Pajamas in public...

PoohBang · Feb 8, 2012

bunnyb.gal said:
Please don't post pictures showing how Hef's done that, PoohBang; you'll get this thread closed down! :eeek: In all seriousness, I'd give the man a plus for his nice leisurewear in that pic, and for what he's done for our classic films, but how many minuses for what can only be described as pornification of popular culture. (Sorry, just my 2p and another thread entirely.)

Maybe the current Hugh isn't what he use to be, but during the 50's-early 70's he really influenced not only style, music, film, literature but the roles of women and men were seen in the world, both black and white.

If you thumb through a 60's playboy it'd be tame compared to just the ads in a modern copy of Style magazine or Vogue.

But if you only see him as selling a sleazy men's magazine you miss that. Kind of like Paisley missing that having a PJ day for one day out the year might be seen as giving the employees a day of fun from the exciting world of accounting... plus they are raising money for charity.

V.C. Brunswick · Feb 8, 2012

bunnyb.gal said:
Please don't post pictures showing how Hef's done that, PoohBang; you'll get this thread closed down! :eeek: In all seriousness, I'd give the man a plus for his nice leisurewear in that pic, and for what he's done for our classic films, but how many minuses for what can only be described as pornification of popular culture. (Sorry, just my 2p and another thread entirely.)

IGIWTM*

On the subject of sleazy people in pajamas, the one that readily comes to mind is the late Mob boss Vincent "The Chin" Gigante (1928-2005), aka "The Oddfather" who could often be seen in his Greenwich Village neighborhood (and in court) in bathrobe and pajamas in an unsuccessful attempt to feign mental illness during his racketeering trial.

*I'm Glad It Wasn't Me

bunnyb.gal · Feb 8, 2012

On the subject of Hefner, my lips are sealed from here on out, V.C. Brunswick. It's killin' me, but I'm turnin' the other cheek!

Karma · Feb 9, 2012

As a student who is in and out of the water/snow all day I find myself wearing "pajamas" (really just sweatpants) more often. Mainly because it would be a complete hassle to dress up to go to the one inside class I have. Which is flanked by swimming and kayak rolling sessions.

I suppose I could but I'd rather not crumple my nicer clothes inside a gym bag for 70% of the day.

Amy Jeanne · Feb 9, 2012

PoohBang said:
Maybe the current Hugh isn't what he use to be, but during the 50's-early 70's he really influenced not only style, music, film, literature but the roles of women and men were seen in the world, both black and white.

If you thumb through a 60's playboy it'd be tame compared to just the ads in a modern copy of Style magazine or Vogue.

But if you only see him as selling a sleazy men's magazine you miss that. Kind of like Paisley missing that having a PJ day for one day out the year might be seen as giving the employees a day of fun from the exciting world of accounting... plus they are raising money for charity.

I'm in this school of thought. I collect Playboys from the 50s to the early 80s. Poohbang couldn't be more right -- very tame compared to today's mainstream "women's" mags you can buy at the counter. And all his film restoration work is amazing and admirable. It leaves some classic film fans baffled.

Also, before Playboy there were "girlie" magazines. I have a collection from 1935 to 1981.

John in Covina · Feb 10, 2012

I am surprised that we did not get a:
People should be allow to do what they want when ever they want. I hate it when people try to push their values on others those people are haters.

Pompidou · Feb 10, 2012

John in Covina said:
I am surprised that we did not get a:
People should be allow to do what they want when ever they want. I hate it when people try to push their values on others those people are haters.

We should be glad modern society isn't forcing their values on us, and we should strive to do likewise. We're the minority. We're in Rome. Be happy nobody's forcing us to do as the Romans do. They'd have more right to do the values pushing than we would. Live and let live. 1930s culture is dead. Long live 2010s culture.

Drappa · Feb 11, 2012

As I was looking out my window yesterday and enjoying the glorious sunshine and what was left over from a night of heavy snow, there were four young women walking up our street in the middle of the day, all of them in pyjamas. Did I mention it had snowed earlier?
I don't really care how convenient it is, or how comfortable. The only thing it expresses to me is "I really can't be bothered with anything", and I find that sad.

Pompidou · Feb 12, 2012

I'm sure most of you know that many cultures have a different gesture equivalent to the US middle finger. In some, it's the US peace sign. I suppose the takeaway message is that it's the thought that counts. In a culture where walking around in pajamas is just fine, it's not really fair to read thoughts of laziness out of it. They're not being lazy or disrespectful. They're just being modern. If ours was a culture where different occasions still called for different outfits, a stance that's less and less true each year, then perhaps there'd be room to judge. After all, we by and large don't observe morning and evening suits like the Victorians did.

The difference between the public pajama people and us vs say us and the British monarchy (I imagine they still observe many of the old codes), is only one of degrees. Now rightly, we'd say, nobody follows those rules anymore, to excuse our not following them, and it could be argued the pajama people could say the same. My years at college were full of pajama people. That was 1999-2003. Nobody gave it a 2nd thought even then. It's 2012 now. You can only get in trouble for breaking rules that exist. I say, let them walk outside in pajamas. Never hurt or offended me, and if I find myself getting offended by somebody's not-overtly-offensive outfit, I'll remind myself I've got lots better things to think about.

Amy Jeanne · Feb 12, 2012

Clap Clap Pompidou

I've got better things to worry about than if someone has pajamas on, too. I could care less. As you said -- it is the 2010s. Vintage culture is the minority and NOTHING will make it dominant again, barring some huge cultural backlash. I never understood the whole looking "different" and then complaining about it. If someone side-eyes my vintage looks I usually think it's funny. My self-esteem does not depend on anyone else but myself. Took me 36 years to get here, but here I am and I love it. Truly liberating!

