Reading · The Cereal Aisle by Leandra Medine Cohen

There are trends running rampant all around us, most of them flickers more than full fledged stars — birkenflops/rocket dogs, big earrings, 90s surf frames, beaded bags, complicated necklines — but the one I’m betting on most effusively represents a vibe more than a specific item.

That vibe is public pajamas — but if we were going to narrow the lens on focus, the baby doll-style doily top would be the new variable bringing public pajamas (always present to some degree when it’s hot) back into the public consciousness.

We Wore What baby doll top (does this do anything for you?), Relax Lacrosse shorts, from our upcoming summer collab! A slew of beaded bags for you here, here, definitely here. Potentially here.

Call it a response to Prada’s - spring 26 - collection, sparks of Phoebe Philo’s collection E, or a re-up on an evergreen mode of summer dress whereby the task order is precisely to look like you’re in between night and day, sleep and work, the most intimate square of your home (bed) and the broader public domain.

Between a resting state and complete chaos.

Regardless of whether it’s apparent to the naked eye, trends that take off tend to reflect a broader, collective yearning. With sleepleisure, my sense is often that there’s a quality of aspirational boredom implied by the trend: a craving for mental blankness, a tender calm that becomes available and allows us to embrace new inputs.

Where in the past I’ve suspected we need rest when I’ve zeroed in nightgown clothes, this season, I’m proposing that the rest has been taken. That the regeneration of this trend reflects a regeneration of our spirit: a readiness to delve into the next thing with a sense of peace, measured patience. Dare I say, with faith!

Maybe this is why the doilies feel so good styled ironically: with fancy pants (low rise) or clunky shoes or bold jewelry/intentional sunglasses. Hats.

Nieves Lavi caftan with a big jovial summer tourist (print!) meets socialite making (eating?) breakfast at her summer estate (silhouette) vibe about it; rooted in the public thanks to the suede bag (B-low the Belt) and shoes (Phoebe Philo, w these, these, these as their alt)

It’s what makes them feel more public than pajama: if the complete look could be worn boudoir, a leather bag or belt comes in as an anchoring compass, pointing the look out the door —

Jojo rocket booster wears a silk nightgown from Sunshine Society with Stride Rite jelly shoes and floral clips in her hair to greet the dogs of Central Park

Jewelry is my own. Re: dress, I’m not opposed to our figuring out how to make this top work, but a mini cotton slip would be good too (or Ref also has this), which you could then wear with something a little dressier over, like this.

If it’s not the bag, it’s the shoe:

I get these suits in a small. And should generally only be allowed to get dressed in the summer. Re: bag, this brand, So-le Studio is bananas cool.

And as evidenced here, can sometimes spill into lazy beach territory:

The great thing about the caftan is the high slits up the side that make it borderline easy to wrap around your waist and fashion into a top to style with teeny tiny beach/sleep shorts (Caro Luna), anchored with city shoes (The Row’s ‘Canal). The silver/silver patina jewelry toughens up the rest of the concept.

The photos here reflect a range of garment-types that can help you capture the spirit of the dressing mandate, but the earlier mentioned doily top does feel like the lowest stakes way to buy in. Some of the best expressions of the top include the new range of tops and skirts from Gimaguas, Doen’s chapter two summer collection, and Ciao Lucia’s bread and butter.

I love this (Prada-coded) for $120, and this — not a top but short enough to pass for one!, from Magda Butrym.

In the end though, it really is about a spirit more than a specific piece.

So long as you pair your pajamas with things you’d wear out, striking that balance between dressed and not, I think you’re good to go. Literally.

Have a great week,

Leandra

Public pajamas

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