World War I introduced the world to so many terrifying new ways war can bring havoc and destruction, and chief among those was, of course, the new terror of airplane bombings.
It was the first time that Britain came under attack from the air. You didnt even have to be a soldier. For Londoners, the threat began in January 1915, when the Germans sent zeppelins loaded with bombs. Eventually, they sent planes, too.
The air raids, often at night, accomplished little, but their true purpose was to terrorize civilians, cause destruction and sink British morale.
Small details give a human touch to our understanding of what happened during those night air bombings.
For example, the typist whose life was saved because she dashed back to her desk for her handbag during a raid, and so missed the worst of the bomb blast. A child, identified only by the unusual shirt button stitched on his cuff just the night before the bombing.
Aldwych tube station being used as a bomb shelter in 1940
The air raids brought the war to the home front. The war entered the bedroom, the most private space of all. And thus, it had quite an effect on fashion.
Think about it this way: Bedclothes are among the most casual clothes. But with the advent of nighttime raids, people would suddenly be asked to evacuate their homes and would be on the streets at a moments notice. Forget Instagram, this was the original I woke up like this”!
A crumpled nightdress would no longer do. It was a matter of practicality! But also a matter of looking good!
The Rise of Pyjamas: A Statement of Courage
As the bombings continued, distinct trends took hold. Pajamas, or pyjamas, as the English called thembecame especially popular. Women in trousered attire of any kind was a new phenomenon in 1915 and many magazines saw pyjamas simply as the seasons novelty ‘.
But they ended up being much more than a seasons noveltypyjama sets are hanging on the racks of your local shops even today!
But not just that, pyjamas were considered fashionable and women would wear them every night. During the air raid they would run out of their homes – dressed in these silky, beautiful yet practical pyjamas, ready for action while looking entirely presentable!
An air raid sleeping suit from 1918/ Lucy Adlington
Pyjamas were both warmer and more practical than thin nightdresses during air raids, attractiveness was important too.
Now, you must be thinking how unnecessary it is to think about how you look when there are bombs falling from the sky, right?
Well, remember how the only reason Germans were bombing the common people in the cities of England was because they wanted to break their morale and spirit? Fashion was the way women were defying war and keeping the morale up.
The message was this: so you want us to get scared by these bombs? We are not scared! Wed rather think about what to wear when we go out in the night. Thats some great way of showing courage, isnt it?
A diary entry from 1916 shows life went on despite the raids: Quiet day. Zepp raid. I saw it. Had my hair shampooed.
Among the more courageous ones was a fashion editor, quoted by the historian Lucy Adlington: I do want a little zep scare, so that I can wear them, the editor confessed about her black silk pyjamas. Of course I dont want anyone to be killed.
The Brave New Woman
When the last bombs fell on London in May 1918, fashion had settled into a calm and simple style women for the first time ever were wearing trousers, pyjamas, shirts and clothes that were simple, but practical.
Women in trousers were a shocking sight to many, but definitely fit for purpose.
During and after WWI, women took on jobs formerly filled by men. Women and girls who previously worked as domestic servants took jobs in factories, performed administrative work, worked as drivers, nurses, and on farms. They volunteered for organizations like the Red Cross and joined the military. A new image of freedom and self-respect led women away from their traditional roles. They drove cars and demanded the right to vote.
As women dressed for these new roles, gender-dictated dress codes relaxed. And now women were dressing the way they wanted to.
What started with a small step of dawning fashionable Pyjamas during air raids led to a long journey of fight for the freedom and rights of women in the Western world.
As a true introvert, Raza Mehdi shudders at the thought of having to expose very much of himself willingly and with malice-aforethought. Writing online since 2008; fiction, poetry, and articles on science, politics, humour and history. When he is not working, he is either trekking in mountains or sleeping. In his own words, the most apt description of him would be: Biryani on social media, daal chawal in person.
