But due to the expense of clothing and the limited wardrobe of the working class, it is quite possible that many laborers and peasants slept naked, at least during warmer weather. On cooler nights, they could wear shifts to bed, possibly even the same ones they'd worn that day under their clothes.

For much of the medieval and early modern periods, European peasants generally did not own specialized "pajamas" or nightwear. Instead, they typically slept in their chemise or smock, which was the long, linen or hemp undergarment worn during the day to protect their heavier wool outer clothing from body oils and sweat. In colder climates or during the winter months, a peasant might simply sleep in their full day clothes to stay warm, as bedding was often sparse—usually a straw-filled mattress or even just a pile of rushes on the floor. In some warmer regions, such as parts of Southern France, historical records and "tuesday trivia" from historians suggest that sleeping naked was surprisingly common to avoid wearing out precious fabrics. Bedding was shared among family members for body heat, and the idea of a dedicated "nightgown" was a luxury reserved for the upper classes and nobility until the 16th and 17th centuries. For the average worker, bedwear was a matter of utility and survival rather than fashion or specific comfort.