OPINION

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Throughout the vast expanse of history, art has been a prominent means of expressing the ideas and philosophy of an era. This can be seen through incredibly expressive paintings and sculptures, as well as music and live performance. However, the modern era has introduced another means of expressing the nature of time, clothing.  Clothing enables people to express their individuality while simultaneously expressing the complex dynamics of the modern era. Even individual decades can be distinguished through the sole identification of clothing, similar to other more commonly referenced forms of art. This trend in data can be seen through trends in fashion, such as the short-lived life of ‘hammer pants’ or JNCO jeans.

However, upon analyzing many more modern deviations in the fashion industry, a pattern becomes very apparent. People now value comfort significantly more than they have in the past. This can be seen through popular fashion, the most prominent example being Kanye West’s passion project, Yeezys.

In the past decade, Yeezys have become an incredible cultural phenomena, selling hundreds of thousands of pairs, with most individual models being sold out in an instant, despite their high price tag, usually over two hundred dollars. However, what makes this significant is that while most mainstream fashion brands value appearance, often forsaking both comfort and utility to look more “fashionable,” Yeezys contradict this by sacrificing appearance in favor of comfort.

Fashion disaster, or comfort choice? Photo credit: Backgrid via Buzzfeed.

This is but one example within a larger cultural shift: the rise of streetwear. In recent years, there has been a significantly larger emphasis on comfort in casual streetwear, through items such as sweatpants, sweatshirts, loose-fitting shirts, and accessories like scarves and hats. This has differed from the jean-heavy, layer-stacking streetwear of the 20th century, and the latest styles have been popularized by celebrities such as Billie Eilish, Tyler the Creator, and Adam Sandler, ushering in a new era of comfort. 

While this trend is very apparent under close examination, it poses a few questions. Where will this trend take the fashion industry? Will the market stagnate, with sweats and ill-fitting t-shirts reigning supreme? What could be the next step towards the attire of the future? The answer is simple. Pajamas. Surprised? Consider the following…

At what point in everyday life do, we, as humans, value comfort over appearance the most? The question may seem complicated at first, but after acknowledging the existence of bedtime, during which comfort is paramount and self-consciousness is at a minimum, the answer is clear. And what attire is the most appropriate, considering the circumstances? Pajamas; a set of clothes specifically designed for this exact scenario. In fact, during the Victorian Era of England, pajamas were initially introduced as a type of ‘loungewear’, meant primarily to be worn around the house. However, the fad fell quickly, and the now-tacky pajamas were regulated to exclusively night attire.

I believe that this will be seen as one of the worst cultural shifts in the near future. I, for one, imagine a future when these heretic “dress codes” are abolished completely, opening the doors of expression and convenience. Not only will this greatly improve morale in general, it will also improve academics for students when implemented in schools. According to Dr. Sheryl Reinisch, Dean of the College of Education at Concordia University-Portland, science supports the theory that a more comfortable environment, “helps children feel safe, secure, and valued. As a result, self-esteem increases and students are motivated to engage in the learning process.”

I believe that pajamas are the way of the future. Not just because of their extremely comfortable nature, but also because scientific studies support the thesis that pajamas maximize academic potential, and I, for one, hope to be one of the first to participate in the normalization of them.

Featured image courtesy of welch.cowetaschools.net.