CLOTHING SELECTION, PURCHASES AND CARE HIEDILIZA G.

DRAGIDO
Faculty

MODULE 2
WHY AND HOW CLOTHING CHOICES ARE MADE

I. Introduction

Unlike any other member of the animal kingdom, humans have the unique
advantage of choice. We get to choose what we wear. So have fun with fashion. Play
a little. Experiment. If something doesn’t work or feel right, switch it up. No one
says you’re stuck with wearing something you don’t like. Have fun. But remember, a
good rule of thumb is: if you have to question a piece of attire, don’t wear it.
This module will introduce to you the different factors why and how clothing
choices of every individual is made. This topic also helps individual improve his/her
personality on how he/she chooses what to wear.

II. Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this lesson you must have:

1. identified the reasons why people wear clothing;
2. determined how clothing choices are made;
3. recognized that clothing is a major part of the image one projects to
others;
4. prepared a poster showing people wearing different types of people;

III. Learning Contents

History of Clothing - Why We Wear Clothes

People wear clothes for many reasons, primarily for protection and decoration.
While it may seem that protection from the elements is the main function of
clothing, the concept of decorating the body is an ancient practice, going back to
the days of the Neanderthal who disappeared 30,000 years ago.

Garments have been worn for thousands of years as gender identification, to

promote sexual attractiveness, to display status, age, occupation, religion, group
membership, and political affiliation, for ceremonial occasions, and for personal
expression. Primitive cultures of the modern world who live in clothing optional
societies adorn themselves with scarring, tattoos, body paint, amulets, and headgear.

Throughout history, clothing choices were limited by available materials.

When people began to devise garments, they were limited by their environment,
technology, and geographical place in the world. An abundance of sheep offered
wool. In or near places where flax grew, linen became a primary source of woven
fabric. As trade routes grew, people were able to expand their use of available
materials.

Functionality also played an important role in the wearing of clothing. Hard

working peasants needed garments that allowed for ease of movement while the
elite displayed their status and power by wearing more elaborate costumes that
often restricted movement.

Historical Evidence of Clothing

Garments wear out. Imagine how many of today's garments would last 1,000
years or more! Few old garments appear as archaeological evidence. But experts
have found evidence of clothing through art such as statues and cave paintings.
Written accounts, some thousands of years old, have survived that offer information
on trade, business, inventories, and letters.
The Max Plank Institute in Germany suggests that people wore some type of
clothing as long as 107,000 years ago. David Reed of the University of Florida
suggests that people wore clothing as long as 170,00 years ago. The study of body
lice DNA showed that body lice differentiated from head lice around that time.

Neanderthals appear to have used dyes 75,000 years ago as suggested by

lumps of iron oxide found at Shanidar Cave in Iraq. Bracelets and necklaces made of
animal sinew strung with beads made of shells, bones, and teeth have been found
in Neanderthal grave sites.

Accounts of the textile trade document textiles used for trade in the ancient Middle
East and Egypt. Physical evidence of linen has been found in Eastern Europe that
dates 30,000 years ago.

Clothing as Protection

A garment protects the body from much more than a chilly day. Garments
protect people from sun and wind burn as well as blown dust, insects, thorns, and
rain. Wide hat brims may be attractive but they also protect the face from the sun,
the eyes from glare, and keep rain off the face.

Ancient Egyptian women wore linen so fine as to appear transparent. Linen

cools the body and wicks away the moisture of perspiration.

Workers wear sturdy clothing as well as protective gear - think cowboys in

chaps, butchers in aprons, and fire fighters in fire prof jackets.

The ancient Romans in their togas believed that trousers were a barbarian
style, but Northern Europeans lived in a much colder climate which demanded
greater insulation provided by pants. The equestrian people of ancient times wore
pants to prevent chaffing.

Clothing as Modesty
 We often attribute modesty to a sense of decorum and morality. But the
concept may be much more than Adam and Eve donning fig leaves. People who
protected themselves from the elements, from cold, heat, sunburn, from insect
bites, from scratches and cuts from thorns would not only look more attractive, but
would have had a survival advantage. Remember that antibiotics are a relatively
new invention and that, in the past, an infected cut could kill you.

