Clothing Definitions — definitions of garments and clothing terms from Apparel Search
Pajamas or pyjamas, often shortened to PJs, are a form of nightwear. Pyjamas are usually two-piece garments, a top worn with matching trousers, but may also be one-piece garments. The word pajama came by way of the Hindi word pajama, originally from the Persian payjama meaning leg garment, a name that describes the loose trousers at the heart of the set. This page explains the standard pajama set, its fabrics and fits, and how the one-piece and children's forms differ.
The word "pajama" came by the way of the Hindi word pajama, originally from the Persian words پايجامه Payjama meaning "leg garment."
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The classic pajama set pairs a button-front or pullover top with long trousers, and each part is cut for sleep rather than appearance. The top is roomy through the body with a soft collar or collarless neck, short or long sleeves, and a hem that stays below the waistband when the wearer turns. The trousers are loose through the leg with an elasticated or drawstring waist, so nothing digs in, and a fly or plain front according to the design. Piping along the collar, cuffs and pocket is the traditional finish on woven cotton and silk sets, a tailoring detail carried over from the tailored nightwear the style descends from. Short sets substitute short trousers or shorts for summer, and long-sleeved tops pair with them in the same fabrics.
Fabric decides the season. Plain cotton and cotton lawn are cool and wash easily; cotton jersey stretches and needs no ironing; brushed flannel traps air in its raised surface and is the standard winter cloth; silk and satin-weave sets are light and smooth but need gentler washing. Fit should be generous without being trailing: sleeves and legs long enough to cover in bed, but cuffs that stay at the wrist and ankle rather than slipping over hands and feet. For children, one-piece pajamas and blanket sleepers close with zips or poppers up the front and cover the feet on sleeper styles, in soft knits and fleece sized by height and age, with close-fitting styles used where safety standards require sleepwear to be snug or flame-resistant, so children's sets should always be bought to the maker's size chart and care label.
Care is simple for cotton sets, machine wash warm and dry flat or on the line, with flannel washed inside out to protect its brushed surface and silk washed cool by hand or on a gentle cycle. Elastic waists and drawstrings are the wear points: check them when the set is folded away, since a stretched waist is what usually ends a pajama set's life before the cloth wears. Nightwear sizing follows ordinary clothing sizes for adults, with relaxed cuts that make the fit forgiving, and sets are commonly sold with the top and trousers in a single size, so wearers between sizes usually do better with the larger set for sleeping comfort.
Pajamas, spelled pyjamas in British English and often shortened to PJs, are nightwear worn for sleeping. They are usually two-piece garments, a top with matching trousers, but may be one-piece garments.
Pajama came into English by way of the Hindi word pajama, originally from the Persian words payjama meaning leg garment. The name refers to the loose trousers that form the lower half of the set.
Pajama sets are made in cotton and cotton jersey for breathability, brushed cotton flannel for winter warmth, and silk or satin weaves for a smooth, lightweight set. Children's one-piece pajamas, including blanket sleepers, are made in soft fleece and cotton knits.