Word for not leaving the house

Hola:

Hay de todo: desde el que se adecenta para salir de casa, hasta el que va «informal pero arreglado» es decir -y no exagero- con chandal y tacones o chandal y mocasines para ellos.

…but it’s true that our level «de adecentamiento» is higher than the explained tvdxer. I’ve never seen someone wearing pijamas out of home.

At my university, there were some boys and really very few girls who weared sweatpants. We weren’t against it, but it shocked a bit the other students… I remember an article on the students newspaper talking about it. In most of universities in my city nobody wears this sort of pantalons. There are full of styles of dressing, t-shirts, shirts, more posh, more trendy, more or less informal… but it’s not usual to attend lectures in a jogging suit.

On the contrary, in the U.S. it is not uncommon for girls to attend lectures wearing sweatpants, […] and I’ve driven to the convenience store to buy milk or bread wearing a sloppy undershirt and pajamas.

Such dress would be absolutely unacceptable in Germany. Pyjamas are only suitable for bedtime and nothing else. We would regard such outfit as really strange, to phrase it mildly. On the other hand, I do not think that the usal citizen spends much time dressing himself for simple errants — we just wear relatively proper clothes all the time, and many people wear jeans, T-shirts and sweater: No problem with that. Most people not even wear sweatpants, pyjamas, undershirts and such in-house during the day — only for sports or in bed.

Kajjo

Well, even in the same country there are different approaches to this. When I lived in Mexico, Mexico City was a bit more relaxed than other places about what you wore. Regardless, I remember distinctly being told a million times to «dress up because we are going to the grocery store». And I remember the women of the house taking a moment or two (fine: at least half an hour) to «refresh» their make-up before going to the corner to buy a kilogram of freshly cooked tortillas.
But other places (I remember San Luis Potosí, in particular) were a bit too much, to my point of view. People seemed to be dressed up to the nines, like, in their Sunday best, in order to run errands.

Here in the States, it pretty much depends on the individual. I’ve seen people go to Walmart in their pajamas, or still wearing hair-rollers (yep, even guys!), but also I’ve seen people dressed up in suits and gowns buying McDonald’s food. There’s just too many people doing too many things at once for there to be a «general» thing to do. 300 million people. That’s a lot of people, I think…

In the specific example of the university setting, I think it also depends on the university itself. Probably the guys at MIT have some different ideas about what should be worn to class than, say, the local Community College.

I think that it isn’t just what country but also what sort of habitiat (for lack of a better word) you are in. For example, when I lived in Greenpoint (Brooklyn, NY) No one went out in their pajamas or anything like that. We had people that wore the wife beaters and pants, but that was the worst and the men that wore that were usually working.

In New Jersey, however, it does not really seem to matter what you are dressed like… And that is what scares me the most.

— we just wear relatively proper clothes all the time, and many people wear jeans, T-shirts and sweater: No problem with that. Most people not even wear sweatpants, pyjamas, undershirts and such in-house during the day — only for sports or in bed.

And, most people also wear shoes in the house!

Come in — barefoot, please!!

I think that it isn’t just what country but also what sort of habitiat (for lack of a better word) you are in. For example, when I lived in Greenpoint (Brooklyn, NY) No one went out in their pajamas or anything like that.

The only time I have seen someone outside of their house in pajamas in NYC was the morning of September 11th, just before they shut the subways down, when there was an older man in tears on my subway car whose daughter worked on the 90th floor at the World Trade Center and who was going to try to find her. When I saw him in his pajamas, and slippers, it really hit home to me what we were facing.

Nor have I ever seen anyone outdoors in curlers, here. I didn’t know that people still had curlers actually.

That’s not normal dress around here. NYers tend to be very conscious of what they have on, if in a far more casual way than other places I’ve lived like Italy. It’s casual but it’s highly thought out casual. Sometimes visitors think that the informality means it just doesn’t matter, but how you are treated in a restaurant or bar or boutique (for better or worse) will often depend on how you are dressed. The cues are subtle, but perhaps no less rigid than in more overtly formal places.

I must show this entertaining thread to my youngest daughter (now 22). We have always teased her about spending hours on her hair and make-up, then going to the beauty parlor (to have her hair and make-up done). «But Mom,» she says, «Someone might see me before I get there!»

This particular fashion diva has been known to carefully choose the perfect outfit, then finish it off with Elmo slippers.* Yes, she wore Elmo slippers to go shopping. And no, she was not a child at that time; this was just last year. And no, she won’t be upset with me for talking about her on the forum.

In other words, in our town, people will wear almost anything in public. You would be surprised what passes for «fashion» around here. On an average day I see people dressed as if they are going to a fancy club, or dressed as if they are ready for bed, and everything in between.

