Where can I find classic pajamas?

June 25, 2013 1:46 PM

I want new pajamas! I really love the look of the old, classic style of pajamas (example here), but I'm having trouble with search terms and finding what I want.

Ideally, I'd love to find a short set (both short sleeves and shorts) that matches and that isn't too expensive. The set must: have piping, have that funny little collar, look like something I would do the crossword in on a Sunday morning.

So far, I've found these that aren't right:
J Crew Factory: Top, bottom
Anthropologie

Where should I be looking? What should I be searching for?

also: I really don't want to get a pair of pants made into shorts, since that's $$.

posted by Flamingo to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (21 answers total)

Vermont Country Store has them.

I have also seen men's pajamas at places like Burlington Coat Factory and maybe a JC Penny or Macy's.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 1:49 PM on June 25, 2013

Vermont Country Store appears to have almost exactly what you're looking for. For some reason the shorts sets come with a shirt without the funny little collar, but the long pants sets come with the shirt with the funny little collar. Maybe you could mix and match?
posted by rhiannonstone at 1:50 PM on June 25, 2013

I have bought pajamas like that at both JCPenney and Target. I think you're looking in places that are too fashionable/high-brow - try checking out places your grandpa would shop. Like Sears.
posted by something something at 1:53 PM on June 25, 2013 [4 favorites]

Pajamagram: Women's Men's
posted by crush-onastick at 1:53 PM on June 25, 2013

Regarding the Vermont Country Store, I haven't bought any of their pajamas for men, but have found their women's sleepwear to be of variable quality. The Lanz nightgowns I got are very nice, but the non-branded stuff didn't last very long. Also, a lot of their nightwear is poly blend and I don't like to sleep in poly.

The men's short pajamas from Brooks Brothers are very nice quality. The all cotton sets I bought for my husband launder well and have lasted for years.
posted by Squeak Attack at 1:54 PM on June 25, 2013

Land's End has nice PJs like that. You can even have them monogrammed. :)
posted by k8lin at 1:58 PM on June 25, 2013

I love the store Bedhead Pajamas, which is in LA and also available online. I'm a PJ freak and I also buy from PJ Salvage, but they only make women's pj's. I buy a lot of my lingerie at Bare Necessities, including pj's by Calvin Klein (some GREAT ones!) and they also carry men's pj's.
posted by janey47 at 2:01 PM on June 25, 2013

Best answer: So now I'm not sure if you're looking for men's pajamas, or women's pajamas that are styled like classic men's pajamas. :)

If it's the second - I have to admit I really like Victoria Secret's Cotton Mayfair pajamas. They come in Long, which makes my chilly ankles so happy! And they are generously sized for good lounging.
posted by Squeak Attack at 2:04 PM on June 25, 2013

Nautica makes a set just like what you're looking for. I searched "notched collar short sleeved pajamas".
posted by PorcineWithMe at 2:16 PM on June 25, 2013

Best answer: This is my wheelhouse. You want Botany 500, and you can get them from a store much less annoying (and cheaper) than Vermont Country Store. They make both buttoned and buttonless (and flannel), though their shorties are all buttoned and have a baseball-type collar. In my experience, lapelled shorties are kind of rare.
posted by rhizome at 2:35 PM on June 25, 2013

You want to go to Brooks Brothers! I wait for a sale and then stock up. Macy's also has these kinds of PJS but only at Christmas time in the form of boxed gift sets.
posted by dottiechang at 5:30 PM on June 25, 2013

If you're in the UK, Marks and Spencers has those pajamas. However, they are made with polyester and are terrible in a North American summer.
posted by jb at 7:19 PM on June 25, 2013

My parents get my dad's pajamas from Sears. He loves them, they wear well, they fit right, and Sears is always having a sale.
posted by myselfasme at 9:06 PM on June 25, 2013

LL Bean has these for men, for sure -- for women, they tend more toward flannel nighties.

In general, I think this is more common than you fear. You might just try a local department store.
posted by acm at 7:02 AM on June 26, 2013

Response by poster: Might be too late on this one, but I'm looking for women's pajamas styled like men's pajamas.
posted by Flamingo at 7:42 AM on June 26, 2013

Yep, I own two sets of L.L.Bean flannel jammies. Get the Tall version, though, or your ankles will be chilly.

If you are, in fact, a woman wanting men's pajamas, then just order a set of Size Small men's pajamas: L.L.Bean is famously cool about returns.
posted by wenestvedt at 1:27 PM on June 26, 2013

Before I saw the lady part I was going to chime in with Brooks Brothers as well. My bf lives in his shortie striped pajamas and they LAST. But I've also worn them so it's still a possibility. As a BB aficionado he would want me to relay that the shortie ones go on sale towards the end of the summer.
posted by marylynn at 9:11 PM on June 26, 2013

The Nick and Nora brand at Target. I love them.
posted by amapolaroja at 11:27 PM on June 27, 2013

Pajamas aren't that closely fitted - unless you are a very petite woman, you'll probably find that the men's fit well. I'm very curvy and wore men's pajamas just like these for years.

I'm just saying this because you may have a lot of trouble finding women's pajamas styled like this - you may find something similar, but the detailing will likely be more feminine. (which you may or may not care about).
posted by jb at 11:36 PM on June 27, 2013

If you don't mind more feminine colors, I bought these pajamas at Target recently, in the floral print. I'm very pleased with them - they're a light cotton which is good for summer, and have a roomy fit for lounging.

If there's a Dillards anywhere near you, they have a large sleepwear section with some classic styled pajamas like these.
posted by Squeak Attack at 5:08 PM on June 29, 2013

Response by poster: I ended up finding a pair of Ralph Lauren pajamas at a TJ Maxx. (Basically this set but in a different pattern and for about $20 total.) Thanks all!
posted by Flamingo at 7:15 AM on August 7, 2013