Life in Pajamas

What Do I Think About the Possible Louisiana Ban on Pajamas in Public? Glad You Asked!

When the headline first appeared in my Google Alerts that a parish in Louisiana was attempting to enforce a ban on wearing pajamas in public, I barely gave it a second glance. Unfortunately, wearing pajamas in public seems to be a hot topic these days. Even today's  Wall Street Journal tackles the topic. We've heard recently of schools banning its students, or even parents, from wearing pajamas on its premises and now this prospective anti pajama legislation in Louisiana.

 

But as I read more about Caddo Parish District 3 Commissioner Michael Williams’ attempt to push through an ordinance that would prohibit anyone from appearing in public wearing “a garment sold in the sleepwear section of department stores,” I realized this was emblematic of a more concerning trend in our country.

 

Now, I’m not just saying this because I happen to own an online store which sells only sleepwear apparel. I am saying this because I believe clothing is one of the greatest forms of personal expression in our modern world. And personal expression is something that must never be limited in a successful democracy.

 

I founded The Pajama Company eight years ago because after a career in the fashion industry in New York and living and traveling abroad working for an international women’s NGO, I realized pajamas were my favorite type of clothing. After two decades of wearing power suits and dresses, I found pajamas were what I wore to feel my most creative, to feel my most comfortable and to express myself most fully. I've done my best work in pajamas.

 

That kind of power should never be taken away from the people.

 

Now perhaps you are reading this news and agree that kids wearing plaid pants in public is distasteful. Chances are you would also frown upon boys wearing baggy pants or girls in short skirts with heels. I personally am not a fan of men in basketball shorts or women in leopard print. Fortunately, in America we all have the right to make our own judgments, to share our thoughts with our friends or our social networks. We can celebrate the ridiculousness of the fashion choices of people we see on the street on sites like People of Walmart or on shows like What Not To Wear. But we would never walk up to those people and tell them to change their clothes. We would be dismayed to see them charged with a crime based on their choice of apparel.

 

As we learn from TLC’s Stacy and Clinton any item of clothing can be manipulated to look either tacky or stylish. For me, there is nothing better than putting on a crisp pair of pajamas with mascara and a great pair of boots or flats.

 

And I know I’m not the only one who feels that way. Pajamas and items sold in the “sleepwear section” of stores have recently been worn on the red carpet by the likes of style icons Rachel Roy and Ryan Gosling and highlighted by fashion columnists and bloggers. In November, Marie Claire ran a slide show touting the latest trend of pajamas in fashion with a subhead reading “there’s nothing sleepy about this timeliness trend: Loungewear wakes up to luxe.”  Glamour instructed its readers to look fashionable by staying in pajamas over the weekend. Even Prada designed a line of high end pajamas, which are definitely not meant to be concealed in the bedroom.

 

And how dangerous can pajamas be when a pastor of a church in Toledo sponsored it's second annual "Pajama Pants Sunday" last week?

 

Williams cited citizens’ uncomfortableness with the trend of public pajama wearing as his reasoning for the ban.

 

For a child of the 1960’s like myself, there is something especially uncomfortably familiar with an authority figure attempting to ban youth from exhibiting a fashion trend for fear of what it represents. 

 

How is this different than schools and businesses banning young men from wearing their hair long in the 1960’s or schools preventing kids from wearing denim in the 1950’s? For that matter, it is even reminiscent of a time when women wearing pants was frowned upon in public. 

 

It's nice to see that Commissioner Williams doesn't feel the "crime" of wearing pajamas warrants jail time, merely community service. Who joins me in cheering pajama clad citizens who already affect good in our society, who already volunteer in their local communities?

 

Last year a high school in Vermont banned pajamas in school claiming pajamas inhibited students’ work ethic.

 

I imagine the legions of bloggers and those who work from home would take issue with that statement.

 

Whether you think pajamas are appropriate daily attire is for you to decide. As for me, please excuse me while I put on my pretty striped cotton pajama pants and get back to work.

