I suspect I accidentally clicked on an ad or sponsored post for sleepwear the other day as now my feeds (well, Facebook and Instagram) are full of ads for nighties and pyjamas.
Pretty floral and pastelly things seem to be ‘in’ again with kimonos or similar draped over the top. Bring back the vintage silk wraps with feathers and fluffy stilettos a-la- Doris Day, Grace Kelly et al I say.
Actually I don’t. The only time I care about pyjamas is in winter when I LOVE my flanellette PJs. And it’s even better if they’re age-inappropriate and cute.
I have one pair of summer PJs but mostly tend to just wear shorts and tshirts, which course that saves dressing during the day!
But I did get tempted by a cute little set the other day before I pondered the practicalities of frills and flounces.
Which brings me to my point. Thank god, you say.
I. Don’t. Get. Nighties.
How can one wear a dress to bed? Doesn’t it end up around your waist or (worse still) neck, slowly choking the life out of you?
I’m bad enough with overly-loose pants that get twisted around me as I sleep and I have to do something akin to a plank or push-up to twist the waistband back to where it belongs. Let alone dress that has yards of excess material to deal with.
Having said all of that, I used to wear nighties. Back in the day. As a kid. I think I even wore long nighties in winter. When they were a thing.
Of course I realise the debate should be launched into the public sphere so sides can be taken and gauntlets thrown.
So, where do you stand… nighties or pjs? And remember I’m a fragile thing and easily shocked 😳 so if you say neither I’ll assume you’ll offer another alternative rather than NOTHING AT ALL!
Linking up with Denyse Whelan Blogs today.
* Pictured ad from Facebook. Or Instagram. Or both.Â
December 6, 2021
Great debate topic, Deb.
I’m a PJ girl myself. But I do own a couple of nighties which I wear every now and then for good measure.
When we are doing big longdistance hikes (Camino), I shower and put on my fresh clothes right before bed. Then I am ready to get up and go in the morning without delay. I love that!
December 7, 2021
Ah yes… I can recall going to bed partially dressed for early morning exercise (so I was less likely to miss it) once upon a time. Even better if the mornings are cold!
December 6, 2021
I have pj pants for in the winter, & team them with a t-shirt. I can’t wear them to bed though. I’m going to shock you with my glamour right now, so be prepared – I wear a Bintang singlet to bed. I have a single set of jammies for if I’m away anywhere that jammies might be needed.
December 7, 2021
I actually dislike having bare legs in bed – my knees did into each other or something so I much prefer winter when I can wear long pants to bed.
I’ve never been a naked sleeper. I think I feel too self-conscious or something. (Even though I’ve almost always lived alone!)
December 6, 2021
I enjoyed your topic for debate Deb and look forward to the responses! I’m a flannelette PJ girl during winter, it gets pretty cold down here and then a two piece PJ set for summer – usually shorts and a top. Only often do I wear a nightie just for a change! I love the ones you featured here but my first thought was would I have to iron the frills and flounces and if so then no way Jose! I do sucked into looking at cute sets from time to time but tend to stick my tried and trusties.
December 7, 2021
I could imagine flouncing around my house in these ones – if they made them big and loose enough – but yes… not sure of the practicalities of wearing them to bed. But I definitely wouldn’t iron them.
I got two new dresses on sale this past week and my mother commented that they both need ironing. I’m not sure I even HAVE an iron, so that won’t be happening.
December 7, 2021
Mothers and their irons! My mum went on a world tour visiting friends and relatives and ended up ironing her way around the world, it helps that she likes ironing and feels like she’s being useful. But I only iron when necessary!
December 11, 2021
Mum doesn’t iron much anymore but seems to save it up when she has some to do in bulk.
December 6, 2021
Sorry to shock you but I haven’t worn a stitch since I was about 12yo. I get too hot, too twisted. I do own a nightie for times when I go away, but it’s really only to slip on if I have to get up in the night – don’t want to frighten anyone on my way to the loo 😀
December 7, 2021
I just can’t imagine sleeping naked but not sure why that is…. I like being enclosed or something I think. I don’t even like not having a sheet over me when I’m in bed.
December 6, 2021
Deb I seem to remember that when I was a teenager I had a set very similar to the one in the photo. I love putting my PJs on early to lounge about in. But I’m sorry to have to shock you. In Bed? Well I’ll leave that to your imagination and it’s not pretty!
