Go casual, the dormcore way

Pyjamas are stepping out of the bedroom and hitting the high street as the latest buzzword in fashion is dormcore — college dorm-inspired style

Earlier, there was normcore — the clothing movement that advocated comfort over aesthetics. Now, there is dormcore, the latest buzzword inspired by the dorm rooms of American colleges, that lets you wear pyjamas in public and makes them acceptable at red carpet soirees. Wait, this is not about your lace-collared flannel nighties, or your stained college sweats or the worn-out Sarojini Nagar pyjamas. This is about well-coordinated, refined, high-end pyjama sets. Rihanna, Heidi Klum, Selena Gomez, Salma Hayek, Ulyana Sergeenko, Sofia Coppola, Viviana Volpicella, Marina Larroudé, Caroline Sieber — there is a long line of PJ-loving ladies. Closer home, designers like Aneeth Arora’s ‘Lazy Pero’ collection and Nida Mahmood’s breezy printed pajamas etc. are redefining the pyjama prêt and presenting collections that can be confidently worn outside homes.

Welcoming the trend, designer Nida Mahmood puts forth, “It is a good respite to see the silhouettes that you would never see outside your house, moving from the indoors to the runways. It is an interesting break from serious fashion. In fact, it is fashionable to be anti-fashionist these days, where you break free from the stereotypical notions of fashion and beauty and go easy on the high-end fashion trends. The core idea behind movements like dormcore or normcore is anti-fashion, mostly in terms of the fabrics and silhouettes that you pick up while soaking in the trend. Being easy and relaxed yet fashionable at the same time is a win-win situation for those adopting the trend.”

Pulling off this trend and not appearing like you’re out sleepwalking whilst at a dinner or a red-carpet event is the key to rock the trend. “One can team up an easy, breezy pyjama with a loose crop top,” she adds.

She goes on to suggest, “Or just throw on a duster coat over a cute short top and pair it with pyjamas or maybe go for a loose boyfriend T-shirt over quirky lowers.”

While adopting this snug-as-a-bug-in-a-rug style, fabrics and cuts can’t be ignored. As fashion stylist Rishi Raj cautions, “Fabrics for dormcore need not necessarily be your typical nightwear fabrics. The best way to carry this look is to team it up with something that is slightly high-end or luxurious and to not go completely slouchy or Sarojini Nagar or Lajpat Nagar types with it. The look is in the just-gotten-out-of-bed mould, but the clothing doesn’t actually have to be like that. While going easy and comfy with your outfits is permissible, do not go totally anti-fit. The apparel should still have a proper fall, a neat finish and should be made of good quality fabrics. To rock the trend, go in for a twin set with uppers and lowers matched and well coordinated. Flats or chappals are an absolute no-no. Funk up the look with a nice pair of heels and make it slightly upmarket, high-end glam because all girls and boys need to stay away from sporting sheer fabric boxers in public.”

He adds, “As they say, ‘dressing well or dressing up is a form of good behaviour’. When you make an effort to dress up before going to meet somebody, it shows respect towards that person because you have made an effort to look presentable for him or her. Personally, I strongly believe in that and the fact that it is important to be ‘appropriately dressed’. In today’s day and age, however, ‘appropriately dressed’ has become a very flexible phrase with terms like dormcore, normcore etc. redefining fashion and style.”

For fashion designer Urvashi Kaur, it is a tricky trend that runs the risk of being a hit or a miss. She concludes, “It can be a great mess if styled improperly. In the West, it comes a little more naturally to them as they have been wearing pyjama sets for a long time and their sense of fashion is also understated as they never over-accessorise or dramatise their looks but with Asian body types, it is slightly difficult to carry the trend with the same kind of ease. Only a handful of Bollywood actors like Kangana Ranaut, Neha Dhupia or Shilpa Shetty can easily carry off this trend with great élan. Unless you are confident of your body type, I suggest celebs steer clear of the trend, as it needs some sincere thought before adopting it. If you have a model-like physique or have fabulous confidence in your personality, then go ahead and flaunt your pyjamas in public.”