National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day

Relax the dress code and work in comfort on Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day.

Don’t worry about knotting a tie, don’t confine your feet in high heels; this is the day to wear your softest, cosiest and silliest nightwear, and enjoy the luxurious freedom of lounging while earning your paycheck.

c. 1870
Pajamas Enter Western Fashion
British colonials adopt loose “pyjama” trousers from South and West Asia and introduce them to Britain as fashionable indoor and sleepwear, helping establish pajamas as a staple of Western nightclothes.
1922
First Modern “Business Casual” Ideas Appear
In the United States, men’s clothing manufacturers and style writers begin promoting softer, less formal suits for office wear, laying early groundwork for the later shift from rigid business dress to more relaxed codes.
1966
Hugh Hefner Popularizes Lounge-Wear Chic
Playboy founder Hugh Hefner becomes famous for publicly conducting business in silk pajamas and robes, symbolizing a glamorous merging of leisurewear and work life that challenges traditional office attire norms.
1960s–1970s
Silk and Nylon Pajamas Go Mainstream
Postwar textile innovation and mass production make colorful nylon and silk blend pajamas widely affordable, turning sleepwear and loungewear into highly designed fashion items rather than purely functional garments.
c. 1990s
“Casual Friday” Spreads in Offices
American companies adopt “Casual Friday,” relaxing suit-and-tie requirements at the end of the week and signaling a broader cultural shift toward comfort and informality in the workplace.
2004
Rise of Telework in U.S. Federal Government
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management reports substantial growth in federal telework participation, normalizing the idea of doing office work from home, often in more relaxed clothing like loungewear or pajamas.
2020
Pandemic Remote Work and “Work Pajamas”
Global COVID-19 lockdowns trigger a massive shift to home-based work, with surveys and media reports documenting widespread adoption of pajama bottoms and loungewear during video meetings, cementing PJs as informal work attire.

How to Celebrate National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day

The most obvious way to celebrate National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day is by wearing your pajamas to work!

Of course, you will want to check with management and HR to make sure that this is permitted. The last thing you want to do is turn up to work in your pajamas and then be sent home.

If you take it up with management, they may decide that it is something fun for everyone to get involved in and, therefore, declare this as a day for all employees to wear their pajamas in the workplace.

Get Your Business Involved

If you run a business, we would definitely recommend that you consider getting involved in National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day.

Not only is this a fun and silly idea, but it can even bring some benefits to your workforce as well. For example, by getting everyone involved in an activity like this, you create a sense of unity and team spirit. This can work wonders in terms of productivity and the group dynamics at your business.

Furthermore, it can also be used as a good branding opportunity. You can take photos of your team and add them to your social media pages.

This is a great way to ensure you are a part of what is trending online on this date, and so it can really help in terms of your online visibility and building a fun and fresh brand image.

Make It a Contest

You can turn it into a little bit of a competition, giving an award for the best dressed on the day.

This is bound to make the day more fun, as your employees try to out-do each other in terms of the pajamas they wear. We are sure you will see some crazy slipper designs thrown into the mix as well.

If you work from home, you do not have to miss out on all of the fun on National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day. You can still wear your pajamas!

Why not take a photo of yourself working in your PJs and upload it to your social media account? We are sure that a lot of people will be sharing snaps of them working in their PJs on National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day, so you can get involved in the fun.

Get Some New Pajamas

National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day is also the perfect day for you to treat yourself to a new pair of pajamas. After all, is there anything better than slipping into a new and comfortable pair of pajamas on an evening?

Snuggling up in bed just seems to feel so much better when you are wearing a fresh pair of PJs. Plus, you can never have too many of them, especially with all of the different styles available today.

You may opt to go for some traditional comfy PJs or you may decide to treat yourself to a luxe pair of silk pajamas. The choice is yours!

Learn About National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day

National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day is a day to do exactly that: wear your PJs in the office! This is a day that has really taken off over the years.

In fact, we have even seen Martha Stewart get on-board, with herself and all of her staff members wearing their pajamas for her television show.

It is a great way to have a bit of fun and feel comfortable in the workplace. After all, a lot of people don’t like sitting in a suit or a fitted skirt all day long, and so wearing pajamas for the day is a fun way of letting everyone feel as comfortable as possible in the workplace.

There is no secret meaning behind this day; it was simply created for a bit of fun! That’s why we love it so much!

National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day creates a relaxed and laid back atmosphere, which is especially beneficial for those in high pressure and serious jobs, such as tax preparers and accounts.

Wearing pajamas can help to alleviate some of the stress that is typically experienced. It also means that you have a bit of extra time in the morning, as you don’t need to worry about looking pristine.

