Night-time revelations

Aug 6 2007 by Hannah Davies, The Journal

Vicky Pepys ponders on pjology.

UNUSUALLY for this fashion page, everything featured is available online. There’s a reason, its National Love Your Bed Week starting today, so you’ve got permission from instigators Silentnight mattresses, www.silentnight.co.uk, who are celebrating their 60th birthday, to lounge around a bit more than usual while we review some jimjams!

Last December, a Mintel report revealed that the British nightclothes market was worth £440m; we purchased 18 million pairs of pyjamas and 1.1m negligees, yet 18% of us wear absolutely nothing to bed.

Fashion theorists from Manchester Metropolitan University helped Silentnight come up with a new term: Pjology, the science of pyjamas.

Their study revealed what you wear to bed reveals much of your personality and the compatibility of a partner. They came up with six main types of bedwear personalities: The Traditionalist, The Smoothie, The Lazyboy, The Nudist, The Seducer and The Comforter.

“What we wear, or don’t wear, to bed may be seen by only a handful of people but the importance of our selection shouldn’t be underestimated,” says Dr Alison Goodrum, from the university.

“We have so many social constraints placed on our choice of clothing during the daytime but in bed, away from public gaze, our clothing gets really personal.

“It reveals a great deal about who we are and our relationships with others.”

Their study revealed The Comforter likes brushed cotton pyjamas; The Lazy Boy wears his boxers and T-shirt; The Seducer wears red, black or purple sexy styles; The Smoothie wears fine silks; The Traditionalist wears standard pyjamas; The Nudist is self explanatory.

“Alongside seduction and fiery passion, bedwear can also bestow comfort and consolation,” says Alison.

“We might wear our favourite pyjamas when we feel we need a really good night’s sleep or when we’re not feeling well.”

Don’t fit into any of the categories? Don’t worry; it’s not worth losing any sleep over!