She said so, on Radio 4, the other Sunday morning. The discussion was about the trend at Christmas for families to get photographed in matching pjs - and she said she didn't have any 'proper' nightwear - she just wore whatever was around, any old teeshirt or summer dress. The rest of the panel all agreed their families did not have pjs either, let alone matching ones. "I mean, who does, these days?" said one contributor. I found myself wondering - were they all being strictly honest? Most women I know have some 'nightwear' tucked away - either bought for a hospital stay, an overnight visit somewhere, or maybe a special holiday buy - and there are those who have a "onesie" which goes under a coat for a late school run, or emergency Tesco dash. I did feel these radio persons were being a little judgmental. But Prue is 81, and if she wants to sleep in her old frocks that's up to her. For some years, I have kept nightwear in two places Dorset & Norfolk. I have my cool cotton 'hospital nightie' [20 years old but still pretty] my warm red Cath Kidston pjs [thank you Steph] and a random assortment of tops, trousers and shorts - some 'bottoms' are homemade, and some tops are much loved tee-shirts which are too old and worn for 'public' wear.[like this set] I decided I needed to prune my collection. Then I was given a nightshirt. This cute M&S one, with cat&dog print Trouble is, this model is 5'10" - almost a foot taller than me. I look stupid in this, it flaps round my calves and I feel like Ebenezer Scrooge, or Dopey the Dwarf. The fabric is a cotton jersey, and now I have mastered the Differential Feed on my overlocker [thanks to that useful book] I figured I should alter the garment to make it more useful. I cut the shirt to jacket length, and overlocked the edge, then hemmed with a 3-step zigzag stitch [a tip picked up ages ago from Claire, thank you]
I treated myself to some plain black pj trousers from Peacock's sale, and now I have a second smart, warm winter set. While on the subject of nightwear, one last thing...
I was doing research online about an inexpensive pair of plain black pj bottoms, when I came across something on the M&S website
"High Rise Sleep Knicker Shorts"
What are these? I asked
It appears that these are part of the new Flexifit range of nightwear. They are shorts to wear in bed. "Sleep comfortably without distraction" says the blurb. I'm not normally distracted by my pjs. It goes on "modern shapes with unique and playful details" But I might be distracted by the 'playful details' Or does this refer to one's sleeping partner? Are they able to sleep without distraction? The mind boggles. The reviews were not altogether good. "They are so thin, like tights" "They ride up my thighs" [well that is certainly a distraction] I will stick with my Peacock's bargain. Anyway if that is the same model, they'd probably end up like Capri pants on my legs!
I wonder what Prue Leith would say about them?!
I do not enjoy wearing tight PJs- they make me uncomfortable. Thus, those sleep shorts fill me with horror. One year, my in-laws asked me what I'd like for Christmas and I said Pyjamas please. Unfortunately, they got my SiL to choose instead of them and I was given legging-like bottoms and a fitted t-shirt top. Really cute, Very stylish and modern but not me at all. I like oversized!
ReplyDeleteI am being much more specific when asked about gifts these days - which meant I got exactly the right garden spade for Christmas!
DeleteI wear calf length Lands End cotton jersey nightdresses and have 2 long sleeved ones for Winter and 2 short sleeved ones for summer, plus one shorter length for very hot nights. They last for years, and when they start disintegrating I replace them with whatever is on sale in my size. Which is why I'm not keen on the patterns or colours I've been wearing for the last 5 years, but who cares in the dark!
ReplyDeleteGood quality ones do last for years, cheaper ones not so long. As you say, who cares about the pattern in the dark?
DeleteThat made me laugh, as I sleep in the dark with my eyes closed I'm not too distracted either. I love my cotton nighties for summer,the nights have been quite warm here this week. I feel the cold and like warm flannelette pjs in winter, although don't tell anyone,they must be a matching set,no weird sayings or animal ones.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure where you live, Jenny- nights have been really frosty here lately, and they have even mentioned the possibility of snow this week. My CK ones are brushed cotton flannelette, and beautifully warm and toast [red floral] As to animal ones- I leave the Cheetah print pjs to Rosie
DeleteWell....! I just like a pretty nightie and have rarely worn pyjamas.
