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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that people who wear PJs outside haven't actually slept in them?

154 replies

Utterbunkum · 25/10/2023 12:10

I have seen much discussion about the public wearing of PJs and it has made me curious. I haven't worn PJs in bed apart from on very cold nights and when in someone else's house in case I need the loo in the night ( and then it's a nightshirt) since I was a child. Are people really actually sleeping in the sort of night attire some report seeing people wearing in Tesco's? I can't imagine going to bed with my DH in a big, fleecy onesie or fleece PJs.
Do a lot of people wear PJs in bed? Am I unusual?
I rather thought the modern PJ wearers were having 'duvet' days and didn't change to shop, not that they'd slept in it. I thought PJs were just the new casual, loaf around the house wear, but some posters definitely seem to think people actually sleep in them. Do they?

OP posts:
Bouncyball23 · 25/10/2023 16:58

I mean who thinks I'll just get a shower put clean pj's on and go do me weekly shop 🤔

Original poster
Utterbunkum · 25/10/2023 17:22

Bouncyball23 · 25/10/2023 16:58

I mean who thinks I'll just get a shower put clean pj's on and go do me weekly shop 🤔

Once again, I have not said anything anywhere about people purposely putting on PJs specifically to do the weekly shop. I am talking about dressing in pyjamas to slob about in the day at home, which plenty of people have said they do in pyjamas they have not slept in, then popping out to pick up a few bits in said attire.
The main point was many assume (naturally) that people wearing pyjamas out have slept in them, but they may not have. They may treat their PJs as similar to jogging bottoms and a jumper, comfortable clothing for home wear that they may not change out of to go to the shops.

OP posts:
Nopenopenopenopenopenope · 25/10/2023 17:56

I wear pyjama bottoms, pants (clean ones not the ones I've been wearing all day!) and a loose top and bralette in bed. Sometimes socks as well. I get fucking cold. The bottoms and socks usually come off before I actually sleep but they'll stay on if it's very cold.

I don't go out in my bed wear though..well, maybe just to get eggs from the little cubby next door or put the bins out but not to the shops... I'd be too cold 😂

category12 · 25/10/2023 17:59

Utterbunkum · 25/10/2023 17:22

Once again, I have not said anything anywhere about people purposely putting on PJs specifically to do the weekly shop. I am talking about dressing in pyjamas to slob about in the day at home, which plenty of people have said they do in pyjamas they have not slept in, then popping out to pick up a few bits in said attire.
The main point was many assume (naturally) that people wearing pyjamas out have slept in them, but they may not have. They may treat their PJs as similar to jogging bottoms and a jumper, comfortable clothing for home wear that they may not change out of to go to the shops.

Show quote history

What's your point tho? That we shouldn't think it's rank because it might not be rank?

Zanatdy · 25/10/2023 18:01

I always wear PJ’s in bed. I mean new partner I might sleep naked for a while but not for long

PissOffKen · 25/10/2023 18:05

i’m like you, but then I wouldn’t go further than the bin in my bed clothes anyway. I think they probably have slept in them, that’s the whole point.

LetTheBloodyDogOut · 25/10/2023 18:16

I don’t understand why other people wearing pyjamas bothers people so much. And whats he concern that they may have slept in them? For all you know, someone wearing a top and leggings or any other clothing could have slept in them. Does sleeping in clothes make them dirty? Do you have a new set of pjs every night if you wear them then?

I don’t go out in PJs or clothes I’ve slept in so I’ve no reason to defend it, I just don’t get why people get so bothered by it.

category12 · 25/10/2023 18:31

LetTheBloodyDogOut · 25/10/2023 18:16

I don’t understand why other people wearing pyjamas bothers people so much. And whats he concern that they may have slept in them? For all you know, someone wearing a top and leggings or any other clothing could have slept in them. Does sleeping in clothes make them dirty? Do you have a new set of pjs every night if you wear them then?

I don’t go out in PJs or clothes I’ve slept in so I’ve no reason to defend it, I just don’t get why people get so bothered by it.

Yes, sleeping in clothes makes them dirty. Wearing clothes makes them dirty. Humans are greasy and flaky and sweaty and oozy😁

Some people don't wear underwear with nightwear.

So, when someone's been wearing something overnight, it just seems a bit grim to me to go out in it.

Can't say it occupies my mind much day to day, but when it comes to a thread on the subject, this is what I think about it.

usernother · 25/10/2023 18:35

Yes, from what I've seen in supermarkets in the less salubrious parts of the city, they have definitely slept in them and just can't be bothered to get dressed before going shopping. Or brush their hair.

Original poster
Utterbunkum · 25/10/2023 18:37

@category12 my point is that a lot of people are bothered because it's clothes people have slept in. I wondered if that might not be the case since it seems more people are doing it. It was a light hearted question.

OP posts:
ToffeeApplesandCandyfloss · 25/10/2023 18:38

We see them in our store, more common on weekend mornings , whole family look like they've literally just got up, greasy hair and shuffling around in dirty slippers. It's gross.