December 7, 2021
Ha! I had a ‘baby doll’ set (is that what they were called?) when I was in my later years of high school. They were tshirt material though so the bloomers were probably more like loose knickers that anything fancy. I was super skinny at the time so probably felt lean enough to wear them…
December 6, 2021
Even in a quite chilly and not-insulated house, I prefer a nightgown to PJs. I tend to get very warm during the night, so I want to wear something but it needs to be something light. So a nightgown is perfect. It happens though, that I put on a long-sleeved top as well if it’s cold. If I’m somewhere really cold, I do love PJs though – when I was in my 20s I was in Italy as an au-pair, and went with some friends to a cabin somewhere in the mountains in December. It was the coldest I’ve ever experienced! I remember sleeping with a woollen jumper and even hat!
December 7, 2021
Oh yes, it doesn’t get very cold here but I have a ‘spencer’ (not sure if that’s the spelling) that I wear under my PJs to bed if it’s chilly. I’m definitely not a dressing gown person either.
December 6, 2021
The days of sleeping buck naked are behind me – somewhere along the line I started to throw on a nightie – pj’s always separate in the middle on me and give me a cold mid-section, or the legs ride up and I’m trying to push them down with the opposite foot. I like a bit of a sleeve to stop my shoulder getting cold and enough length that it doesn’t ride up – so the longer length tee-shirt types are my favourites – preferably with a sassy comment on the front.
December 7, 2021
I’m with you on the sassy comment (or cut pic etc). I have some bedtime singlets but also like something over my shoulders so usually wear tshirts – even if I’ve been wearing a singlet around the house to stay cool.
December 7, 2021
i’m a wear nothing but Chanel No. 5 person (not really because that stinks but Marilyn said it – or Liz Taylor, I forget?). However I have Fleecey PJs for evenings in winter….the sexy or cute things would look laughable on me.
December 7, 2021
I’m sure they wouldn’t look laughable Lydia but I know what you mean. I’d feel uncomfortable in anything silky or lacy. Just not me.
December 7, 2021
Hi Deb you didn’t offer ‘nothing’ as an option ha! ha! I prefer pj’s and nighties just get all caught up especially the way I toss and turn. I’m not really a fan of those shorty pj’s you’ve shown in the image. They look like bathers from the 1930s LOL 🙂 Enjoy your week.
December 7, 2021
They do look like those bathers Sue! By the time I go to bed I’ve usually got dinner stains down my shirt (dried in the time since I’ve eaten) and had the tshirt so long it’s got holes in it. And my shorts are usually old ‘house’ shorts which probably should have been thrown out!
December 7, 2021
I love a good PJ sitch in winter but I have to say, nighties are my go-to! I used to go to boarding school where the matron was a big advocate of nighties (sans undies) because she said it was and I quote “very important for everything to breathe.” And here I am heeding her advice all these years later! Sorry if that’s TMI but you did ask! LOL!
December 11, 2021
I get the ‘breathing’ thing which is probably why I like loose PJs!
December 8, 2021
Yes to the ads once you click…and you get more.
I loved “baby doll” PJs or “shortie” PJs as a kid.
I can share that I like nighties. But practical ones …not frilly nor long and I have two versions: sleeveless and short sleeved. All from Sussan and they last (no ironing) and they do not wrap around me. They are like a short (knee length) casual dress. I cannot do long PJs’: I like cooler legs and even cool arms in bed….so yep that’s me: team nightie. I literally had to purchase a lot of new ones when I had lost a lot of weight and best and less no longer had the ones I did. But going to hospital it was better for me to at least feel comfy like home. I am not a flannelette person at all. Hub is, and one reason we sleep separately. Totally different thermostats!!
Great to catch up with your blog post after linking it to #LifeThisWeek on Denyse Whelan Blogs. Next week, hard to believe, is the 2nd last Monday link up for 2021.
Hope to see you then! I will be sharing my snaps. Denyse.
December 11, 2021
Ah yes, you’ve reminded me of the whole hospital PJ/nightie thing. I’ve had a few stays now and always ponder whether to take real PJs or lounge-wear that I can easily roam the halls in without feeling weird. (Cos no dressing gown…)