Q. I’m not sure if this is your area or more a business etiquette question. In our office Secret Santa, I got my boss’s name (which is nice since I should probably get him a gift either way), and I am wondering about buying him pajamas. I’m thinking about it because, in a casual conversation about Halloween and Disney, he said he loved a film so much he had them on pajamas, but “they’re getting a bit old.” I know that anything like underwear or lingerie would be unprofessional and a borderline HR-contacting gift, but how about just fun pajamas?
A. You are certainly right that any type of gifts in the underwear (for men) or lingerie (for women) category would be an absolute no-no in a business setting. They bring to mind undress and bed and would constitute sexy day- or night-wear. Clearly, not business-appropriate. But the kinds of fun pajamas or pajama bottoms (or lounge pants) you describe are instead more in the vein of comfort and leisure time dressing. In fact, these days some people actually wear pajama pants as casual streetwear (although this is something that seems to me to make more sense for teenagers than for adults).
Especially since it is a holiday party, this sort of gift seems more fitting and could be a lot of fun. When the design is as whimsical as cartoon characters, the sexiness quotient changes and the gift can become more acceptable. But I also must caution you that it entirely depends upon the workplace and the people involved. If it is appropriate, I’m sure it would be loved.
At this time of year pajamas are on the minds of not just the loungers, but of the whole family. For others out there looking for family holiday gifts, you might consider clothing in the cozy sleepwear and casual at-home categories. They may solve a number of your gift-giving problems. For some reason, it seems that people (and especially men) don’t often treat themselves to quality sleepwear, thus making it a welcome gift. Everything from robes to pajamas and slippers bring warm thoughts. And you have a huge number of options.
Robes are mostly dark solids and bright plaids. They can be cotton flannel, silk, wool or cashmere. Holiday pajamas come in an array of fun prints and patterns. This year Lands’ End has, in addition to the always-popular tartan plaids and solids, a variety of playful prints with penguins and such. Because they come in sizes Small, Medium, Large, and Extra Large rather than exact sizes, it’s easier to be sure the size you pick will be correct. Slippers come in smooth leather, suede and fleece in a variety of colors. They often have warm, fuzzy linings.
Something new in sleepwear is monogramming. Newly popular this year is the variety of pieces that can be personalized with a monogram. For example, Lands’ End will monogram an array of items including robes and pajama tops (both on the pocket), pajama bottoms (on the upper leg), socks (near the top, which can almost make them a mom’s gift because it makes them easy to sort), and slippers.
If you’d like guidance for what to look for in this sort of gift for family members, the suede moccasin is the most popular style of slipper. Cotton flannel robes are top sellers, as are cotton flannel pajamas. While some robes and pajamas come in matched sets, you don’t have to buy the set for your gift to be warmly received.
All these can certainly be found from high-end to inexpensive. If you can believe it, Tom Ford has men’s silk robes and cashmere robes with a starting price of $4,350, going up to $6,500! On the other hand, an inexpensive robe from stores such as Macy’s and J.C. Penney or online from Amazon.com would be fine as long as the fabric is cotton and not polyester. Many are now on sale at bargain prices. That said, I would not try the technique I often suggest for tuxedos: buying something in a thrift/consignment store. You might end up with your boss’s old threadbare Disney PJs.
Send men’s fashion queries to Male Call:
lois.fenton@prodigy.net
High Profile on 12/11/2016