Misplaced Pages

#595404

44-768: Pajamas (or pyjamas in Commonwealth English , ( / p ə ˈ dʒ ɑː m ə z , p ɪ -, - ˈ dʒ æ -/ pə- JAH -məz, pih-, -⁠ JAM -əz )) are several related types of clothing worn as nightwear or while lounging. Pajamas are soft garments derived from the South-Asian Muslim bottom-wear, the pyjamas , which were adopted in the Western world as nightwear. The garments are sometimes colloquially referred to as PJs , jammies , jim-jams or in South Asia , night suits . According to

88-504: A fire retardant . Regulations in the United Kingdom are less stringent; pajamas which do not comply with fire safety standards may be sold, but must be labelled "KEEP AWAY FROM FIRE". Pajamas in the Western world have been regarded as essentially indoors wear, or wear for the home, whether treated as daywear or nightwear. When Bette Davis wore her husband's pajama top as a nightie in the 1956 film Old Acquaintance , it caused

132-444: A robe , a sheer chiffon peignoir , or a dressing gown , to make them appropriate for receiving guests. The Dictionary of Fashion History highlights the use of the term "nightgown" as early as 1530, when French linguist John Palsgrave translates "sloppe" to nightgown in his own textbook. There is no indication whether the term referred to sleepwear or an item of clothing with a different purpose, however. There, additionally,

176-533: A bright, contrasting color. The material varied based on the weather and the person wearing the gown. In colder seasons, nightgowns would have fur linings. Trade throughout Europe and Asia from the 16th to 18th centuries led to the foreign fabrics and styles used for nightgowns in Western Europe and America. Exotic associations popularized the nightgown, especially in the kimono or banyan style. Fashion historian Patricia Cunningham has also suggested “the cut of

220-452: A fashion revolution, with I. Magnin selling out of men's sleepwear the morning after the movie opened, and all of it to young women. Since the late 18th century some people, in particular those in the US and to some extent Britain, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, have worn pajamas in public for convenience or as a fashion statement. One reason for the increased wearing of pajamas in public

264-452: A nightgown may vary from hip -length to floor-length. A short nightgown can be called a "shortie" or a " babydoll ", depending on the style. The sweep (taper from top to bottom) of the night gown can vary from virtually straight, to full circle sweep, like the Olga gown. A slip nightgown may be used as a nightgown or as a full slip . Nightgowns may be worn with a matching outer garment such as

308-463: Is also used to distinguish between British English and that in the rest of the Commonwealth. English in the Commonwealth is diverse, and many regions have developed their own local varieties of the language. In Cyprus , it does not have official status but is widely used as a lingua franca . English is spoken as a first or second language in most of the Commonwealth. Written English in

352-470: Is in the process of developing) its own standards of usage, often under the influence of local languages. These dialects are sometimes referred to as New Englishes (McArthur, p. 36); most of them inherited non-rhoticity from Southern British English. Several dialects of West African English exist, with a lot of regional variation and some influence from indigenous languages. West African English tends to be syllable-timed , and its phoneme inventory

396-544: Is increasingly being used in the home as the first language. Small communities of native English speakers can be found in Zimbabwe , Botswana , and Namibia ; the dialects spoken are similar to native South African English . Prior to Togo 's admission at the 2022 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting , Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussey said that he expected Commonwealth membership to provide opportunities for Togolese citizens to learn English , and remarked that

440-552: Is little evidence of designated sleepwear prior to the 16th century. European portraiture from the Middle Ages suggests men and women commonly slept naked, sometimes with a nightcap . Some historians suggest a lack of record of early sleepwear is due to social attitudes. Sleepwear was widely regarded as a private matter within households until it became more popularized. Modern nightgowns originate from nightshirts on men, or night-chemises on women which date back to as early as

484-461: Is much simpler than that of Received Pronunciation ; this sometimes affects mutual intelligibility with native varieties of English. A distinctive North African English , often with significant influences from Bantu languages such as Swahili , is spoken in countries such as Kenya or Tanzania , particularly in Nairobi and other cities where there is an expanding middle class, for whom English