Modesty varies from one culture to the next and even varies in one culture
depending on circumstance. A woman who would think nothing of wearing a bikini
at the beach would never do so on a city street. Not only would she seem
immodest, but she'd look like an idiot.

Modesty can also be tied to tradition. In the Middle East, especially in Muslim
cultures, full body covering is modest behavior. But harsh desert climates demand
the protection offered by head to dressing.

Elders often object to new styles on the basis of morality. The shocking view
of women's legs when hems rose in the 1920s may have been more of a result of
the automobile than of the immodest behavior of young ladies. It's easier to
maneuver behind the wheel of a car without the encumbrance of long or tight skirts.
Trousers appeared immodest to the elders of the early 20th century. But changes in
the activity levels of young women, in their new interest in sports, in women taking
on roles previously the realm of men made wearing pants more practical.

The Impact of Technology on Clothing

Technology has a huge impact on why people wear certain garments. The
production and distribution of textiles, footwear, headgear, and ornamentation
depends on the ability to produce clothing and to move it from place to place.

When people learned to weave textiles from wool and flax, their garments
became more complicated than the older clothing made out of leather and fur. Wool
and flax were more comfortable and more adaptable to changes in the weather, and
easier to work with.

The establishment of trade routes allowed people to move their textiles

greater distances and to obtain textiles from sources far from home. Silk brought to
Europe from China created a whole new source of luxury for the elite and enriched
the mercantile class.

The spinning wheel, and ever more complicated looms quickened production
and availability of fabrics. The Industrial Revolution led to mass production that not
only changed the economy, but led to more rapidly changing styles. As investors
produced fabrics and garments more quickly, they needed the customers to
increase demand. While previous styles changed over generations, producers
needed to create a demand for their product.
Magazines featured fashion plates to lure women into buying the latest style.
Transportation technologies like steam ships, trains, and trucks allowed garments
and fabrics to be moved more quickly. As communication technology became faster
(moving pictures, TV, the internet) concepts of new styles spread faster than in the
slower paced past.

The creation of synthetic fabrics like nylon made clothing cheaper. People
today have more garments than they did 100 years ago.

The Influence of Gender and Sexual Attractiveness on Clothing

Throughout history, people have worn clothing as gender identification and to

appear attractive to the opposite sex. In most cultures, men and women wear
slightly different types of garments.

In ancient times, the length of a robe depended on gender. In Ancient Rome

men wore shorter hems while women wore long, draped gowns. The costumes of
Ancient Egypt are also gender specific. In medieval Europe men wore tunics
exposing their legs, while women's legs were covered at all times.

The idea of what is sexually attractive can change over time. After long years
of deep decolletage that highlighted the bosom, style changes were made to
emphasize the hips. When hemlines rose in the early 20th century, women's legs
were emphasized as the object of attraction.

While the occasional appearance of women in trousers seemed ridiculous and

unfeminine in the late 19th century, one hundred years later, slacks came to be
viewed a quite fetching.

Clothing and Status

A person's status in the social hierarchy can be easily judged by what they
wear. Styles, fabrics, colors, headgear, and ornamentation are markedly different
between people of various socio-economic levels. This may seem obvious when we
look at portraits of kings and queens of yesteryear as opposed to pictures of
peasants. But even today, when we all dress in a similar manner the quality of
materials used and production of the garment is obvious.

The better the clothing, the higher the status of the wearer. This works to
define the powerful and to establish who is in charge. While factory workers wear
protective garb and tough utility garments, the boss can be easily identified in his
white shirt and tie.

In medieval Europe, laws were enacted that mandated dress in accordance

with social status. Sumptuary laws forbade members of the newly wealthy
mercantile class from wearing certain colors, fabrics, and embellishments. The
nobility feared that the power of fancy clothes might diminish their own.
 An experiment by Tilburg University of the Netherlands sent out two groups
of people to a shopping mall in order to convince others to take a survey. The group
that wore designer labels found that 52% of people asked agreed to take the survey.
The non designer logo questioners only convinced 13% of take the survey.
Obviously, we assign status and authority to people wearing garments that indicate
wealth.

Status not only refers to social position. One can tell a person's marital status
at a glance by looking for a wedding ring on the ring finger of their left hand.

