Pajamas Were Cool Before Cool Was A Thing

The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about pyjamas may not be effortless luxury. No, the first thing might be the tartan pyjamas you had as a child and refused to take off when leaving the house for kindergarten. It may not have seemed like a political fashion statement back then, but looking at history, it might as well have been. The second thing that may come to your mind is the red flannel pyjamas Bridget wore whilst with full empathy singing “All by myself” alone on her couch on New Year’s Day in Bridget Jone’s Diary. At first glance, not really the essence of effortless luxury either.

But long before some four-year-old refused to wear anything other than a tartan pyjamas and Bridget challenged Celine Dion in vocals her flannel one, the P-J had quite the rich life.

Being introduced to the western world in the 17th century, the pyjamas was mainly for men to wear underneath their smoke robes. But don’t fool yourself thinking it was only a home leisure outfit, no no. The brits at the time could be seen wearing this to the club (not the club as in nightclub but as in country- and gentlemen’s club) and it remained a luxurious yet comfortable way to lounge until the beginning of the 20th century. But it wasn’t until after World War I that the ensemble really got its breakthrough with the roaring Twenties and the female liberation movement. One of the pioneers of both pyjamas and feminism at the time was Coco Chanel who made the pyjamas her signature look. She was often spotted wearing the wide silk pyjamas styled with lots of pearls. An influencer of her time, Coco Chanel, inspired Greta Garbo among others to pick up the P-J look too.

The effortless yet sophisticated pyjamas look had a revival in the Seventies and designers like Yves Saint Laurent and Halston contributed to this by making their interpretations of the jammies. The comfortable yet fashionable look was quickly picked up by celebs like Bianca Jagger and her friends who reportedly danced all too many nights away wearing luxe pyjamas.

With history having a way of repeating itself and our future post-pandemic time being compared to the roaring Twenties, the pyjamas comeback to the fashion picture might be as predicted as an order of fries to a burger. The subculture of #stayhome sweats and various sets strengthens the theory even more: feeling festive is a state of mind too. Looking good equals feeling good.

For this collection, Hobnob has taken the traditional pyjamas and made it versatile for real. The lustre fabric makes it perfect for both day and night occasions and the combination of colors are sure to turn some heads on town. The oversized fit creates an instant feeling of confidence and cool, although it would never be too much.

But most of all, it’s an attire that’ll take you places even if it’s just between your bed and kitchen. Want to channel Coco Chanel herself with pearls and a sleek coat accompanied by a drink? It’ll be fantastic. Feeling like dressing up as the “Bananas in pyjamas” with your best friend and have brunch? Go for it (make sure you rehearse the song too while you’re at it). Or maybe you just want to elevate your Friday night at home? There is no reason why you shouldn’t.

The collection of pajamas by Hobnob for Gina Tricot is released September 16th.