# Do many people in your area go out and about in their pajamas? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 29, 2010, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-people-in-your-area-go-out-and-about-in-their-pajamas/526884 "2010-01-29T14:23:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![apollonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2bfe46/32.png) [@apollonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/apollonia)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2010, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-people-in-your-area-go-out-and-about-in-their-pajamas/526884/61 "2010-01-30T16:00:00Z")
Montreal. No. People here would rather put their heads into a bag of eels. Clothing and fashion are important, and I have never seen anyone in public in pajamas. In another city I used to live in, my apartment building was right across the street from a high school, and I’d see girls on the bus in their pajama pants–even in the -34C winter. I always thought they must have been half-frozen. ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2010, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-people-in-your-area-go-out-and-about-in-their-pajamas/526884/62 "2010-01-30T17:00:28Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > (Would those of you who don’t have a location mind telling us where you’re talking about? This is pretty vague if it’s done in your location, but we don’t know where that is.) Oops, I forgot about that. NY, and as my previous post said, yes I’ve seen it. The few times I wore pajama pants to the store (in college) it wasn’t a case of rolling out of bed and walking out the door. Usually, I’d change into fleece or flannel pants as soon as classes were over, for comfort reasons, and sometimes I just didn’t feel like changing again for a quick run to the store. ---
**Author:** ![Lucky\_13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucky_13/32/13209_2.png) [@Lucky\_13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucky_13)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2010, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-people-in-your-area-go-out-and-about-in-their-pajamas/526884/63 "2010-01-30T17:36:12Z")
I sleep in track suit bottoms or yoga pants and T-shirts, so technically I could get away with wearing the clothes I slept in to other places, and in fact I have worn this outfit to walk out to the front yard and take out trash or bring in the paper. However, my mother raised my sisters and me to be well-groomed ladies, and that includes not wearing pajamas on the street. Not sure if this is a Latino thing - in most Latin American countries, AFAIK, women tend to take care to go out fully dressed and groomed. My mother refuses to leave the house without at least pulling her hair back and putting on a decent pair of slacks, and a coat of lipstick. I have occasionally worn track pants to the drugstore if I was feeling really sick and needed medicine immediately. Any other time, I prefer to go to the trouble to actually put on a pair of jeans and comb my hair before I go to the store or wherever. Sadly, this is not the case for many young women I see at Target or the grocery store. I see them and wonder, “Jesus, girl, were you in such a hurry for that bag of chips and People magazine that you couldn’t even stop to get dressed?” I have even worked with a couple of women who have worn PJ pants to the office. In each case, it only happened once, and they got called up to the administration office and sent home to change. One would think a grown woman would know better. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2010, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-people-in-your-area-go-out-and-about-in-their-pajamas/526884/64 "2010-01-30T17:51:11Z")
Is it possible it’s generational? My mom is 67, and I remember when I was a teenager, she would hesitate before coming shopping with me because she was in house-cleaning clothes, and she would want to put on “going out” clothes before going downtown. The older ladies I see out and about (in their 80’s) often have full make-up, hair done, dress shoes and nice outfits on. At 43, I’ll go out in my house-cleaning clothes (t-shirt and sweats-type clothes), but I won’t go out in pajamas and slippers. I won’t go out in ripped or dirty clothes either. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2010, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-people-in-your-area-go-out-and-about-in-their-pajamas/526884/65 "2010-01-30T18:17:14Z")
> [@Roland\_Orzabal](#): > > I don’t, largely because I don’t own any (I’m more of a bathrobe kinda guy), but plenty of people around here do. I endorse the practice, if only for the amusement factor of watching the people who get riled up about such things getting riled up about it. “NOOOOOO, the cloth covering his/her body be shaped and colored differently than I personally would prefer! Clearly this person can now be judged to lack many positive character traits! This is unacceptable!” This is pretty much the way I feel about it too. Yes, pajama pants often look ridiculous with their bright colors or patterns and they often make the wearer look sloppy. But they’re just pants. Who really gives a shit what color they are and what fabric they’re made of? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2010, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-people-in-your-area-go-out-and-about-in-their-pajamas/526884/66 "2010-01-30T18:50:00Z")