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Comments
Arre wah kya baat hai
July 21, 2021
Kya baat batai hai too shocking as the name suggests
Arsh raj
July 24, 2021
This is a very good article
Lekhana Laxminarayani
July 24, 2021
Superb
Kumari Ananya
July 24, 2021
Wow
Athashree
July 24, 2021
Ok , I but I didn’t know this is how pyjamas came into existence; thanks for sharing.
Suhana Rahaman
July 24, 2021
What a great reality
Prisha
July 24, 2021
Hello
Sagar
July 24, 2021
Best knowledge word war
Saranya
July 24, 2021
Nice Statement
Shagun Mishra
July 24, 2021
That’s an interesting fact !
A.YUGAN SANKAR
July 24, 2021
NICE INFORMATION. THANK YOU RAZA MEHDI.
Prachi Salvi
July 24, 2021
Thanks byju’s?
Krishna ghomy
July 24, 2021
Nice it’s very interesting
Nivedita Aswal
July 24, 2021
OMG! I never knew that. suberb!
Nuha khan
July 24, 2021
Great article ???? thank you for sharing byjus
Rohit Sharma
July 24, 2021
It was the first time that Britain came under attack from the air. You didnt even have to be a soldier. For Londoners, the threat began in January 1915, when the Germans sent zeppelins loaded with bombs. Eventually, they sent planes, too.
Aaditya Singh
July 24, 2021
So good and know so much things from this so good and funny also
Souradeep Maji
July 24, 2021
Wow! What a nice story.
Now I am curious to know that , how other dresses were became popular.
Abhishek Kumar
July 24, 2021
hi
Vandana
July 24, 2021
Thanks for this knowledge
Sidhi Dalal
July 24, 2021
I really like to know about the world war 1 and the pyjamas.
Maviya
July 24, 2021
I am amazed by this shocking connection between pyjamas and world war 1.
I am surprised by how pyjamas made women wear western clothes and I am also shocked how women were wearing pyjamas in World War 1 to just look good at night and it also makes a new fashion world. That’s amazing.
Athravasinha
July 25, 2021
Very interesting and its help me in my general knowledge
sadhana
July 25, 2021
It makes history as a favorite subject and interesting.
Sharshti Chauhan
July 25, 2021
Byjus helping math science and ready l am so so happening
Diyasmi Pal
July 25, 2021
Wow!… Didn’t even know pajamas are this serious… Thank you for informing
Dipayan paul
July 25, 2021
Nice blog
Diksha
July 25, 2021
V good knowledge store
Mohak Ambade
July 25, 2021
The story is very interesting to read it tells us so many thing
Arnav Bakshi
July 25, 2021
Fascinating learning article
Tanisha Bhardwaj
July 25, 2021
I love to read the topic. Interesting ??
Aryan
July 25, 2021
Super sir I want more to learn like this
Dhruvika D Singh
July 25, 2021
link between pajamas and world war 1! superb
K. Bharath Krishna
July 25, 2021
It’s very interesting thank you byjus
Riya Bhatt
July 26, 2021
Family
amazing to read journey of pajamas
July 26, 2021
thoroughly enjoyed the journey of pajamas, its equally inspiring too.
look forward to many more such articles.
Harsh
July 26, 2021
Thanks for this information
K.rajitha
July 26, 2021
Nice
Farheen unnisa begum
July 28, 2021
1 answer
World War 1 introduced the world to so many terrifying new ways war can bring havoc and destruction , and chief among those was, of course, the new terror of airplane bombing
Rugveda Jaybhaye
July 29, 2021
It is really very amazing story ?
I didn’t heard about this first?
Lakshmi
July 30, 2021
Thanku so much byju’s
Asritha
July 30, 2021
Interesting it helps to my general knowledge
Sanjay
July 30, 2021
Good
Sneha. D
July 30, 2021
The power should be equally distributed among everyone (all are equal before law). For asking Human Rights , maybe this trend helped women in one step and they got the courage by these simple strange activities…
I want to explore my learning ?
Ritika
July 30, 2021
Nice
Manjila khatun
July 31, 2021
Wow