What do Ryan Gosling, Arizona Muse and I have in common? More than you know. On a purely sartorial level, we’re all noticeable fans of pajamas in public: relaxed, airy loungewear that looks equally easy when you’re running errands or watching a lazy Sunday “New Girl” marathon. Not convinced? Sleepwear as outerwear has walked both the runway and the red carpet. Louis Vuitton showed royal blue silk double-breasted pajamas for Resort 2012, and Stubbs and Wootton has had a longtime monopoly on the slippers-to-street shoes market. As for Ryan Gosling’s contribution to the trend, the famously photogenic actor sported Salvatore Ferragamo’s navy number with a notched collar and white piping to the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. So let’s put this trend to bed: With only a few adjustments, pieces meant for sleeping can become perfectly wearable outside of your dorm room. There’s no shame in holding on to raggedy sweats and hot pink velour Juicy Couture tracksuits (shudder). But when it comes to showing up for class in any of the aforementioned items, it’s time to send the ghosts of fashion mistakes past packing. Exchange your high school club T-shirt for a men’s cut pajama top in crisp cotton or luxe satin. Layer it under a cozy cardigan a la Audrey Tautou in Coco Before Chanel or over a tank. Don’t forget the accompanying shorts in a pajama set: Wear them with a structured blazer or jacket to keep the look from veering into frumpy territory. Other nightwear options can be made suitable when the sun comes up. A vintage slip or nightdress is especially useful. Treat it as you would any dress: pop on a leather jacket, or repurpose it as a skirt by adding an abbreviated sweater or crop top. At the beach, it converts to a glamorous and unexpected swimsuit cover-up. Apply the above tips to a jersey teddy in a floral or star print, and not even your roommate or significant other will recognize you wore the same thing last night. Separates require even less effort to bring into your daytime rotation. A kimono doesn’t just have to be something you throw on post-shower or when you’re hurrying outside for a fire drill. Kate Moss wears her fringed version with jeans and boots, and you can match yours to a sundress or denim cutoffs for an effortless riff on bohemian-bourgeois style. Similarly, leggings and broken-in jeans ground a floaty embroidered or lace-trimmed camisole. It’s always the same (bedtime) story: when you take clothes out of context, remember that opposites attract. Early to bed and early to rise is impossible for most of us, but no matter if you’ve gotten eight hours or pulled an all-nighter as college students are wont to do, consider sleepwear as outerwear. Wearing your pajamas in public isn’t just for unmotivated mornings anymore. Done right, it gives off a too-cool-to-change vibe, and it’s a constant reminder of the reward that awaits after an exhausting day. Literally: Rolling out of bed never looked so good.