For the same reason women wear tops over their bras, and we put pants on over our underwear, and for the same reason that guys get all interested in a flash of panty - we have societal norms. A bra and a bathing suit top are not all that different, but most women don’t put a bra on and no shirt and trot on down to WalMart, regardless of the weather. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2010, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-people-in-your-area-go-out-and-about-in-their-pajamas/526884/67 "2010-01-30T18:58:10Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > For the same reason women wear tops over their bras, and we put pants on over our underwear, and for the same reason that guys get all interested in a flash of panty - we have societal norms. You’re right, we do. But pajama pants break none of those norms. They just look silly. It’s your right to laugh at people who look silly, but getting on a high horse and saying you’re doing it because the people have broken some social contract because their pants are the wrong color is absolutely dumb. Or, in other words, you sound like an old fart who’s afraid of change. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2010, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-people-in-your-area-go-out-and-about-in-their-pajamas/526884/68 "2010-01-30T21:03:30Z")
I see it fairly often, usually in drug stores or groceries. I don’t do it, though I do have a couple of pairs of sleep pants that are just loose knit pants that probably wouldn’t even get looked at twice if I wore them in public. But I wear jeans, myself. SE Ohio. The people I see are nearly always young women. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2010, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-people-in-your-area-go-out-and-about-in-their-pajamas/526884/69 "2010-01-30T21:57:08Z")
I don’t really understand why it would matter as long as nobody’s wearing just underwear or see-through nighties. Why would it be such a big deal that it would be banned? They’re clothes. I’ve seen it I’m sure, but I honestly wouldn’t think twice if I had to get out and I was comfy in my slippers (I don’t own any, but I wear nothing but Croc knock-offs year round so there’s my offense!) I’d wear my slippers. I don’t own PJs but if it was out to Walgreen’s when I was just coming back home and getting back in to comfy clothes, I’d do it and I won’t ever knock anyone else who cares not about what society thinks. Just please…_.please_ if you’re going to wear slippers, don’t make that scrape-scrape sound when you walk. Pick up your feet. Please. ---
**Author:** ![MitzeKatze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ad7895/32.png) [@MitzeKatze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MitzeKatze)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2010, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-people-in-your-area-go-out-and-about-in-their-pajamas/526884/70 "2010-01-30T22:52:07Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Is it possible it’s generational? My mom is 67, and I remember when I was a teenager, she would hesitate before coming shopping with me because she was in house-cleaning clothes, and she would want to put on “going out” clothes before going downtown. The older ladies I see out and about (in their 80’s) often have full make-up, hair done, dress shoes and nice outfits on. At 43, I’ll go out in my house-cleaning clothes (t-shirt and sweats-type clothes), but I won’t go out in pajamas and slippers. I won’t go out in ripped or dirty clothes either. Pajamas in public don’t really _bother_ me, at least not as much as some. Some people can make it look cute, but on most it just looks sloppy/lazy. And I am sure my outfit today could trigger the same reaction from some folks (jeans, sweatshirt sans bra, slip-on shoes when I was out walking the dog but now barefoot) but if I were going “out” beyond just dog-walking I would at least put on a bra, run a brush through my hair etc. But your theory of it being generational made me giggle when I thought it out to its logical conclusion: Mom’s generation- full dress; My generation- “house cleaning clothes”; My daughters’ generation- pajamas; their kids’ generation (grandchildren)- underwear; their kids’ generation (great-grandchildren)- naked :eek:. So the pajamas-in-public trend might be an indication that we are less than 3 generations away from young people finding it acceptable to run around naked as long as they are just popping out to Wal-Mart or someplace else where they don’t need to “dress up”. 🙂 (and where is my “laughing madly” smilie anyway?;)) ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2010, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-people-in-your-area-go-out-and-about-in-their-pajamas/526884/71 "2010-01-31T05:20:04Z")
And I’m sure I’ll frown disapprovingly at all of them. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2010, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-people-in-your-area-go-out-and-about-in-their-pajamas/526884/72 "2010-01-31T08:46:45Z")
