Tossing and turning
Marilyn Monroe was immortalized for, among other things, glamorously declaring that the only thing she wore to bed was Chanel No 5. But then, poor Marilyn died young and therefore stayed pretty in our imaginations, never to experience some of the less than attractive indignities of life after 40.
Chief among these is that sleep becomes a big problem. So epidemic is our sleeplessness, in fact, that every single one of my girlfriends has at one time or another confessed that her desire for a good night’s sleep would win out over a night of hot, passionate sex. The causes of this mass insomnia range from night sweats to snoring spouses. And most nights, we could start our own 4 a.m. club, as it is precisely at this early witching hour that we are all lying sleepless in our own beds, worrying over whether the dry cleaner ever gave us back those blue wool pants.
The marketers, no fools, are on to us, with their sleep centres and moisture-wicking nighties. We can opt for “smart” duvets that sense our variation in body temperature, and personal bed fans to cool down our simmering psyches. But this quest for sleep also raises a burning style question: If what we really want is a good night’s sleep, then what are we wearing to bed at night?
Emulating Marilyn
I have girlfriends who swear by the comfort of those oversized T-shirts that once looked cute on us but, sorry, girls, now come off as kind of matronly. I have others who, aiming for the same level of comfort without the accompanying dowdiness, spring for hand-sewn extra-fine pointelle cotton versions imported from Scandinavia. And then there are some, like me, who sleep in nothing but our Chanel No 5, whether our intruding teenagers like it or not. Almost anything goes except those ruffled Victorian nightgowns — that is, unless you actually want to come off looking like Granny Clampett.
The one universal rule about dressing now, as far as I am concerned is that looking good requires a little more effort. Yes, just like everything else in our lives, when it comes to what to wear now, even to bed, we’ve all got to try a bit harder. That means is it’s finally time to ditch the ripped sweats you wore back in university. Sorry, ladies, but there is a time for comfort and it was called infancy. Now that you are inarguably a grown-up, it’s time to invest in quality clothes even if nobody but you will see them.
Chic and comfortable
If you too are sleepless in Sudbury, my prescription is this: Clean out your closet and make room for some really nice loungewear for a night in with takeout and a good DVD. Happily, there have never been so many chic options, from soft, simple pyjama separates to elegant at-home hoodies in the finest of tissue cottons and cashmere. Better yet, go the extra mile and invest in some dead glam satin slips straight out of old Hollywood. Paired with a cozy shrug or a light pashmina for warmth, it’s a look that manages to be both come-hither and comfortable.
The truth is that looking great, even in your off hours, instills the kind of confidence in yourself — regardless of how toned and perfect you may or may not be — that is attractive to others. Better yet, being attractive comes with its own rewards: As the iconic Marilyn would surely have recommended, there’s nothing that guarantees a good night’s sleep like a night of good sex.
This article originally appeared in the February 2008 issue of More