* For those unfamiliar with Elmo: the picture is of Elmo, a popular children’s character, wearing Elmo slippers.

Does your culture demand that individuals display «bella figura» whenever they go out into public? Or does it tend to be more lax, expecting them to dress their best only for more formal situations?

Here in Toronto, the fashion standards that I encounter daily are abysmal in comparison with just about any place in Europe. And the fact that I work at an engineering university department doesn’t help either. A few years ago, I participated in a conference at our department as a student. We were told to dress in standard business attire, because some important industry people were supposed to be there, and most of us indeed showed up wearing suits and ties. However, nobody informed the faculty members to do so… and many of them showed up dressed in shorts, lousy T-shirts, sneakers, sandals, etc.

I’m especially annoyed with this custom of disgusting dressing among us engineers. I’m sure that because of this we lose a lot of respect in the eyes of the general public compared to other professions whose members either use the business attire (like lawyers) or have some distinct professional uniforms (like doctors).

Here in Toronto, the fashion standards that I encounter daily are abysmal in comparison with just about any place in Europe.

Is that true for Germany too? I’ve always been curious. I’ve never been, except to the airports, but where I lived in Italy we got a lot of German tourists, and I was always impressed by (especially the women’s) to hell with fashion attidude utilitarian/comfortable clothes. I became very girly, heels/skirts, makeup, hairdresser like all my Italian friends while living there, being a chameleon-like conformist at heart, but I admired the way most of the German women I met (not all obviously) put comfort first (i.e., comfy shoes not heels — more appropriate after all for steep cobblestone streets — but not much seen in my town). Is that just a vacation thing?

Oooh… I’m loosing lots of things!!!

I’ve never seen people with sleappers, neither curlers out of home. In fact, when I visit someone at his home, he’d never put his shoes off, if I’m there!

I once went out home wearing sleepers, but it was a mistake! When I realised I felt very ashamed and went back home to change them by shoes, knowing that I’d arrive late at school because of it.

As far as pyjamas go, here it’s a generational and gender thing. Girls and women under thirty (to make a gross generalisation) are quite comfortable wearing their pyjamas to class or to run errands. Those of us who are older appear publicly in our pyjamas only if our workplace is hosting a pyjama day.

The teenaged girls around here wear their pyjamas as street clothes, and their jeans around the house.

The teenaged girls around here wear their pyjamas as street clothes, and their jeans around the house.

Maybe we lack a common definition of pyjama. I absolutely fail to imagine a teenage girl wearing a pyjama publicly. Beyond imagination.

Kajjo

Maybe we lack a common definition of pyjama. I absolutely fail to imagine a teenage girl wearing a pyjama publicly. Beyond imagination.

Google images of «pajama day». The result is students and teachers of all ages and genders wearing pajamas (with three «a»s because the photos I saw were all from the US ) as part of a special day designed to create excitement about an event and to build team spirit. Businesses might have them, too, but it’s pretty rare in the US — it would have to be a very special business.

Maybe we lack a common definition of pyjama. I absolutely fail to imagine a teenage girl wearing a pyjama publicly. Beyond imagination.

Kajjo

As per Tony’s definition of pyjamas — cotton (flannel in winter) baggy pants and jacket. However, here the girls just wear the pants — never ever the entire outfit — in public.

Google images of «pajama day». The result is students and teachers of all ages and genders wearing pajamas.

I rarely feel that I miss a word. I am looking for one meaning utterly unbelievable and really, really strange. We Europeans usually figure the Americans to be really prudish, but then there they go in pyjamas in the public. Several of my teachers probably had preferred to retire immediately before showing up in pyjamas in school. Beyond imagination. I also cannot imagine teenage girls showing in up pyjamas — don’t they feel exposed, vulnerable in sleeping clothes?

Kajjo

I rarely feel that I miss a word. I am looking for one meaning utterly unbelievable and really, really strange. We Europeans usually figure the Americans to be really prudish, but then there they go in pyjamas in the public. Several of my teachers probably had preferred to retire immediately before showing up in pyjamas in school. Beyond imagination. I also cannot imagine teenage girls showing in up pyjamas — don’t they feel exposed, vulnerable in sleeping clothes?

Kajjo

Quite the contrary. They feel they are being cute. I saw a few girls go so far as to wear the feety pyjamas.

Quite the contrary. They feel they are being cute. I saw a few girls go so far as to wear the feety pyjamas.

Strange world. Maybe they should dress as teddy bears. They’re cute, too. Again, beyond any imagination for me.

Kajjo

Hello,

I have heard that in a Central American country known as La Republica, women wear curlers at all times during the day, at the store, in the car, probably their hair looks great at night That I really find kind of something I would never do.

