Men’s Nightwear

It may come as a surprise to some to learn that, for men, no particular garment was created for use exclusively while sleeping at night until the 16th Century. Only then did it become popular for daywear and nightwear to become totally separate. Even more alarmingly for the modern masculine man, the original garments produced for male sleepwear were what today would be seen as a female night-gown – essentially a long, shapeless smock allowing for freedom of movement and comfort.

Thankfully, things have moved on from the feminine related beginning of men’s nightwear. In today’s society, the most popular form of men’s nightwear are the pyjamas. Historically, pyjamas consist of a shirt-like top with buttons down the centre of the chest and long trousers, which are more often than not drawstring. Although the original roots of the pyjama did not include any upper garment at all, the two-piece ensemble has now become the standard.

Traditionally, pyjamas were designed to be warm, comfortable and modest. Through the years men’s nightwear and pyjamas have been made from a variety of materials, though the most enduring are cotton and flannel, which is particularly useful for winter. More luxurious choices include silk or satin, though these are less popular.

Today, there is a lot of variation available on the standard pyjama set. Most commonly, the button-down shirt has been replaced by a standard T-shirt, which is seen as more comfortable due to it being less constrictive during sleep. Trouser length also varies, with some pyjama bottoms finishing mid-thigh or mid-calf. Some sets even do away with the trousers entirely, replacing them with specifically designed shorts instead.

The design is altered all the more in men’s underwear during the summer months, when the need to keep cool overtakes all other design aspects. It has become increasingly popular for summer-specific pyjama sets to feature a simple tank top – essentially a sleeveless T-shirt – and a pair of shorts.

Outside of the pyjama set, men’s nightwear has varied little. Some men choose to just wear a pair of boxer shorts or briefs to bed, which are rarely any different from the standard underwear varieties.

No matter what the design, the main function of men’s underwear is comfort. Unlike women’s lingerie, there has been no attempted sexualisation of men’s underwear, perhaps due to the lack of range available. Perhaps for this reason above all others, there has been little advancement in men’s underwear design in the last century. There is also little need for a change – pyjamas are seen as the ideal sleepwear, due to their comfort, functionality and their affordability.

Unsurprisingly, there has been no re-emergence of the night-gown for men that became so popular in the 16th century and also experienced a huge revival in the Victorian era. Best to leave that to the ladies, fellas.