It’s been about 60 days since I’ve worn a structured garment thanks to the San Francisco Bay Area starting a shelter-in-place order earlier than anywhere else in the U.S. Plus I’d just returned from Italy when it was hit hard with Coronavirus, so my employer said, ‘hey why don’t you work from home for a week or so?’ even before the official order came down. Thus, I was an early adopter of the PJs-all-day lifestyle instead of my usual CorpGoth fashions (though I sometimes spice things up with wacky headgear for a #quarantinefabulous lewk).
While we usually look at frock flicks with ostentatious, elaborate fashion, how about some historical costume pajamas and casual wear? That feels closer to home (y’know, social distancing and all) right now!
Delysia’s dressing gown in Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (2008)
I like to imagine I’m swanning around my swanky flat in this feather-decked gown like Amy Adams, skin all aglow and curls lightly tousled.
But it’s more likely I’m frizzy and vainly attempting homemade masque treatments in a vaguely satin sack like Frances McDormand.
The queen’s nightgown in Marie-Antoinette (2006)
Nice, simple, white nightie with a big, elaborate, pain-in-the-butt formal ceremony to wake up to.
IDK, I’d prefer to sleep in.
All the kimonos & nightgowns in Downton Abbey (2010-2015, 2019)
Both the series and the movie gave good bedroom game, showing ladies in gorgeous kimonos over 1920s undergarments as they dressed or with nightgowns in bed.
Cora in a print kimono at her dressing table.
Not in the oriental style, but lux satin & lace.
Totally oriental here.
Sad Edith gets a simple green ensemble.
But she has a sexier style in the Downton movie.
Mary has an EXTENSIVE wardrobe of just dressing gowns!
Some are actual kimonos.
Plus more in the Downton movie.
And then there’s the best reason to lounge about in nightwear — breakfast in bed.
The Dowager Countess demands it, of course.
Cora savors it.
Mary takes it for granted.
Edith, I share your feels on this matter. I don’t have anyone serving me breakfast at all, much the less in bed :(
Mr. Darcy’s bathrobe in Pride and Prejudice (1995)
How about some token menswear? Doesn’t get more casual than Fitzwilliam Darcy stepping out of the bath, all dripping wet, and getting wrapped in a robe by his manservant.
You’re welcome.
The bad girls’ slumber party in Grease (1978)
I’m not a fan of the movie, but this ridiculous scene is exactly what I miss as I sit alone in my house with only my two cats — I wanna hang out with my friends and get drunk and silly, dammit! Yeah, yeah, I’m flattening the curve for now, it’s for the greater good, and I am an introvert by nature, but I’m really going to enjoy seeing friends again someday.
What’s your quarantine fashion sense? Do you have fabulous vintage PJs?
Does Ian Carmichael’s and Edward Petherbridge’s smoking jackets in their Lord Peter Wimsey adaptations count?
Oh yes! I should have included some smoking jackets but I got carried away with Downton Abbey’s kimonos.
And which Lord Peter did you prefer? I preferred Edward Petherbridge as he fit Ms Sayer’s description of Lord Peter better.
Edward Petherbridge all the way! He’s a bit too old, but he is perfect anyway. And of how I long for a really good tv series of all Sayers book, much as they did Poirot.
Same here
Ian Carmichael is my favorite Lord Peter … and he has fabulous lounging about wear.
Myrna Loy and William Powell in “The Thin Man.” Plus these PJ rules –http://foolishquestions.com/2012/08/06/sleepwear/
While I love the Thin Man series, they aren’t historical costume movies because they were created in the 1930s & are showing contemporary fashions of the time.
https://www.frockflicks.com/what-is-historical-costume-movie-tv-show/
Thanks for the reminder. I just love those two so much!
What about the regency white maxi dresses in nubby linen.Atrocious as they are,they must feel very comfortable when all you are wearing is a hort sleeved tube of fabric cinched at the waist.Not that Hollywood feels the need for regency stays,either.
Downton Abbey is the clear winner for loungewear and nightwear — especially since they’re not bothered by ridiculous ladies-in-waiting waking them up and getting them dressed. Those dressing ceremonies were ridiculous, I think I read somewhere Marie Antoinette would stand around freezing while the L-I-Ws would stand around arguing over whose turn it was to put on which layer or something. Unbelievable.
And Mr. Darcy in a bathrobe is a welcome addition. More men’s loungewear, please!
My daily wear is shorts, lounging pants and oft-changed tshirts (because cat hair.) For v ideo calls, slightly nicer shirts come on.
The always lovely Jessica Kelgren-Fozard and her vintage-style PJ collection:
Argh, link didn’t show up. Here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNrAp0d6lUE
Everyone needs a good kimono or banyan. Banyans should ideally, also have those funny little hats (really nice when it’s cold and your heating is terrible)
Miss Fisher isn’t too shabby in the lounging pj/kimono area either.
She has a red dressing gown that I love!
I am and always will be smitten by Norma’s pale yellow satin and white fur ensemble in Victor Victoria. When she arranges herself in the doorway and announces “I’m Horny” I just lose it every time. A site with a great reference still: https://oklahoman.com/article/3689921/leslie-ann-warren-recalls-working-on-victor-victoria-with-blake-edwards-james-garner
My quarantine fashion sense consists of tee shirts and leggings. No, I don’t have any fabulous vintage PJs. Other than a fabulous vintage robe or kimono, I don’t know that I’d want vintage night clothes. I like to be comfy in bed, and for me there’s nothing like a good-ol’ gunmetal grey tee shirt.
I’m so here for this post! Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day is one of my all-time favorite films, so I am happy to see it discussed here. Amy Adams just looked drop-dead gorgeous (that was the point), and the costumes were just…awesome! Ditto for Downton Abbey. I’m sure that PJs and other night clothes have caught my eye in films before, but I can’t think of any of the top of my head. This post is definitely going to make me keep my eyes open for them in the future!
I have been re-watching Mad Men lately, and there are a lot of interesting jammies in that show. Betty alone has a whole arsenal of nighties and robes. Sally’s neck-high frilly nightgowns remind me of ones my mom used to buy for me back in the 80’s. But nothing beats the image of Don Draper painting Anna’s walls in his T-shirt and boxer shorts.
My favorite is Michelle Pfeiffer’s sari dressing gown in Chéri. http://www.gorgeouspfeiffer.com/images/gallery/movie/09_cheri/cheri_lc_de6.jpg
The marvelous mrs. Maisel shows a lot of wonderful sleepwear too! with matching “shoes”
I’m schlubbing in a Pride tank top and pajama pants, but one of my friends just finished an 1860s wrapper in a gorgeous printed calico. Jealous! (Ideally I’d have Lucille’s nightgown and dressing-gown from Crimson Peak.)
The shirt of the gourverneur of Maracaibo in Polanski’s “Pirates”.
Something very different from the examples here maybe…