November 18 2007: Best Fashion Statement
Filed under Asian-ness & Style
On my way to work early this morning, I passed a man who had ventured out onto the street in his boxers, ugg boots, and tatty bathrobe to pick up his newspaper on the curb. As soon as he saw me, he blushed bright red, and with eyes fixed firmly on the ground, he clenched his bathrobe tightly around himself and ran back inside.
I was amused, even bemused, not by his attire but by the shame that he seemed to feel. Is it really that embarrassing to be seen in public in one’s sleepwear?
It might just be a result of my background, but venturing outside in one’s pyjamas is nothing astonishing. In the year or so that I’ve spent in spurts in Hong Kong and China since my immigration to Australia in 1990, the chances of my seeing at least ten people roaming the streets in their pyjamas in one day would routinely stand at about 90%.
Admittedly, these sightings in Hong Kong were generally after 10pm, when the night owls were going on late night snack runs to the local convenience store. When out and about during the day on the high-fashion end of Huaihai Lu in Shanghai however, I would see people there in their pyjamas as well. As for the tiny rural village of my mother’s birth (I fondly term it “MON” or “Middle of Nowhere”), being able to afford a set of clothes specifically for sleepwear meant that you had to display this wealth by wearing them out and about.
I suppose what I’m trying to say is that I have enough of the poor rural peasant in me to view pyjamas as a fashion statement. My local supermarket has seen my entire collection of sleepwear numerous times. Besides (cue Eric Idle’s wink wink nudge nudge), anything one wears (or doesn’t wear…) in bed can’t be all that bad!
8 Responses to “Best Fashion Statement”
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As for the tiny rural village of my mother’s birth (I fondly term it “MON” or “Middle of Nowhere”), being able to afford a set of clothes specifically for sleepwear meant that you had to display this wealth by wearing them out and about.
I’m moving there.
Jordie on November 18 2007 #
It is strange to see someone wearing their pjamas in Canada. But in Egypt, if someone is wearing their pjamas in public – it probably means they can’t afford anything else!
Kaylee on November 19 2007 #
It’s horrifyingly embarrassing! I always get into my pyjamas at around 4 o’clock. I used to partner up with a girl in Food Technology and she would bring the food in the evening to my house — she managed to catch me in my pyjamas and I went so red that I matched the scarlet colour of the material. :P
Amber on November 19 2007 #
Meh, I walk around my neighbourhood in just pyjamas all the time, just like everybody else does :P
Personally, I wouldn’t go to my local super market in my pyjamas because, well, it’s too far away and as it is winter here I’d probably freeze my arse off. And I don’t wear sleepwear during summer ;)
Kaisa on November 19 2007 #
I like lounging in my pajamas on lazy days, but i will never, ever go out in them. I don’t care if I have to buy emergency meds for my dad at 1 in the morning. I’m changing into my jeans and shirt before you see me out. I can’t even go out in my flip-flops without feelings a bit slovenly. T_T I’ve been taught to always dress properly when I’m out and about, all the time. And obviously, I’ve been trained well. XD
Aravis on November 19 2007 #
eh, you see people walking around in pj’s once in a while around here. oh and of course that is no foreign territory for the average college student at my uni either.
marilyn on November 19 2007 #
It’s nothing to the Chinese to be venturing outside in nightwear? I thought it was more of a Western thing! I don’t really mind. But I wouldn’t go out in undies.
Anyhow, you’ve been tagged.
Reply: Aw Ryl-Ryl, I don’t do memes!
Rilla on November 19 2007 #
I probably wouldn’t go so far as to nip to the supermarket in my PJs (it’d be cold if nothing else) but I’ve no problem putting the rubbish out, grabbing the post and so forth… I don’t get what the big deal is.
Of course, I’d be arrested if I went out in what I actually wear to bed! ;)
Jem on November 19 2007 #