SECTION 10

#1732779720596

528-716: Is recorded in English use in the first half of the nineteenth century. They did not become a fashion in Britain and the Western world as sleeping attire for men until the Victorian period, from about 1870. Hobson-Jobson: A Glossary of Colloquial Anglo-Indian Words and Phrases (1886) summarizes the state of usage at the time (s.v. "pyjammas"): Such a garment is used by various persons in India e.g. by women of various classes, by Sikh men, and most by Mohammedans of both sexes. It

572-520: Is that people no longer face the same social pressure as in the past. In January 1976, the gulf emirate Ras Al Khaimah , UAE introduced a strict dress code for all local government workers forbidding them from wearing pajamas to work. In January 2016, the Tesco supermarket in St Mellons , Cardiff , United Kingdom, started a ban on customers wearing pajamas. In May 2010, Shanghai discouraged

616-567: Is the product of several waves of immigration and settlement, from Britain, Ireland, France, the United States, and around the world, over a period of more than two centuries. Modern Canadian English has taken significant vocabulary and spelling from the shared political and social institutions of Commonwealth countries. Caribbean English is influenced by the English-based Creole varieties spoken, but they are not one and

660-529: The Oxford English Dictionary , the word pajama is a borrowing via Urdu from Persian . Its etymology is: Urdu pāy-jāma, pā-jāma and its etymon Persian pāy-jāma, pā-jāma, singular noun < Persian pāy, pā foot, leg + jāma clothing, garment (see jama n.1) + English -s, plural ending, after drawers. The worldwide use of pajamas (the word and the clothing) outside the Indian subcontinent is

704-484: The English language in current and former Commonwealth countries was largely inherited from British colonisation , with some exceptions. English serves as the medium of inter-Commonwealth relations and the language forms part of the common culture of the Commonwealth . Commonwealth English refers to English as practised in the Commonwealth; the term is most often interchangeable with British English , but

748-468: The White Ants ." Traditional pajamas consist of a shirt -and-trousers combination made of soft fabric , such as flannel or lightweight silk . The shirt element usually has a placket front and sleeves with no cuffs . Pajamas are usually worn as nightwear with bare feet and without undergarments . They are often worn for comfort by people in their homes, especially by children, especially on

792-456: The 16th century. Nightshirts and night-chemises tended to just be day shirts or undergarments and were similarly ankle-length, shapeless articles with varying collars. Nightshirts resembled tunics; worn by both sexes for centuries in Egypt and Rome . They tended to be made from white linen so as to be easily washed and absorbent. Nobles and Lords however wore nightshirts that were embroidered. It

836-517: The 18th century, with the colonisation of Australasia and South Africa. Australian English and New Zealand English are closely related to each other and share some similarities with South African English (though it has unique influences from indigenous African languages, and Dutch influences it inherited along with the development of Afrikaans from Dutch). Canadian English contains elements of British English and American English , as well as many Canadianisms and some French influences. It

880-523: The 1990s, designer Calvin Klein developed a line of nightgown style dresses which were simple, silk gowns that were short or reached the floor. As recently as 2019, actor Gwyneth Paltrow wore a sheer yellow lace nightgown on the red carpet at the Met Gala with a high neck and filled collar much like one from the 19th century. Other trends like beach slip tunics have been linked to the first variations of

924-605: The 19th century saw more tailored nightgowns which were full skirted with figure-hugging bodices, reflecting trends of the time. By the 1960s, nightgowns were completely diversified, found in varieties of lengths, patterns, and fabrics. In the 21st century, nightgowns are predominantly worn by women. Common modern nightgown styles are made from cotton, satin, silk or lace and have embroidery or lace details with thin shoulder straps. Nightgowns have several different variations. Longer, cotton nightgowns are often referred to as "Victorian Nightgowns", having been influenced by similar styles in

SECTION 20

#1732779720596

968-445: The Commonwealth, although comparatively very few speakers of Indian English are first-language speakers. The same is true of English spoken in other parts of South Asia , e.g. Pakistani English , Sri Lankan English , Bangladeshi English and Myanmar English . South Asian English phonology is highly variable; stress, rhythm and intonation are generally different from those of native varieties. There are also several peculiarities at

1012-498: The English lady". Prior to the late 19th century, the term "nightgown" referred not to sleepwear but rather to informal wear. The nightgown was a "version of a modern dressing gown" and tended to be worn around the house or to occasions when formal attire was not necessary. This garment was actually a Banyan , a T-shirt shaped robe adopted by the British from India but became known as a "nightgown", dressing gown or "morning gown" in

