From what fashion magazines and websites have been telling us, apparently the “comfortable roomwear look” has been a recent hit with young women in Japan, particularly teenagers. “Roomwear” is a Japanese term for loose-fitting, comfortable clothes that look like something you might relax in at home, so it’s pretty much the opposite of what you’d normally expect to see people wearing. Nevertheless, this new looks is even being called the “new Harajuku-style” fashion.
When we first heard about this trend, we thought the clothes might be similar to the exquisitely soft robes and jackets from Kashwére — something you can lounge in at home but can also be worn outside — roomwear with style, if you will. Well, when we dug a little deeper into this new roomwear look, we were in for a bit of a surprise, because they weren’t just loose-fitting clothes; they were what could only be described as real actual pajamas.
Sure enough, when we looked up Japanese fashion sites for young girls like SPINNS, titivate and DHOLIC, we found multiple items referred to as “pajama shirts“. Yup, they really are using the word pajamas in the product name, and while the satin material looks nice, we have to say the shirts look better for sleeping than a shopping trip.
This was somewhat of a culture shock to us. As comfortable as they may be, we really couldn’t imagine wearing these shirts outside … they’re pajamas, after all. Or, could it be that we’re just getting old, and this is a new trend we need to get used to? It’s unique, and it may require a bit of fashion savoir-faire, but it’s a bold new look that maybe young women can pull off.
Whatever we think, we can see that the “roomwear look” is definitely trending simply by looking up #pajamashirt on Instagram. If the number of pictures and variety of pajama-style items to be found are anything to go by, it’s definitely a hit.
References: SPINNS, titivate, DHOLIC, Instagram/#パジャマシャツ Original Article by: Anji Tabuchi ©Pouch
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© Japan Today
28 Comments
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Moonraker
I think you will find this is hardly unique to Japan. The pyjamas-as-fashion trend began last year on the catwalks (is it still ok to call them that?) and is being promoted in most fashion centres by those who manipulate the fashion victims.
sillygirl
A few years ago some of my students at a women's uni wore baby doll pajamas.
katsu78
If you even care what people other than yourself are wearing, then yeah, this is a good bet.
goldorak
Not new at all. Look at the Ugg boots phenomenon.
frank07
well I see yankii chicks on bicycles wearing sweatpants and crocs while listening to music
FizzBit
Definitely ready for St. Patrick's day.
papigiulio
This, ever since i set foot on this island I have seen gyaru wearing pink sweatpants and crocs and yankis wearing bathrobes. And a year ago I saw sweatpants painted like jeans for sale. I'm all in favor for babydolls though
Aly Rustom
heaven help us if that's the new fad we are going to have to endure
roughneck
All I see is, when you have more money than you need to survive, you get bored with normal and venture to the weird part of your thoughts. These weird fashions will never come from people who are working hard to meet the ends.
Ogün Alarçin
If they wanna sleep or take a nap everytime they want this "fashion trend" will help them.
inkochi
Natural-colour hair is OK though, isn't it? Or, if not, perhaps wearing pyjamas is forbidden in such a fashion-convention-rule driven culture, for the natural look of course.
dcog9065
My "roomwear" is mostly notable for it's lack of wear
nath
Hmm. I may pick up this trend myself. Pajamas to the office - sounds comfortable.
RainMonster
By the time this article posted, the trend is probably over. Japanese youth fashion changes so fast it is out of style by the time you open the shopping bag at home. No big deal, it will be gone by the weekend.
Tessa
I haven't worn pajamas since I was 12! I didn't think anybody did.
wontond
People wear flannel pajama bottoms where I live too, but I wouldn't call them fashionable. Maybe unemployed slacker, but definitely not fashionable.
nath
Not a new trend been seeing Japanese and Chinese ladies wear Pajamas to have breakfast at a cafe or shopping for quiet some time, was most notable in Nagoya my J-Wife told it is nothing new(She grew up there).
iamme
I've actually seen ads for sweatpants that are designed to look like suits. No joke. I was even tempted to buy a pair.
Vernie Jefferies
Sounds like a new way of telling people that you are too lazy to get dressed to go out.
BigCeltic1977
Sweatpants (or jogging bottoms as we used to call them back home in the UK), were hip last year. A girl turned up to meet me for a date wearing fuschia A&F sweatpants tucked into black leather cowboy boots. I thought, "make an effort". She was from the mainland.
lostrune2
In univ, we sometimes showed up in PJs for morning classes, knowing that right after class, we're going back to sleep, lol
Though it's kinda weird since some of us sleep in the nude anyways, haha
Mocheake
Perfect for the OL and salaryman's favorite outdoor past time - sleeping during the morning and evening commutes. I, however, will pass.
Thunderbird2
I just noticed her hair is green... somehow she suits it. Weird
WA4TKG
OMG, I LOVE Japan,....always WILL....so cute.
(nevermind the GREEN hair, we'll have to overlook that)
rickqin
To be frank, about 3 or 4 years ago in China, people have already had a discussion that it is proper or not to hang out with wearing pajama. Most of people dislike it, they think that a little bit frivolous. But from my point of view, the key to the criticizing is not about what people wear but who. The comments over 65% are collected from netizens who is in 20s-30s, but, conversely, the age of the group of people who used to wear pajama outside is in 50s-60s. I'm wondering if it is the people too old to pleased the younger.
Bill Adams
Only a complete slob would go out in his (or her) pyjamas - and that is why many shops in Britain actually ban people from entering if this is how they are 'dressed'. Mind you, I would make an exception for women in babydolls!!