– It is much more comfortable to walk in sweatpants. It’s just better. That’s what Tobias Mæhre says, who is one of many young people who now choose comfortable trousers over stiff jeans. He is a pupil at Charlottenlund secondary school, and here he is not alone in having noticed an increase in the use of the garment. – There are more people who wear sweatpants, at least here at school. I notice it very often, says Ida Bysveen. – I even train in sweatpants, it’s much more comfortable, adds Tobias. Tobias Mæhre. Photo: Privat More normalized As with many other things, the pajama pants have become a trend on TikTok. – Are you influenced by what you see others wearing? – To be completely honest, I have been influenced by TikTok. I feel more like wearing clothes I see other people wearing, says Tobias. Media and fashion researcher Synne Skjulstad is not surprised by the trend. She has already heard about it when news calls, and emphasizes that this is by far the first time that posh appears in Western fashion. – Pajamas actually comes from Hindi and means to cover the legs, she says. The garment was worn by both women and men, and was not originally intended for sleeping in. Then it was brought to Europe at the end of the 19th century. – Already there, the pajama has gone through a few rounds, from being a normal item of clothing in large parts of the world – to being used as nightwear for men, says Skjulstad. The distinction is blurred After that, the garment has caused more controversy by being used in ways other than as nightwear. In the 1920s, women began wearing pajama pants on the beach, among other things. – It was completely unheard of in a time when women did not wear trousers, says Skjulstad. Media and fashion researcher Synne Skjulstad does not think it is surprising that pyjamas have found their way into the fashion image of young people. Photo: Jonatan A. Quintero If we jump from there to today’s young people who wear sweatpants at school and in their free time, she believes there are many reasons why it has become fashionable now. – Behind us we have a long period where many activities have taken place at home. Many young people have also been at home – but at the same time at school, she says, referring to the pandemic. – The distinction between which garments belong at home or in public is less strict in today’s dress practice than it has been in the past. There are more things that are considered socially accepted than before. Being social also takes place through platforms such as TikTok, she points out. And trends like this spread quickly. Tobias Mæhre, Ida Bysveen, Oda Rolstad and Elias Rønning have noticed that more people use fancy dress both at school and in their free time. On this particular day, they chose some other trousers. Photo: Lena Erikke Hatland / news – We should never underestimate the power of being like other young people in youth culture. With, among other things, TikTok, you can see much more clearly what others are doing – not just at your school and in your neighbourhood. So these types of trends can take some strange routes and go quite quickly – because you suddenly have access to the whole world of information. The media and fashion researcher also does not ignore the fact that the rebelliousness of wearing sweatpants when you go to school is important. – If you want to be a bit of a rebel, this is an incredibly pleasant way to do it. And an easy way to feel a little rebellious, she smiles. Adopted from home school After years of home schooling, the gang at Charlottenlund also don’t think it’s strange that pajama pants have come into fashion. – It could be that after you sat at home with home schooling, people thought it was good to only wear “chill” clothes, and then you became less afraid to wear it at school. It has become more normalised, says Ida, who likes to go to the shop in sweatpants. – It’s not embarrassing or anything, it’s completely normal. – Grandma mentioned that she sees a lot of people wearing sweatpants in the shop, so something must have happened, says Oda Rolstad. Tobias Mæhre, Ida Bysveen, Oda Rolstad and Elias Rønning have no doubt that home schooling has led to changes in clothing style. Photo: Lena Erikke Hatland / news – Do you get reactions from your parents when you go out in fancy dress? – When I stand at the door in slippers, sweatpants and a hoodie that is three sizes too big, I often get questions about where I am going. Then I often just go to a friend’s, and they think that’s perfectly fine.
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Young people in Trondheim wear fancy dress at school and in their free time – news Trøndelag
