Boxers and a T-shirt, this is how most men have dressed for bed since they got rid of pajamas childhood football, and more never changed again. From time to time, if it's cold enough, you can wear a pair of thin cotton pants.
From what you can tell, it seems to be the same behavior with all the younger generation of the current generation: an old T-shirt paired with a pair of shorts or pants. A 2004 survey by ABC News found that only 13 percent of men wore pajamas, and with a clear downward trend. So, the question should be asked, what happened to the pajamas? What about those matching two-piece formal suits that evoke images of Dick Van Dyke or Desi Arnaz?
According to design historians, it can be pointed out that pajamas are definitely not dead. Somewhere, right now, high-priced pajama sets must be selling to someone. There are even some more affordable versions, but whether or not today's men use them is a separate question. Even, according to a study by the company pajamas Sleep Jones has admitted that only half of his clients wear their pajamas to bed.
"Pajamas are more of a fashion statement now," say fashion and design historians at The New School. They add that they are still part of what is considered "a gentleman's wardrobe," explaining that it is more likely that These garments are found in the closets of upper-class citizens, while the average middle-class youth simply opt for boxers and a shirt.
Interestingly, this is exactly how they started the pijamas. Originally, the pijamas, or pajamas, as they are written outside the United States, they came from Indian fashion. During the days of the British Empire, colonists looked at these lightweight drawstring pants and thought they looked great, so they brought them back to England with them. Soon, among the upper class, the pajamas would be paired with a matching jacket to replace the nightgown.
Before the Pijama, men and women essentially used the same thing to go to bed. This outfit was a long shirt that stretched almost to the ground. For the lower classes, the shirt could have been a bit shorter, as it might as well have been the same shirt they worked with during the day.
Soon these pajamas novelty would be combined with the pre-existing robe, better known as a bathrobe. This ensemble became the popular garment among the wealthy when visiting family or close friends at home. They were made of beautiful fabrics and had intricate designs, becoming a status symbol throughout Europe and America.
For the lower class, the nightwear would persist as the main nightwear until a few decades into the 20th century, as it would remain the warmest way of dressing in a home, predating central heating. With a high collar, wide sleeves, and a medium or longer shin, the nightshirt was warmer than a two-piece pajamas. It wouldn't be until the 1920s, in fact, that pajamas would start to make their way into the mainstream.
Once the central heating hit, all of a sudden, nightwear became fashionable instead of practical. The designs reflected various fashion trends throughout the decades. At first, there was "a lot of design influence from the East." Then during the 1930s there would be more regal looking pajamas as they were inspired by Russian military clothing.
The Decade of the 50s.
In the 1950s, the pijamas Elegant were being replaced by more comfortable and informal style garments made of stretch knits on the top and thin cotton cloth pants. Basically, with cheaper fabrics came greater accessibility, and in the 1950s, the nightwear was long dead.
As fabrics evolved, so would colors, with stripes, polka dots, and any other variety of designs that made their way into pajamas. The growth of radio and then television also played a role, much more influencing of, how and what to wear to lounging around the house became more common.
The 70s came on the way to the 80s
In the 1970s, however, things changed. There was a resurgence of grandfather-style nightgowns and pajama sets with sparkly satin robes.This decade also saw the birth of multipurpose clothing during the nightclub era, clothing that could be worn to work and home began to appear. discotheque. Sportswear soon emerged, where clothing intended for the gym began to be worn in public, especially during the 1980s and beyond.
Along with this break in dress rules, the pajama set would become a victim. During the 1950s and 1960s, a working-class man could come home and fall into a routine similar to that of an aristocrat, in which he took off his suit and put on a sweater, before changing once more to the bed. However, as the pace of life accelerated, the popularity of pajamas eroded. From the 1970s and 1980s onwards, men are more likely to come home and don a pair of sweatpants or shorts. There weren't many reasons to change back after that. Nowadays, you eat dinner in front of the television and talk on the phone while in the bathroom, which breaks all sorts of rules of propriety.
Designers Opinion
While some may see this as a break from the rules, design experts point out that a sexier way to put it is that it reflects the rise of democracy. As conversion to a more open society increases and class walls crumble, pomp and formality accompany it. Examples are billionaires like Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg, who would never be known to be rich if their faces were not known.
Perhaps, then, at a time when many believe that democracy is eroding, could they go back the pijamas? Well maybe. Today, there is something that the fashion industry calls the "return of elegance", where formality is returning. For years, menswear runways have been passed by men in hoodies and sweatpants, but as an antidote to that, some designers have gone the other way. There is nothing else you can do with sweatpants. The pendulum may be seen to swing in the other direction, and more formal attire may return.
So while our future may soon seem like an Orwellian nightmare, we can at least have a cute pajamas to try to sleep.