Despite the fact that National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day was purely designed for a bit of fun, there are health benefits that are associated with wearing pajamas in the workplace.

It has been shown that not only can employees be more productive, but they can also be more relaxed and less stressed. The author of The Art of Stress-Free Productivity, David Allen, said the following:

Our ability to be productive is directly proportional to our ability to relax. Only when our minds are clear and our thoughts are organized can we achieve stress-free productivity.

This quote sums up why so many companies and entrepreneurs think that it is a wise idea to get on board with National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day. It can help to take the stress levels down a notch, giving everyone the opportunity to relax and become more at peace in the workplace.

We live life at such a fast pace nowadays, it is always good to take a step back and allow our minds and bodies to hit the refresh button. Why not use National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day as an opportunity to do this?

History of National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day

Derived from the Persian word meaning “leg garment,” pajamas have come a long, long way. Originating as drawstring pants traditionally worn in Southwest Asia, and introduced to the rest of the world by British colonials, PJs started to gain acceptance in the Western world by the late 1800s.

Since then, jammies have been transformed into the sleepwear garments that we know and love today. Whether you wear a snuggly robe with cushy slippers, a superhero PJ set or onesie sleepers with attached fluffy bunny booties, dress for successful comfort on Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day.

In terms of the origins of National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day, this day is said to have been going since 2004, though some sources say 2009. It was launched by PajamaGram to reward those working late on taxes. For those who are unaware, PajamaGram is a brand that sells sleepwear for men, women, girls, and boys. At their company, it is not unusual to see team members wearing their pajamas while they are at their desks or at a board meeting. In fact, they even coined the following phrase:

Life is bananas, send some pajamas.

Facts About National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day

Pajamas Began as Persian and Indian Daywear

The word “pajama” comes from the Hindi and Urdu “pāy-jāma” or “pāē-jāma,” meaning “leg garment,” and originally referred to loose drawstring trousers worn by men in the Indian subcontinent as everyday clothing, not sleepwear.

British colonial officers adopted these comfortable trousers in the 18th and 19th centuries, and by the late 1800s the term and the garment had migrated to Britain, where they slowly evolved into fashionable nightwear for both men and women.

Victorians Turned Pajamas into Respectable Men’s Sleepwear

Pajamas did not become standard Western sleepwear until the late 19th century, when Victorian men began replacing long nightshirts with tailored two‑piece “pyjamas” modeled on Indian garments.

Promoted as hygienic, modern, and more modest than nightshirts, they were first embraced by upper- and middle-class men in Britain and Europe before spreading to North America in the early 20th century.

Women’s Pajamas Started as a 1920s Fashion Statement

Women in Europe and the United States only began wearing pajamas widely in the 1910s and 1920s, when designers like Coco Chanel popularized “beach pajamas” and elegant silk sets as resort and at-home wear.

Initially seen as daring and slightly scandalous because they borrowed from menswear and trousers, women’s pajamas helped normalize pants for women long before they became everyday street clothing.

Pajamas Became All-Day Loungewear During the 20th Century

By the mid‑20th century, pajamas were no longer confined to the bedroom, as “hostess pajamas” and coordinated lounge sets appeared in women’s magazines and department stores.

These garments were marketed as suitable for entertaining at home and relaxing in the evening, reflecting a broader cultural shift toward informality and the growth of leisure time in Western middle‑class homes.

Relaxed Clothing Can Influence How People Think and Behave

Research on “enclothed cognition” suggests that what people wear can subtly affect their psychological state and behavior.

One study found that formal clothing tended to promote abstract, big‑picture thinking, while more casual dress encouraged a more concrete, detail‑focused mindset, indicating that swapping a suit for relaxed clothing may change not only comfort levels but also how tasks are approached.

Casual Dress Codes Have Spread Across Offices Worldwide

In recent decades, many employers have loosened strict business attire rules, moving from suits and ties to business casual and even “dress for your day” policies that allow jeans or sneakers.

Surveys by organizations such as the Society for Human Resource Management show that a growing share of companies use more relaxed dress codes as part of efforts to compete for talent and support employee well‑being.

Remote Work Blurred Boundaries Between Pajamas and Workwear

During the COVID‑19 pandemic, global lockdowns pushed millions into working from home, and surveys found that large numbers of people stayed in pajamas or loungewear for at least part of the workday.

Retail data from 2020 and 2021 showed sharp increases in sales of sleepwear and “soft pants,” while demand for formal office clothes dropped, highlighting how remote work accelerated the trend toward comfort-first clothing.

National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day FAQs

Do clothes really affect how people think and perform at work?

Research in social psychology suggests that what people wear can influence their attention, confidence, and even abstract thinking.

