Smoking Jacket, Pyjamas and Sex

If we say smoking jacket, pyjamas and sex, who springs to mind? Yes the man who invented pyjama style has gone to that great boudoir in the sky. Hugh Hefner, saint or sinner? The Hef, who died last week, was the founder of the Playboy empire. He claimed to have slept with over 1,000 women and once said, my best pick-up line is “My name is Hugh Hefner.” He also felt that he played a key role in the liberation in the role of women but that’s too controversial for our little blog. He will certainly be remembered for pyjamas and sex, admitting, “I have about 100 pairs of pyjamas. I like to see people dressed comfortably.” In that respect he was way ahead of his time as he was wearing silk Pjs and dressing gowns during the day long before the current trend started. His timing was right for the Playboy magazine too which he started in 1953 and was originally going to be called Stag Party and at its peak had a circulation of nearly 7 million. The Hef was a great advocate for loungewear with many photos of him enjoying a cigar in his smoking jacket and smart black slippers. The Playboy Mansion complete with infamous party grotto, an extra-large round bed and hot and cold running women became a symbol of the decadent eighties. Hefner continued to live there until his death, although it was actually sold last year for $100 million, at the time the most expensive home ever sold in Los Angeles where they know a thing or two about decadence. As you might expect a story about pyjamas and sex is too good for Hollywood to avoid. It seems a biopic based on the late playboy is coming and reports suggest Margot Robbie is now in talks to star in the film opposite her Suicide Squad co-star Jared Leto who is expected to play the man himself.