Today I'm Working in Pajamas

Yup, today I'm working in pajamas.  Working in pajamas is nothing new for me, I've loved pajamas for years and thinking back on it, I've done some of my best work in pajamas.  I've had some of my best ideas in pajamas.  I've written some of my best tweets and blog posts in pajamas. I thought of starting a pajama company wearing pajamas. I love to be comfy, I love to lounge.  I'm not sloppy, my pj's are fabulous.  My pj's are fun prints, my pj's are wonderful cottons. My pj's are often ironed, crisp and fresh.  I wear mascara and pink lipgloss with my pj's. 

I know I'm not the only one working happily in my pj's.  I think there are a lot of us out there creating, writing, innovating everyday in pj's.  I love to say that I'm pretty lazy, I love to lounge. Being lazy is really a state of mind, it's being comfy, it's settling into a great chair in pj's and laptop ready to work.  Being lazy is a virtue. As Pooh Bear famously said,  “Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.”  Sometimes slowing down the pace of life is so productive. 

So today, cheers to all of us working in pajamas.  Cheers to all of us creating, writing, thinking in pajamas.  Today is our day.

10 Things To Do In Pajamas...Plus 2 More

Here are 10 things to do in Pajamas. What would you add to the list?

1,  Write a Blog Post

2.  Shop...online!

3.  Garden

4.  Cook

5.  Watch Seinfeld reruns

6.  Work all day

7.  Go on a date...a pajama date

8.  Take The SAT

9.  Dream

10.  Sleep

+1 Open presents on Christmas Morning

+2 Pose for Christmas Picture in Matching Family Pajamas

P.J. Salvage First Annual National Seep-In Day!

One of of our favorite pajama peeps, P.J. Salvage is sponsoring it's first annual national Sleep-In Day this Saturday, February 19.  P.J. Salvage encourages us to take the morning to sleep-in to recuperate from everyday daily stresses and general lack of sleep.  P.J. Salvage hopes to highlight the benefits of getting enough sleep including:  improving overall health, strengthening our overall awareness and reaction speeds and improving physical fitness.  National Sleep-in Day is P.J. Salvage's fun and interesting way to bring light to the benefits of sleep and the influential role proper sleepwear can play in regulating sleep patterns.

In conjunction with National Sleep-in Day, P.J. Salvage will donate 500 pairs of pajamas to Pajama Program, a non-profit organization that provides new pajamas and new books to chilren in need in the United States and around the world in orphanages, group homes and shelters.  P.J. Salvage will make donations in New York City and Los Angeles as well as encourage the company's nationwide retailers to participate in the donation.

So join in the fun and Sleep-In this Saturday!  Do it for your own health and wll being!  Sleep for a good cause is just...good!

The Pajama Company is on You Tube

We want to share our videos with you on You Tube.  Click here to see where pajamas have created fun, fun, fun. We have always thought that pajamas spread happiness and you will see from our videos that it's true.  Aside from the pajama fun, we have some new musicians to introduce you to and some music we think you will love today.

Subscribe to our channel here: http://www.youtube.com/ThePajamaCompany

Where do your pajamas take you?

Gifts for Geeks

Have a hard to buy for geek in your family?  We think pajamas make a great gift for geeks. From computing to video gaming to chess playing, seriously aren't all of these activities just better in pj's?  Here are a few of our favorite Geek pajamas.

 

Gray Flannel Footy from Big Feet PJ's $44

We love our model enjoying life in his retro footy pajama.  Perfect for lounging and doing all things Geek.  Made of 100% cotton flannel, not too thick and not too thin.  We promise your Geek will love these and might just want to jump up and click his heels. 

 

Life is good Blue Plaid Flannel Pant $30

Comfy flannel pajama pants are always right.  Paired with a favorite tee, it's just all about comfort.  Life is good pj pants are always wonderful with no detail overlooked.  Should your geek need to dash out for the latest video game, bluetooth gadget, flash drive, star trek must have item...no worries, our pajama pant has pockets for those car keys.  

"Nerds Rule" Pajama Pant from David & Goliath $19.99

The perfect pajama pant for her.  100% cotton with an all around drawstring waist.  Teens and adults alike love the fit and fun of David & Goliath pj pants.  She will enjoy hours of video gaming, homework, computing in these comfy pajamas.

