Any old t-shirt, sweatpants, or torn boxer shorts have been declared the favorite pajama set for sleeping or being comfortable at home. This is how men have dressed nowadays, after leaving behind their childhood football pajamas. But really, the beginnings of the pajama started in a very different way, and it has taken a turn that is totally worth evaluating and discussing how this garment is seeking to redeem itself.
The contemporary man has adopted the same behavior pattern regarding the use of pajamas: they tend to combine an old shirt with shorts. And indeed, a survey conducted in 2004 by ABC News found that only 13 percent of men wore clothing intended for resting, but even so, this percentage was declining.
What happened to Pajamas?
So, we have to start asking ourselves: What happened to pajamas? What is known about those two-piece garments that, in case you didn't know, provide endless benefits when sleeping?
Well, according to historians in the world of textile manufacturing, they assure that pajamas are not dead. Currently, somewhere in the world, pajama sets are being sold at a high price. Of course, there are also more economical options, but whether men wear them or not is another matter.
Here, a study by the pajama company Sleep Jones has revealed that only half of their customers wear their pajamas when sleeping.
“Pajamas are a fashion statement now,” say experts in fashion and design at The New School. They add that they are still part of men's wardrobes; the only difference is that these garments are more likely to be found in the closet of that upper-class citizenry, while average middle-class young people opt for the famous old shirt and boxer shorts.
Beginnings of the Pajama: How was it before?
It's funny because that's how the pajama movement started in its beginnings. Originally, pajamas come from Indian fashion. During the days of the British period, colonists observed lightweight pants without cords and agreed that they looked quite comfortable and very nice, so they took them to England with them.
Therefore, among the upper class, the pajama would be combined with a jacket to avoid wearing a nightgown.
Previously, men and women used the same thing to go to sleep. On one hand, we saw a nightgown that extended almost to the floor. Meanwhile, for the lower class, we saw the same garment, but it tended to be a little shorter since it could be the same shirt they used to go to work during the day.
Later, we would see what is known as the “dressing gown.” This set became a popular garment among the rich who frequented meeting at home with their same family and friends. 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 remained their main sleeping garment until some decades into the 20th century, as it was the warmest way to dress at home before central heating. The high collar, wide sleeves, and mid-calf or slightly longer length were the most viable option to stay warm, unlike two-piece sets. It would not be until 1920 that the pajama would open its horizons more among the main currents.
Once central heating was imposed, sleepwear suddenly took on another focus and was now seen as a fashion matter rather than practical, and designs began to reflect various trends. While at first there was much influence from Middle Eastern design, later, during the 1930s, more pajamas with a more regal look were seen, inspired especially by Russian military clothing.
1950s
By 1950, the elegant pajamas that set the trend were being replaced by garments with more comfortable and informal styles made with elastic knit fabrics on top and thinner cotton cloth pants. With this, basically, with cheaper fabrics came greater accessibility, marking the death of the nightshirt.
As time passed, not only did fabrics evolve, but also the imposed colors; striped, polka dots, and any other type of designs made their way into pajamas. Also, with the rise of radio and later television, this trend was fueled, and there was much talk about what to wear to lounge at home.
From the 70s to the 80s
In the 1970s things changed, and the resurgence of grandfather-style nightshirts and sets with shiny satin dressing gowns was witnessed. This decade also marked the curious trend of multi-use clothing that could be worn both at work and in the nightclub. Subsequently, sportswear, which was intended to be used in the gym, hit the streets, especially during the 1980s and beyond.
Dress codes had already been strongly altered, and the pajama set would become a victim. By the 1950s and 1960s, a working-class man could come home and fall into a routine quite close to that of an aristocrat, where he took off his suit and put on a more comfortable sweater before changing to go to bed.
However, as the pace of life accelerated, the popularity of wearing pajamas declined. From the 1970s and 1980s onward, it was more likely that men came home directly to put on a pair of sweatpants or shorts and had no further reason to change after that.
Now, today, a much faster lifestyle is observed, where dinner is taken in front of the television and people talk on the phone while in the bathroom, thus breaking all kinds of decorum rules.
Expert Opinion
While some experts talk about the fall of conventional norms as they are known, designers point to it as the rise of democracy. As a more open society develops and class walls crumble, along with pomp and formality.
Perhaps, then, in a time when they perceive the erosion of democracy, could pajamas return? Well, nowadays in the fashion industry, there is something called “the return of elegance,” where we see formality returning when dressing.
For years, men's fashion runways have been walked by men in hoodies and sweatpants, but as an antidote to that, some designers have chosen to go in another direction. Perhaps a future in another direction will be seen, and that more formal outfit may revive.
After this reflection, our purpose has always been that you find in our pajamas the ideal garment to be at home and to sleep. Do not hesitate, visit our website El Búho Nocturno and you will understand.