Sleepwear is streetwear

Gurnaaz Kaur

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I love my pyjamas and find it hard to change out of these, whether it’s when I have to step out of the house to go shopping, or even when it’s time for work. What’s wrong with these anyway? These are comfortable, when topped  with a nice T-shirt or a shirt, these can be easily construed as daywear. 

There are many who would agree with me in a blink. Talk of nighties, and you’ll have all the more takers because women living near the coastal lines find long gowns with floral and paisley prints, puff sleeves and lace trimmings airy and practical to run errands. If you think rolling out of bed and out of door in nightwear is breaking all fashion rules, guess what, we are not the only ones who think these garments shouldn’t be restricted to the bedroom. Celebrities have been spotted in their nighties, night gowns, maxi dresses and pyjamas beyond those niche occasions. Gone are the times when it was considered wrong to show up in your night dress. It is the buzzword in the world of fashion today with designers like Stella McCartney and Givenchy giving an okay to the trend.

Bollywood embraces the pyjama 

The blurring line between sleepwear and daywear is not a new phenomenon. Its various versions such as loungewear and athleisure have known to take the catwalks by storm. These combine the best of slouchy suiting and add that touch of smartness to it. The clothing is being admired in its original form today. From Alia Bhatt to Priyanka Chopra, Katrina Kaif to Kangana Ranaut, Bollywood beauties have donned the sleep-inspired fare as a rage from the runway. They’ve embraced the pyjama with much aplomb. Kareena Kapoor took it to the next level by flaunting her maternity wear — an adaptation of the nightie. It may have been an effort to break stereotypes and social taboos, but at the core of it, she highlighted the importance of choosing comfort over style and, eventually, blending the two beautifully.

Ditching the gown

At the global fashion stage, celebrities are ditching couture gowns. Even for the red carpet! Gwyneth Paltrow was spotted wearing a sheer yellow-pleated Chloe gown with high-neck ruched design at the Met Gala. Singer Selena Gomez marked her 27th birthday by wearing a billowing white nightie dress. This wasn’t her first time; at the after party for The Dead Don’t Die’s premiere in New York, she was seen in a nightsuit top with shorts. We’ve also seen her in Olivia von Halle’s nightshirt. Among the singers, Rihanna is another one who was spotted in pink PJs and fussy heels while on her way to the recording studio. 

Comfortable and cool

From Kim Kardashian to Anne Hathaway, many stars have given nighties the daytime treatment. “There’s no rule to what is nightwear and what’s daywear. I have believed all my life that something that is comfortable and sexy is the best bet as nightwear but equally qualifies for the day. I am fond of wearing lacy and satin nighties. If you wear sheer, frilly nightie with some accessories or loose satin pyjamas with stripes, wrap around loose top, it can easily pass as daywear, so there is no thumb rule,” says fashion designer Shruti Singla of Label S. “The kind of necklines given, the fabric types, prints used, etc, make the whole look of nightwear different from daywear,” she says adding that it’s all about how one designs them.

Pair with the heels

One may choose to elevate the night-time attire by pairing it with funky heels or adding a dash of accessories to enhance the look, but whichever way you rock the style, it’s all about prioritising comfort. Saurabh Gupta, managing director of fashion label Mustard, couldn’t agree more. He says it’s more about the comfort of nightwear being translated into an out-of-bedroom look. “One cannot always be decked up and in fitted silhouettes. And celebrities are no different from  us. So seeing them wearing pyjamas or slips is a matter of choosing comfort and turning it into a style statement,” he explains.

According to Saurabh, Ranveer Singh is a celebrity who has carved out a special space for himself in the fashion industry by deconstructing all fashion norms. “We’ve seen him in baby prints, rainbow colours, and even a lungi on the red carpet. He is a fashion icon who represents comfort and class alike.”

Bed to brunch look

These designers say the fashion police has evolved, just as these stars have. From bed to brunch look is the most accepted trend these days. “Many labels such as Dolce and Gabbana, Chanel and Zara have launched pyjamas and nighties in their recent past collections,” says Shurti. “Fashion is very personal; people are opting for things that are easy to move and work around in and they prefer wearing skin-friendly fabric and styles. This has led to the real change in perception about daywear and nightwear. Today, people are more confident about their body shape and skin tone and their choice of fashion. Even celebrities are aware that they may not always get praised for everything they wear. It’s such a breather, and, therefore, a breathable choice in clothes is understood,” maintains designer Gautam Gupta.

Boxy silhouettes, PJ sets, silk nightgowns, robes, there are many options to wear out and around in public, provided it’s not a sign of laziness but fashion. And you are covered from big-name designers to fast fashion brands, including H&M, Marks and Spencer, have endless options. And if Anna Kendrick can wear a Fleur du Mal pyjama set at her book launch, you too can turn quite a few heads with your experimental fashion game.

The Headturners

• 2012: Ulyana Sergeenko attended the Stella McCartney Ready-To-Wear Fall/Winter2012 show in a black and white PJ set. She added a long green overcoat, a peach-coloured clutch to the look. 
• 2016: Jessical Alba wore a pair of floral pyjamas with a black bralette as a Dolce & Gabbana’s pyjama part. She embellished the look with a studded clutch and a red flower headpiece.
• 2016: Amal Clooney wore a Dolce & Gabbana white satin lace slip gown with scalloped lace insets applied to the front and back on the bodice, hips and bottom hem. This was for a dinner at the Villa d’Este in Cernobbio.
• At the Motion Lunch with Madame Figaro on May 22, 2017 in Cannes, France, Salma Hayek wore a pink and black night suit set. She paired it with Stella McCartney platforms and carried a magenta pink and gold sling bag.
• 2017: In New York, Hailey Baldwin was seen wearing a white slip with lace detailing around the neck and waist.
• 2017: Out in New York City, Gigi Hadid rocked in a blue and red stripped pyjama set and plunging red bra. She added white booties and funky sunglasses to the look.
• Naomi Campell paired right turquoise pyjama set with a black bralette, a chocker and booties.
• Rihanna brought alive the 1990s red carpet look with a copper-coloured luxe chemise and an oversized white faux fur coat. She wore a grey baseball cap to give a casual touch to the look.
• Jennifer Lawrence was seen in lack a satin sleepwear, layered with the same colour coat to give it a chic look.
• Selena Gomez was spotted in New York City wearing a $404 Olivia von Halle nightshirt  in October 2017.
• Zendaya was seen in a red print pyjama set with boots by Fendi while out in New York City on this June 25.

Trendsetters

1993: Kate Moss wore a simple silk gown on red carpet.

1995: Courtney Love showed up at the Vanity Fair Oscar party with Amanda de Cadet in matching ivory nightgown dresses and crystal tiaras.

1995: Madonna was seen in a white satin slip topped by a leopard-print coat at a music video screening in 1995.

1996: Drew Barrymore wore many nightgown dress in both long and short versions. On occasions, she topped these with a printed coat.

1996: Princess Diana showed up at the Met Gala in a revealing Dior slip dress.