Gen Z Can’t Get Enough of Pajama Sets. Here Are Their Favorites.
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For several years now, headlines covering Gen Z will give you a pretty homogenous picture: Those born after 1997 and before 2012 aresober-curiousbed rottersor, in the best case,wellness-maxxingat the gym or Pilates studio. In other words, Gen Z can’t seem to escape the homebody reputation, and they don’t seem to care. Instead, they fill their spaces with things that make them cozy —Himalayan salt lamps,melatonin pillow sprays, andthat viral Hatch alarm clock— and wear their finestpajama sets. “The experience of wearing them feels like self-care,” says 23-year-oldElla Smith, who wears a pajama set “pretty much” every single night.
Many young women, like 18-year-oldEmma Lipkinfrom Florida, still have the old T-shirts they wore to bed when they were younger, but they opt for pajama sets now because they make them feel more “put-together.” (Just about every pajama enthusiast I chatted with used that exact phrase.) Between workout sets, loungewear sets, and dressy sets, she says, “I probably am always in a set now that I think about it.” Unlike the other pairings, though, pajama sets define how you end your night or start your day, according to the members of Gen Z I spoke with. “From the moment that I wake up to the second that I go to sleep, I feel put-together,” says 21-year-oldKarma Carr.
But Gen Z isn’t just wearing these pajama sets to bed. Sets from Roller Rabbit, Lake, and Victoria’s Secret have become the de facto outfit for everyone from teens at pre-prom brunches to 20-somethings at a bachelorette party. Some sororities have even curated a rush theme around these sets, likeUniversity of Michigan’s Alpha Chi Omegaand theCollege of Charleston’s Alpha Delta Pi.Ava Mikell, 18, from Illinois, told me that all her friends wear matching pajama sets at the sleepovers she goes to, and on a recent trip to Greece, her crew packed their sets so they could “romanticize” their lives. “It’s just so cool to be like,This my life,” she told me.
Gen Z’s Favorite Pajama Sets
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Roller Rabbit is known for pajamas that are dotted with monkeys and whales.
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Lake’s pima-cotton pajamas are a staple in the South.
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What’s old is new again: Victoria’s Secret pajama sets are once again a hot item.
The printed set that’s a dorm staple
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It’s hard to talk about Roller Rabbit without mentioning Gen Z. The brand’s recent collaboration with Target drewlinesand sparkedearly-aughts, Black Friday–level frenzyacross the country, and fervor for the brand hasn’t faded since. You’ll see girls wearing Roller Rabbit’s signature monkey and whale prints at sleepovers from Connecticut to Nebraska to Alabama, and many college students, like Lipkin, have matching pairs with their roommate.Charlotte Kean, 16, told me she and her friends make sure to wear them while getting ready for significant milestones, like prom and graduation, or even if they’re just FaceTiming from their bedrooms.
Every girl I spoke to had a different favorite pair, from red monkeys toa birthday-themed set complete with party hats. AndTikTok videosshowing off Roller Rabbit collections withthousands of dollars’ worth of pajamasregularly amass thousands of views. It’s not just about the patterns, though — the teens like how thick and soft the pajamas are. “They’re not thick to where it weighs you down, but they’re thick enough to keep you warm,” 18-year-old Presley Schrader from Nebraska told me.
The price isn’t lost on young Roller Rabbit fans — sets start at $118 — but the general sentiment was that the pajamas are worth the splurge. Kean, who has purchased a pair herself and received others as gifts, says, “The quality of it and just having a cute set to go to bed in is really worth it.”
The preferred set in the South
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Lake’s pima-cotton pajama sets are especially popular on college campuses in the South, like the University of Alabama and Auburn University. (It’s no coincidence the brand was founded in Savannah, Georgia, and has other outposts in the state as well as Florida and the Carolinas.) It was a striped pair from Lake that turned Smith’s casual collection of pajamas from TJ Maxx and Marshalls into a full-blown collection that includes several pairs from Roller Rabbit, Lake, Lila & Hayes, and Bedhead Pajamas. “I started branching out a little bit after having some money from nannying,” she told me. Now she has several pairs from Lake, including a pants set covered in hearts and a bundle that includes three pieces she can mix and match. “They just feel really timeless, and they have a lot of simpler patterns,” she says.
The set that’s making a comeback
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I first noticed Victoria’s Secret was on the up-and-up last fall when the brand’s signature satin striped pajamas became a staple in Christmas wish-list videos, and Pink’s bustling store opening onTween Rowlast month only confirmed my observations.Mikellcalls her satin set her “more bougie” pair, adding they “kind of give sexy.” When she wears them, it’s less about how she feels falling asleep and more about her intentions the next day. “I want to wake up and be cute in Victoria’s Secret,” she says.
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The super-stretchy pair
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Skims’s pajamas are another standout from last year’s Christmas wish-list videos. New York teensEliza DziekonskiandCharlotte Spectorhad the Kim Kardashian loungewear sets on their lists, and the brand came up multiple times as one that teens wished would open at theAmerican Dreammall. Mikell told me they’re the highest-quality pajamas in her closet since they’re stretchy, soft, and cozy. She saves them for nights when she’s showering, shaving her legs, and looking forward to sleepingverywell.
The set that’s a Tween Row favorite
Unsurprisingly, Brandy Melville has also taken over teen and tween’s pajama drawers. (That is, in addition to their sweatshirt and basics drawers.) Lipkin says they’re a favorite among girls in her sorority, and Mikell likes how many different options they have. (They have more in store than online.) They’re definitely the shortest of the bunch; Brandy Melville labels the bottoms as underwear. As such, Mikell says she prefers wearing them in the summer.
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The soft set for those who run hot
Whether Gen Z shops at Aerie for their holiday pajamas or simple matching mats, the primary draw seems to be the texture. I heard the termsbuttery softandlightweight, and Kean says they’re even more lightweight than her Roller Rabbit pairs.
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More up and coming pajama sets, according to Gen Z
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Smith is curious about Dairy Boy’s pajama sets and says, “Those are really cute.”
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These pajamas from beloved sweatshirt brand Pink Palm Puff were a hit last holiday season.
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Schrader also finds lots of pajamas on Amazon, and this is one of her favorite pairs.
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These stand out from other pajamas in Smith’s collection because of the ruffles.
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Smith likes Bedhead Pajamas sets because of their cute prints and “buttery soft” material.
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Mikell appreciates how affordable these pajamas are. “Nothing ever digs in,” she adds.
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