1056-533: The US, they have sometimes included the latter or a somewhat shorter nightshirt as a top. Some pajamas, especially those designed for infants and toddlers, feature a drop seat (also known as a trap door or butt flap ): a buttoned opening in the seat, designed to allow the wearer conveniently to use a toilet . In the United States, pajamas for children are required to comply with fire safety regulations. If made of flammable fabric, such as cotton, they must be tight fitting. Loose-fitting pajamas must be treated with

1100-408: The apparent appropriateness of the gown for both professional and social occasions". From 1840 to 1900, stylistic changes were made to nightgowns' necklines, collars, sleeves, bodices and closures. "Embellishments such as frills, ruffles, tucks, ribbons, lace, beading, openwork and embroidery would often be added to necklines, collars, bodices, sleeves, cuffs, and skirts." The traditional nightshirt

1144-466: The bias". Her styles accentuated curves while also providing fluidity and comfort. During this time, nightgowns also moved from domestic use to fashion statements. In 1933, trend setter Mary d'Erlanger wore a nightgown cut low in the front and back to a ball in New York popularizing the elegance of the style. This style, now referred to as the " slip dress " made a resurgence in the 1990s. The middle of

1188-543: The country sought closer ties with the Anglophone world . Hong Kong ceased to be part of the Commonwealth (by virtue of being a British territory) in 1997. Nonetheless, the English language there still enjoys status as an official language. English was introduced into the subcontinent by the British Raj . Among the partitioned post-independent countries, India has the largest English-speaking population in

1232-568: The current and former Commonwealth generally favours British English spelling as opposed to American English , with some exceptions, particularly in Canada, where there are strong influences from neighbouring American English. Few Commonwealth countries besides Australia, Canada, South Africa, and the United Kingdom have produced their own English dictionaries and style guides , and may rely on those produced in other countries. Southern Hemisphere native varieties of English began to develop during

1276-476: The early 1700s due to its casual nature. Nightgowns, or dressing gowns, were predominantly worn by men. English variations of the nightgown or dressing gown were influenced by similar gowns from India, Japan and the Middle East. In the early 18th century, the kimono style became popular. It was loose fitting and fit over men like a coat. The gown "consists of two widths of fabric seamed at center back up to

1320-521: The gown may derive from Persian and Turkish caftans”. Nightgowns or dressing gowns also increased in demand because of portraiture and implications of status. The garment is seen throughout portraits in the 17th and 18th centuries. "The adoption of the gown by the English may date from the 16th century when Henry VIII wore what appears to be an Islamic caftan with frogged closure for a portrait by Holbein". Cunningham points to paintings "The Apothecary's Shop" (1752) and "The Concert" (1741) which "illustrate

1364-439: The late 19th century. Shorter nightgowns are also known as "nighties" and a common style is the " babydoll " nightgown which is generally lace and silk with a V-neckline. Other variations are the "shirt style" nightgown or the "slip dress" nightgown. The variety of styles of nightgowns have pushed into daywear and are also often seen on the runway. Nightgown influence has been seen in street style clothes as well as high fashion. In

Pajamas - Misplaced Pages Continue

1408-483: The levels of morphology, syntax and usage, some of which can also be found among educated speakers. Southeast Asian English comprises Singapore English , Malaysian English , and Brunei English ; it features some influence from Malay and Chinese languages, as well as Indian English . Other languages: Nightgown A nightgown may have any neckline , and may have sleeves of any type, or be sleeveless, and any shoulder strap or back style. The length of

1452-446: The neck, where it joins a small rectangle of fabric to build up the neckline. Each width of fabric then falls over the shoulders to create the gown front. Additional widths of fabric form the sleeves. V-shaped inserts could be sewn at the side seams for additional fullness." Nightgowns were also typically made from cotton or silk ( damask , brocade , velvet , taffeta , and satin ) or wool with linings using satin or lutestring in

1496-497: The result of adoption by British colonists in the Indian subcontinent in the 18th and 19th centuries, and the British influence on the wider Western world during the Victorian era . Pajamas had been introduced to England as "lounging attire" as early as the seventeenth century, then known as mogul's breeches ( Beaumont and Fletcher ) but they soon fell out of fashion. The word pajama (as pai jamahs, Paee-jams and variants)