Clothing and Group Membership

Children can identify the group membership of a person from a simple

drawing. Police, firefighters, health care workers, military personnel, business
people, farmers, and the clergy can all be clearly spotted by what they wear.

Until the late 20th century, nurses typically wore white uniforms. The white
cap was unique to the school that each nurse attended.

Interests, hobbies, and favorite recreational activities are often declared by

clothing choices. We form stereotypes in our minds of skate boarders, hikers,
surfers, golfers, etc. A mid 20th century American homemaker could be identified
by her house dress and apron.

ORIGIN OF CLOTHING

Prehistoric era
Neanderthal man, the earliest known person to produce clothes, lived
between approximately 200,000 and 30,000 B.C.E. The temperature of the planet
fluctuated drastically at this time, causing a succession of ice ages in northern
Europe and Asia, where the Neanderthal man resided. Neanderthals were well
adapted to the chilly climate of their day thanks to their compact, muscular
physique that kept body heat in. However, their big intellect worked best for them.
Neanderthal man acquired the ability to craft simple yet efficient tools out of stone.
Neanderthals were skilled hunters who pursued the hairy mammoths, bears, deer,
musk oxen, and other species that coexisted with them thanks to tools like spears
and axes. The thick, hairy hides of these creatures were eventually used by
Neanderthals to keep themselves warm and dry. This discovery led to the invention
of clothes.
Although the exact date of the invention of clothing is unknown, anthropologists
place it between 100,000 and 500,000 years ago. The first clothing was created
from natural materials such as grasses, leaves, bones, and shells, along with
animal skin and hair. Although clothing was frequently hung or tied, tiny needles
made of animal bone show that leather and fur outfits were sewn at least 30,000
years ago. Cloth-making, which drew on basketry techniques, evolved as one of
humankind’s core technologies when settled Neolithic tribes realised the
advantages of woven fibres over animal hides.

Palaeolithic Age
The Cro-Magnon man, widely regarded as the next step in human evolution, first
appeared around forty thousand years ago and improved Neanderthal clothing. The
more intelligent Cro-Magnons discovered how to manufacture fire and prepare food
and created finer, more effective tools. Small holes were punched in the animal
skins, which were then bound together with concealment string using sharp awls or
pointed implements. They most likely created the first coverings for the body, legs,
head, and feet in this fashion. The needle was one of the most significant
inventions made by the Cro-Magnons. Animal bone shavings were used to make
the needles, which featured an eye at one end and a tip at the other. The Cro-
Magnon man could sew neatly cut strips of fur into more form-fitting clothing with a
needle. According to available evidence, Cro-Magnon people created tight-fitting
clothing to keep them warm, including shawls, hoods, and long boots. The animal
skin would have at first been stiff since they had not learned how to tan skins to
soften them, but with repeated wearings, it would become incredibly soft and
comfortable.

The history of textiles goes hand in hand with the history of clothes. To be able to
create the materials required for clothes, machines needed to be able to weave,
spin, and perform other procedures that humans had to develop. Prior to the
invention of sewing machines, almost all clothing was produced locally and by
hand; most towns had tailors and seamstresses who could create specific pieces of
clothing for customers. After the sewing machine was created, the market for
ready-made garments boomed.

Theories Relating to the History of Clothing

We accept the ancient adage “clothes make the man” without really thinking
about it. Not only do clothes “make the man,” but they also have an impact on the
body and facial features. People use their clothing as a tool for social interaction in
the form of symbols. Nonverbal communication is created by this. Undoubtedly, the
need for the invention of the numerous types of clothing worn by humanity was
influenced by the climate. (Clothing that covers almost the entire body originates in
the temperate zones. The wearer is shielded from heat, cold, and sandstorms by
their clothing.)

Clothing is divided into two categories. The modish, the fixed The fixed are
essentially unchangeable and not fashion-sensitive, but they vary by locale. The
modish type is prevalent in western nations and varies quickly over time in all
regions of the world that are susceptible to changes in fashion.

Four main theories about the origin of clothing.

The Adornment Theory
It holds that the urge to stand out or achieve dominance—not necessarily of
a sexual nature—begins with the wearing of clothing. According to this theory,
obvious decoration represents primordial attire. This theory discusses the
ornamental qualities of clothing and other looks, as well as alterations made for
show, appeal, or artistic expression.