Saludos,

Ayaram7700

Gosh, you don’t have to go that far to see that! I’ve seen it in the states in Texas, and in Maryland. There is also a rather eccentric woman at my kids’ school just outside of Paris who is usually dressed to the 9’s in sort of 50’s Lucille Ball fashion. It is not unusual to see her come get the kids in curlers tucked away under a scarf.

Around here, you see just about everything, from sweatpants to leggings and everything in between. Paris may have this great reputation for fashion, but I don’t really notice it so much myself. You see Parisians looking quite dowdy all the time in the streets, in transportation, at stores. I think the «Parisian women are always well put-together» idea is one huge myth. That kind of Parisienne does exist, but it’s not the norm.

I try to make a small effort when I go out, no sweatpants, etc. But I find putting a nice coat and decent shoes over whatever I’m wearing all makes for a good camoulage effort, and with a little mascara and translucent powder, people don’t ask if I’m feeling ill . Really, I wouldn’t leave the house without atleast checking myself out to be sure I don’t look like I spent the morning in my bathrobe in fornt of my computer…

My teenage boys think that «dressing up» is putting on a sweater over a t-shirt and jeans. We just saw «Wicked» (a musical production) in Hollywood last night and they were in sneakers, jeans, and sweaters. That was «dressing up». That said, girls here are more careful in their dress, in my observation. They might wear what look like casual clothes, but there will not be a spot, a stain, or a sign of wear anywhere; they are spotless and perfectly neat, as if they just came off the rack.

This corresponds to the NY comments, I think. «Casual» is fine; «sloppy» is another thing entirely.

As for me, personally, I tend to always be a little «overdressed», I guess, when I go out. I’m not really comfortable in T-shirts or jeans, and I don’t think I look very good in them, so I usually wear a shirt that has some sort of collar on it and either casual or formal slacks of some kind or other, even if I’m dashing out to the grocery store for something. Some people look very «put together» in casual clothes; me, I think I look sloppy and uncared for, so I don’t do it.

It was a surprise to me twelve years ago when my family joined a new church where many people wore shorts and sneakers to church. I had always been more dressed up than that when going to church. I’ve relaxed a bit. I haven’t worn a tie to church in years, except on very solemn occasions. You won’t get me in shorts, though.

[edit]I’m sitting in a coffee house at the moment, and just looking around, I see three women in sweatshirts and jeans, one in sweatshirt and «exercise pants», one in a formal blouse with sequins on it and fancy slacks, one woman in a white blouse and cashmere sweater and a skirt, three men in sweaters and slacks with dress shoes, and one college student in a t-shirt and jeans. The dressing standard to go out is pretty wide open around here, I’d say, but no one looks sloppy or unkempt. They all look like deliberate choices.

…but it’s true that our level «de adecentamiento» is higher than the explained tvdxer. I’ve never seen someone wearing pijamas out of home.

Omigod!!!! I do!
(But I live in a very very small community with only eight houses. If I run out of milk, I cross the path to my neighbour’s and just ask her for some, wearing my pyjamas. Otherwise I would have to cycle five kilometres to the village to get some milk — and with no breakfast! Same can be said of my neighbour, of course)
Alexa

Omigod!!!! I do!
(But I live in a very very small community with only eight houses. If I run out of milk, I cross the path to my neighbour’s and just ask her for it wearing my pijamas. Otherwise I would have to cycle five kilometres to the village to get some — and with no breakfast! Same can be said of my neighbour, of course)
Alexa

Just curious, Alexa… if you were to cycle to the village, how would you dress to go there?

I had always been more dressed up than that when going to church. I’ve relaxed a bit. I haven’t worn a tie to church in years, except on very solemn occasions.

The realm of places in American life that actually require a tie (or a dress) seems to have almost disappeared over the last few decades.

I’ve noticed that the churchgoers in my neighborhood aren’t that dressed up anymore. When I was growing up, I clearer remember Sunday outfits on my Christian friends.

When I was growing up, people used to dress up for Broadway, in the jacket/tie or dress sense, now you can go in jeans. Slacks and a sweater are fine even for the Metropolitan Opera which used to be black-tie and evening gown (still is on premiere nights).

All of New York’s finer restaurants used to be jacket and tie required. (They would give you a gross loaner jacket if you forgot yours). Only a tiny handful (all French) still are.

When I started working, every law firm and financial institution in NYC was suits every day, all day, for women and men alike. Now most (not quite all) have some form of business casual.

