What's with the infantilising of women's nightwear?

[FrickfrackFeckit]

I was just looking for a nightdress (peri menopausal and completely unable to wear pyjamas any more because I'm so bloody hot at night ) on M and S (never again). I was struck by all the Disney bloody characters? I'm not 5yrs old, I don't want to wear Disney characters. Out of interest I had a look at the men's. No Disney, no cutesie stuff, just very normal (if boring) pyjamas. So what's that all about?

Not bought anything from there for ages, did buy several Muppet t-shirts a few years ago, that'd probably be frowned upon too going by this thread but meh lol

I’m interested in what the verdict on my Cath kidston pets party print pjs would be. They’re not Disney but they’re not classy....

I'm with you OP, been trying to find some comfy but stylish adult night ware for ages! Ralph lauren do some night night shirts.

I’m interested in what the verdict on my Cath kidston pets party print pjs would be. They’re not Disney but they’re not classy....

You'll probably get away with it more than me, maybe not classy but surely Cath Kidston is up there with Boden by MN standards lol

@FrickfrackFeckit

So the women get Bambi and Dumbo and the men get Iron Man and Darth Vader? No, it's definitely not a feminist issue. Definitely not, I really feel put in my place now

No, it's not.

If you're a man who likes bambi or a woman into Star Wars- shop in the opposite section it's not hard. Some things are more catered to feminine or masculine styles it's really not that deep.

@Tish008

I'm with you OP, been trying to find some comfy but stylish adult night ware for ages! Ralph lauren do some night night shirts.

Just looked and there are much cheaper versions in Sainsbury’s,m and s, cyberjammies etc etc etc.

@FreeButtonBee

Yup. I’ve started making nightdresses as I hate everything in the shops that is under £150.

They come to mid calf are 100% beautiful cotton lawn have wide straps but a nice low but not too low v neck and enough room on the boobs and bum without swamping me. Now that I’ve got my pattern all sorted I plan to make about 10 of them. My favourite is in a bright green palm leaf pattern although the Liberty print one is also 👍

Sounds wonderful, @FreeButtonBee! My needlework is not up to that yet.

@FrickfrackFeckit, completely agree, I find the childish/Disney/ cute slogans on nightwear deeply creepy. Alternative seems to be attempted “sexy” versions which don’t cover booms/bum/crotch.

My daughter (early teens) has noticed this too and it annoys her. She will often wear boy’s pyjamas, as will I (men’s).

White company are happily mostly plain and cut well, for nighties I have happily discovered Lands End - really high quality cotton jersey short or long versions. Several patterns, not to my taste, but they do several plain colours which change each season. Very comfortable but stylish (imho), and non-sweaty

www.landsend.co.uk/Womens_Supima_Long_Sleeve_Calf-length_Nightdress_/pp/P_38151.html?cgid=11305&dwvar_P__38151_color=KN0

Find this on M&S which might suit what you're looking for.
I do agree that there are a lot of cutsie PJs and nighties for girls/women.

I love Pets Party.

But then I have Cath Kidston Snoopy, Bambi and 101 Dalmations items.

And I plan to buy some of their Peter Rabbit stuff.

If they ever do a Cath Kidston Lady and the Tramp range I am buying it all.

*found

Booms?! Boobs!

I bought Friends pyjamas last year. Most comfy pyjamas I've ever owned.

I can't understand why anyone would voluntarily buy nightwear with characters on it (though I must confess to having some Game of Thrones pjs which I was given as a present and would never have bought for myself in a million years ) but

If people didn't buy it, they wouldn't make it

So someone out there thinks it's wonderful

We live in a strange world.

I had a cyberjammie nightie but it was a bit too short (amd I’m only 5’3) and it started to rip at the seams after less than a year.

That said, gap PJ bottoms are excellent and I’ve had the same two pairs in 100 cotton in. lovely fresh modern floral prints for about 5 years. Worn with a proper fitted wide strap vest top they are v comfy Pjs. But not sure what current quality is like

@user64325

Absolutely agree with you OP. I don't want to wear Winnie the Pooh or Harry Potter pyjamas, how embarrassing.

I would like plain or neutral colour pyjamas shorts, with pockets like the men's, and long enough that you can't see my pubes when I sit down.

It seems the choices are cartoon characters or frumpy granny gowns.