Projection Theory
According to this theory, clothing shields wearers from the elements, wild
animals, and even paranormal entities. People from the earliest civilizations are
known to have used natural elements like leaves, leather, fur, grass, etc. to cover
or protect themselves. This theory suggests that clothes protect humans from the
harmful effects of the elements. Example: bullet-proof jackets, space suits,
firefighting suits, raincoats, etc.

The Modesty Theory

The Latin word modestus, which means “keeping within measure,” is where
the term “modesty” originates. According to a hypothesis that is similar to the
Mesopotamian myths about the garden of Eden and even the serpent’s seduction,
clothing was first worn to hide the genitalia from feelings of shame, modesty,
humiliation, or other types of sexual emotions. Since then, it is considered that
body covering has expanded to include a wider range of situations as sexual self-
consciousness has gotten more sophisticated.

The Immodesty Theory

It is a theory of sexual attraction. In the beginning, humans wore clothing to
draw attention to their private parts (dress is a powerful sexual tool). According to
this hypothesis, which was made popular by Westermarck and Havelock Ellis,
clothing in the past was meant to be salacious, draw attention to the wearer’s
sexual organs and other bodily functions, and generally make them a more
attractive target for sex. Indifference is bred by familiarity, whereas interest is bred
by concealment, especially false or partial concealment.

Reasons Why We Wear Clothes

1. Protection: Clothes are worn to protect the body from different weather
conditions e.g. Cold, rain, heat of the sun, wind, rough harmattan weather. In
this way clothes are helpful in (i). Maintaining the normal temperature of the
body. (ii) Protection from harmful things such as insects, plants, worms, etc.
2. Modesty: Clothes are worn to cover our nakedness. This help us to appear
decent.

3. Appearance: Clothes are used to beautify the self and improve appearance.

4. Role Identity: Clothes show the roles which people perform or their duties in
the society e.g. nurses, police, soldiers, etc.
 5. Mood: Clothes help to show our mood or feelings. For instance some people
wear black clothes for mourning.

6. Status Or Position: Clothes help to show the status or positions which

people occupy in the society. Examples are the special clothes worn by
traditional rulers.

7. Culture: Clothes help to show the culture of a group of people. So people’s

clothes help to show where they come from.

FACTORS AFFECTING SELECTION OF CLOTHING

The selection of clothing should be done on the basis of age, season, income,
occasion and fashion.

Age: While selecting fabric one has to think of the age group of the child. For small
children, dainty prints in soft colors can be chosen. Nursery prints are not suitable
for elementary school children. When the children enter late childhood stage, the
boys like masculine colors, for examples blue, grayish blue, and brown and girls like
to wear feminine colors like pink, green and red. Some fabrics, which are delicate,
are chosen for girls clothing whereas, rough textured fabrics are suitable for
adolescent boys. The style of the dress also changes according to the age group of
the child. The A-line dresses are suitable for toddlers and infants. Later on, dresses
with lots of gathers are suitable for girls’ frocks. In the same way type of collars are
suitable for younger age group, for example baby collar is not suitable for
adolescent.

Season: Some fabrics and colors are suitable for winter while others are not, for
example synthetics; silk and wool are suitable for winter as they are bad conductor
of heat. Cotton and blends of cotton with synthetics are good for summer as they
are good conductor of heat and absorptive. There are cool and warm colors. The
cool colors are associated with coolness, for example, blue, green, white etc. Warm
colors are bad conductors of heat and associated with warmth for example, red,
golden yellow and orange. So warm colors are suitable for winter, whereas cool
colors are chosen for summer.

Income: Amount of money affects the selection of clothing. Children belonging to

high-income group can spend more percentage of money on clothing as compared
to low income. They can spend more money on fashionable garments rather than on
durable clothes. Parents belonging to low-income group prefer durable clothes
rather than delicate ones. So the preference of the clothing changes according to
the income of the family. Low socio economic growth gives more importance to
durability, comfort and price as compared to becomingness and beauty.

