It's In The Pajamas
That romcom lead or teen drama girl next door of our '90s/'00s dreams didn't just turn a look during the day. When she was preparing her morning coffee or eating out of Chinese takeout containers in the evening, the girls were decked out in impeccable pajamas. Whether it was a babydoll nightie, a whimsical matching set or flannel pants and a henley, their sleeping attire was always intentional. Brands like Nick & Nora, PJ Salvage, and Grand Canyon dominated the pajama game with kitschy sleepwear and novelty patterns. Going to bed shouldn't have to be boring or routinely drab, take some inspo from the girls of the past and give your pjs some extra sparkle!
Throughout TV and film in the late '90s and early '00s, there were loads of dreamy pajama sets and adorable robes everywhere. For starters, you have Gilmore Girls. Rory Gilmore wore multiple Nick & Nora pajamas sets throughout the first season. From Mr. Peanut to breakfast delicacies to milk and cookies and, of course, the infamous dessert design, Rory's collection was to-die-for. Rory's pink dessert pajamas, in particular, are my (and many other's) DREAM pajama set. I'd seriously do anything for an original set of them. Lorelai Gilmore can also be spotted wearing the Nick & Nora I Love Lucy set in S1E15. Nick & Nora pajamas were also seen on Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Friends, Ally McBeal, Smallville, Dawson's Creek, Sex and the City, and Sabrina the Teenage Witch to name a few. Their whimsical pajamas were highly sought after and thus, often used as the pajamas of choice on TV. PJ Salvage was another popular pajama brand at the time, most similar to Nick & Nora with charming patterned, 100% brushed cotton matching sets. The brand launched in 1995 with the goal of turning sleepwear from basic to fashion-forward... that is essentially the thesis of this entire article. Nick & Nora was the predecessor to PJ Salvage, having been founded in the late '80s but they shared the same vision of playful, novelty sleepwear and coexisted during the same peak.
There are some other combinations that aren't just a matching button up and pants if you're looking for other options. You could go the Rachel Green route with flannel pants, vintage crewnecks, men's boxer shorts, and henley tops. You can also go for patterned pants paired with a cute tank top or long sleeve (think OG Hollister or Pink). There's also the fitted long sleeve and pants combo often made in a cotton jersey material or pointelle design. Or if you want a bit more movement, you could opt for a nightgown. Whether it be more full coverage, more dainty/babydoll-like or full on lingerie, nightgowns have yet to make a real comeback but I think they deserve the chance to.
No pajamas are complete without a luxurious robe to throw on as you jump out of bed on a chilly morning! In the early aughts, the brand Canyon Group's kitschy robes were everywhere on TV screens. The most frequent use of the robes was on The Nanny, with Fran Fine seen wearing many variations of their robes throughout the course of the show. Other notable appearances include on Friends, Lizzie McGuire, Practical Magic, Hannah Montana, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, 90210, Boy Meets World, Fight Club, Life Size, and many more. You could also opt for a long satin robe like you're an old Hollywood starlet. Or there's always the fluffy robes in pink or cheetah print if you want to feel like Elle Woods or Sharpay Evans. Think of a robe like the nighttime equivalent of jewelry, robes are the ultimate accessory to pajamas.
What makes pajamas of the past so desirable and feel so different than modern pajama selections comes down to a few reasons.
#1: Material
Fabrics like 100% cotton and pure silk were commonly used in not only pajamas but clothes in general, especially in the '90s. Today, cheaper fabrics like polyester, acrylic, and nylon are used most frequently. You'll often find the tags on your clothes will be majority (if not entirely) polyester with a small percentage of cotton. Not only do these cheap fabrics feel poor quality but they aren't built to last a long time nor are they good for the planet. When you're shopping for your pajamas, look at the tag for a majority percentage of brushed cotton, silk, flannel, or linen.
#2: Patterns/Variety
Look at how many patterns, colors, and design options there used to be! Variety and uniqueness have become such a thing of the past in mainstream culture today. With social media, everyone is trying to fit into a box they see everyone else in. Influencers go on and on about the same brands over and over. Brands just recycle the same things and copy each other constantly. "Clean girl" aesthetic, minimalism, and neutrals took over in the last decade. But more and more people are craving fun and color and whimsy over dreary gray. They want the things that call to the past, before social media, when the world seemed brighter, more fun, and more connected. Having a variety of options, while still being refined (no thank you overconsumption), makes shopping feel more personalized!
#3: Quality
This one refers to materials/fabrics but I'm specfically talking about the construction of garments. With drop shipping and platforms like Amazon and Temu that pump out products at breakneck speed, 9.8 times out of 10, the products have shoddy construction and a cheap feel. Not to mention, products from fast-fashion sites are unethical in a myriad of ways. These products are the first to be donated or thrown away because the trend fades or the garment deteriorates after a wash or two. Whereas if I owned a pair of authentic Nick & Nora pajamas today, I'd probably want to be buried in them that's how long I'd keep them in my collection.
