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Monday, January 11, 2021

The JimJam Conundrum

 For as long as I can remember, I have been a JimJams for sleepwear proponent.  JimJams, pjs, whatever one calls them, allowed me to blur the line between inside and outside wear.  Of course, that was BL (before livestock), when all I needed to do on a weekend was to make a bagel/Sunday Times run.  I could literally stay in my JJs from Friday night to Monday morning.  It almost makes me weepy to think about it.  Even now, when the likelihood of doing barn chores in my JJs is slim to none, I tend to stay in my sleepwear for as long as possible.  Then the hip gave out.  Suddenly, the mere idea of having to put on/take off JJ bottoms can have me thinking of going au natural in the middle of winter.  I have - very begrudgingly - turned to nightgowns.

Having not given a thought to them for decades, I had to do some research.  I knew I did NOT want flannel. I am not Laura Ingalls and, by the time I am done tossing and turning on my fleece or flannel sheets, I would be bound as tightly as a geisha's foot.  And was I ever shocked at the prices!  I much prefer natural fibers - cotton, wool, linen - so I bought one cotton and one cotton blend.  On sale.  With free shipping.  When I slipped on the cotton nightgown, I was immediately reminded of Uncle Fester.  Or, Uncle Fester joins the Army, as it is an Army-like green.  It went from neck to toes in a long, shapeless green tube.  But it is comfy and the dogs could care less about my lack of fashion sense.  The second one was tres chic and I had an overwhelming desire to sashay all over the place.  Until I realized that my present version of 'sashay' is more of a slow, crablike gait, entirely lacking in graceful moves.  

I am not sure that this switch in my nightwear allegiance will outlast its present convenience.  It is awfully nice to be able to get ready for bed in minutes, rather than 10s of minutes.  And there is a little Gloria Swansonesqueness (whoa!) about the idea of sashaying around in a nightgown, when my sashay comes back.  Plus, I can always pull on a pair of jeans under the nightgown and go do chores!  Woot!  Woot!

19 comments:

Debra She Who Seeks said...

I laughed all the way through your post. Yes, why must nightgowns all look like something pioneers would wear? I ditched them years ago in favour of just wearing an oversized t-shirt and panties to bed. Pj pants are too confining to wear in bed but I do enjoy wearing them during the day. They are my comfy pants. I'm wearing my Captain America pj pants right now, as a matter of fact.

Susan said...

I am a nightie girl and do exactly as you contemplate. I can't stand disrobing at dawn (no heating in the house until I get the stove going). On getting up I pull a thick sweater over the top and pants on the bottom and stay like that for many hours. I go for floral print cotton. Sometimes I leave the nightie hanging out as a fashion statement. Isn't it wonderful dogs don't give a hoot what we look like. Or my neighbour for that matter.

Mama Pea said...

Aren't we all different! I've never been able to stand having on my night wear (pjs, nightgowns, baby dolls -- remember those?) a second longer than right before I hit the sack and even less than that when I'm first vertically upright in the morn. And no nightgowns for me as it's not a pretty sight after I'm done twisting, turning, flopping and flailing about. Only pjs for me. So, sashay on, Gloria, bum hip and all!

jaz@octoberfarm said...

i always wore nightgowns but that ended quite some time ago. I'm more of a sweatshirt and sweatpants gal.

Ed said...

I love wearing pajama pants around the house on a winter day but have been more than once been surprised by a knock on the door and have the visitor look at me quizzically about why I am wearing them at 1 p.m. on a weekday. Now I change out of them around ten when I figure it is late enough to start raising eyebrows and get back into them around four when I think it is early enough not to raise them either.

Steve Reed said...

Ha! We need pictures! LOL

I suppose none of us have to actually look glamorous in our sleepwear -- we just want to FEEL like we do.

Florida Farm Girl said...

I've been a nightgown girl for most of my life and certainly my adult life. I just cant stand how pjs get all twisted around my body. You may be surprised at how much you like them before its all over. Take care.

Goatldi said...

Jammies please. 100% cotton please. Long in winters short style in August. Flannel sheets in as many months I can squeeze out of the year without breaking a sweat in my sleep. 100% cotton in those warmer months.

Nightgowns always migrate up to my neck and the end result is something that looks like a top load washer agitator in a fight with a sheet.

