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8 comments
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EmmaMon5y ago
When you choose clothes to put on in the morning, not including a uniform, you are expressing yourself even if you aren’t conscious of doing so. I think the colours, fabrics, and style of clothes that people select to put on their body is an expression of how they are feeling on that day, or what they think aesthetically represents how they want to be perceived – for example good, cool, fashionable, respectable, attractive or even rebellious, intimidating, or free spirited.
The clothes a person chooses to wear can tell a lot about them even if the person doesn’t want to, or feel as if they do, express themself through their clothes.
For example, you might choose a red top and not realise you chose this red because you saw a film with a man wearing a red tie that you liked. I think even this qualifies as an expression of the person’s psyche through their garment choice.
I think people are influenced by many subliminal things in their lives that points them to choose particular items to wear, and in this way their clothes tell a story, even if they didn’t intend them to.
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sofiawells5y ago
Even that you might not be putting much effort into your clothing could be considered an expression, like that you value other things over fashion/you're busy, etc.
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EmmaMon5y ago
I agree Sofia!
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Sofia5y ago
It goes a little beyond the opinion, but I would argue even uniforms are a form of expression. Not everyone wears the same clothes in the same way. You might roll up your sleeves to indicate you like doing things with your hands, wear badges or stickers, or not do up the top button of a shirt. They all tell you something about the person wearing the uniform.
Is there any evidence that people are drawn to certain styles or colours?
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EmmaMon5y ago
I think you're right Sofia! This article discusses that you could be drawn to a particular style because of the way you were raised, for example if your mum wore a particular type of jacket you would be more likely to buy one.
It also suggests that the style of the people you surround yourself with at your job will influence what styles you gravitate towards.
It points out too that there could be emotional reasons why you choose to wear for example one style of jeans instead of another - it could be that you associate one style with a time you felt safe, secure or happy, and maybe fear changing to a different one.
https://graziadaily.co.uk/fashion/news/psychological-reason-wear-clothes-wear/
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LeeAnn5y ago
Regarding your question: "Is there any evidence that people are drawn to certain styles or colours?"
The answer is yes, there is. [Research has revealed why people are drawn to certain colors](https://brightside.me/inspiration-psychology/psychologists-say-these-11-clothing-colors-reveal-your-personality-458660/).
What's more, according to [color psychology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_psychology), [color also affects one's behavior, mood and impression on others](https://www.scienceofpeople.com/color-psychology/).
[Additional research](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/habits-not-hacks/201408/color-psychology-how-colors-influence-the-mind) has also [indicated how the use of different colors influence other aspects of our daily lives](https://www.toptal.com/designers/ux/color-psychology). [For example, when one is learning](https://www.shiftelearning.com/blog/how-do-colors-influence-learning).
Interestingly, I also like how [this article explores the negative aspects of color too](https://thriveglobal.com/stories/the-psychological-properties-of-colour-in-fashion/).
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Commentary
eleanorburleigh4y ago
- Unlike our natural appearances, our clothes are more of a social presence. They can be influenced by anything from popular fashion to family members. There is an unmistakable element of crafting a social persona through the clothes we wear & also the clothes that we can afford.
- Clothes can also carry great weight in terms of the assumptions we make about others. [Evidence has shown] (https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/finding-new-home/202005/how-we-judge-others-their-clothes) that we are apt to make split-second judgements about people based on what they are wearing. This is especially true in the case of links between the quality of clothing & economic status.
- 'Self-expression' is a tricky term, though. People can manipulate the assumptions that come with certain clothing choices — could this be termed self-expression? And in the case of those who don't give a second thought to what they wear — is this really self-expression? Would they want some aspect of their identity tied up with what is essentially a non-choice?
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Mixed
Clarein4y ago
While many people do express themselves through the clothes they wear, many people cannot afford the clothes that truly express themselves. So, I agree people can use clothes to express themselves, but there are exceptions so it is important to not judge people or expect something of their personality based on their clothes.
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