Every generation of youngsters has its own style of popular and fashionable attire.
From the bell bottoms of the '60s and '70s, to the platform shoes and leisure suits of the '70s and early '80s, one thing remains true: Kids love the dress, parents usually hate it. My mother, for example, couldn't understand why I needed to wear worn out jeans, ripped flannel shirts and scrubby ball caps (I guess that was called the "grunge" look) when I was a teen in the '90s. And I think parents are still trying to figure out why anyone wore leg warmers, parachute pants or acid washed jeans (and jean jackets) in the '80s. (Full disclosure: I had a jean jacket, albeit not acid washed, that was filled with "patches" - yes, I get the irony - of my favorite bands like Poison, Metallica, Guns 'N Roses and Skid Row. I suppose now I'd have a patch that said "Patch." Now that would be cool!)
Anyway, some fashions leave for a while and make a strong comeback - i.e. bell bottoms were cool again for a while in the late '90s and some of the '80s styles are somehow making a comeback now (though, don't ask me what's cool since I'm by no means considered fashionable - I now like jeans and T-shirts - and sometimes a scruffy ball cap.)
But there is one style out there now that bothers the heck out of me. We've never seen it in a previous generation, that I know of, and hopefully we won't see it in another. Teenagers are now wearing their pajamas in public. Go to a high school, the mall or anywhere where teens hang out, and you will see this atrocity on a regular basis. The cultural phenomenon has caught the attention of brand name stores which now put sweatpants and flannel PJs on display racks at the front of the store. These things are hotter than hotcakes, and I just don't get it. This has even caught the attention of the Wall Street Journal, which published an article about it last week that describes the trend in detail and says some schools have banned PJs.
I wonder: Am I getting old and prude in my relatively young age (I'll be 31 in a couple of weeks)? Or are there others out there who think PJs are meant for bed...period?
So the questions I have for you, dear reader, is, "Should teens wear PJs all day? Is this a good fashion trend or just silly? Is it inappropriate? Do you allow it?" Tell us in comments and take our poll. P.S. I also want to know what our younger readers think of this.
While you do that, I'll be headed into town. First, I have to change my baby daughter out of her pajamas - can't let that trend start in my household.
- Paul Singley is the editor of Oxford Patch. Love the column? Hate it? Have a better idea? Email him at paul.singley@patch.com