Occasion: Selection of clothes also changes according to occasion. For daily wear
or informal wear, durable dresses with simple designs can be chosen but for
occasional or formal wear novel fabrics with new styles are chosen.
Fashion: Fashionable clothes look beautiful. One looks odd when one go out of
fashion. Few fabrics and colors are in fashion while others are not. Some clothes
should be brought according to fashion and others should be simple. Children
belonging to high-income group can wear fashionable clothes to great extent as
compared to low-income group. Too much of fashion should be avoided.

Selection of clothes should be very judicious so that we can buy best clothes by
spending minimum amount of money.

The clothes should be compatible to age, personality, and climate and should not be
a hindrance in normal working. Some factors affect the selection of clothes, which
may vary from person to person as they are influenced by the requirement of the
person. These factors are as follows:

Personality
The personality, value and culture of a person can be judged easily from his dress.
There are different types of personalities.

Highlighting salient features of the personality and camouflaging the figure flaws to
some extent is possible through dress. Improper dressing makes person a laughing
stock and causes inferiority complex.

On the other hand, proper dresses help in building self-confidence which is essential
for the proper development of personality. This affects our behavior and mannerism
and develops harmony and personality.

Clothes are an indication of caste, place, state, and occupation of the person.
Clothes affect the personality of the wearer. People who are introverts prefer light
and sober colors whereas extroverts like bright and gaudy clothes.

Dresses with delicate patterns and sober colors help in enhancing the natural
characteristics of tenderness and feminine. On the other hand, big patterns and
straight lines go well with regular, dominating and grand personalities. Some uni-
forms are reserved for certain professions, which help in enhancing their
personality, e.g., wearing white coat by doctors and black by lawyers. Clothes
indicate your social status and interest. Simple and elegant clothes are hallmark of
a serious personality.

Age
Different clothes are required for different age groups. Therefore, care should be
taken in selecting clothes for a particular age group.

● An infant sleeps for most of the time, so it is important that his clothes are loose
and comfortable.
● These should be made of soft and absorbable cloth (preferably cotton) as they do
not irritate the tender and soft skin of the child. Silken and synthetic clothes
should not be used for infants in any case.

Infant’s clothes are to be washed quite often, hence, the clothes should be of such
material which can be washed and dried easily. The seams should be flat; fasteners
should not be at the back.

Tight elastic should be avoided. Infant’s clothes should have openings on the front,
back or on upper side and it should be head long and closed neck. Instead of
buttons, there should be ties and fasteners at the back of the dress as these may
hurt the infant clothes because inconvenience in and may get torn by sticking
someway.

● Very tight clothes are not conducive normal growth.

● if the clothes are shabby, unshaped, not to the liking of their peer group, they
may suffer from inferiority complex. They are reluctant to play and with their
peers.
● Hazy and dull colors should not be selected for children. Rather bright gaudy
colors are good for them.
● Adolescents like distinctive and unit colors. Clothes with bright color reflecting
enthusiasm, cheerfulness liveliness should be used for them.
● They like clothes that are in fashion their clothes should be creative, stylish and
according to the latest fashion.
● Generally adolescents do not like influences of their parents and regarding their
clothes.
● In adulthood, the clothes undergo change. Simple and elegant clothes desirable
for mature and elderly
● Clothes with design and flowering print look childish.
● Clothes should be chosen after analysis of the color of the skin, a| and body
figure.
● In this age, more emphasis should be the profession, occasion, and price than on
the prevalent fashion. In absence of any of this consideration the dress would
look awkward.
● In this period, there is loss of flexibility in the body which causes inconvenience
in movements, hence, clothes should be loose and comfortable.
● Eyesight also gets weak and hence big buttons with button holes should be used
in place of hooks. Use of zip is also convenient.
● Their dresses should be in consonance with their age.
● Clothes should be light and easy to wear. They should have simple designs and
easy to wear from either side with durable stitching.
● Clothes should be stain resistant, easily washable and wrinkle resistance as the
elders may not have enough energy to launder their clothes frequently. Thus, we
find that age is an important factor in selection of clothes.
Climate

The main purpose of clothes is to cover the body. Clothes protect us from heat and
cold and help us in maintaining body temperature in adverse circumstances. Hence,
knowledge of selecting the clothes according to the climate is essential.

