Why do so many cotton nightdresses for grown women have infantile applique teddy bears or other child's-clothing designs on them? Or have floral embroidery and/or ruffled cuffs in a style that went out of fashion for grannies about forty years ago, without ever achieving iconic retro status? It's easy to find good quality t-shirts in a vast range of colours; why is it so hard to find an elongated version of same, long enough to cover one's rear end, to sleep in? I did have one once, but I left it on the bathroom door of a hotel, and didn't miss it for weeks, so resigned myself to its loss.
What is the purpose of a hood on a dressing gown? Why can't I find a nice plain dressing gown without a hood or a very thick collar (so hot!!), but that folds across me generously enough to answer the door with a modicum of decency?
Why does Royal Mail take your parcels to a depot or sorting office that is furthest away from where you live, has incredibly restricted opening hours, on a route that takes you through the busiest town traffic, and has nowhere to park? Why don't postmen just ring next door's bell and ask if they'll take the parcel for you, probably taking less time to do this than to write out the bossy little card that says yah-boo to you for being out with the dog when the parcel post came at 4.30 in the afternoon? And then makes you wait 48 hours before you are even permitted to claim what is rightfully yours?
Why, when the local newsagent has to place the 'girlie' magazines on a top shelf away from the eyes of children and prudish adults, does Virgin Media have probably a dozen girlie/gay soft porn channels with still pictures of pouty people in almost no clothes, beamed directly into your sitting room, with no option to avoid seeing them if channel-hopping?
How did I, a child of the '60s, turn into a prudish, post-office-hating adult who prizes sensible plain cotton nighties and dressing gowns with no front-door appeal whatsoever, and who heckles the telly in outrage?
And PS: What are we going to do with ourselves now that 'The Thick of It' has finished? Maybe that's why I'm feeling so cross.
16 comments:
The thing that annoys me about pjs and nighties is the fact that its practically impossible to find nice comfy ones that don't shrink the first time you wash them. No matter how I wash pjs they always shrink, nothing else I own shrinks. I'm typing this wearing pink teddy pjs with half mast bottoms and a cropped belly top. I hope we never ever have to be evacuated from our house during the night as I always look like a street urchin!
Wahahahahaha! Thank you.
As one who has not worn pajamas for ahem, a while, I would like to return to them, as I like the idea of eating breakfast in my pajamas, instead of a kikoi, as I do now.
I am sure I can find you a nightie in New York, sans bears and flowers.
Your post made me laugh. I feel the same way. As a teenager I hated those cheesy, scratchy lace trimmed nighties my mother made me wear. As an adult I refuse to wear any clothing that looks like it belongs on a child. How funny that I'm now an embroidery designer and I get to make embroidery designs that I like.
oh my. I solved the comfy pj problem by shopping in the men's department (but I prefer pjs to nightgowns). But here in the US we have a lovely mail order company -- Land's End -- that offers a good range of nightwear for grown-ups who happen to be female in a variety of T-shirt-inspired styles. I hesitate to suggest this, given your post office concerns, but maybe have a look at www.landsend.com and see if it's worth braving the postal vagaries. The shipping fee may seem daunting, but I have bought many things from Land's End and they Never Wear Out or Fade or Shrink. I have a T-shirt from them that is at least 12 years old and is only just beginning to show some effects of erosion.
bonne chance.
http://www.landsend.co.uk/ix/womens-clothing/women/sleepwear-and-slippers/index.html?seq=1~2~3&catNumbers=1~23&visible=1~2~1&store=le&sort=Recommended&tab=2
I know it's a long link, but I think you may like these nighties! I've had a lot of stuff from here and it's always good quality.
If it's any consolation I have a similar view of parcel depots. Ours closes at 1pm so you can't even collect until the next day...
I only ever want cotton pj's and dressing gowns. PJ's are always too long in the leg or the jacket is designed for someone of 3' 6"! Wanting to keep your middle back warm seems to come with age. And as for dressing gowns - mine is getting quite shabby, but I cannot find a thick cotton one. Fleece ones just don't seem to work in a cold house - I end up sweaty and still cold!
No experience of Virgin Media, but our Royal Mail sorting office is just down the road, and, in spite of having made the odd formal complaint, I must admit that most of the staff are brilliant. Only once have we been left a card when postie didn't even bother to ring the bell (I don't think he lasted long!), and parcels are available for collection an hour later. If I don't feel up to going out at all, I can ring the sorting office, ask them to put it on the van again the next day and make sure I hear them (funny shaped house - can't hear the bell from the kitchen if the tap is running or the kettle is boiling etc).