LetTheBloodyDogOut · 25/10/2023 18:41

Yes, sleeping in clothes makes them dirty. Wearing clothes makes them dirty. Humans are greasy and flaky and sweaty and oozy😁

But people will be wearing clothes more than once anyway, even if it’s just things like jeans, which surely very few people wash after every wear? 😬

usernother · 25/10/2023 18:48

Utterbunkum · 25/10/2023 18:37

@category12 my point is that a lot of people are bothered because it's clothes people have slept in. I wondered if that might not be the case since it seems more people are doing it. It was a light hearted question.

I'm not bothered because they have slept in them. It irritates me because they are lazy, have no self respect and are setting a bad example to their children.

LetTheBloodyDogOut · 25/10/2023 18:51

I'm not bothered because they have slept in them. It irritates me because they are lazy, have no self respect and are setting a bad example to their children.

I know we can all be judgemental at times, but bloody hell, all that because they wore PJs outside. 😯 It’s fascinating how people think.

LetTheBloodyDogOut · 25/10/2023 18:53

shuffling around in dirty slippers

Where as shoes are sparkling clean?

usernother · 25/10/2023 18:54

LetTheBloodyDogOut · 25/10/2023 18:51

I'm not bothered because they have slept in them. It irritates me because they are lazy, have no self respect and are setting a bad example to their children.

I know we can all be judgemental at times, but bloody hell, all that because they wore PJs outside. 😯 It’s fascinating how people think.

Not just outside. In supermarkets too Grin

Bugbeau · 25/10/2023 19:00

I LOVE pjs and often put them on straight after dinner to lounge around in, but would never go out in them. I do wear them in bed, partly for warmth but also because the kids often come in for a cuddle when they wake up and it would be weird if I was naked.

category12 · 25/10/2023 19:02

LetTheBloodyDogOut · 25/10/2023 18:41

Yes, sleeping in clothes makes them dirty. Wearing clothes makes them dirty. Humans are greasy and flaky and sweaty and oozy😁

But people will be wearing clothes more than once anyway, even if it’s just things like jeans, which surely very few people wash after every wear? 😬

I think it's the length of time you're wearing them and sort of lying under covers (which god knows when they were last changed for some people), and you're drooling and sweating and possibly having sex and possibly not wearing undies - and it's a bit too much information about your homelife out there in public.😂(I am not pretending this is entirely rational on my part).

I think it's pretty normal to get up, have a shower to freshen up and stick some day-wear on. I think it's like basic standards in public life, you have a wash and then you're fit to be out and about.

Going about in your jammies during the day suggests you might not have yet bothered.

NeelyOHara1 · 25/10/2023 19:05

I think some of it is 'I'm a rebel me, signalling' with a dash of attention seeking for good measure, lol.

Original poster
Utterbunkum · 25/10/2023 19:06

usernother · 25/10/2023 18:48

I'm not bothered because they have slept in them. It irritates me because they are lazy, have no self respect and are setting a bad example to their children.

Show quote history

But I think the crux of the problem for many who see this as lazy is because they didn't get dressed. People don't see it as lazy to go to the shops in leggings and a jumper, because they don't associate those clothes with sleep. If some people treat PJs as lounge wear in the day, as some have said they do, but haven't slept in them, what's lazy about it? It's Tesco's, not the Ritz.

OP posts:
ButterMyParsnip · 25/10/2023 19:18

I sleep in pyjamas. My DH doesn't but has some that he throws on when he wakes up or in the evening before bed, and yes, he wears them to the shops occasionally. I've never worn pyjamas to the shop.

Forgottenmypasswordagain · 25/10/2023 19:49

I sleep in a nightie then change into pj's or a soft dress after I get up.

Forgottenmypasswordagain · 25/10/2023 19:53

PS. I would never go off my property wearing pj's. I'm feeling unwell most of the time, and just want to be comfortable.

Original poster
Utterbunkum · 25/10/2023 20:07

I started this thread because I have been stuck at home for over a week ill and can't focus on books, bored of TV, so started reading stuff on here. When reading a post about PJ wearers in hotels for breakfast, I thought about the fact that I don't wear PJs in bed. Since many of the comments devolved to wearing PJs in shops, I wondered how many people don't wear them in bed, but wear the as lounge wear and pop out to get supplies during a duvet day. Sort of shit you wonder about when you are bored.
I genuinely thought more people didn't wear stuff in bed, about which I appear to be wrong. I DID say about 'unless it's cold'. we have big extra blankets for the cold, or I put my dressing gown on, but I do get fleecy jammies esp.if you don't have heating, or (like us to be fair) can't afford to have it on a lot.
I, personally, haven't seen people in the supermarket in OJs, but since many posters appear to have done, I guess it's on the rise, but to be fair, I wouldn't notice. I don't think about other people's outfits when I shop, I just get in, shop and get out. I hate shopping, the last thing I am doing is worrying about other people.
It was fundamentally a light-hearted question, because I have been amused by what a big issue some make of it.
It has been interesting reading the replies. I appreciate it's probably quite high on the dumb-ometer when it comes to questions, but thanks to those who took the time to answer.

OP posts:
LetTheBloodyDogOut · 25/10/2023 20:14

(I am not pretending this is entirely rational on my part).

I think that’s it isn’t it. We have no idea if someone wearing jeans and top or dress or whatever is clean. They could have slept in their clothes and not washed their hands from the toilet, but some people would see them as cleaner than someone who is in fresh pyjamas straight out of the shower who changes their sheets twice a day. It’s not rational, but then lots of things aren’t. 😂