Warm, thick and bright colored clothes should be used in winter whereas cool, soft
and light colored clothes in summer. These should have sweat absorbing quality. In
rainy season, we need such clothes as may dry up soon and are wrinkle free e.g.,
nylon.

Clothes compatible to a person should be soothed both to the user and onlooker,
e.g., a person wearing silken clothes in sultry summer is irritable to the wearer as
well as the onlooker.

Occupation

Clothing is associated with profession also. Working people should wear formal
clothes. They should be simple, neat and clean. Vulgar and improper clothes should
be avoided. Clothes should give a feeling of being smart, active and sober. We all
would like to wear such clothes that may wearer not cause any hindrance in our
working.

If you are a physical instructor, your clothes should be loose and comfortable so
that you may give a good demonstration. Farmers need strong and durable clothes
and should also protect them from sunshine.

Businessmen should wear sober and modest clothes. Persons who are going to
travelling should wear such clothes which are easy to wash and do not require
frequent ironing.

Industrial workers wear special type of uniform. People serving in army, police and
railways have their own distinctive uniform. Simple and sober clothes are required
in classrooms. Sportsmen need durable and porous clothes for sweat absorption.
Doctors and nurses wear white clothes. All these variations are on account of
different professions.

Figure

Every person has unique figure. Some are tall or short, fat or lean and thin. Some
are of normal height and width. A man should wear clothes in accordance to his
figure irrespective of latest trends in fashion and design.

Whatever is the body shape, clothes can make it look different. By judicious use of
colors and clothes the figure flaws can be camouflaged or salient features
highlighted. For example, persons who intend to look taller and thinner should wear
clothes that are plain and of single color and with vertical lines and designs.
Similarly, those who wish to look shorter and fatter should wear horizontal designs
and with two or more colors in their dress, e.g., if the salwar is of light color, the
shirt should be of dark color with horizontal lines.

They may also use frills, piping in their dress to look fat. For a tall and fat lady,
clothes with diagonal lines are more suitable. They should also not wear very light
or loose clothes. Short coat and jacket too, give a feeling of shortness. All types of
clothes do not suit to all body figures. For a fat person light and soft clothes, and
heavy and fluffy clothes-like organdy and taffeta, should be used for a lean and thin
person.

Fashion Psychology: What Your Choice in Clothes Say About You

The type of clothes you wear – and the kinds of accessories you use to either
jazz them up or tone them down – says a lot about who you are, where you’re from,
what you do and how you feel about yourself and others.

In fact, dress scholars Mary Ellen Roach and Joanne Eicher, find that dress is
one of the main ways we send social signals because what we wear shows our
identity.

What you wear — or dress, as Roach and Eicher define it — sends nonverbal cues to
other people. Our clothing shows:

● How much power you wield

● How much influence you have
● How smart you are
● How much you earn
You see, writers, costume designers and directors use fashion all the time to show
clues about a character. Think about Harry Potter’s glasses, Imelda’s shoes, Wall
Street power suits or Cleopatra’s jewels.

Clothing and Perceptions

Researcher Mary Lynn Damhorst says “dress is a systematic means of

transmission of information about the wearer.” A person’s choice of clothing can
heavily influence the impression they transmit and is therefore a powerful
communication tool.

How to Dress:
So how can you get closer to your ideal first impression? Below is a guide to
each type of fashion psychology and how you can get more of it. You can use color,
styling and fit to get closer to the personal brand you want.

Color Psychology: How you use colors is a great way to harness the power of fashion
in your first impression. Don’t pick out colors randomly, think very carefully about how
you use each.
What to Wear: Our Color Guide

Fit: How you tailor your clothes and the shape of your clothing affects how people
perceive you.
Styling: Accessories–for both men and women can completely change an outfit.
From shoes, to watches, to scarves, to hats, these are easy ways to change the
impression of your style.
Brands: If you have trouble understanding fit and color on your own–let brands do
it for you! Go to brands that emulate or showcase your ideal style and rely on their
styles to decide for you.

How to Be Seen As More Formal:

Researcher Yoon-Hee Kwon of Northern Illinois University asked men and women
about the effect of clothing on judgements made in a working environment. Kwon
found men believed wearing the correct work attire increased the likelihood of them
communicating they were intelligent, competent, knowledgeable, honest and
reliable.

