Last night I met with two of my local Critique Partners (CPs) for one of our regularly scheduled meetings. The three of us prepare a line-by-line critique of the other two's work (usually a chapter each) and we meet to eat pizza and go over the critiques.
So my two CPs were going over my chapter when we came to the scene where my h/h are waking up in bed together. The hero gets out of bed wearing only flannel pajama bottoms and one of my CPs said, "Please DO
NOT tell me those are plaid flannel pajamas!" And when I said yes they were she groaned, "Romance heroes do NOT wear plaid flannel pajamas!"Of course I disagreed. After all, I'd already shown that he was a pretty conservative guy who wears blue pin-striped boxers, and they were in a chilly climate. Then I went into TMI (too much information) territory and added that my DH wears plaid flannel pajamas AND he even has a pair with green smiling monkeys (that I bought for him). Clearly this was waaay more than my CP wanted to know and forever ruined my DH's chances of being a Romance Hero in her book.
Still, I was left wondering if what a hero WEARS makes him any more or less a hero? If so, then some of those historical costumes look pretty silly to me, and I'm personally not fond of cowboy hats (or most other hats) on ANYONE. And while I'm thinking about it my son is a lot closer to my hero's age than my DH (oh heavens, HOW did this HAPPEN?!?!), and son wears ratty old sweatpants to bed (at least when he visits me). I definitely can't picture a Romance Hero in THOSE!
So what do YOU think? Do Romance Heroes wear flannel (or any) pajamas? If the book you're reading has a scene with the hero in flannel pajamas does it ruin the character for you? Should Aunty ADMIT to having a child old enough to be a Romance Hero?!?!
18 comments:
Well, I personally prefer that my romance heroes wear NOTHING to bed. But that's just me.
Maybe they wear silk pajama bottoms? I dunno.
I have to agree with Sonja. Romance heros wear absolutely nohting to bed! And I write historicals.
If you really have to have him wearing something, how about silk boxers? They're sexy.
Too, too funny, AC.
Personally, as long as the top's bare, my hero can wear anything he wants on the bottom. My heroine knows how to make short work of removing it.
Seriously, I hate a hero who wears short briefs. Boxers, okay; long briefs, fine; sweats, I'm good, but do not put him in underwear that reminds me of what my little boys wore.
Oh Jo, I so agree with you on the short briefs, LOL. I prefer my heroes to wear nothing. Or boxers, if absolutely necessary.
Hey, we need Cafe Press to come out with a line of RB boxers...black silk, I think, with our logo strategically placed...for discriminating heroes everywhere! ;-)
LOL, Jo!
I gotta agree with you. My heroines know how to make short work of whatever bottoms my hero has on (hmmm, wonder where they came by such a train?!?!).
Sonja and Christie, silk is nice! Warm too. And GREAT IDEA, Kate to have some sexy silk boxers with the Romance Bandits logo on 'em. I might even convince the DH to give up the monkey pajamas for those! HAHAHAHA!
I dunno, just think how warm and snuggly your hero would be. Maybe he could start out starkers then put the comfy snuggle jammies on after all the fireworks are over.
Or, maybe I've just been married too long. Hee hee.
Yes, I do think a hot hero can wear flannel. If he's got a great chest and a six-pack, he could sleep in just the flannel and nothing else!
Aunty C, you crack me up!
You know, I think a wonderful hero can transcend any fashion faux pas but I agree I'm not too keen on the short briefs.
But I think you're right, what the hero wears does have an impact. I think it's one reason Georgian historicals with the men dressed up like peacocks never really gained the popularity of the Regency. It takes someone like Georgette Heyer (or maybe Eloisa James, haven't read hers yet) to create heroes that are still sexy in powder and patch. Great post! THanks for the giggle.
Most of the romances I read the hero is nekkie every chance he gets. I read historicals and in most cases he is wearing a robe he can get out of quick. My BF is cold natured and he wears flannel bottoms, his "duckies" as he calls them. I think he is sexy even in his ducky flannels.
Ok, how come nobody brought up LOINCLOTHS?
Or picture just the right length tunic on a breezy day....
Ahem, back to modern times. I think a hero most certainly CAN and SHOULD wear flannel pajama bottoms. It would depend on his nature and personality on whether he can wear the smiling monkey ones (he can NOT name the monkeys!)
And along with the bare chest I want tousled hair....medium length, thick tousled hair....that I tousled :-)
Yep, as long as the chest is bare. Or maybe boxers.
sonja and christie, I'm with you. I like my hero to save the pjs for the morning, when he's making breakfast in bed for my heroine.
But silk boxers? I dunno...I've always been partial to the manly man type--silk boxers suggests metro-sexual to me. ;-)
Christine, I think you're right on about the Georgian era. I'll have to get Eloisa's new book and see how she does.
AC, great topic. I love thinking about men in pajamas...or out of pajamas, as the case may be...
I really like reading about the hero that goes commando in bed,but if he's got to wear something black silk boxers or pj pants are sexy.*g*
Still, I was left wondering if what a hero WEARS makes him any more or less a hero?
Less is more where clothing in bed are concerned. So the hero would only be wearing his grin.
If so, then some of those historical costumes look pretty silly to me...
Christine, you beat me to the punch. I was going to mention the Georgians, too, with their powdered wigs, pointy heels, beauty patches, and knee breeches. While La Heyer's duke definitely makes the cut for being hero material, Eloisa James makes her Georgian hero downright sexy.
Keira, I'm really looking forward to EJ's series. Hoping it really opens up the Georgian era. I love all the swashbuckling danger of pre-Regency times. Highwaymen, smugglers and the like. I know, I know, there are so many of those stories but I still love them!
Off to order some books!
My heroes wear nothing, nada, zilch to bed. The moment they get up, they may pull on boxers, flannel jammie bottoms, OR if they're not at home, like out on the run from the bad guys, their jeans, but in bed, naked, please!
Suz, you naughty girl! Kidding. :) I like my heroes nekkid, too. But I suppose it depends on the character. Cindy's is a conservative type, so it would be fun to watch the heroine loosen him up!
Fun post! :)
Jo
Romance heroes are best left sleeping in the nude - hee hee. If they must wear something to bed, boxers are the second best.
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