Now, this will really date me, but I remember as a small girl (1970s) there was still the lingering idea that you should be dressed nicely to go on an airplane! Seems absurd but there you are. Now an overnight flight is the closest I come to wearing my pajamas in public — baggy comfortable old clothes. [As an aside, British Airways 1st Class gives out «sleeper suits», which despite the relative privacy of their sleeper seats and modesty of the sleeper suit, I would never actually feel comfortable wearing. That said, there are always one or two people who go to the bathroom and change into the sleeper suit ].

I’m not sure what these changes mean.

[Response to a comment about fashion standards in Canada being abysmal in comparison with just about any place in Europe. — A.]

Is that true for Germany too? I’ve always been curious. I’ve never been, except to the airports, but where I lived in Italy we got a lot of German tourists, and I was always impressed by (especially the women’s) to hell with fashion attidude utilitarian/comfortable clothes. I became very girly, heels/skirts, makeup, hairdresser like all my Italian friends while living there, being a chameleon-like conformist at heart, but I admired the way most of the German women I met (not all obviously) put comfort first (i.e., comfy shoes not heels — more appropriate after all for steep cobblestone streets — but not much seen in my town). Is that just a vacation thing?

I’d say, partly. There are of course large differences in fashion standards between different parts of Europe, and Germans generally have some of the lowest European standards, which is obvious if you compare them with Italians, who are generally on the other extreme. But still, in my experience, Germans are on average nowhere as tasteless fashion-wise as the people around here in Anglo-Canada. Also, Germans do tend to be more relaxed on vacations than at home. Tacky German tourist outfits are a running joke throughout the Mediterranean, but I’ve never seen (or even heard of) Germans wearing pajamas in public or sweatpants and slippers in offices, which is what many people here will do unless they are restrained by some formal dress code.

As for the fashion vs. comfort issue, there’s still plenty of room for displaying both good and bad taste even if we limit ourselves to entirely comfortable and casual wear.

Now, this will really date me, but I remember as a small girl (1970s) there was still the lingering idea that you should be dressed nicely to go on an airplane!

I’m older than you, and I clearly remember having a nice yet comfortable «travel dress» for my flight to and from Italy in 1967. Airfare was also outrageously expensive back then, so maybe we dressed up out of respect for how much we’d paid.

I seem to recall jeans becoming accepted church-wear (I was raised Catholic) about the same time as «guitar masses», roughly the early 1970s.

Thread topic reminder:

Does your culture demand that individuals display «bella figura» whenever they go out into public? Or does it tend to be more lax, expecting them to dress their best only for more formal situations?

Well, even in the same country there are different approaches to this. When I lived in Mexico, Mexico City was a bit more relaxed than other places about what you wore. Regardless, I remember distinctly being told a million times to «dress up because we are going to the grocery store». And I remember the women of the house taking a moment or two (fine: at least half an hour) to «refresh» their make-up before going to the corner to buy a kilogram of freshly cooked tortillas.
But other places (I remember San Luis Potosí, in particular) were a bit too much, to my point of view. People seemed to be dressed up to the nines, like, in their Sunday best, in order to run errands.

I Agree, I know that in other cities to the south people dress up to go out, here people don’t make such a fuss if you go out in a T-shirt and jeans, heck people come to the office in shorts and snickers were I work… truth be told the Americans working here started that trend…

I remember when I started working in a company, the very first day I wore a necktie, every looked at me like I came from Mars, finally my boss told me “take off the necktie, people are going to thing your from Mexico City…”, and I was so relieved the temperature was about 95º F in that inferno they call a city “Mexicali”.

I was taught to dress up when ever I go out of the house (my family is originally from a more southern part of the country), at the very least I’ll put a pair of jeans and a T-shirt if I’m going to be in my neighborhood, and if I go downtown (25 min. drive), the mall, movies, etc. I dress more formal. However, if I go across the border to the US (5 min. drive) , I’ll wear anything from short’s, sweatpants, T-shirt, snickers, jeans, baseball cap, etc., even though I wouldn’t be caught wearing that in my city… mhhhh…. Wonder why????

JamesM:
I would cycle with shorts and a t-shirt on summer days. And tracksuit and parka in winter.
Now, seriously. When I read this thread yesterday, I began to think. All my female friends and workmates dress in jeans and t-shirts/pullovers or tracksuits when not working. Sure we girls have nice clothes, but just for formal dinners, weddings, etc. Everywhere else, we all wear comfortable clothes. Even pyjamas… I had never thought why, till now.
We work for a big airline. Our clothes are custom made by a very expensive designer. We are requested to wear it with matching hairbands, earrings, wristwatches. The skirt and jacket are so tight that we can’t run or bend, but we do look very nice and poised. Our designer shoes are stilettos. We wear this clothing from eight to twelve hours a day, seven days in a row.
No wonder when we take off this torturing outfit we all resort to tracksuits.

Alexa