ReplyDeleteIf Primark leopard print onesies are at one end of the scale, you are definitely at the other end, in a graceful, charming nightdress!
DeleteIn my world, nightwear is kept folded in a drawer in case of hospital admissions or emergencies!
ReplyDeleteI've tried nightdresses, nightshirts, pyjamas, everything, but all I can sleep soundly and comfortably in is my skin!
According to my mum, I started throwing my nightwear off as I got into bed when I was about seven years old, and I've been that way ever since!
I never get cold, even though my husband has to wear fleecy pyjamas as he's a cold fish.
I just don't like being wrapped up or confined in any way, and nightwear does just that, even loose things.
I tend to 'go commando' almost constantly though, it's a very rare day when I have 'knicks' on, I even attended our son's wedding without undies, my dress was floor length though!
Ooooh.. I think that may count as T.M.I. Col!
DeleteI have just had to evict the very soft, twenty year-old, long-sleeved fleece which I wore in bed on cold nights because it's worn out. I am bereft. My mother has a smart, brand new, unworn pair of pyjamas in her bedside cupboard, still wrapped with ribbon, in case she has to be admitted to hospital; she has had them for eight years! x
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry the fleece has had to go. Your mother's PJs sound like a good insurance policy! Perhaps when she has had them for ten years, you can buy her a new in-case-of-hospital pair, and persuade her to untie the ribbon and start wearing the older set!
ReplyDeleteI tend to just recycle old t-shirts into nightwear, I usually have three on the go at any one time. As one wears out I choose another from the daywear collection.
ReplyDeleteI do have a pair of pyjamas hanging in the wardrobe, a brand new pair but in the old style with a proper jacket and trousers for any hospital emergencies, but I have not even tried them on recently ... it would be embarrassing if they were two sizes too small when I needed them, I must check!!
I suppose people like Prue Leith would just send a PA out to buy PJs if there was a hospital emergency. But most of us don't have a PJPA !
DeleteNothing beats the good old hospital gown for downright practicality as I recently found out! They even gave me a pair of scrub bottoms to come home in because they had to cut off my nearly-new cords to get at my broken ankle! There was a perfectly good pair of Cath Kidston flannelete pj's sitting in a drawer upstairs, kept specifically for such occasions as hospital dashes but alas, no time to think about that in the rush to get me in the ambulance!
ReplyDeleteSo sorry about the ankle - grateful for the NHS treating you so efficiently. At least you can convalescent in the classy CKPJs. Get well soon
DeleteCurrently wearing fleecy long-sleeved nighties, one has penguins on skis! 3 short sleeved cotton knit for summer, flowered but one has elephants. Also 3 spaghetti strap slips that are not all that comfortable and may have been chosen for travel (travel? what's that?). Most important of all is wearing bed socks, year round, unless there is a super heatwave!
ReplyDeleteI put on bedsocks if my feet are cold at bedtime, but invariably wake up finding I've kicked them off in the night
DeleteIt all seems very, very odd. I mean, I sometimes don't bother with anything at all but most of the time I can't seem to settle without a nightie. I don't think I'll try anything more adventurous, no matter what M&S say!
ReplyDeleteClearly the readers of my blog are too savvy to be swayed by M&S marketing hype
DeleteI just can't warm to PL. Not that I'm sure this will trouble her sleep, regardless of attire. For a few years now I can only bear to sleep in hard cotton (if you know what I mean), as I have gone from needing to be warm warm warm to needing absolutely to be cool cool cool!And my bigger than ever belly likes nightdresses much more than pyjamas, which will probably be a thing of my past!
ReplyDeleteIt's your age, dear Mags. I had a cool phase too but now I'm back to warm again! You may yet return to pj's too.
DeleteThis was a fun post. Even on the hottest summer nights, I must wear something to sleep in! In the cooler months, I tend to wear my old (baggy) sweatshirts and sweatpants as I find them to be warmer than my flannel pyjamas and nightdresses (which I sewed). Over here, every time I've been in the hospital, I've had to wear their hospital gowns, not nightdresses or pyjamas brought from home.
ReplyDeleteThat's got me thinking, Bless - all the US TV shows about hospitals (ER etc) the patients are in gowns... Whereas in British NHS hospitals the majority of people are in their own clothes...
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