 Dark colors are more formal–especially black and grey.

 Clanky bracelets, wrap scarves or lots of accessories actually decrease your
formality. If you want to be seen as more formal, simple accessories and
clean lines are better.
 Professional brands that do great workwear are The Limited, Calvin Klein and
Armani on the higher end.

How to Be Seen As More Casual:

Bright colors, pastels and loose clothes mark an air of casual fashion. Layers and
loose fitting clothing tend to come across as more laid-back and easy-going.

 Adam Glassman, O Magazine Creative Director, advises people to wear one

bold piece. Perhaps a vibrant beaded necklace or an oversize men’s-style
watch (minus the blingy-bling or wacky colors).
 Note: Men should keep jewelry to a minimum. A classy watch and/or wedding
band is sufficient. No thumb rings, earrings or weird piercings (unless you’re
auditioning for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Then, anything goes.)
 Some great casual clothing brands are Macy’s, Nasty Gal, Tommy Bahama
https://www.scienceofpeople.com/fashion-psychology/
and Gap.

How to Be Seen As More Edgy:

If self-expression and creativity is what you’re after, there’s no better medium to
communicate that than with fashion. “The more meaning my clothes and
accessories have, the more they communicate who I am and what I want to convey
to the world,” says New York stylist Elsa Isaac. “The possibilities are endless.”

 Don’t get into a color rut. We all have our go-to colors when we’re stuck for
what to wear or pressed for time. Celebrity stylist Daniel Musto advises
 breaking out of your color rut by getting a little creative. Wear a lot of black?
Try navy instead. Always wear brown shoes? Try blue dress shoes to change it
up. Usually wear jeans? Don’t stick to the usual blue, try black or khaki green.
 Shop bravely. Online, you are going to find a wider variety of options to play
with.
 Use contrast. Color and texture will make any outfit fun and interesting. It can
also communicate different sides of your personality. If you’re wearing a
leather skirt that screams edgy, then maybe you do a cashmere sweater that
whispers sweet. Or perhaps your jewelry is demure and flirty, but your heels
are strappy and vixen. The contrast in fabric and weight creates complexity
that can be intriguing both for the wearer and the observer. “It’s a way of
adding you to your outfit,” Isaac says.

How to Be Seen As More Professional:

You don’t need to spend tons of money on clothes, but you do need to make
sure your clothes fit right. That holds true for both women and men. Doubly so if
you want to come across as professional. According to Frank Bernieri, PhD,
associate professor in the psychology department at Oregon State University, an
interviewer will determine within 10 seconds of meeting a job candidate whether
they’re right for the job. “A well-tailored outfit implies that you’re conscientious and
pay close attention to detail,” Bernieri says.

“I can’t express that enough,” says menswear expert Nic Screws. “When people
come up to me and ask, ‘What is the number one thing I can do to elevate my
wardrobe?’ I’m always like, ‘Get a good tailor.’”

“You can take pieces that you have right now and transform the way you look by
just making sure they are fitting you properly.” says Screws.

● That means not too tight, not too loose, not too long and definitely not too short.
● Suits for both men and women are always seen as more professional.
● Don’t break the “One and a Half” Rule. This one is for the ladies: Of course you
want to look great and feel sexy when you’re out with your crush, but there’s a limit
to how much skin you should bare – especially, if it’s a first date. According to
Musto, there are three areas of the body women want to focus on:
 Legs
 Arms
 Bustline

“You should never show more than one and a half (of those areas),” he says.
“You need your outfit to be like the appetizer – it fills his stomach just enough…but
dinner’s not served.”

How to Be Seen As More Attractive:

When you love what you wear, you feel great and you look great. New York
City stylist Elsa Isaac says when you wear clothes you love, “You perform differently.
You walk differently,” Isaac explains. “Once my clients are in clothes they love, their
body changes.”

And body language is key in conveying confidence and competence. Isaac

should know. For nearly a decade, she has styled hundreds of powerhouse women in
business. Best known for styling entrepreneur and online personality Marie Forleo,
Isaac’s eye for style and fashion is fine-tuned. She knows how to use clothes to give
her clients the edge.