Now, you're probably asking yourself where on earth you can find pajamas like these right now. Well, let me help you with that! For starters, thrifting! Thrift stores, vintage stores, antique malls, estate sales, flea markets, and online thrift retailers are always the best place to find authentic vintage items (tip: you can typically tell that something is old by the tag). It may take a lot of browsing and a few tries but secondhand shopping is always going to be the best/my most recommended option (reduce, reuse, recycle!). As for current retailers, Nick & Nora has actually just made a comeback. The original company closed and sold back in 2005 but new ownership has brought it back! Here's the caveat thought, the brand has only JUST started bringing back their original formula with the old designs and 100% cotton flannel. At the time of writing this, they brought back the breakfast, clouds, rubber duck, and Boston Terrier patterns. They do have a few other designs on their site from when they first relaunched but those are all polyester and cost just as much as the cotton sets so I do not recommend those. It seems that they are slowly going back to their original core brand which is very exciting if they continue down that path (I will be running to order the dessert set if they make a resurgence).
As for PJ Salvage, they are also still around and active AND their products are still the same fabrics they originally used. However, their designs are very modern and for the price point, look like something you would see at TJMaxx (no offense TJMaxx). They have yet to bring back their old and iconic designs but one can only hope they follow Nick & Nora's suit and do the same soon!
The first modern company I've seen to popularize printed set pajamas of the past is Printfresh. I would say they are half modern, not for me designs and half nostalgic, tickles my fancy designs. Recently, they did a Gilmore Girls collaboration that brought them a lot of attention and excitement. I actually bought the Luke's Diner set that originally reminded me of the OG Nick & Nora breakfast pattern set that Rory literally wore on the show! Printfresh is also more expensive in price but they are high quality and use great fabrics like eco satin, organic cotton, and Pima cotton/modal. I think they have a lot of potential and the more these nostalgic pajama sets gain mainstream popularity, the higher the chance of Printfresh leaning into it.
If you're going for the Rachel Green look, I recommend Old Navy, The Gap, and Hollister (OG henley) for good quality basics. I also have on my wishlist, items from the brand Cou Cou. They have great sustainability practices and use organic cotton in all of their intimates. I especially love their pointelle and French poplin pieces. Their pajamas look very luxurious and darling. Then for the nostalgic graphic tank tops and long sleeves with patterned pants, I recommend VS Pink. I just bought a pair of pink polka dot cotton pajama pants from them and they look so nostalgic while also being super cozy. As for the robes, Grand Canyon does still exist however, they are made to order and are pretty pricey but they still make all of their original designs in 100% Chenille cotton. Another luxury place to get your robes is Djerf Avenue. Now, these robes aren't the same as Grand Canyon however, they do come in very cute patterns and are made of 100% organic cotton. I have the 'summer field' robe and I absolutely adore it and think it justifies the price tag.
I know it can be difficult to see the really nice things you want be so expensive. Because of this, it's easy and appealing to just find the cheaper version on Amazon or Shein but I compel you to hold off. Instead of wasting your money in the long run (even if it was cheap to begin with) by buying the crappy knockoff, save up until you can treat yourself to the actual thing or add it to your birthday or Christmas wishlist. You're going to treasure that item even more after having dreamt of it for so long, it'll be worth the wait. Not to mention, you'll also be abstaining from overconsumption by not constantly buying all of the items that are promoted to you on social media that are destined for landfills. Once again, you can also try hunting for your dream pieces at thrift stores or even on online secondhand retailers like eBay or Depop. In today's society, where everything is fast-paced and low-quality, overconsumption is destroying the planet and our souls collectively. I can always notice the difference when wearing poor quality fabric vs good quality fabric and I urge you to test this out for yourself. If you've never been thrifting before or haven't been in a while, I beg of you to go browse for a day. Even if you only walk out with one singular item that you love, that is one item that you have essentially recycled by buying secondhand, saved money on, AND avoided contributing to fast fashion! Whether you're shopping for yourself or hunting for a present for someone else, remember it's all about quality and craftsmanship (and not breaking the bank!).
Looking for whimsy? Looking for nostalgia? Looking for comfort and feel good fabrics? Well, let me be clear, it's not just in your day-to-day clothes, it's in the pajamas. Ever since I started putting intention into my pajamas, as silly as it sounds, I genuinely feel an improvement in my overall state of being. Pajamas are one of those things in our lives that can fall prey to routine. It's easy to think they're unimportant because they're just what we sleep in. But it's the little things in our lives that when we put a spotlight on them and put a little bit of extra effort in, that make all the difference. Pajamas that make me feel ridiculously cute and comfortable might just be the secret to happiness, or at least an important ingredient in the recipe...!