Ugh this is so true. I was looking for pjs today (after failing to find decent ones previously) and the choice is odd cartoons/slogans, sexy but cold and uncomfortable looking or frumpy granny.

I eventually ordered some plain legging and jumper combo from M&S but disappointed that it's such a struggle to find anything decent.

Ugh this is so true. I was looking for pjs today (after failing to find decent ones previously) and the choice is odd cartoons/slogans, sexy but cold and uncomfortable looking or frumpy granny.

Where were you looking?

If you're a man who likes bambi or a woman into Star Wars- shop in the opposite section it's not hard.

That's what I end up doing being a sci fi nerd, does piss me off that there's never really anything in the women's section clothes wise though.
When I buy Star Wars type t-shirts I always have to buy from the mens section.
I may like the odd Disney piece of clothing, and cartoons, but why assume women aren't into sci fi?!
Bit of choice either would be good (and yes, I realise this means men should have Frozen or whatever in theirs too! Why not) DS used to love Dora when he was a toddler, never anything in the boys section though, had to buy from the "girls" section.

This thread is a total revelation.

I can’t believe so many grown adult women wear Disney / cartoon pyjamas.

YANBU - but clearly there is a massive market for childish adult-sized nightwear.

How many men are going to fit into Bambi nightclothes designed for women?!

People who believe that showing a liking for something is infantilising it, and loudly voicing that opinion as being the only correct way, do untold damage to ND people who can often find emotional security in things that they like.
If you don’t like it, don’t buy it.

Men's pjs...

@Joeblack066

People who believe that showing a liking for something is infantilising it, and loudly voicing that opinion as being the only correct way, do untold damage to ND people who can often find emotional security in things that they like. If you don’t like it, don’t buy it.

Joe, what a sensible comment.

There are masses of options available in styles and materials to suit all tastes.

Why do people find it weird that adults like cute things? The human race would have died out if we didn’t find cute things appealing.

Quaagars, try Last Exit to Nowhere for a great sci-fi range with women’s fit options.

I personally feel that Disney plays a very large role in reproducing certain types gender stereotypes; certainly in the U.S, and in creating a certain kind of escapist culture. It is noticeable, for example, how over recent decades girls are now encouraged more than ever to aspire to be/pretend to be princesses ( I think this is also connected to the explosion in the big white wedding industry).Growing up in the 1970's it was not such a big thing to dress up as a princess.

I enjoy Disney films. I grew up watching the Disney classics. I much prefer watching Disney Pixar films now. I love Toy Story because I was 5 when that came out and the idea that my toys came alive was wonderful to me. I love to rewatch that now to feel that same sense of wonder. I also really like Up and Inside Out, which my favourite character from Inside Out being Sadness. If I have to pick a Disney princess, I’m picking Mulan or Merida from Brave. Just because you enjoy Disney films, it doesn’t mean you grow aspiring to be a princess or wishing to conform to gender stereotypes. Disney has branched out from its old troupe of overly feminine princesses and there are now a variety of characters that people can associate with.

The idea that Disney is just for women is also baffling. DH’s favourite Disney film is the Hunchback of Notre Dame. Now it’s hard to find characters on PJs for that but that’s because it’s not your usual choice of favourite Disney film. He’a currently learning guitar and he’s learning the songs from that film because he enjoys it so much. He’d be over the moon if I got him some Hunchback of Notre Dame PJs. In the absence of those though, he’d also love toy story PJs (because he’s the same age as me and had the same wonder at seeing the film) or Star Wars PJs. As it is, we’re both more likely to have Harry Potter PJs and we’d have the same ones but different houses.

OP, I got non cartoon nightshirts from TU
A couple have prints on like caravans or stars. But are not cutesey and disney.

My favourite one is a check one and I wish now I had bought two at the same time.

Absolutely agree with you OP. I don't want to wear Winnie the Pooh or Harry Potter pyjamas, how embarrassing.

My Harry Potter pyjamas are my favourites, they fit brilliant are really well made. For what reason should I be embarrassed about wearing them, and also who would I be wearing them around that I would be embarrassed. DP doesn’t give a shit about what I wear, he has commented once on a pair of pyjamas because the fabric made him cringe and asked how I can wear them.

I was in hospital a year or so ago and wore my Harry Potter Pjs the first night and DP surprised me with some friends ones for the next night. Should I have been embarrassed about my personal taste and comfort?