When sleep finally hits, your Geek needs a place for his or her head to fall.  We have the perfect rectangular soft solution, our handmade social media pillows.  100% handcrafted by Craftsquatch made with the softest fleece and the fluffiest polyester filling, this 12" X 12" pillow will make your geek smile.

Twitter Pillow from Craftsquatch $32

RSS Pillow from Craftsquatch $32

Facebook Pillow from Craftsquatch $32

 

Gmail Pillow from Craftsquatch $32

My Space Pillow from Craftsquatch $32

Twitter Bird Pillow from Craftsquatch $32

We love geeks in pajamas and geeks snoozing on our social media pillows.  What are your favorite gifts for geeks?  Share, share, share.

Pajamas Banned at a UK Grocery Store

The Guardian newspaper is reporting that customers at a Welsh branch of Tesco grocery store are now banned from wearing pajamas. The Cardiff Tesco spokesperson explained that shoppers sporting pajamas were offensive to other shoppers.  Of course we at The Pajama Company love to see pajamas here, there and everywhere.  Just the other day we complimented a guy at a cafe wearing a great pajama pant with his fleece jacket and slip on shoes.  He told us he was a film producer who used to always wear suits but now lives and works in pajamas.  All we could say was...how wonderful and his happy face kind of said it all. 

Now what do you think about pajamas at the grocery store? Take our poll and share your views.

Merchant Offers Free Turkeys to Shoppers in Pajamas

Of course we love this story.  The merchants of Ocean City, New Jersey are offering free turkeys to all customers who shop in pajamas for their downtown event "Earlier than the Bird" promotion 7am to 9am on Saturday November 21st. Shopping in pajamas will just be all around happy and we at The Pajama Company  wish the businesses and shoppers a great morning! 

Pajama Company CEO stand Up For Pajama Clad Teens

Recent trends of teens wearing pajamas to school have got some administrators up in arms.  Teachers, principles, and parents are saying students coming to school in flannel pants or even slippers look sloppy and inappropriate. 

However, Ellie Badanes, CEO of website thepajamacompany.com says this is a perfectly acceptable trend.  “I love seeing pajamas at school,” she says, “Nothing sloppy going on, no, we call it trendy.”

She advises teens and tweens who are looking for a perfect combination of trendy and comfortable to pair a pajama pant with their favourite tee-shirt and flip flops or comfy boots.

Those timid or unsure about the idea she says should check out the teens and tweens section of her website www.thepajamacompany.com for some examples.

“Pajamas aren't just for sleeping anymore.  They go where you go and if you're a teen or tween we've seen them going everywhere!”

 

Partying In Your Pajamas – Have an Adult Sleepover!

 

The holiday season also means it’s the party season – why not take advantage of the time of year to have an adult pajama party?  There are many fun-filled activities you can prepare for your guests and planning for an adult sleepover is easier than you might think.  Following are some tips and tricks for making your holiday pajama party a fun and festive event.

 

• Drinks and snacks – be sure have a variety of beverages available, both cold and hot, and have snack food such as cheese, crackers, bite-sized vegetables, popcorn, chips and dip available to munch on.

 

• Make a list of activities – it might not be all about conversation or movie watching.  You could have an adult sleepover that includes your guests making their own party favors!  It can be an arts and crafts project, something that reminds your guests of pajama parties from their childhood.  Have a stock of fun games on hand for added enjoyment.

 

• Fun pajamas should be one of the center points of your adult sleepover -- the more outrageous, the better, with bonus points for feathered robes and the big bunny slippers!

 

• Pick a selection of movies to suit the theme of your party, if you have one.  If the participants in your pajama party are women, consider renting modern "chick flicks," as well as classic romantic black and white movies.

 

• Continuing on the girls’ night in idea, why not bring the spa to your sleepover?  Take the time to indulge yourselves with masques, facials, foot soaks, herbal treatments, and even delicious chocolates.

 

• Designate a “quiet corner” – this is an area where the first of the sleepyheads in your pajama party can nod off.  Typically, some adults will want to sleep early, others will be up till dawn.

 

• To breakfast or not to breakfast -- decide whether or not you're going to provide breakfast and what to have.  It can be as basic as coffee and doughnuts or as elaborate as a continental buffet.