LizzieMaine · Feb 12, 2012

As with everything, there's a time and a place. Anyone who shows up in a courtroom in their pajamas can expect -- and deserves -- to be cited for contempt. If I walk into a bank and the tellers are standing there in pajamas scratching the bits that are hanging out, I'm going to find another bank. If one of my concession kids showed up for work in their pajamas, they'd be sent home to change so fast their heads would spin -- fortunately, they're all wide-awake kids who know better than that, so it's not something I have to worry about. We used to have a rebellious youth culture here, but he grew up and moved away.

On the other hand, if some random person wants to shuffle to the grocery store in their pajamas to buy their beer and cigarettes, meh. If they think they're outraging or shocking me, they've got another think coming -- I'd rather spend my bile on things that really deserve it, like globalization, digital cinema, and John Lackey. I reject modern culture myself, and I wish more people would, but most people won't, and there's nothing I can do about that.

I once went to work in my flannel nightgown and mangy corduroy bathrobe, but that was for a special Halloween event, and the theme was to come in the most terrifying costume you could imagine. I won first prize.

Pompidou · Feb 12, 2012

LizzieMaine said:
As with everything, there's a time and a place. Anyone who shows up in a courtroom in their pajamas can expect -- and deserves -- to be cited for contempt. If I walk into a bank and the tellers are standing there in pajamas scratching the bits that are hanging out, I'm going to find another bank. If one of my concession kids showed up for work in their pajamas, they'd be sent home to change so fast their heads would spin -- fortunately, they're all wide-awake kids who know better than that, so it's not something I have to worry about. We used to have a rebellious youth culture here, but he grew up and moved away.

On the other hand, if some random person wants to shuffle to the grocery store in their pajamas to buy their beer and cigarettes, meh. If they think they're outraging or shocking me, they've got another think coming -- I'd rather spend my bile on things that really deserve it, like globalization, digital cinema, and John Lackey. I reject modern culture myself, and I wish more people would, but most people won't, and there's nothing I can do about that.

I once went to work in my flannel nightgown and mangy corduroy bathrobe, but that was for a special Halloween event, and the theme was to come in the most terrifying costume you could imagine. I won first prize.

Regarding courthouses and places of employment - no arguments there. Private establishments have every right to name their own rules. Everyone here has the right to house dress codes, for example. Fortunately, less and less places do so.

Regarding the person going to the store in pajamas and whether it's intended to be shocking. I would doubt it. Going to the store dolled up like James Bond or a Stepford wife would be shocking. Nobody does it. Dressing ultra comfortably/casually is just being normal. There's no mal intent when people go out comfortably dressed in pajamas or the like. No more than say, a topless woman on a European beach. Wouldn't fly in the US, but they think nothing of it.

LizzieMaine · Feb 12, 2012

Depends on where you are. In a college town one might see pajamas on the street every day as normal. Here, where the median age is 46, it's very rare and likely to be commented on when it is seen, even by "non-vintage-oriented" people. I've never, in six years of standing by the door, seen a patron come to a movie in pajamas, but it's not at all rare to see people coming to shows in sport coats and button-down shirts, or sweaters and skirts. People attend some of our concerts in evening clothes.

nihil · Feb 13, 2012

Very well said Pompidou.
Tolerance is very important. I accept other for wearing what they want to, and expect others to accept me for what I chose to wear. Indeed, it's the casual clothing that are the norm today, and if any standards were to be enforced, it would be us that are wearing outdated and "weird" clothes that would draw the short straw, and be told to change into the casual outfits. Just as well as the fashion during the 30s probably were looked down upon those who were born during the Victorian age.

PoohBang · Feb 13, 2012

well said everyone...

MisterCairo · Feb 13, 2012

Noirblack said:
If I'm recalling correctly one of the scenes early in The Big Lebowsky features The Dude late at night in a grocery story buying a quart of milk in PJs and a robe. It was funny at the time because of the absurdity of the situation. It's sad to think that this is now considered acceptable.

This is very true, but like most people, I still sleep easily at night knowing the Dude is taking it easy on behalf of all of us. The Dude, after all, abides.....

MisterCairo · Feb 13, 2012

Justin B said:
http://www.slate.com/articles/life/...sign_of_america_s_declining_moral_fiber_.html

Wrong. Completely, utterly, and fantasticly wrong.

As for the OP, what he said.

As many have noted, there is a time and place for everything. And the time and place for pyjamas is at sleepy time, at home. Not in the streets.

PoohBang · Feb 13, 2012

MisterCairo said:
As for the OP, what he said.

As many have noted, there is a time and place for everything. And the time and place for pyjamas is at sleepy time, at home. Not in the streets.

what about the homeless? They sleep on the streets don't they?

Amy Jeanne · Feb 13, 2012

I agree with there being a time and place for everything. PJs in court or at a fancy do -- yea, that's not appropriate. The only place I've seen people in PJs is the grocery store and that I can understand. And I don't see it very often here. I saw it more in rural NJ than here in citified Philly. I think socioeconomic class has a lot to do with it, too. I grew up in the poorest county in NJ and it wasn't unsual to see people out in ripped and dirty clothing (unironically, I might add). I live in a bit of a higher-working-class area in Philly so people dress better here.

Edward · Feb 13, 2012

PoohBang said:
what about the homeless? They sleep on the streets don't they?

Funnily enough, I've never seen anyone homeless wearing pjs here in London. A significant proportion of them in military issue clothing (one of the biggest single demographics of homeless people in London is ex-military), but never any pjs.

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