Well, until Friday we have Terry Wogan to keep us sane! We started listening to him when the Today programme became too depressing.
I'm afraid the truth is Rachel, you've become a 'woman of a certain age'! Keep shouting at the telly by all means; just don't throw anything - too expensive!
Jill (50 and-a-half))
So once again, I see I'm not alone.... Charlotte, I know you like cutesie motifs on things...
Thanks for the Land's End suggestions, but that's where I get my nighties, as a rule, and have done for years, accumulating a heap of them at varying ages and stages of wear, but the patterns and colours can be lurid, and I'm sick of ivory! I'm going for the grey next. But there are hoods on the dressing gowns.... see? And PJs - noooooooo. Too many opportunities for chilly gaps. I miss my blue and white fine-striped nightie!
I'm off to google kikoi now....
I do tend to steer away from a racoon saying "Kiss Me I'm Cute " ...... but I would in real life , too , not just on my clothes . And penguins appear too regularly on nighties , by far .
Avoid High St. sleepwear at all costs ( Holland's worse !! ) and find a Uniclo , if you can .
As for the rest .... why's your list so short ??
Signed , Another crabby '60s person
yeh... my list is much longer as well.... and I hate the stupid smocking and bunching under the bust area... all the tops make everyone look pregnant... plus if you are short waisted and short period... it looks ridiculous... where are reasonable fitted..or at least flatteringly fitted.... and now that my arms are getting crepe-y.... where are 3/4 length sleeves.?
And...pj's... I prefer them...but honestly...I buy large and they still shrink past medium to more like a small... I'm only 5'2" and weigh 123... what size do I have to buy for crying out loud?
I scream at the telly and the movies.... all the time.... there is so much stupidity not to mention disgusting images... and I KNOW I am not a prude... yet they have restricted ratings on some movies that must have been made for kids.... like .... oh, I don't know... Shrek or SnowWhite? .... ludicrous.....
so... maybe you could give us some sizes...and your snail mail address....and we could have a look for some decent nighties... in any colour other than ivory and with no cutsie motifs..... maybe one of us will strike gold......normally I don't bother even looking in nighties...just 'jammies for me.... .....
With you 100% on the cute critter night attire. Ditto re cute critters on Christmas cards.
I think the odd and infuriating Royal Mail delivery/sorting office thing is part of its malaise - stuck in a world where we had 'half day closing and banks only opened between the hours of 10-00 and 3.00.
If you're short of things to rant about - just ask. I could easily come up with a list. Am I turning into my mother?
Yes! Kindred spirit and all that... and fleeces with collie dogs etc on them, although as a collie/wollie owning person I'm coming close. I wear yoga clothes in bed because I get up to stuff when I'm asleep but strictly on my own I should add, and my dressing gown circa 1983 doesn't have a hood, but actually since moving here I wish it had. I'm grumpy re. parcel delivery too but a solution is to move to a one horse town with only one road in, one road out and a part time sorting office! May your spirits rise and may you laugh grandly at some of the responses this post elicits.
I am waving my hand in the air... another crabby sixties person here! I happen to like the granny gowns myself, so no problem there. But bras and panties are impossible! Every time I find one I like, I can never find the same one again! If bras are large enough, they are heavy and feel like a strait-jacket. Panties either look like "granny pants" or are tiny thongs... not much in between. And forget lace... it itches!
The worst is socks! Seams always rub on toes; some are too tight, others fall down around your ankles. They all seem to get holes after a couple of wearings. There is more, but that's enough for now.
I had to come back to mention dressing gows. I hate the ones that tie in front because they always drape open. The ones that zip up the front look like "old lady housedresses". I have one that is decent; it has snaps up the front, but have never seen another one like it.
My husband and I, suffering from the horrid economy here in the USA, decided that our "big present" this year would be to buy his and hers matching footie pajamas. With the "trap door" seat in the back.
So we did. Red plaid full-length footie pajamas. With the flap seat.
On Christmas day, we are going to don them, drink hot cocoa, watch "It's A Wonderful Life", and take pictures of each other.
Stay tuned to my blog for evidence/proof.
Stop looking for a dressing gown! NOW!!!
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