Cape Town - Would you go out in your pyjamas?
For some people in Cape Town, it is apparently the done thing to venture out in public wearing nothing but nighties, gowns and slippers.
The pyjama posers have sparked comments from Daily Voice readers.
Yesterday one reader wrote in to say: “Can the people of Mitchells Plain please stop taking your children to school in pyjamas and swirlkouse(a stocking on the head), it’s embarrassing.”
The Daily Voice put a team on the streets and spotted some “nightie day walkers” in Westgate, Gugulethu, Mfuleni and Khayelitsha.
Some had fancy gowns while others wore old slippers and swirlkouse as they waited in checkout queues, at grocery stores and even clothing shops.
In Mfuleni we bumped into Asiphe Sondlo, 22, strolling about in her PJs.
She says she feels more comfortable in her gown straight after a morning bath and doesn’t mind being seen in their close-knit community. “It’s just cool. This is a quiet neighbourhood, we know each other, we’re like one family. So walking around to the shops with a night dress is not something embarrassing. Yes, I know that some people even go as far as malls... well, that’s what some people feel comfortable with. People at the beach wear bikinis, there is nothing funny about that, and I am still covering my body, but in style.”
In Wesbank the team spotted spot Lena Jacobs, 34, who says there is nothing wrong with wearing a nightie outside.
Lena says: “It’s not a sin to wear a gown or night dress in public. It’s the way people think of it, I have no reason not to wear it if I want to. It’s like any clothing that covers your body.”
But Mitchells Plain resident Sheila Thomas, 57, says wearing your pyjames during the day is “disgusting”.
She says this new trend is becoming a common sight. "It’s really disgusting to see adults doing this. And it’s done by us women. A night dress is meant to be worn at home but some even go out shopping like that. You can’t come visit me with a gown or night dress, it’s like wearing just a bra and a panty in public.”
For the last word on the matter, we turned to Daily Voice fashion guru and Style Lab columnist, Gerry Cupido.
And Gerry’s advice was simple: “Don’t do it, asseblief!”
* What do you think of wearing slaapklere out in public? SMS the word NIGHTIE and your thoughts to 32832.
Mpumi Kiva, Daily Voice