A well‑known study on “enclothed cognition” found that participants wearing a lab coat associated with a doctor performed better on attention tasks than those who believed they were wearing an artist’s coat or no coat at all, even though the garment was identical.

Other studies have linked formal business attire with more abstract, big‑picture thinking, while casual clothing can promote a more relaxed, creative mindset.

These effects are modest but real, and they add to other factors such as comfort, workplace culture, and task demands.

What are the pros and cons of very casual or pajama‑like clothing for productivity?

Comfortable clothing can reduce physical distraction, help some people feel less self‑conscious, and lower stress, which may support focus on complex tasks.

Surveys in organizations that adopted casual dress policies have reported improvements in morale and job satisfaction, without consistent evidence of productivity losses.

On the other hand, extremely casual or sleep‑associated clothing may make it harder for some individuals to “switch on” into a work mindset, particularly if they already struggle with motivation or routine.

The impact tends to depend on the person, the job (for example, creative vs. client‑facing roles), and clear expectations from the employer.

Is it unprofessional to wear loungewear or pajamas when working from home?

Professionalism in remote work is usually defined more by behavior and results than by a specific outfit, but HR guidance commonly recommends clothing that is comfortable yet presentable.

Many employers ask remote staff to avoid obvious sleepwear for video calls with clients or colleagues because clothing still sends social signals about readiness and respect.

Some occupational psychologists suggest that changing out of pajamas into casual day clothes can help create a mental boundary between “home time” and “work time,” which may support focus and prevent burnout, especially when people lack a separate workspace.

Are there hygiene or health concerns with wearing pajamas for long periods during the day?

Dermatologists and hygiene experts note that pajamas and other sleepwear can collect sweat, skin cells, and bacteria, particularly in warm environments.

Wearing the same garments day and night for many days in a row may increase the risk of skin irritation, body odor, or flare‑ups of conditions such as eczema and folliculitis.

Health guidance typically recommends changing sleepwear regularly, washing it at appropriate temperatures, and allowing skin to breathe.

Occasional daytime use of clean pajamas is unlikely to pose a problem for healthy people, but those with skin conditions or allergies may need to be more cautious.

How did pajamas develop from traditional garments into modern sleepwear?

The word “pajama” comes from a Persian and Urdu term meaning “leg garment,” originally referring to loose, lightweight drawstring trousers worn in parts of South and West Asia.

British colonials in the 18th and 19th centuries adopted these garments as comfortable informal wear and later introduced matching tops, helping to popularize “pyjamas” in Europe.

By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, they had become a fashionable alternative to nightshirts in Western countries, especially for men, and eventually for women and children as well.

Today, pajamas range from functional cotton sets to luxury silk ensembles and novelty designs, reflecting both cultural exchange and changing ideas about sleep, privacy, and comfort.

Do expectations about pajamas or home clothing differ across cultures?

Yes. In many Western countries, two‑piece pajama sets or T‑shirts and shorts are common sleepwear, and wearing such clothing in public is often viewed as very casual or even inappropriate, depending on the setting.

In parts of East Asia, it is not unusual for older adults to walk locally in pajama‑like outfits, which may be seen more as everyday loungewear than strictly sleepwear.

Some cultures favor long robes, kaftans, or loose tunics for both home and sleep, blurring the line between nightwear and daywear.

These differences reflect local norms about modesty, privacy, and what counts as “inside” versus “outside” clothing.

What should employers consider before allowing employees to wear extremely casual clothing or pajamas at work?

HR professionals suggest looking at the type of work, safety requirements, and the organization’s brand. In roles involving machinery, cooking, or clinical tasks, loose or flammable garments and open slippers can be unsafe or violate health regulations.

In client‑facing or courtroom settings, very casual clothing can conflict with professional image expectations.

For office‑based or remote teams, employers are often advised to set clear guidelines, such as requiring cleanliness, coverage, and appropriate footwear, and to address concerns like harassment or distraction.

Involving employees in policy discussions and piloting relaxed dress days can help organizations balance comfort, inclusion, and professionalism.

Date	Every April 16th
Also known as	Wear Pajamas To Work Day Wear Your Pajamas To Work Day
Founded by	Pajamagram
Tags	Clothing & Accessories Jobs & Professions
Hashtags	#NationalWearYourPajamastoWorkDay #WearPajamasToWorkDay #WearYourPajamasToWorkDay

National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day

When is National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day?

National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day Timeline

Pajamas Enter Western Fashion

First Modern “Business Casual” Ideas Appear

Hugh Hefner Popularizes Lounge-Wear Chic

Silk and Nylon Pajamas Go Mainstream

“Casual Friday” Spreads in Offices

Rise of Telework in U.S. Federal Government

Pandemic Remote Work and “Work Pajamas”