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Original poster

When did it become acceptable to go out in pyjamas?

254 replies

Usernamebuffering · 23/02/2023 09:21

For context I live opposite a school and my work desk is at the window that looks out to the school, it means I can indulge in a bit of casual people watching while daydreaming and pretending to work.

I've noticed a large number of mums (never dad's weirdly) who turn up in pyjamas, big puffy coat, and slip on shoes or slippers for the 9am school run. I know everyone's situation is different and there are many many reasons why an individual finds themselves in this situation but I'm more interested in when did we become ok with it? I don't remember any parents in pyjamas when I was at school nor when my children (youngest is 16) were at primary school so is this a new phenomena?

OP posts:
Snowpixi · 23/02/2023 21:34

The patterns or lack there of on loungewear!

Mothership4two · 23/02/2023 21:47

I remember hearing about this on a radio programme about 10 years ago so not a new issue. I have never seen it in RL though other than a few years ago at a private holiday park where a small group of women would be out and about in their pj's during the day and where I took DS on an alpaca walk there and two mums did it in pj's at 11am. I suppose if everything is covered I don't have a problem with it but it's not something I would dream of doing.

When I was little my DM occasionally wore her pj bottoms and slippers dropping me off at school (but not getting out of the car) until she broke down about a mile from home and had to walk back to lots of toots and feeling very embarrassed. Never did it again!

Polarbearyfairy · 23/02/2023 21:48

Liverpool 1999 when I was at uni was when I first saw people off to the shop in PJs. They were ahead of their time.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

16 year olds
L1ttledrummergirl · 23/02/2023 21:49

Never, unless there is some sort of disaster and you need to leave post haste.

Skifun · 23/02/2023 21:54

We had a z list celebrity at our school who used to turn up in pjs (sort of loungewear but more pj-esque), fake tan newly applied so still in that dark patchy stage, hair rollers in and a mug of coffee in her hand. She was way to busy to get dressed for the school run

DanseAvecLesLoup · 23/02/2023 22:19

QuertyGirl · 23/02/2023 18:09

@DanseAvecLesLoup

Why do you think about us at all?

Generally I don't, but if I see someone down the shop looking like they have just rolled out of bed I think it's a bit grim.

MibsXX · 23/02/2023 22:46

Some of us can't afford to run the washing machine more than once a week, so maybe it's a way of cutting down on laundry? IN any case does it really truly matter to anyone what anyone else wears.. so long as they are actually clothed in something?

Pseudonamed · 23/02/2023 23:22

I have just realised reading this thread that the reason (aside from it looks bad) that I would have an aversion to leaving the house in pjs is because I would have to go out of my way to put them on first. I sleep with just knickers on so it is nothing for me to get up and assemble clothes to put on even if no time for a shower. It would be fairly ridiculous to roll out of bed and put pjs on first thing.

JunkinDonuts · 24/02/2023 00:04

When I see people outside in their nightwear, I always think their homes are scruffy with nicotine stained wallpaper and falling apart mismatched furniture that stinks of old chip fat.
Because if they can't be arsed to get dressed then they can't be arsed with housework.

Ndhdiwntbsivnwg · 24/02/2023 02:13

Who cares? Truly.
Like people can wear whatever they want. If a mum/dad would turn up in a full face makeup and “not appropriate” (jokes) clothes, that would be the issue

magicthree · 24/02/2023 03:04

QuertyGirl · 23/02/2023 13:01

There is no difference and it doesn't matter in the slightest.

It does however, give slightly inadequate people an opportunity to feel superior.

Show quote history

Oh don't be so ridiculous! I am not "inadequate" in the slightest, nor do I feel superior, but for crying out loud. Going out in PJs, wandering around in public in them (very different from wearing them in a car only) has never been acceptable behaviour. Fortunately where I live - not the UK - it doesn't happen too often. I'm all for casual clothing, but this is just a step too far.

wildchild554 · 24/02/2023 03:29

I can understand in certain instances, for instance, in the last couple of months of pregnancy I was wearing pyjama bottoms and slippers to run errands as my feet and legs were swollen so only thing I could get on and didn't want to buy new for the last couple months. Had I had one child in school at that point would have been doing the school run like this. Also in winter I wear a onesie under my clothes to stop the draft from getting to my back I have OA and it really flairs it up but this method works well however some people can tell I have one underneath with the hood that comes up over my coat, I have had someone made a comment before and just said why I do it. Also, my mum was a nurse, she'd come home from a night shift, get showered and in pyjamas, then take me to school, go home and go to bed, it saved time for her so she could get some extra sleep before picking me up after school. But sometimes I don't get why especially those with nighties, dressing gown and slippers and in the depths of winter they must be frozen but I withhold judgment as I don't know their circumstances, for all I know they might have just come off a long night shift like my mum used to.

