How Important Are Clothes to Our Self Image?

Clothes Give Identity and Affect Mood

Nov 7, 2008 Kellie Hayden

The clothes that people wear can change their mood and how others identify with them. In addition, men and women view the roles of clothes differently.

Clothes do not just function as a protective layer from the weather. The way a person dresses can affect a person's self image and affect how others will treat them.

Creating Confidence with Clothing

Does what a person wears really affect his or her mood? Jaycee Fox believes that clothing should not define a person, but it may represent an emotional state or change in a person's attitude, hopefully for the better. Not everyone is a fashion expert; however, an outfit can make a person feel good or bad reports Fox in her article "Fashionable Clothing and Attitude - How One Affects the Other" on the EzineArticles website [September 11, 2008].

Fox give four tips to help create a confident attitude. First, people need to choose clothing that can be worn with a strong or good attitude. Second, wear clothes that fit. Clothes that are too small make people feel bigger than they really are. Third, make sure that the clothing is clean and tidy. Dirty clothing sends a negative message and this will not help a person's confidence.

Young Women and Men View Clothing Differently

Although clothing affects a person's attitude, male and female attitudes towards clothing are different. For young men and women, clothing has varied roles. For both genders, clothes are functional and have "mood-related benefits." In addition, they allow men and women to express personal and social identity. However, men think that the importance of clothing is to show their personality and for functionality. On the other hand, women choose clothes to relate to others socially, and they think about clothing in terms of peer relationships reports Cox and Dittmar in the article "The Functions of Clothes and Clothing (Dis)satisfaction: A Gender Analysis among British Students" in the Journal of Consumer Policy [January 20, 2005].

Judging People's Attitudes

Last, people do judge others by the way they dress. Dressing appropriately is very important in the workplace. However, it is even more important in the court room.

In the courtroom, the way a judge perceives a person is very important. Dress and attitude do make a difference for defendants who ask for mercy from the court. David Huff, a district judge in Nevada, believes that the way a person dresses gives "insight into their attitude" reports Michael Maresh in the article "Courting Dress and Attitude in Sentencing" on the LVN website [March 16, 2008]. Huff admits that he takes into consideration the clothing the person is wearing when he sentences them. What the defendant puts on that day may make the difference between probation or prison. This is especially true in cases where there is no "black and white" punishment for the crime.

You are what you wear. Employers, judges and just about everyone judge people by the way they dress. In addition, clothing can change people. Clothing gives people an identity, changes moods and influences behavior and attitude. Whey you get right down to it, clothing is powerful. Be selective in what you put on your body to portray the correct image.

The copyright of the article How Important Are Clothes to Our Self Image? in Women’s Fashion is owned by Kellie Hayden. Permission to republish How Important Are Clothes to Our Self Image? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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