Pajamas

I moved to Duluth from St. Paul in 1999. My work allows me to travel all over the world. I’ve been to 31 States in the U.S. and 40 countries around the world. Duluth, I’ve noticed, has an almost unique trait that I can’t seem to figure out. The only other place I’ve seen this is Phnom Penh, Cambodia. I wanted to add a picture but didn’t want to impose on someone’s privacy. The unique trait is the many people that wear pajama bottoms as pants in public. What is with that? I actually find it endearing. Perhaps a sign of lack of vanity, or a sign of self confidence. Perhaps a dash of poverty and lack of pretension? I’m not sure. Can anyone explain the pajama bottoms as public apparel in Duluth thing?

17 Comments

BadCat!

about 12 years ago

Because they are riduculously comfortable! I used to wear them when I schlepping to class and didn't care.

Claire

about 12 years ago

I have worn my pajamas in public -- when I am taking my kid to school or picking her up after those damn first-night midnight movies. Duluthians are just pretty casual in their dress -- anything goes. I like that.

Bret

about 12 years ago

That is a key reason I love Duluth!  No pretense! Seriously. It's home!

edgeways

about 12 years ago

Duluthians can dress like they are going to climb a mountain when they go out to diner

Sun Dog

about 12 years ago

It's not a Duluth thing. It's be going on all over the country for several years now. Schools in other parts of the country took a stance on students wearing pajamas to school.

adam

about 12 years ago

Could also be confused with "colorful" medical scrubs.

emmadogs

about 12 years ago

Men's boxer shorts just fit me better--no one seems to make clothes that fit reasonably shaped middle aged women.  Also I like to embarrass Mr Emmadogs in public!

Ruthie

about 12 years ago

This is NOT a Duluth thing it is a generational thing.

Hot Shot

about 12 years ago

Laziness. Trashiness. Plus, Victoria's Secret sells a huge line of overpriced, branded sweat pants and yoga pants. Our culture seems to be OK with folks being out in pajamas. I just silently judge them all ... put on some pants, people!

De man

about 12 years ago

It's like the people who wear their boot liners as boots. What's up with that? Ugg!!

EvilResident

about 12 years ago

It really is a generational thing. I used to do it in highschool all the time. No longer.

Barrett Chase

about 12 years ago

Maybe you've only seen them here and in Cambodia, but people do this everywhere. 

Slate | The Pajama Manifesto

michellep

about 12 years ago

So when did this trend start? I'd bet it was during the Zubaz era.  Did you dare to be different? 

As to current day pajama leanings? I may be guilty of wearing yoga pants in public occasionally.  I even wear them to bed sometimes.  I guess that means I'm part of the problem.  

Recently my sister-in-law gave me a pair of jeans that she reps and she commented that they wouldn't look so long if I wore heels.  Heels?  No thanks.  I guess they'll just get frayed.  And who in Duluth will care?  It's another reason to love life in Duluth!

Sun Dog

about 12 years ago

The Daily Pennsylvanian college paper writes about this -- "Hayley Brooks & Ali Kokot | Pondering the pajama drama."

There was also a story published in the Wall Street Journal on Jan. 19 -- "Why Not Wear Pajamas All Day? Teens Perfect the Rumpled Look, But Others See 'Loungewear' as Just Plain Sloppy."

Andy

about 12 years ago

What I can't get over is how women are wearing yoga pants to work or even worse the leggings that some wear as pants. Three years ago my wife and I went to Europe and the rage was black leggings under a long shirt that covered the rear. My wife joked and said to just wait until that fashion trend hit the US and girls wear the leggings with out the proper shirt/skirt.  She was dead on as now you can walk around town and see women everywhere with just the leggings being worn as pants.

It reminds me of when biker shorts were the fashion of the summer in the Zubaz late '80s. It is a bit awkward when some of the leggings are too small and the stretch to reveal a bit much. I was at a restaurant a few weeks ago and my waitress had leggings as pants with a shirt tucked into them.

 Gotta love how we take a fashion trend and find a way to make it racy.

in.dog.neato

about 12 years ago

I wear my pink pajamas in the summer when it's hot.
I wear my pink pajamas in the winter when it's not.
Sometimes in the springtime, and sometimes in the fall I jump between the sheets with nothing on at all!

emmadogs

about 12 years ago

in.dog.whitman, I have just discovered my very favorite poem of all time.

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