There’s just something about a set of matching holiday pajamas. It’s unclear if that something is positive or negative, but there’s unquestionably some sort of feeling evoked when you catch sight of a family of manikins decked out in Target’s yearly pajama design or your high school classmate’s IG photoshoot with her fiancé. Is it an overwhelming sense of rage that burns through your veins? A flood of giddiness that tickles your brain? Two college-aged women – Maeve, 21, and Julianna, 21 – are hashing it out: what feelings come to the forefront when you see matching sets of pajamas, where do those feelings stem from, and would you ever switch your position?
Julianna Mitchell: I get [so] excited [when I see matching pajamas, whether it’s in the store or on social media]. It’s the most wonderful time of the year, baby! There’s something about a pair of cute pajamas that just gets me all into the holiday spirit. Sure they can be a little ridiculous – and sometimes even ugly – but they’re fun.
Maeve Casey: Don’t get me wrong, I love solo holiday PJs. But there’s something about matching pajamas that invokes a cringe deep in my soul. It’s along the lines of matching shirts at Disney World, and [gives me] big, “She was his queen, and God help anyone who dared to disrespect his queen,” energy. I don’t know how to describe it; I just feel like Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly would wear matching pajamas.
JM: Megan and MGK wouldn’t wear matching pajamas; they’d wear coordinating. They’d think they’re too cool and edgy for fun and swanky pajamas found at a Target – they’d wear, like, Jack and Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas inspired PJs, but not the ones with, like, dinosaurs on snowboards.
MC: I’d like to see MGK wear Christmas pajamas with dinosaurs on snowboards, but I don’t like any type of coordinating outfits – matching of any sort isn’t my vibe. Couples and families in matching clothes are always cringe, but if it’s roommates, [I could see it in] an ironic “family Christmas card” way.
When it’s people and pets [that are matching], I feel like the people definitely run an Instagram account for the pet – one in which they talk in the first person for them. My dogs do have matching Christmas sweaters, to be fair, but they only match each other, not myself.
JM: They are cringe, but in the best way because you’re not taking it too seriously! I think the matching jammies are cute no matter who’s wearing them. Humans find it so hard to agree on where to eat and what movie to watch, but the fact that a girl can get her boyfriend to wear matching jammies with her, or a roommate or even a friend? It has this spirit of Christmas camaraderie that’s quite adorable.
Coordinating is cool, too, but nowhere near as fun as matching – if I’m going to do it, I wanna go all out.
MC: [I think] matching pajamas are reminiscent of uncomfortable family photos. It just feels forced, like it’s just for the Insta op. I’m not sure of the origins of my hatred for matching pajamas, but my aversion started at a young age. I’ve never been a fan of cutesy couples’ stuff and over-the-top PDA – I grew up going to Disney a lot and remember seeing the couples’ and families’ matching shirts there and not liking them.
JM: My friend and I love to get matching PJs, watch a horrible movie, get wine drunk, and eat. It’s beautiful and stupid and amazing. The only thing that makes me cringe is when people are concerned with being nerdy or cringe when it comes to Christmas jammies! It’s cool to be silly and embrace the joy of the season, even if it is a little goofy!