THE SUNDAY PAPER

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NUDITY vs. PYJAMAS

Ambrosia Hicks tackling the long-standing argument of which is superior, sleeping nude or in a full pyjama suit.

Sunday morning in bed, hell, even Sunday afternoon in bed, is a luxury, and one that we tend to spend the rest of the week thinking about - so let’s do it right. Oversized shirt, matching set, underwear, nothing at all. In reality, the list of costume choices is endless. And yet, the decision of what to wear on such a morning has become almost trivial, we do it week after week, often without any thought at all. Is it a momentous decision? No. Does that mean it should be ignored? Definitely not. 

Think Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts, Notting Hill, breakfast in bed - only without the rude press interruption. Mounds of pillows, sheets, duvets, maybe an open window letting in muted sounds of the city, that early London light, and a cool winter breeze. Just picture yourself lying there, if applicable, snuggling with a significant other. Now think to yourself, what am I wearing? 

If you're smiling to yourself, the answer is probably nothing at all. Your tattered old shirt is most likely lying, crumpled and abandoned at the end of the bed. I applaud your bravery, personally finding these glacial temperatures hard to bear, even with the aid of a duvet! Maybe for you, this is a liberating experience, an invigorating decision, a statement against societal obligation? Or maybe I am, as usual, reading too much into this. Perhaps you stripped off mid-dream, mid-snore, around about the time you realized the shirt was tearing even more. But that’s really the point, isn’t it? Why put something on to just take it off? 

The trouble is we’ve started throwing any old thing on. And not all things are made to be slept in, wool for instance. 

Pyjamas, at least the right kind of pyjamas, are comfortable, warm or even suggestive. As with all clothing, they represent an opportunity to express oneself, in Elliot’s words, to prepare a face to meet the faces that you meet. So, if there is any chance that your jobless sister, your heartbroken best-friend, or your much-awaited Deliveroo driver, is planning on arriving at your door this Sunday morning, I’m sure it would benefit all involved if you were properly clothed. 

Whether you decide to express yourself in a cosy pair of PJs, an alluring set, or simply nothing at all, the choice is yours – but we recommend checking the thermostat before bed… Midnight bathroom runs in the nude can offer more chills than thrills.