Is It Ever Okay for Lawyers to Wear Pajamas to Work?

By Casey C. Sullivan, Esq. on April 14, 2016 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day is approaching. That's the day when dozens of Americans declare, "Hey, I'm showing up for work, but I'm sure not going to dress for it." Even some celebrities have worn pajamas on the job, including the queen of decorum, Martha Stewart.

So, attorneys, is it ever okay to wear pajamas to your work?

No, of Course It's Not

Sorry pajama fans, esquires in footed jammies is not okay. The key to being a legal professional is being professional. And PJ's aren't professional. They're sleepwear. Taking them out in public is just wrong.

Even if you're defending the actors from Bananas in Pajamas, if you're doing legal work for Victoria's Secret's nightwear department, or if you're working from home, you've still got to get dressed.

The problem with wearing pajamas outside your home is that they give off an air of slovenliness and rejection of social rules that, frankly, should disqualify you not only from your bar, but from polite society altogether. (We're not fans of pajamas and we hate fun.)

If you think you can dress up something silky into a passable outfit, you're wrong. If you think you can wear those business suits made out of sweat suit material, you're wrong. We can tell and we're judging you.

So When Is It, Anyway?

If we haven't managed to dissuade you, National Pajama Day is the day after taxes are due. Or April 16th. It's unclear, since the official-sounding nationalwearyourpajamastoworkday.com hasn't been updated since 2013. (We're questioning the organizers' dedication to this holiday.)

The website includes both an absolute April 16th date and the relative date of "the day after taxes are due." April 16th is this Saturday, while taxes aren't due until Monday, the 18th. (You can thank D.C.'s Emancipation Day holiday on Friday for the tax delay.)

Whether you chose to celebrate on Saturday or next Tuesday is up to you. Just don't blame us when you're fired.

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