Any old T-shirt, sweatpants or torn boxer shorts have been declared the go-to pajama set for sleeping or being comfortable at home. In this way, it is how men have dressed today, after leaving behind their football pajamas as childhood. But really, pajama beginnings They started very differently really, and it has taken a turn that is totally worth evaluating and talking about how this garment is seeking to claim itself.
Contemporary men have adopted the same pattern of behavior when it comes to wearing pajamas: they tend to combine an old shirt with shorts. And it is that, a survey carried out in 2004 by ABC News found that, only, 13 percent of the men used articles of clothing destined to rest, but, even so, this percentage was in a tailspin.
And what happened to the pajamas?
So, you have to start asking yourself, what happened to the pajamas? What about those two-piece garments that, in case you didn't know, provide endless benefits at bedtime?
Well, according to historians within the world of textile manufacturing, they assure that the pijamas they are not dead. Currently, somewhere in the world, pajama sets they are being sold at a high price. Of course, there are also cheaper options, but whether men use them or not is a different matter.
Here, a study by pajama company Sleep Jones has revealed that only half of their customers wear their pajamas at bedtime.
“The pijamas they are a fashion statement now, ”say fashion and design experts at The New School. They add that they are still part of the men's wardrobe; the only difference is that these garments are more likely to be found in the closet of those upper-class citizens, while the average middle-class youth opt for the famous old shirt and boxer shorts.
Pajama Beginnings: Like it was before?
It's funny, because that's how they started the pajama move in the beginning. Pajamas originally come from Indian fashion. During the days of the British period, the colonists observed lightweight cordless pants and agreed that they looked quite comfortable and great, so they took them to England with them.
Therefore, among the upper class, pajamas would be combined with a jacket to avoid the use of a nightgown.
Previously, men and women used the same thing to go to sleep. On the one hand, we saw a nightgown that stretched almost to the floor. Meanwhile, for the lower class, we observed the same garment, but this tended to be a little shorter since, it could be the same shirt that they used to go to work during the day.
Later, we would see what is known as "the bathrobe". This set became a popular garment among the wealthy who frequented to meet their own family and friends at home. They were designed with beautiful fabrics and included intricate designs, thus becoming a status symbol throughout Europe and America.
At this point, for the lower class, the nightgown was still kept as their main nightwear, until a few decades in the 20th century, as it would be the warmest way of dressing at home, before central heating. The high neckline, wide sleeves, and medium or slightly longer shin would be the most viable option to keep warm, unlike two-piece sets. It would not be until 1920 where the pajamas would open a little more their horizons between the main currents.
Once central heating was imposed, nightwear suddenly took a different approach and, now, it was seen as a matter of fashion, instead of being practical and the designs began to reflect various trends. While there was a lot of Middle Eastern design influence on it at first, then during the 1930s we saw more regal-looking pajamas, mostly inspired by Russian military clothing.
Decade of the 50s
By 1950, the elegant pajamas that set the tone were being replaced by more comfortable and casual styles made with stretch knits on top and thinner cotton cloth pants. With this basically cheaper fabrics came greater accessibility, marking the death of the nightwear.
As time passed, not only the fabrics evolved, but also the imposed colors; stripes, polka dots and any other type of designs made their way into pajamas. Also, with the rise of radio and then television, this trend was fueled and there was a lot of talk about what to wear to laze around at home.
From the 70s to the 80s
Things turned around in the 1970s and saw the resurgence of grandfather-style nightgowns and sparkly satin robe ensembles. This decade also marked the curious trend of multipurpose clothing that could be used both at work and at the disco. Next, sportswear emerged, those that were meant to be worn in the gym, hit the streets, especially during the 1980s and beyond.
The dress code had already been heavily altered and the pajama set would become a victim. By 1950 and 1960, a working-class man could come home and fall into a routine quite close to that of an aristocrat, in which he took off his suit and put on a more comfortable sweater, before changing to bed. .
However, as the pace of life accelerated, the popularity of wearing pajamas was on the decline. From the 1970s and 1980s onwards, men were more likely to go straight home to put on a pair of sweatpants or shorts and had no more reason to change after that.
Nowadays, a much more accelerated lifestyle is observed, where dinner is eaten in front of the television and talking on the phone while in the bathroom, thus breaking all kinds of rules of decorum.
Expert opinion
While some experts talk about the fall of conventional norms that are known, designers point to it as the rise of democracy. As a more open society develops and the walls of class collapse, in the mix of pomp and formality.
Perhaps, then, in an age where they perceive the erosion of democracy, could pajamas return? Well, nowadays within the fashion industry, there is something called "the return of elegance", where we see how formality returns when dressing.
For years, the menswear runways have been walked by men in hoodies and sweatpants, but as an antidote to that, some designers have chosen to go the other way. Perhaps a future is seen in another direction and that more formal outfit may revive.