# For those who live alone (or have lived alone before). Preferred state of (un)dress?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [August 11, 2010, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919 "2010-08-11T06:47:53Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2010, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919/1 "2010-08-11T06:47:53Z")
So you’re home, you live alone, you’re not expecting visitors nor are you going out any time soon. What are you wearing?
For some reason I’m much more comfortable in boxers than nude, but I couldn’t possibly understand the mindset of someone who sits fully clothed at home alone.
Ah shit: I meant to add an option for fully clothed. Totally screwed that up… can a mod add it or is it too late?
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### Author:  [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2010, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919/2 "2010-08-11T07:06:23Z")
In truth, I no longer live alone but I do work alone at home, so spend a lot of time on my own here. I always get up, shower and dress for work (still casual, mind you). If I’ve been out, I quite often don’t even remember to take my shoes off. My partner will arrive home hours later saying ‘are you planning on leaving me or something?’.
To be honest, I’m not a fan of lounging around in PJ’s: makes me feel like one of those people who’ll be found, rotting, several weeks after they died, when the smell drifts into the corridor. Getting fully dressed makes me feel awake, and part of the active human race.
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### Author:  [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2010, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919/3 "2010-08-11T07:18:25Z")
It depends on location, weather…
It would be something like “fully clothed, casual”, most of the time. Right now we’re having temperatures around 40C every day, so if I could I’d be spending all day in the bathtub. PJs and robes aren’t something I feel comfy in, for starters I’m comfier in a good bra than braless (if I’m not comfier with the bra than without, it’s a bad bra); being leaky, I’m also not comfortable without underwear unless I’m doing something which requires no underwear. Home clothes usually involve things like those favorite Tshirts which aren’t fashionable any more, or which were too big even when “too big” was the fashionable size.
I prefer barefoot unless there’s carpet. Never met a carpet that was nice to walk on ☹
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### Author:  [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2010, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919/4 "2010-08-11T07:36:03Z")
Fully clothed
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### Author:  [@multimediac17](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/multimediac17)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2010, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919/5 "2010-08-11T07:54:36Z")
I live with my family and I walk around in a T-shirt and boxers most of the time. I go to college during the day but get home before everyone else, and by the time they’re home I’ve forsaken pants.
I’m not paranoid about my parents and sister seeing my naked legs from the knee down, and pants are just uncomfortable (or at least, less comfortable than no pants at all).
I would dress the same if I lived alone.
Edit: I should say that I’m always in fresh clothes, of course, and don’t spend days at a time in the same shirt/boxers combo. Spending all day in the clothes I slept in would feel really gross.
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### Author:  [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2010, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919/6 "2010-08-11T09:13:59Z")
Gym shorts, underpants, t-shirt. It doesn’t matter whether I’m alone or what season it is. If I’m going to the basement or attic or patio I put on a pair of moccasins. Otherwise, I never ever wear anything on my feet, especially in bed.
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### Author:  [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2010, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919/7 "2010-08-11T11:08:28Z")
At home I generally wear pajama pants or shorts with a built-in-bra cami. Add a sweatshirt and socks if it’s chilly. I have friends who’ll change out of their suits or other workwear into jeans a tshirt when they get home, even if they’re not going anywhere, and then change into pajamas for bed, and I just don’t get that. Why make extra laundry for yourself?
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### Author:  [@as\_u\_wish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/as_u_wish)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2010, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919/8 "2010-08-11T11:22:51Z")
Fully clothed except for shoes. I didn’t vote because the other option didn’t seem to cover this choice. 🙂
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### Author:  [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2010, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919/9 "2010-08-11T11:43:33Z")
[QUOTE=Rigamarole]
Ah shit: I meant to add an option for fully clothed. Totally screwed that up.. can a mod add it or is it too late?
[/QUOTE]
Sorry. I did it just now. Sleep, you know.
**samclem** Moderator
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### Author:  [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2010, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919/10 "2010-08-11T12:23:05Z")
Other: Just shorts (and underwear of course.) Most of the time in Florida it is hot enough that you can save on A/C by shedding clothes, but underwear is too uncomfortable by itself. In the 2 months or so when it’s cold enough that you don’t need the A/C even with a shirt on, I add a t-shirt.
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### Author:  [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2010, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919/11 "2010-08-11T12:50:33Z")
Always clothed.
I even like to wear at least one layer when sleeping, as much as two full layers in winter, which it is now where I am.
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### Author:  [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2010, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919/12 "2010-08-11T13:17:08Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#):
>
> I couldn’t possibly understand the mindset of someone who sits fully clothed at home alone.
Why not?
When I get home, why should I take the trouble to get undressed—especially if there’s a chance I’ll go out again that day, in which case I’ll just have to take the trouble to get dressed again?
Why would I want to feel exposed and vulnerable, rather than fully prepared in case someone comes to the door or I need to do some work outside or I’m standing in front of an open window?
Getting dressed is a chore, one I’d like to do as little of as possible—ditto for laundry—so I typically put clothes on in the morning and take them off again at night and that’s it.
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### Author:  [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2010, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919/13 "2010-08-11T13:18:13Z")
Oversized Tshirt and panties.
My friends have gotton use to ringing the doorbell and hearing me over the intercom “Let me put some pants on.”
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### Author:  [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2010, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919/14 "2010-08-11T13:44:14Z")
I would wear an oversized fisherman’s sweater on top of my pajamas in the winter, and a caftan with nothing under it in the summer. Com-fy.
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### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2010, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919/15 "2010-08-11T13:52:20Z")
T-shirt and shorts or t-shirt and panties. Sometimes I’ll lounge around in my nightgown which is only a bit longer than a t-shirt.
I rarely go naked though, even on the hottest days. Feels really weird.
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### Author:  [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2010, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919/16 "2010-08-11T14:19:00Z")
I voted for “underwear only” (ie., boxers), but until quite recently I was a smoker, so I usually kept a pair of shorts on so I wouldn’t have to go find pants before going for a cigarette.
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### Author:  [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2010, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919/17 "2010-08-11T14:23:06Z")
Fully clothed, including shoes.
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### Author:  [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2010, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919/18 "2010-08-11T14:31:41Z")
> [@panache45](#):
>
> Gym shorts, underpants, t-shirt. It doesn’t matter whether I’m alone or what season it is. If I’m going to the basement or attic or patio I put on a pair of moccasins. Otherwise, I never ever wear anything on my feet, especially in bed.
Me exactly except that I rarely wear footwear inside the grounds of my home.
Sitting naked on the furniture would make me feel like I need to wash the sofa.
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### Author:  [@CateAyo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CateAyo)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2010, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919/19 "2010-08-11T14:38:09Z")
shorts and a tee short, no shoes, no underwear.
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### Author:  [@Sudo\_Intellectual](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudo_Intellectual)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2010, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919/20 "2010-08-11T14:42:11Z")
Usually naked, except socks. I don’t like walking on hardwood floors in bare feet. It’s usually a gradual progression though. I get home, go to the bathroom, and since my pants are already down, they come off. Then, maybe as I’m sitting on my couch I’ll take off my shirt and bra to get comfortable. My clothes are always strewn around, so if someone does stop by I can get dressed relatively quickly. But if I am alone, I don’t see the need for clothing.
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