# For those who live alone (or have lived alone before). Preferred state of (un)dress? **URL:** \ **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:** 4
**Author:** ![melodyharmonius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/melodyharmonius/32/21310_2.png) [@melodyharmonius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melodyharmonius)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919/61 "2010-08-12T20:28:50Z")
i usually wear some kind of nightie because if I’m downstairs, there’s a chance someone will walk through the backyard and be able to see in (it’s my fault - I got some bamboo blinds and they are very see through - I need to upgrade but have been waiting for a sale.) ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919/62 "2010-08-12T20:39:52Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > There’s nothing in South Florida you can’t experience by living in the hood and watching _Jersey Shore._ > > Well, other than LeBron. Pshaw. Let’s consider the evidence: [South Florida](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e6/Mitzner_Park.jpg) [Central Florida](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2a/DSC07708b.jpg) Even our drug problems are more glamorous—our jet-set cocaine trade versus Central Florida’s gross redneck methamphetamine epidemic. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919/63 "2010-08-12T20:47:32Z")
Cheater! That’s Ocala. It’d be a fair comparison if you linked to a picture of Okechobee for South Florida. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919/64 "2010-08-12T20:54:49Z")
It’s been a long time, but I mostly wore clothes. I felt ridiculous otherwise. Plus, I had friends and whatnot who were liable to come by and walk right in. If it was really hot in the apartment, I might have taken my shirt off, but it never would have occurred to me to take off my pants. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919/65 "2010-08-12T20:58:22Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > If it was really hot in the apartment, I might have taken my shirt off, but it never would have occurred to me to take off my pants. If it never would have occurred to you to take off your pants, by definition it \*could not \*have been “really hot” in the apartment. ---
**Author:** ![breaking-reality](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a8b319/32.png) [@breaking-reality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/breaking-reality)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919/66 "2010-08-12T21:08:15Z")
Underwear. Though I probably should have picked Other. When I get home I usually take off my shoes/socks, pants, and my bra, leaving me in underwear and a shirt. In the winter I’ll throw on pajama pants and maybe socks. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919/67 "2010-08-12T21:45:56Z")
Why would you wear anything if you were alone? I’m nude as I type this. If fact, I usually go around nude even if my guy friends are visiting. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919/68 "2010-08-12T21:47:33Z")
I’m one of the despised old people living in Florida, St. Petersburg to be precise. If you are an avowed ageist, I hope you never so much as visit us. I’m retired now so I mostly just sit around in my jet black briefs; the ones with the red devil heads on them. I keep a pair of shorts handy in case someone does come calling; I might get dressed if I am forced to go out shopping for more ammunition or another gun. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919/69 "2010-08-12T21:55:50Z")
> [@LouisB](#): > > If you are an avowed ageist, I hope you never so much as visit us. It was a joke, **Louis**. Now be a dear and drink your Metamucil. I kid, I kid. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919/70 "2010-08-12T22:03:31Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > Why would you wear anything if you were alone? I’m nude as I type this. If fact, I usually go around nude even if my guy friends are visiting. I love my desk chair, but it’s partially vinyl. Also I want to be your friend. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919/71 "2010-08-12T23:00:11Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > > [@LouisB](#): > > > > If you are an avowed ageist, I hope you never so much as visit us. > > It was a joke, **Louis**. Now be a dear and drink your Metamucil. > > I kid, I kid. I am an old grouchy bastard and I don’t think that ageist stuff is funny in the least; it couldn’t be more offensive TO ME if I were Black and being called that Dreaded N Word. YYMV but don’t expect me to laugh about it. And I wouldn’t drink Metamucil if it would restore my vision or my hearing or my other stuff, either. ---
**Author:** ![Private\_Bin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c0e974/32.png) [@Private\_Bin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Private_Bin)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919/72 "2010-08-13T14:30:05Z")
I _always_ wear formal wear when I lie about alone at home. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919/73 "2010-08-13T14:49:57Z")
> [@as\_u\_wish](#): > > Fully clothed except for shoes. I didn’t vote because the other option didn’t seem to cover this choice. 🙂 I wear shoes at home too, especially if I’m working. I don’t like walking around barefoot, and I can’t concentrate on work unless I feel properly attired.:mad: ---
**Author:** ![palindromemordnilap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@palindromemordnilap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/palindromemordnilap)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919/74 "2010-08-13T15:45:30Z")
I chose “fully clothed” but actually I often throw on gym shorts with no underwear if I’m not leaving the house. I just don’t want to scramble if someone shows up at the door, or have to re-dress if I go out to get the mail. I’ll go nude to make coffee in the morning or down to the shower (on a different level than my bedroom) but I stay somewhat alert at these times–I don’t ever close the drapes on some of my windows, and I want to be considerate of neighbors with children. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919/75 "2010-08-13T18:49:16Z")
When I lived alone it was shorts and undies unless people were over. Now that I live with other people it’s shorts, undies and t-shirt. I try to be barefoot as often as possible. The way the good lord intended. Exodus 3:5 (Young’s Literal Translation) > [@](#): > > 5 And He saith, `Come not near hither: cast thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place on which thou art standing is holy ground.’ ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919/76 "2010-08-13T19:15:09Z")
When I lived alone, on a hot day I’d often strip down completely, if at home; but invariably within a half-hour I’d feel cold and need to put something on. I still do that occasionally, but I don’t stay nude for long. Apart from being nude, I’m not comfortable staying in my bathrobe very long, so I guess it’s either street clothes, or nothing, for me. ---
**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:** [August 13, 2010, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919/77 "2010-08-13T19:21:28Z")
Lately when I take my daughter to school and come home to an empty house off go the shoes, socks, shirt and bra. Not sure why I don’t take off my pants. I’ll have to try that next week. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919/78 "2010-08-13T20:15:17Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > Why would you wear anything if you were alone? I’m nude as I type this. If fact, I usually go around nude even if my guy friends are visiting. Be _my_ friend. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919/79 "2010-08-13T20:51:24Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > When I lived alone, on a hot day I’d often strip down completely, if at home; but invariably within a half-hour I’d feel cold and need to put something on. I still do that occasionally, but I don’t stay nude for long. Apart from being nude, I’m not comfortable staying in my bathrobe very long, so I guess it’s either street clothes, or nothing, for me. Just wanted to add: In spite of the above, I’ve been nude all day, outdoors, at a clothing-optional facility, and I was fine with that. It’s odd that, indoors at home, I can’t remain comfortable that way for very long. ---
**Author:** ![Proudest\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/proudest_monkey/32/13257_2.png) [@Proudest\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Proudest_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919/80 "2010-08-13T22:42:07Z")
Summer: gym shorts, t shirt, flip flops, underpants, no bra Winter: yoga pants/leggings, fleece pullover, flip flops, underpants, no bra I do not like bare feet or a bare bottom. My underpants stay on from one shower to the next (except for doctor visits, swimming and sex). I love shoes of all kinds, but when I’m home it’s almost-naked feet time. I have a whole wardrobe of flip flops, including some lovely, fleecy ones from LL Bean for cold weather. No, I don’t wear them to bed. I selected “other” in the poll because a bra is part of “fully clothed.” As in, I wouldn’t go any farther than my mailbox without one. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-live-alone-or-have-lived-alone-before-preferred-state-of-un-dress/549919.md?page=5)