Nancy In Boise said...

Yes I'm a jammies girl too! How to say tonight gowns getting all twisted while I was sleeping and whining up around my waist and a big lump. I like them stretchy knit bottoms with a basic long-sleeve cotton t-shirt in the winter. I have a really nice flannel robe I bought a few years ago from L.L.Bean that I love! In the summer I use a short sleeve t-shirt and some pajama capris that work great. Hope your hip keeps healing up well!

coffeeontheporchwithme said...

What a fantastic topic! I've been known to go out to the chicken coop in pajamas and rubber boots. No nightgowns for me. However, when you are wearing flannel pjs and you have flannel sheets, there's a lot of shimmying and flopping to move around (like you're a little felt shape stuck to a flannel board from your primary school days). I don't have a problem staying in my pajamas an extra couple of hours on a weekend, but always with a robe. I'm not a fan of pajama bottoms worn out in public. -Jenn

wyomingheart said...

Jim jams all the way! I agree with a lot of your readers about nighties making their way around my neck in the middle of the night ! Glad you found a better alternative to the pain of pulling on jj bottoms!

tpals said...

Funny topic. I don't remember the last time I wore clothes to bed which is a blessing with hot flashes. I did love my footie pajamas as a kid though. :)

I do keep a vast kaftan in wild colors for use in hotels...in case of fire.

ellen abbott said...

I sleep au naturale. have since I was 16 and the air conditioner went out in the house during the summer and I took my pjs off during the night having already discarded the sheet. It felt so luxurious I've never worn pjs since. well, not never. when the grandkids would come visit I would wear panties and a t-shirt or an undershirt but even that got all twisty. of course, I'm the original princess and the pea and even the smallest wrinkle in the bottom sheet feels like a boulder under my hip and will have me up smoothing it out.

Joanne Noragon said...

I sleep in a flannel nightgown between cotton sheets. Saves the problem of switching back to cotton too soon or not soon enough. I've worn nightgowns all my life. And I've never had livestock to care for. I get up, make my bed and get dressed before I ever leave the bedroom. However, I do feed the cat and clean his box before I eat my breakfast.

susie @ persimmon moon cottage said...

I like my tricot nylon thin, worn,nightgowns, sometimes, if I am up and about in the house I wear a long sleeve cotton tee shirt over the nightgown if my arms get cold, and I have a pair of loose flimsy, slightly slick black pants that I wear under the nightgown if my legs are cold. I like having smooth, slick fabric against my skin when I am sleeping, flannel makes me feel velcroed to to the bed. I know all of my mismatched layers look weird,but they are so comfortable. I would not wear my sleeping clothes outside of the house.

Retired Knitter said...

PJs for me only. And in the summer an oversized t-shirt and underpants are enough. I can’t remember the last time I wore a nightgown.

MargaretP said...

What a lot of different preferences, I haven't worn a flannel nightie since I was a child, I can't abide nighties at all as they twist and scrunch up.I just wear T shirt and knickers, long sleeves in Winter. Cotton pj pants are for when I'm not in bed....after evening shower or breakfast on the deck.
I have a collection of kimono and yukata that I swan about in rather than a dressing gown...bliss !
The pj pants are being replaced by comfy pull on pants that are good for quick trips to local shop or watering the front garden etc.

What's not to love about a pj day when you are on a creative binge, engrossed in a fabulous book or absorbed in a knitting project.

www.self-sufficientsam.blogspot.com said...

Oh, I hate nightgowns but I understand where you're coming from. I thought the hip surgery was supposed to be "easy peasy"? It sounds awful! Is all the pre-prep because of Covid? Why so many baths and a special soap? When is your surgery anyway? You poor kiddo! I wish I could be there and I have my own Yak-Tracs! Hugs ~ Sam

Debby said...

I am a night gown person. I wear them for comfort and could give a rats patootie WHAT I look like in them.

My poor husband.

I have a tendency (when left to my own devices) to get up in the morning, pack the husband's lunch, (my penance for unattractive nightwear, maybe?), get him out the door, and then sit down with my coffee and the cryptogram from the paper. I get up and do housework. Get supper underway. I shower and put on street clothes about an hour before he gets home.

He doesn't know. Don't rat me out.