December 12, 2016

"My students have been wearing their PJs to class for years... which used to bug me no end..."

"... but now I wear my PJs to walk my dog in my gated community at 5:30 in the a.m. Compared to electing Trump as President, this is hardly the end of civilization as we know it."

A comment on a WaPo article by Robin Givhan: "The fashion industry really wants you to wear pajamas on the street. Don’t do it!"

Givhan says:
To be clear, these are not pajama-style garments, nor trousers that simply borrow the loose fit and drape of sleepwear. Ostensibly, these are pajamas, promoted for both men and women....
What does that even mean?

Let me think...



... so even though the word "pajama" has been used over the years to refer to clothes that are not pajamas in the sense of being intended as sleepwear, these new clothes they want you to wear when you're out on the street and being seen by nonbedmates are in fact pajamas?
All of these garments have luxurious fabrics, elaborate patterns, saturated colors, comfortable silhouettes. They are, in fact, quite handsome. But they look precisely like what they, in fact, are: Pajamas.
You have fabric, cut in shapes and sewn together. What makes it "in fact" pajamas once you've eliminated the idea that this is something to wear only in and near bed? Are we getting philosophical or is the quick route out of this conundrum simply to recognize that fashion demands suffering? If that outfit looks comfortable, it cannot be fashion. Lines must be drawn, and the people who look comfortable must be excluded.

Now, let's get back to the subject of how everything is about Donald Trump and the Trump derangement syndrome raging within the soul of the lady with the dog who forgot to suppress the fact that she lives in a gated community. 

41 comments:

Brando said...

Is everything now going to be all-Trump, all the time? Can no one have any discussion about any unrelated topic without it getting back to Trump? I get that this is the sort of thing that pleases Trump, to be always talked about, but this is already tiring and he hasn't even taken office yet.

Sebastian said...

"the Trump derangement syndrome raging within the soul of the lady with the dog who forgot to suppress the fact that she lives in a gated community." You mean, you expect progs to apply their supposed standards to themselves? To feel guilt and shame over their privilege while spouting their PC nonsense? To think they have anything to "suppress"? To be, you know, consistent?

Curious George said...

"Brando said...
Is everything now going to be all-Trump, all the time? Can no one have any discussion about any unrelated topic without it getting back to Trump? I get that this is the sort of thing that pleases Trump, to be always talked about, but this is already tiring and he hasn't even taken office yet."

Well, Brando, you could have commented on the PJs.

Titus said...

I live right next to a fabulous french cafe (natch) and on the weekends I wear my pjs when purchasing my scone.

tits.

YoungHegelian said...

who forgot to suppress the fact that she lives in a gated community.

You don't really think Miz Robin wants to associate herself with all that street rabble, now, do ya?

Let's not carry this black solidarity stuff too far now, shall we?

Sebastian said...

@Brando: "Is everything now going to be all-Trump, all the time? . . . this is already tiring and he hasn't even taken office yet." Don't mean to hog the thread, but: this raises a corollary to Sebastian's Dilemma: encourage the tiresome all-the-time Trump-bashing (tactically, to provoke backlash) or ridicule (substantively, on the merits)? Yeah, I know some fellow commenters think it ain't either-or, that con ridicule is prog catnip, that we can have our ridicule and eat our electoral gains, but still.

Brando said...

"Well, Brando, you could have commented on the PJs."

Ha, well put. I have fed the beast!

Ok, PJs are fine in public, as apparently everything else is.

"Don't mean to hog the thread, but: this raises a corollary to Sebastian's Dilemma: encourage the tiresome all-the-time Trump-bashing (tactically, to provoke backlash) or ridicule (substantively, on the merits)? Yeah, I know some fellow commenters think it ain't either-or, that con ridicule is prog catnip, that we can have our ridicule and eat our electoral gains, but still."

Yeah these things seem to be compulsive for many. Probably the best move is to ignore it and it dies of its own disinterest.

Todd said...

It is just another step in the ongoing infintization of adults in America. This extending childhood will not end well.

Grown persons still living at home with mommy and daddy.

Gummy adult vitamins.