The power of clothes and accessories.

● Don’t wear something that makes you uncomfortable–physically or emotionally.

Think something stands out too much? Is something too tight? Don’t wear it–it’s
not worth it!
● Highlight your best assets. Find outfits to dress for your figure. I like this guide for
women. And this guide for how men can dress for their body type.

How to Be Seen As More Unique:

Everyone has a sense of style–even if you don’t know it yet. I think that our
clothing is a fun and easy way to stand out. All you have to do is be more
experimental. Here’s how:

● Prints and patterns are an excellent way to stand out as long as they are
appropriate for the occasion. You may not wear bold, bright florals to a job
interview but you may choose to wear them for a summer brunch or tropical
getaway. At work, you may decide on sophisticated pin stripes, a classic plaid or
subtle polka dot.
● Choose a unique shape. Most shirts, pants and dresses come standard, but you
can play with shape to stand out. For example, if you always wear short dresses,
try a maxi dress. Instead of wearing a typical winter coat, try a peacoat that has a
different length.
● Use your socks! If your job is more formal – say you work for a law firm or the
government – then socks might be the best outlet for individual expression,
especially since they can be bold and wacky. Colorful or character socks show
playfulness and make a great ice breaker or way to connect with others, says
Lauren Rothman, a stylist and author of Style Bible: What to Wear to Work. “Folks
are showing their power, their bravado in the boardroom,” Rothman tells Quartz.
“The louder the socks, the bigger the wallet.”
● For unique clothes, DON’T go with any typical brands. Shop in boutiques or go
vintage.

How to Be Seen As More Powerful:

 Turns out, fashion doesn’t just impact other people’s impressions of us. It
affects how we think and feel about ourselves. A study by California State University
professor Abraham Rutchick and others found that formal clothing — suits, ties,
dress shirts — makes people think more abstractly and holistic. Indeed, formal
clothes made people think more like leaders.

“Putting on formal clothes makes us feel powerful, and that changes the basic
way we see the world,” Rutchick said.

What you wear can also give you leverage in negotiations.

In a study conducted by Yale professor Michael Krauss, men in suits

negotiated better than their sweatpants and flip flop-wearing counterparts. In a
mock real estate transaction, the suit-and-tie guys negotiated about 10 percent
more profit than the casually-dressed dudes.

Indeed, fashion is the vehicle through which humans can command – and
project – more confidence, research shows.

“Most men are like, ‘I don’t need to worry about what I look like or that’s not
important or that’s not masculine, (but the truth is) part of your personal brand is
how you present yourself and that includes fashion,” says menswear expert Nic
Screws.

● If you want to be powerful, dress like a powerhouse in a suit and tie or pant suit.
● Channel the most powerful person you know–what would they wear?
● Wear bold colors that stand out and make you feel great.

Some Other Fashion Tips:

#1 Don’t Get Into a Fashion Rut
But how do we choose the right clothes that provoke the right feelings for the right
occasions – whether it’s a high stakes interview or a night on the town?

Celebrity stylist Daniel Musto says, “When it comes to your clothes, you have
to be ready for anything.” Because, Musto says….

The way you look on the outside pulls out a lot of how you feel on the inside.
That’s especially true when it comes to romance. It’s easy for lovers to fall
into a wardrobe rut if they’ve been together for any extended period of time as
these couples have found. The trick is to keep things fresh and interesting.

#2 Ease Into It
Ideally, clothes should be comfortable, literally and metaphorically. If you
default to wearing jeans and sneakers all the time, a suit and tie might feel like a
straightjacket.

“Ease into it”, says internationally-renowned fashion designer Michael Kors.

#3 Don’t Forget About Footwear!
The same holds true for shoes. Most men might not feel comfortable sporting
this season’s trendy new sandals or open-toed shoes. No worries.

Just “take it a piece at a time,” Kors says.

“If you never wear sandals, start with a heavier sandal, something with
substance, on the weekends. Soon you’ll be wearing them with a trouser and a linen
sweater at the office,” Kors explains in this interview.

“On the other hand, if you live in sneakers, try a rugged boat shoe. They’re
still comfortable, but they’re a little more polished.”