FurtivePedestrians · 24/02/2023 03:41

I think it's worth keeping the distinction between private life and public life.

Lucylock · 24/02/2023 04:32

I see people do this. It's almost always young women. I suspect that they are attention seeking.

Original poster
Usernamebuffering · 24/02/2023 08:04

PurpleButterflyWings · 23/02/2023 20:39

Oh come off it @Usernamebuffering ! I don't believe you have never seen/heard of this before. As pps have said, it's just an excuse to have a pop at people you class as beneath you. Hmm

Your comment says more about you than it does me. No one is beneath any one.

All I asked was when did this become ok because it never used to be ok, pyjamas were for bedtime only and not worn outside the house. Clearly there has been a cultural shift or acceptability and people have stopped either feeling judged or shamed for it. The direction this thread has gone is not my responsibility.

OP posts:
QuertyGirl · 24/02/2023 08:06

Lucylock · 24/02/2023 04:32

I see people do this. It's almost always young women. I suspect that they are attention seeking.

I'm not young 😁

WFHbore2023 · 24/02/2023 08:10

It's not a class thing - it's just a personal standards thing.

I had a very much working class upbringing, and my mum never dropped me off in her pjs, and I wouldn't even think of doing it myself.

KnittingOnEmpty · 24/02/2023 08:20

It's if they wear them all day then get back in bed in same PJ's.... That's yucky.

I saw a couple of women in Tesco's once in dressing gowns and slippers. Grubby.
In my view it's on a par with blokes not wearing tops in summer. Equally yuk.

River82 · 24/02/2023 08:32

FurtivePedestrians · 24/02/2023 03:41

I think it's worth keeping the distinction between private life and public life.

This is the main point people are missing. It's like people who choose to play music on their mobile speakers on the bus or train. Or over sharing on social media.

DanseAvecLesLoup · 24/02/2023 08:35

Ndhdiwntbsivnwg · 24/02/2023 02:13

Who cares? Truly.
Like people can wear whatever they want. If a mum/dad would turn up in a full face makeup and “not appropriate” (jokes) clothes, that would be the issue

I don't think people 'care' insofar as its keeping people awake at night. It is just one of those unavoidable observations when out and about.

I seem to recall 'school PJs' became a thing a few years back where some mums put on 'special' jazzed up PJs to impress their friends at the gates. I just thought it was odd, if you have time to change out of your bedtime PJs in order to put on your school run PJs then surely you could put on some normal clothes?

FijiSea · 24/02/2023 08:35

L1ttledrummergirl · 23/02/2023 21:49

Never, unless there is some sort of disaster and you need to leave post haste.

This

Phos · 24/02/2023 08:49

I remember first seeing people out in pyjamas when I was at Uni so mid 2000s? For reference, this was at supermarkets and things that weren't necessarily in the student area, in fact the only students I saw "out" in pyjamas were ones who were in catered halls and went across for breakfast in pyjamas, but that's not really out and about.

I wouldn't say it's globally acceptable, as many responses on here would testify but I think some places more acceptable than others. I can think of some schools I've driven past where there are more than a few parents dropping off in PJs and others where I've never seen a single one.

butterfliedtwo · 24/02/2023 09:16

River82 · 24/02/2023 08:32

This is the main point people are missing. It's like people who choose to play music on their mobile speakers on the bus or train. Or over sharing on social media.

Show quote history

Yes, agree with this.

Heyhoitsme · 24/02/2023 09:17

I've just spent the weekend in a nice hotel. There was a very stylish wedding. In the evening the women were still in their nice outfits but were wearing slippers or barefoot. I found it quite liberating that they'd ditched the shoes. As a child I remember staying in a guest house when a man came down for breakfast wearing his striped pyjamas. There were gasps of disapproval. The landlady sent him away to get dressed!

QuertyGirl · 24/02/2023 09:27

I was at uni 20 years ago and we used to go the in-house pub in our dressing gowns and slippers 😎