Safe spaces with puppies (yet who doesn't love puppies...) and coloring books.

PJs at classes and while out in public.

Adult "bars" designed to look/act like child arcades.

It all goes to gown people having no responsibility, no agency, and no accountability.

rehajm said...

Is everything now going to be all-Trump, all the time? Can no one have any discussion about any unrelated topic without it getting back to Trump?

Yes. Awards will be given for the most creative ways associating the least likely topics with Trump bashing.

rehajm said...

I know them when I see them.

Meade said...

"I live right next to a fabulous french cafe (natch) and on the weekends I wear my pjs when purchasing my scone."

Don't you worry that your wiener might pop out?

tcrosse said...

In 1959 Fidel Castro visited New York City and appeared on Edward R. Murrow's show 'Person to Person'. Castro appeared in his hotel suite, and wore pajamas. In tropical climes such loose outfits are peasant garb, and not just for sleeping. Now, if he had worn a Che t-shirt....

Laslo Spatula said...

Beautiful young women wearing pajama pants.

Elastic waistbands.

They practically pull down themselves.

I am Laslo.

exhelodrvr1 said...

Meade,
"Don't you worry that your wiener might pop out?"

Huma certainly does.

tcrosse said...

'Trout Fishing in Trump's Amerikkka'. Richard Brautigan, where are you when we need you?

Laslo Spatula said...

Loose-fit pajamas provide a different appreciation of the female ass.

Not flattened by tighter fit pants, not shaped and constrained by yoga pants: beneath the loose fabric the buttocks are in their natural environment, free to bounce and sway with the female’s walk, allowing the ass to be both sexy and innocent.

And this is even true on adult women.

I am Laslo.

Jim Grey said...

When I was in an all-male engineering school 30 years ago, some of my fellow students showed up for 8 am classes in their bathrobes and PJs. I could never bring myself to do it. I always arrived showered, hair in place, dressed. Frequently "dressed" was faded jeans and a heavy-metal T-shirt, as it was the long-haired '80s.

I still can't imagine being outside my front door, except perhaps to get the mail, in my PJs.

Sydney said...

The first time I encountered someone in pajamas was in my office and I thought, "Oh, my goodness, this young woman is sick. She couldn't even get herself dressed to come to the office." It wasn't until the end of the visit when it was clear she wasn't severely ill that I realized it was a fashion statement.

Wince said...

Meade said...
Don't you worry that your wiener might pop out?

"But teacher, my penis never slips outta my pants... except sometimes when I wear pajamas."

Meade said...

EDH, we LOVE Butters!

CWJ said...

The comment which leads this post captures a phenomenon that I find somewhat disturbing; namely a person in a gated community comparing the election of Trump at least obliquely to the end of civilization. It seems those most emotionally distressed by Trump's election have no personal skin in the game. They are emoting primarily to people like themselves over the supposed threats that Trump poses to other people, muslims, gays, illegal aliens, blacks, the poor, beauty pageant winners, etc. They themselves will hardly be touched if at all.

Whereas, many Trump voters suffered real problems over the last 8 years whether it was the loss of health coverage, a job, their small business, regulatory or social media harrassment, etc. They looked at their personal situation and voted accordingly. For this, they are denounced as racists, mysogenists and whateverphobes. I can empathize with these people who have have real problems, but are despised for their imputed attitudes.

On the other hand, people like passionate students and the commenter have vapers over illusions and projections rather than any real threats in their lives. One group is dealing as best they can real problems, while the other is exercised by immagined future threats to others while denouncing the first group for imagined attitudes conveniently in sync with the worst motives.

Birches said...

My grandpa considered anything without a zipper women's pants, so he wouldn't wear sweats out in public. Maybe this is kind of the same.

The WAPO is at least a trend behind. Pajamas aren't the thing now, it's workout clothes for running errands and every day wear

Big Mike said...

Let me know when pretty young women start walking their dog in baby doll pajamas. Til then, meh.

Yes, I'm a septuagenarian. So I'm a dirty old man. So what?

Meade said...

You think that's dirty. I'm still a Sexygenarian.

