Rick Astley’s pyjamas: should it be taboo to wear nightclothes during the day?

Mar 29, 2023

The pop legend appeared on BBC Breakfast in lovely grey PJs - and Erling Haaland has been showing off his designer ones. Can everyone else get away with it too?

Name: Rick Astley's pyjamas.

Age: unknown.

Appearance: grey with white piping and a rounded, notch-lapel collar.

How do you know what kind of pyjamas Rick Astley wears? Are you some kind of weird superfan? In answer to your second question: yes. And in answer to your first: he wore them on national television.

He wore his pyjamas on TV? When? On BBC Breakfast on Wednesday, to publicise his upcoming appearance at Glastonbury.

Why was he in his jim-jams? Because it was 7.50am. What were you wearing at that hour?

A severely distressed nun's habit – sorry, long story – but I wasn't live on the BBC. Couldn't he have put on some clothes? Why should he? He's Rick Astley, a 57-year-old pop legend, comfortable in his own skin, appearing remotely from his home, and in possession of some very nice pyjamas.

So it wasn't a mistake? Of course not. Rick can do no wrong.

Were his sartorial choices remarked upon? Astley raised the subject himself, suggesting he might even grace the Pyramid stage in his pyjamas, if they put him on early enough.

Or late enough. Good point.

Who else is playing Glastonbury in their pyjamas this year? Elton John, the Arctic Monkeys and Guns N’ Roses are on the list, but their wardrobe plans have not been revealed.

Does this sort of thing have any precedent? No. Astley has never even been to Glastonbury.

I meant the pyjamas-on-TV thing. Oh yes. During the first lockdown of 2020, Martin Clunes appeared on Good Morning Britain in his jammies.

This is 2023 and lockdown is now a distant memory. Nevertheless, the habit persists. Comedian Lucy Porter wore her pyjamas on BBC Breakfast in February. It's only recently, however, that wearing pyjamas in the daytime has actually become cool.

Rick Astley has made pyjamas cool? Not on his own, no. But Manchester City's Erling Haaland, top goal scorer this season and style icon, is happy to sport a pair of £2K D&G silk pyjamas out of sleeping hours.

I guess if I’d spen t that kind of money on pyjamas, I’d want lots of people to see me in them. That's what Instagram is for.

So is it now OK for someone like me to wear pyjamas in a work Zoom meeting? Should I try to get that written warning rescinded? Check with HR.

Do say: "This elegant, brushed cotton sleepwear isn't just comfortable, but stylish enough to be worn at work, on TV, or anywhere!"

Don't say: "Except the bus. Driver's discretion, apparently."