Japan - it’s kind of common, but more of an old-man thing. I sometimes do it in summer if I just need a quick run to the local store. It’s not pj’s exactly, but a jinbei > **[Jinbei](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jinbei)** > > A jinbei (甚平) (alternately jinbē (甚兵衛) or hippari (ひっぱり)) is a traditional set of Japanese clothing worn by men, women and children during summer as loungewear. Consisting of a side-tying, tube-sleeved kimono-style top and a pair of trousers, jinbei were originally menswear only, though in recent years, women's jinbei have become popular. > Jinbei typically come in a matching set of a top and trousers that are either short or long. Though the trousers resemble Western trousers, the top resembles a... Only once I had a negative reaction, when a bunch of school girls loudly said “OMG! check him out - he’s wearing pjs!” (It was about 5pm on a weekend). The high school guys in the group promptly told them to STFU. I couldn’t suppress a smile. ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2010, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-people-in-your-area-go-out-and-about-in-their-pajamas/526884/73 "2010-01-31T14:45:13Z")
This is all just, like, your opinions man… ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2010, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-people-in-your-area-go-out-and-about-in-their-pajamas/526884/74 "2010-01-31T20:25:41Z")
In my neighborhood in Chicago you’ll see Jammie Pants people walking their dogs or at the grocery store. No slippers though. Not really dining at restaurants unless it’s the 24 hour diner. So apparently acceptable for short trips from the home for a lot of people. I’m one who won’t even wear sweat pants outside. I don’t even own any. A coworker came to a meeting not long ago wearing plaid pajama pants. Another coworker razzed her by thanking her for getting dressed. First coworker replied, “I sleep _naked_, this _is_ dressed.” No argument there. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2010, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-people-in-your-area-go-out-and-about-in-their-pajamas/526884/75 "2010-01-31T20:39:04Z")
My God, people wearing pajamas to work meetings. I thought wearing them to Walmart was bad enough. I can assure you I have _never_ seen people wearing pajama pants at work - I have a strong feeling they would be sent home. I usually work in offices - business casual doesn’t include pajama pants, and God willing, it never will. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2010, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-people-in-your-area-go-out-and-about-in-their-pajamas/526884/76 "2010-01-31T20:44:40Z")
It is a way of life for me and a few of my peeps. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2010, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-people-in-your-area-go-out-and-about-in-their-pajamas/526884/77 "2010-01-31T20:49:32Z")
I can’t say I’ve noticed people wearing pyjama pants outside in either Toronto or Bancroft. Especially this time of year. I have seen a fair number of people wearing the _salwar kameez_, the South Asian garments that have pyjama-like trousers. What I _do_ see a lot of are sweat pants and shells. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2010, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-people-in-your-area-go-out-and-about-in-their-pajamas/526884/78 "2010-01-31T21:01:10Z")
In college, my money was tight, and I couldn’t afford to do laundry very often. So, if I woke up late and didn’t have time to take a shower, there was no way I was going to put on clean clothes. So if I wore pajama pants to bed, that’s what I’d be wearing to class. And I also lost my shoes for a while and had to wear my house shoes to class. It was really great when I had to stop off at the library, and had to go to the second floor. I slipped and fell coming down the last half-flight of stairs. There’s a reason people call them slippers. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2010, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-people-in-your-area-go-out-and-about-in-their-pajamas/526884/79 "2010-01-31T21:36:46Z")
College is a totally different world, though. I mean, where else can you just pick a spot, nearly anywhere on campus, and just go to sleep? Whether I had taken a shower or had clean clothes or not, I ALWAYS went to bed in something that could be worn to class the next morning. Good Lord…I seem to remember a fuschia hoodie with “Atlantic City” on the front with a pair of pastel pink sweats with a quilted satin strip up the side of each leg! ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2010, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-people-in-your-area-go-out-and-about-in-their-pajamas/526884/80 "2010-01-31T21:57:16Z")
I haven’t noticed it much here - and I tend to go to stores very early in the morning (was out today by 6:00 AM) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-people-in-your-area-go-out-and-about-in-their-pajamas/526884.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-many-people-in-your-area-go-out-and-about-in-their-pajamas/526884.md?page=5)