Michael K said...

I don't know about pajamas but scrub suits like we wore in surgery were quite a style item in Los Angeles. It seems to have faded now, like all "style items do,

mikee said...

Twenty years ago, "parachute pants" were all the rage. Soft cotton printed with fun designs, from tie-dyed to cartoon characters, with elastic cuffs and string ties.

Me, I'm waiting for the fat 70s ties to come back in style, along with polyester pantsuits (other than for Marxists like Hillary) and hot pants. Not all for me, of course. For everyone.

Sammy Finkelman said...

This type of clothing is actually less revealing than many types of "day" clothing. But women may act the opposite.

Gretchen said...

The fact that she lives in a gated community was completely superfluous, and classist. She is assuming the people within the gates have higher standards of decorum and dress than those deplorables outside the gate.

The election of Trump was clearly traumatizing to the dog walker, why does she believe she should live behind gates yet open the country to everyone? We all know why, because she can feel good about being an open, loving person who is not racist, yet can be assured she won't compete with the illegals for housing, employment or services, her children will not be exposed to third-world diseases at their private school, and she can get a gardener and cleaning woman for much much less.

Dust Bunny Queen said...

Pajamas in public. Wearing actual pajamas not yoga pants (which are another type of horror) or things that are meant to be worn at home, in bed, around the house and not in the public eye is really wrong on a whole lot of levels.

When I see someone wearing those fleece type of pajama outfits in public....that's right People of WalMart I'm looking at you, I think: lazy, slovenly, welfare queens, dirty, probably haven't washed their hair in a week. Stereotype much. I guess I do.

The loose pants that Katherine Hepburn is wearing are not pajamas. The fabric is not PJ fabric. The styling while loose is elegant and flattering. There is no style to the current trend of pajamas. Baggy, slovenly and unflattering to anyone.

NOW if you want stylish pajama or bedroom attire we can look to the 1920's and 30's for stylish lounge wear and pajamas Watch some Nick and Nora

Unfair or not....people judge you by how you dress, your personal hygiene and how you present yourself. Don't wear pajamas in public.

n.n said...

I would drape myself in velvet if it were socially acceptable.

George Costanza was fashion forward.

Big Mike said...

@Meade, can you get the Professor to corroborate?

mccullough said...

Whatever happened to sweat pants?

Meade said...

"@Meade, can you get the Professor to corroborate? "

This might be TMI for you old-timers, but sure — every day and twice on Sundays.

Anonymous said...

Fashion pajamas to walk the dog? Seems all those metrosexual runway models will be out at 5:30am with their Yorkies and Pekingese. No self-respecting Great Dane owner would be caught dead walking his dog in fashion pajamas. It's either shorts and a white t shirt (sorry Prof. Althouse, I know you despise old men in shorts, but criminy its just suffocating here most mornings at 5:30) or a bathrobe. No one will laugh at you - or the dog. Coyotes seem to keep a safe distance as well. Must be the bathrobe.

Larry said...

Let women do what they want. Men, put your fuckin' britches on or stay at home.

Big Mike said...

@Meade, uh huh. Sure. Pardon me if I believe that you've gone from tri-weekly to try weakly.

HT said...

Ugh Robin Givhan. Can't you find someone else to trail for fashion. Pajamas are awful! If you can't stand men in shorts, you really should loathe pjs, or maybe that's just me.

They're not just "welfare queens." They're the kings and queens of the Ivy League here in DC. I don't really know that, but they're the (over) educated transients passin through. "We're trying to have a civilization here!"

tcrosse said...

Let the winds blow high, let the winds blow low
As walking down the street I go
And all the lassies day 'Hallo,
Donald where's your troosers ?'

fivewheels said...

Do people actually wear pajamas to bed, or only to the store? I haven't had pajamas since my age was in single digits, I think. I knew one woman who would wear PJ pants around the house, but not to bed, and not out. Otherwise I don't really see them.

Unknown said...

Who is best :D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gf-xJ7bD4GY

Meade said...

"to try weakly"

Big Mike, do or not do. There is no try. ;-)