Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Not Exactly Victoria's Secret




I haven’t owned slippers since I was maybe eight years old. Not that slipper styles have improved much. I found myself in horribleshopfromhell this afternoon, trying to figure out which pair I liked the most. Or less least. Or at all. Trying to put an emotional value to a possible purchase. Trying to imagine my cold feet slipping into the toweling warmth. Failing.

My life is over! I nearly bought Stokies. Might as well buy a pair of those grey padded soft shoes that old people wear, and a pair of brown slacks with a high waist- you know, the ones which sit somewhere between your manboobs and your navel.

I’ve never paid much attention to nightwear. In South Africa (if you aren’t here- if you are, then you know this) it is usually so hot in summer that a man can get away with some shorts, maybe a t-shirt if it’s really chilly. In winter, we don’t have central heating, so it gets very cold (the very being relative to where you are reading this). The temperature can plummet to three degrees Celsius in Cape Town. (Yeah, I know, I’m a lightweight). I grew up in Scotland/Canada and England, so I do know cold.

My favourite pyjamas as a boy were sort of like a modified Elvis Karate suit- a bed-ghi. These were cool. Many’s the evening I spent prancing around the lounge, feinting powerful kicks at the settee, and slicing open-handed arcs through the air onto my younger brother. Pjs were part of life. I’d have a bath, put my pajamas on. Easy.

For some reason I now associate pyjamas with very old men, or children. I could tell you what Neen wears to bed, but perhaps she’d rather I don’t. I usually wear the horrible t-shirts you get given at conferences or launches (the ones they insist on producing in sizes XXXL to GLOBAL. And some shorts, or, in winter, a revolting pair of tracksuit pants with elasticated cuffs.

Why is it that men think they can get away with not bothering to wear something stylish, heck, maybe even sexy, to bed? Is there such a thing as hot pyjamas? I’m seriously considering buying pyjamas- last night I wore a t-shirt with a picture of Andre Brink, the author, on it. He’s about 75 years old, so it was just not a hot look.

I have no idea what other men wear to bed- Don’t co-sleep with many. I feel isolated, unsure of myself. What do you think a man should wear? This is not a sexually-driven post, purely form versus function, the function being sleeping.

16 comments:

  1. Hahaha, great post!

    None of the men I know have dedicated PJs, it seems to be more a girl thing to do.

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  2. @louisa123: NONE of the men you know? This is a revealing statement...
    ok, so we have one vote for random sleep gear...

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  3. Yeah, what louisa123 said. My husband generally wears his underwear, or sometimes sweat pants if it's colder, but hardly ever wears a shirt.

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  4. Funny, I associate PJ's with old people and kids too. Most of the time. In summer, I don't bother. In winter, it's generally uflattering flannel PJ's. There may be a suspicion of puppies or teddy bears about. I suppose it doesn't really matter does it, as long they're clean and comfortable and serve their purpose?

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  5. @beck: Exactly- surely there should be a stricter dress code? Each to his/her own, but men have very specific tastes in what women should wear- I think it's time for women to speak up!
    @SMP: You have seasonal men? I'm terribly shocked. Ah, well, as long as the men are clean, and serve their purpose, hey?

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  6. I recycle t-shirts too - though I did once buy a pair of PJs (they ended up very uncomfortable!). And the very un-sexy tracksuit pants come out in winter.

    Somehow I can't picture getting a good night's rest while having some delicate bits squeezed by lacy elastic and other bits strangled by slimy-slippery satin ribbons - and I would freeze in anything less than solid fabric.

    It's a good thing it's dark at night or some of us would never get... well... laid? ;-)

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  7. Seasonal men. You say that like it's a bad thing ;)

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  8. @Michelle: Clearly not the lingerie department target market- Comfort is best, I agree. Mostly :-)
    @SMP: *snaps fingers* focus! We're talking about men's pj's here!

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  9. no man i've ever dated had pyjamas. ever.

    my bf occasionally wears his undies to bed, but not often.

    i prefer those who share my bed to be nekkid.

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  10. @ExMi: Ok, I'm getting a clearer picture here. Real men don't wear pjs seems to be the theme. Yay. I don't have to shop for a tartan flannel twinset.

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  11. Ok, well in that case, got to go with EXMI.I prefer my men nekkid as well. In bed that is. Outside of, that's up to them.

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  12. @SMP: Vote noted. You people are sadists! It's winter- Crazy. Or else you live in houses with heating, and have hot water bottles?

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  13. Perhaps. Could be that we are so steaming hot that our men don't need hot water bottles....
    Or not. I think the sadist theory holds more water ... ;)

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  14. @SMP: You have to have the last word, hey? I'll not comment on any of your alleged/purported/claimed hotness, and, thankfully, I'll never know about your sadism. *backing away sloooooowly*

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  15. I dunno dude... I also think of PJs as being for kids or for old men. I spose a T-shirt and shorts is cool, or some sexy boxers...
    I don't do jammies at all either. I may wear a T-shirt in winter as a concession to the cold.

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  16. @angel: Seems that you are part of the trend, or at least Glugster is :-)

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