1540-442: The same dress code as they normally would at school. Schools sometimes designate a "pajama day" when students and staff come to school in their pajamas to boost school spirit . In movies and television, characters are often depicted wearing pajamas in bed, as a more proper alternative to other forms of nightwear. These are commonly pajama pants with a shirt or t-shirt. English in the Commonwealth of Nations The use of

1584-710: The same. There is a great deal of variation in the way English is spoken, with a "Standard English" at one end of a bipolar linguistic continuum and Creole languages at the other. These dialects have roots in 17th-century British and Irish English , and African languages , plus localised influences from other colonial languages including French, Spanish, and Dutch; unlike most native varieties of English, West Indian dialects often tend to be syllable-timed rather than stress-timed . Second-language varieties of English in Africa and Asia have often undergone " indigenisation "; that is, each English-speaking community has developed (or

1628-582: The undergarments without which the Portuguese in India never sleep"] [...] The word is now used in London shops. A friend furnishes the following reminiscence: "The late Mr. B—, tailor in Jermyn Street , some on 12 years ago, in reply to a question why pyjammas had feet sewn on to them (as was sometimes the case with those furnished by London outfitters) answered: "I believe, Sir, it is because of

1672-629: The wearing of pajamas in public during Expo 2010 . In January 2012, a local Dublin branch of the Government's Department of Social Protection advised that pajamas were not regarded as appropriate attire for clients attending the office for welfare services. Many school and work dress codes do not allow pajamas. In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic , an Illinois school district set remote learning guidelines which state that pajamas should not be worn while studying remotely and students should follow

1716-591: The weekend. Contemporary pajamas are derived from traditional pajamas. There are many variations in style such as short sleeve pajamas, pajama bottoms of varying length, and pajamas incorporating various non-traditional materials. Often, people of both sexes opt to sleep or lounge in just pajama pants, usually with a t-shirt . For this reason, pajama pants are often sold as separates. Stretch-knit sleep apparel with rib-knit trimmings are common, mostly with young children. Although pajamas are usually distinguished from one-piece sleeping garments such as nightgowns , in

1760-480: The wrists and at the knees." French designer Coco Chanel was the first to release a line of attractive women's pyjamas which coaxed along their popularity. Despite the introduction of pyjamas, the popularity of the nightgown grew drastically in the 1920s. Between 1920 and 1940, nightgowns did not curve the body but draped down in a straight line. This is widely attributed to French designer Madeleine Vionnet who rejected corsets and became famous "cutting fabric along

1804-519: Was adopted from the Mohammedans by Europeans as an article of dishabille [highly casual clothing] and of night attire, and is synonymous with Long Drawers, Shulwaurs, and Mogul-Breeches [...] It is probable that we English took the habit like a good many others from the Portuguese . Thus Pyrard (c. 1521) says, in speaking of Goa Hospital: " Ils ont force caleçon sans quoy ne couchent iamais les Portugais des Indes " [fr., "They have plenty of

Pajamas - Misplaced Pages Continue

1848-423: Was also a sign of wealth and is regarded as the first women's nightwear to be used widely and a predecessor to the modern nightgown. According to historians Willet and Phillis Cunnington, only small adjustments were made to nightdresses up until the late 19th century because of social attitudes; trimmings of lace or tighter fits were viewed "as a sign of depravity that went against the highest principles of prudery in

1892-550: Was not until the late 17th century that sleepwear developed its own identity in Western Europe , and higher-class women began to wear chemise -like gowns exclusively to bed, known as nightshifts. Nightshifts developed more shape when the negligée was born in France in the early 18th century. The negligée was typically made with soft-sheer fabric and was tighter around the waist, but still loose-fitting for comfort.  It

1936-418: Was replaced by pyjamas amongst the Western world when it was adopted from India in 1870. Pyjamas soon became an essential item in men's wardrobes because of their comfort and exotic connotations. Female pyjamas were introduced in 1886 and were a combination of a nightgown and pants "that required 4 ½ yards of calico or flannel fabric. The top had a high collar and a buttoned-down front, and there were frills at

#595404