Available in Mom sizes, too!

Halloween is over and it is now time to put away our costumes. Or is it?

We all know the well-coordinated families who trick-or-treat as a theme: say, they are all pirates, a robot family, a root vegetable family or the cast of the Wizard of Oz, or the Cat in the Hat, for example. Well, put those away, except for the Cat’s striped pajamas.

It seems that this impulse for a certain family uniformity extends to other wear as well, day-wear as well as night.

A recent discussion on the parent listserv board MOTH about where to find matching pajamas for the family made me wonder: are there other Hill residents donning matching striped flannels on these chilly nights behind those lace curtains, groovy new shutters, or Next Day Blinds?

Yes, some local moms admit, although all agree the adult male in the household is not one to go for the adult version of the kid’s footsies, flannels and fleece.

At least one admits to having a Christmas portrait taken on them (Fair lady, read ahead: a matching-PJ photo contest will be offered soon). Others think it is  “cute” in concept but are not ready to hit the “order” button.

One mom reminisced about the Mommy-and-Me pajamas worn in the hospital after the birth of her daughter–a little gown  by Olian for the baby, and nursing PJs for the Mom, which sounds terribly sweet and so appropriate that hospitals should bequeath all new moms and their newborns with such matching sets. But the idea, once it takes hold,  has legs (footed or unfooted). Our Hill mom in question is now considering purchasing another pair of Mommy-and-Me PJs if she finds a pair she likes, and if she can leave the guy version out, of course.

Another mom in pursuit of the perfect family pajama is a fine, new contributor to our blog who was searching for a family set to continue a tradition her late mother had had of wrapping up  new pajamas as presents to be opened Christmas Eve. (Names are being withheld to protect the innocent pajamas.)

Inquiries to Hanna Andersson, Children’s Place and other purveyors of matching flannels to see whether an inordinate amount had been shipped to the local Capitol Hill zip codes were not immediately returned. Hanna Andersson even makes a matching set for the family dog, but apparently not the cat, lest he show up on YouTube.

One of the purveyors mentioned was The Wooden Soldier,  which also has a section devoted to something called “family ensembles.” A customer service rep for the New Hampshire company says they are receiving an increase in orders for matching pajama sets, and that it seems to be a growing family tradition.

Sleepyheads wrote back to note that, “matching pajamas are very popular for the holidays.”  Sleepyheads.com offers many different types of matching pajamas and has great success with these pajamas every year.” More importantly for you Hill folk, the company is about to launch a promotion to win $1000.00 worth of pajamas by submitting a photo of matching pajamas — the best photo wins!!

These are outfits meant to be seen in the light of day, or at family photo sessions. We may have coordinated our look with red and the collars white for a group holiday pose but these take it to the next level, with white sashes for Mommy and daughter, or red plaid vests for the  child and the adult male, with respective male and female placements of black or red velvet bows.

Happily, Eastern Market’s weekend flea market provides less somber alternatives.

One of the coolest places to get your Mommy-and-Me on is at Kerplunk Designs, which sells corduroy and poplin fabric overalls, skirts and jumpers appliquéd with winsome calico fabric animals and iconic images such as  owls, chickadees whales, squirrels and watermelon. All are handmade by Helen Johnson, in Delaware, and have such eye candy appeal that she gets many requests to make a grownup version for the moms. She also can make matching outfits for siblings, a la the family ensemble. Recently a grandmother came by interested in a lion themed outfits for her grandchildren, where the little girls would get jumpers, while the little boys would wear dark green coveralls, all of them emblazoned with a lion. Sometimes a parent or grandparent comes by her stall and   wants a matching set for family pictures, she says. She can finish a mother-daughter order in a couple of weeks.

The most popular adult/child combo she says is the smiling calico blue whale on a green poplin or weavers cloth skirt with a tie bow in front. The reverse pattern is also popular–green whales on a blue corduroy skirt. Johnson does not usually change the background color for her squirrels, leaves and other appliqués because she has chosen just the right combination to make the design pop off the background.

However, truer words, “I find people are either very pro, for it, or are very against it,” she said of matching outfits.  Moms here either embrace the idea, or are a bit appalled at matching family ensembles. But no one can resist looking, so draw your blinds!

The Women’s Fashion-love to know website offers tips for couples or families should they decide to match, hopefully so you  won’t end up in Awkward Family Photos.

If you and your adult partner and/ or children match clothes or pajamas — or choose not to — tell us why. Or let a photo do the talking.