sleeping-costume

Updated: August 22, 2026

With the afternoon suit goes a high silk hat, called a "plug" by the lower classes, who never wear them. After dark two suits of black are worn: one a sack, being informal, the other with tails, very formal. They also have a suit for the bath a robe and a sleeping-costume, like a huge bag, with sleeves and neck-hole. This is the night-shirt, and formerly a "nightcap" was used by some.

- As A Chinaman Saw Us: Passages from his Letters to a Friend at Home