It is said our choice reflects our personality. One piece. Long sleeved. Over-sized. The fabric speaks to our love of the soft and cozy. Or the sleek and sophisticated.
We are living in the golden age of pajamas—an analysis made well before the pandemic, but most certainly fueled by a change in lifestyle for a significant portion of the population. Fashion runways are filled with designer pj’s proving they are far more than sleepwear.
Distinctive nighttime wear has been in use since the 17th century. Innovation in design and fabric, as well as references in popular culture has resulted in spikes of popularity at different points in history. When actress Bette Davis wore a man’s pajama top in a 1942 film, stores sold out of the item the next morning. Coco Chanel designed pajamas for women to wear inside and outdoors which were considered controversial initially, but as those in high society wore them on their travels they gained in popularity. A resort in the French Riviera earned the nickname Pyjamapolis when beach pajamas were a must-have. By the end of the 1990’s pajamas worn in public were a fashion choice or simply accepted as convenient.
It has opened the door to some problems though. In 2007 United Arab Emirates had to establish a dress code forbidding government employees from wearing pajamas to work. By 2010 a chain of supermarkets in the United Kingdom began banning customers from shopping in pj’s.
Enter the stay-at-home orders in 2020 and for many people pajamas became the wardrobe item of choice. And while an event like a pajama day can boost school spirit, the wearing of pajamas everyday during remote learning caused an Illinois school district to decree students should follow the same dress code they normally would.
However, as adults continued working from home, pajamas became such a popular wardrobe choice it inspired widely shared sentiments like “Time to change out of my day pajamas into my night pajamas” as people traded in suits and dresses and showed at-home preference for comfy pj’s over restrictive jeans or slouchy sweats.
Pajamas, or pyjamas in some circles, experienced a spike in quarantine-inspired purchases, including a 143% increase in one four-week period in 2020. Market research suggests sales will double over the next five years since people are now willing to spend more money on their pajamas and they want more variety in their closet.
Embellishments such as feathers, fringe, sequins and gems have been showing up on runways for many years, with accessories such as beaded bags and matching hairbands completing the look. They became something of a splurge purchase as many sought more creative designs and luxurious fabrics. One designer said convincing people to spend upwards of $200 on a pair of pajamas a few years ago was a hard sell. Suddenly, people were willing to spend more—much, much more.
A British brand, who boasts the Queen as a client, is selling printed silk pajamas for $1,300. Or perhaps a 3-piece set at $3,400 is more to your liking. A silk caftan for night or day comes in much cheaper at $720. An Italian fashion house is offering a handcrafted satin sleepshirt for $574, or silk boxers for $495. If you want to go even more high end there is the crepe de chine pajama shirt for $2,900. You can match those with bottoms for another $2,900.
Budget is not the only thing to be considered when making a purchase. A clinical psychologist studied what our choice of sleepwear might reveal about our personality. Buttoned flannel pj’s suggest the wearer values health and hygiene and has strong organizational skills, while satin shorts are chosen by those who are ambitious goal-setters. Fleece jammies are associated with family, loyalty and integrity, while those seeking out baby doll pajamas are self-confident and enjoy being the centre of attention. Lingerie is hanging in the closets of those who seek glamour and wish to be admired, while those wearing oversized t-shirts are free spirits who live life on their own terms. As for those sleeping in nothing at all? Well, apparently they are content, confident people who are regarded as go-getters.
But whether you like footed jammies, cotton night gowns or satin sleep sets, and whether you paid designer dollars or were happy with bargain basement prices, what matters most is what these centuries-old garments represent. While I like the occasional pajama day as much as anyone, the very best part of putting on any type of pajama is knowing you have a warm bed to climb into at night. That’s my outlook.
