Frilly Nightgowns to Garfield Pajamas: 1980s Women’s Sleepwear Catalog Pages

J.C. Penney Mid-Summer 1981 Catalog

J.C. Penney Mid-Summer 1981 Catalog

We’re not talking about slinky lingerie today; we’re looking at sleepwear: nightgowns, polyester chemises, and long t-shirts with cartoon animals on them. That’s not to say they can’t be sexy, but most are your standard run-of-the-mill nighttime apparel.

But it’s still rather interesting to take a look at what the ladies were wearing to bed a few decades back.  So, let’s have a look at the sleepwear pages from J.C. Penney and other catalogs from the 1980s and early 90s.  Enjoy.

sleepwear catalog pages

Looking at these pages does make me a bit nostalgic for when sleepwear was actually a “thing”.  Yes, there’s still a market for nightgowns today, but the whole idea of having a nice, separate wardrobe for bed has been in decline for a while.

1980s sleepwear catalog

The koala tees are cute, but I’m partial to what the girl on the far left is wearing.

Klingel catalog 1994

Klingel catalog 1994

 

Empire Stores Spring Summer catalog 1985

Empire Stores Spring Summer catalog 1985

JC Penney Fall and Winter 1989 catalog

The J.C. Penney Fall and Winter 1989 catalog features “Nights in Bright Satin”

J.C. Penney Fall Winter 1982 catalog

J.C. Penney Fall Winter 1982 catalog

JC Penney Fall Winter 1982 catalog

J.C. Penney Fall Winter 1982 catalog

JC Penney Fall Winter 1983 maternity

J.C. Penney maternity sleepwear from 1983

JC Penney Fall Winter 1983 catalog

J.C. Penney Fall-Winter 1983

JC Penney Fall Winter 1984

J.C. Penney Fall-Winter 1984

 

J.C. Penney Fall-Winter 1984

J.C. Penney Fall-Winter 1984

 

J.C. Penney Fall-Winter 1984

J.C. Penney Fall-Winter 1984

J.C. Penney Fall-Winter 1984

J.C. Penney Fall-Winter 1984

J.C. Penney Fall-Winter 1984

J.C. Penney Fall-Winter 1984

 

J.C. Penney Fall-Winter 1986

J.C. Penney Fall-Winter 1986

 

J.C. Penney Fall-Winter 1986

J.C. Penney Fall-Winter 1986

J.C. Penney Spring -Summer 1981

J.C. Penney Spring -Summer 1981

J.C. Penney Spring -Summer 1983

J.C. Penney Spring -Summer 1983

J.C. Penney Spring -Summer 1984

J.C. Penney Spring -Summer 1984

J.C. Penney Spring -Summer 1984

J.C. Penney Spring -Summer 1984

J.C. Penney Spring -Summer 1984

J.C. Penney Spring -Summer 1984

J.C. Penney Spring -Summer 1984

J.C. Penney Spring -Summer 1984

J.C. Penney Spring-Summer 1988

J.C. Penney Spring-Summer 1988

J.C. Penney Spring-Summer 1982

J.C. Penney Spring-Summer 1982

J.C. Penney Spring-Summer 1982

J.C. Penney Spring-Summer 1982

J.C. Penney Fall-Winter 1980

J.C. Penney Fall-Winter 1980

J.C. Penney Fall-Winter 1980

J.C. Penney Fall-Winter 1980

J.C. Penney Spring-Summer 1985

J.C. Penney Spring-Summer 1985

Kays Littlewoods catalog

Kays Littlewoods catalog

La Redoute 1982 Catalog

La Redoute 1982 Catalog

La Redoute 1987-1988 catalog

La Redoute 1987-1988 catalog

La Redoute 1987-1988 catalog

La Redoute 1987-1988 catalog

La Redoute 1987-1988 catalog

La Redoute 1987-1988 catalog

Suisses' Catalog

Suisses’ Catalog

Day N Nite catalog 1989

Day N Nite catalog 1989

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