I’m a man (it’s a long story how I found myself on this post…), and I’m sitting here at 12:30 in the morning in my flannel pajamas. At home. With no one around to see. They’re from Brooks Brothers, and rather nice, if it’s relevant.

I may be old-fashioned and prudish, but I won’t even go to my front step after the milkman has left without being fully dressed. Looking back on the occasions when I was whisked off to the doctor in the middle of the night for a sudden illness, I recall being expected to be fully dressed even for those outings.

And no, I’m not ancient. I still have a milkman in early 2010, and my pediatrician’s office was on the first floor of her home.

That said, I have to wonder if Tesco’s has banned “pajamas” as such, or simply the “pajama pants/tshirt/hoodie” look that so many commenters have observed. If the former– if they are really having that many people show up in frilly nighties or matching top-and-bottom combos– then I can understand the ban. If the latter, however, then it’s a different kettle of fish altogether, isn’t it? I personally wouldn’t wear that get-up out of the house unless I’d been ill and was running to the drugstore to pick up a prescription and some ice cream, in which case getting properly dressed would take more energy than the trip itself, but to plenty of other people, it’s a fashion statement.

That’s not to say it’s a good one, but then again, neither is that “long tshirt with leggings” look, and no one’s banning THAT.

Also, I completely agree that “daytime clothes” can be so much worse than pajamas. The style around here is to wear nylon jogging shorts with black leggings and Ugg boots. The North Face fleece jacket (or sorority logo windbreaker) is optional. I kid you not! Some college kids dress so poorly. I wish more people understood that looking nice isn’t that difficult and doesn’t have to cost a ton of money. I’m getting away from the topic at hand, aren’t I?

And I would totally join in.