is that a dress or a nightgown?"
~"Yuck, I wouldn't be caught dead in that outside of my bedroom!"
~"Are we in the lingerie section?"
~"I'd sleep in that!"
I realized two things as I heard these comments: one, I wasn't alone in my "lines if distinction" thinking and two, everyone who made comments such as these was my age or older.
A young girl and her mother stepped off the escalator just as I was digesting this information, she was probably thirteen years old. "Mom", she said "look at this beautiful dress, I love the color and the style and the accessories and wouldn't it look cute with wedge sandals"? She and her mother stopped and really examined the dress. She didn't think it looked like a nightgown at all! But, then, why would she? She's grown up in a pajama wearing society where it's difficult, if not impossible, to differentiate between day and night!
My daughter told me the other day that she and my grandson were staying in and have "jammie day". I smiled. At least she's teaching him that there are lines of distinction. That's good, it's confusing enough out there in the world anymore, I'm happy he'll learn that there are, indeed, boundaries for his pajamas!
Life is Good!
24 comments:
I'm a shining example of the fuzzy lines with my occassional sneaky early morning zip to the store. Guilty as charged. But I don't buy PJ's and I don't wear these dresses. Worn shirts become PJ's so who can really tell? Right?
At the school where I work, we have kids show up from time to time in jamas and it appalls me.
It seems the older I get, the less I understand!
I can't stand the -pj wearing in public- thing. I even went to the pastor of our church about youth group kids wearing pj's to church after Sat night functions. Somethings just get me and that was one, I just have been chalking it up to being in my 40's. Maybe it isn't?
Hey, Mrs. G, I need a Hahns fix---plllleeeeaseeeee????? :D
Amen! Sometimes I am not real sure what to wear. I know in college sometimes they wear what I consider PJs to class! We always dressed up...Oh well I guess times have really changed! Have a great day and don't go out in your PJs. :-)
PJ's are acceptable for a cookie party in the condo after a day of skiing...as long as they match right?
When I was single, when I went out, I still dressed modestly. I could not understand my friend, she would wear a really pretty bra, with nothing but an open jacket over it! I never understood! She thought it was normal! I still will not go out in public with sweat pants on! I know that is socially acceptable to most, but I never have! My older sister wears house shoes to work, I tell her all the time, how wrong that is, she just laughs at me. Go figure!
I guess I am just old fashioned but I can say that my 23 year old daughter would not go out in public in her pjs. I have seen it done and I just think they might be to lazy to change into street clothes. I don't find it acceptable at all. There is a place for everything and pjs belong at home.
The only place I'll let myself be seen in PJ's outside of my home is on quilt retreats, and only then because I know you all so well and we aren't venturing beyond the walls of the sewing room. Yeesh, never in public! I must not get out much...I didn't even know it was an issue!
Not all kids think it is ok....story about great nephews....A few short years ago, my neice made each of her sons a new pair of jammies, the youngest was so very proud of his and wanted to show them to his Grannie and Aunt ( Me, we were visiting), so his Mom told him he could wear them to Grannies, but he said "NO, Mommie, someone might see me. They only had to drive about a mile, but he wouldn't wear them, instead, he brought them with him and went to a bedroom and changed so we could see what they looked like on. He is still very modest,I can not imagine him going anywhere without his "clothes" an and his PANTS where they are supposed to be. NO UNDIES SHOWING!
It must be a worldwide thing. Young ones do it here too, & it horrifies me when my granddaughter comes up to visit wearing her pyjama pants! Yet she claims she doesnt like or approve of, jeans!!
what would you have said the night that i went to dinner with mr. g and gma in my pj's.....
you were out of town...
but i had come straight from school....on pj day!
i would totally wear pj pants and a hoodie EVERYDAY.....if that was acceptable to the rest of the world......
and if i had ducks on my pj pants, it would make it THAT much better!
A lot of people wear pajamas around here as well - it seems to be localized to particular areas of town or particular segments of people though. I hardly ever even go downstairs of my own house in pajamas, let alone outside!
I think it all started when a bank said they were opening early on Saturdays and you could come in your pajamas if you wanted. Scouts and other groups had pajama days, and I guess if you wore your pajamas all around town all day, you get used to doing it. To each his own.
Believe it or not they actually had to amend the HS dress code to say no PJ's at school!
Don't forget the slippers! I do not go out in public unless I am dressed. No jammies or sweats for this gal. I seem to only own jeans so that is what I wear out.
I don't understand this crazy world anymore. Everything that is right is wrong and everything that is wrong is right. Doesn't it talk about this in the Bible and end times?? Scary??
IMHO there is room for improvement in fashion and behavior, starting with dress "codes", i.e. common sense might help. And perhaps combs and brushes. These days it's difficult to find clothing that looks pretty enough to spend money on, but that's only my opinion and I don't speak for anyone else.
The style that you showed as a PJ's in public would not be "bad."
I've seen OBVIOUS pj bottoms out...
Come to think about it, I'd rather see that than undies...
I don't know how people go out of the house in their PJ's. I've seen them in the malls and on the streets!
Have a great weekend!
Zlaty
I have seen my daughter (23 now) go out to walmart or target many nights in her pj's and have just given up fussing at her about it - so I am with you there. I think it all gets started in High School when they have pj day at school. At least her pj's that she wears out are those flannel plaid pants and a tshirt. Working at a college, it is very common to see the kids going to morning classes in their pj's.
I hear you loud and clear! Whenever I travel, I notice women in flannel pj bottoms on the plane. I would die before I'd wear my jammies out of the house! I guess comfort is the main thing these days. The times they are a-changing.....
I have to confess: I'm guilty. I just bought a cute summer sundress but it was next to the lingerie department! (or maybe in?) I was planning on wearing it with a t-shirt underneath. My son was with me-he thought it was a dress too! LOL
Found my way over to your blog from Cootie Bug 2. This post really speaks for me too! I only wear my pjs in the house. And I hate going shopping these days because of the clothing offerings. I'm an older lady who does not want a plunging neckline, gathering in the bust area, extremely form fitting, or to wear prints from the 70's and 80's. That pretty much eliminates everything on the market these days....so I've pulled out some of my older patterns, and I'm going to dust off my garment sewing skills.
I'll be bookmarking and visiting your blog! Thanks for this post that shows me I'm not alone in my thinking.
Oh my and the lacy tight fitting camisoles! That was definately honeymoon wear in my days!
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