Fashion and Identity: How Your Clothes Reflect Who You Are
Clothing has evolved over thousands of years, from the primitive animal skins and handmade items of our early ancestors, to the thousands of varieties and styles of modern garments we have today.
Though fashion is a form of nonverbal communication, it has the power to tell a story about who we are, what we value, and how we want to be perceived by the world.
What Our Clothes Say About Us
The type of clothing we wear can accurately reveal bits and pieces about our personalities, our interests, our life experiences, and our culture:
• Our style can show our level of confidence. Smooth lines, bright colors, and bold prints can demonstrate a high level of self-esteem, while shapeless, duller outfits may indicate insecurity or conformism.
• Clothes can reflect our economic circumstances. Expensive clothing can signify wealth and status while thrift store finds can display frugality or a fresh, unique style.
• Our clothing defines our social circle or age group. Trendy items may prove we are aware of current fashion, while stereotyped clothing can solidify a person’s membership to a certain social group.
• Our wardrobe choices can denote our values and beliefs. A gothic look may reflect dark moods, a passionate interest in horror films, and a nonconformist spirit.
How Clothing Affects Our Attitude and Behavior
The clothes we choose to wear don’t just reflect our identity; they can also influence our behavior and attitude. Studies show that what we wear can play a role in how people perceive us and how we perceive ourselves.
For example, an experiment in which students were asked to wear a white lab coat and told it was a “doctor’s coat,” experienced an increase in attentiveness. The simple act of wearing the coat made them feel more professional, which led to a boost in confidence.
Another experiment demonstrated that people who donned formal attire exhibited more “big-picture” thinking, as opposed to people wearing casual clothes which tend to focus more on detail-oriented tasks.
Final Thoughts
Our clothing speaks volumes about who we are, and can even have the power to shape our behavior and attitude. So the next time you get dressed, remember that it’s not just about looking good—it’s about how your outfit reflects your identity, values, and what you want the world to know about you.
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