clothes don't define you essay

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You Are Not Defined By What You Wear

By Jenessa Michele

The other day I read an article about how the kinds of clothes you wear define you in that moment. At first read of the piece, I was not offended (I’m still not offended). In fact the girl in me sort of saw herself in each situation, but while well-written and somewhat funny, I thought to myself, “gosh, how shallow are we as women if this is really how we think? How shallow am I for nodding in agreement at some of these points?” And as I continued to read, I thought, “Who the hell cares what I wear as long as it is clean and it fits me properly? And who cares where I bought it?”

Does where we buy our clothes define us? Is who we are defined by how much money we spend on fashion? Is this really the way many of us think?

There are people who cannot afford such luxuries, either because they simply cannot or because they choose to put money towards other far more important things in their lives like their children, a home, transportation, a wedding, an education. Are they less than worthy as people because they shop at a discount store or at a less expensive clothing store than an Ann Taylor or Banana Republic shopper? When people see me, when other women see me, are they judging me based on how much my clothes, handbag, and shoes cost? If clothes and where we buy them define who we are for the time in which we are wearing them, than we seriously have some issues to address in our heads.

While I may or may not wear name-brand clothing depending on what day you run into me, I know there are some things that remain constant about myself. For starters, I am always a kind person. I try to treat people with respect. I believe in the Golden Rule — to treat others as you wish to be treated. I try to be a good daughter, a good friend, a good girlfriend, and over all a generally good person. I love animals. I am an artist, a writer, a lover of nature, a bookworm. Sometimes I am lazy and stubborn. Other times I am quite the opposite. I love to cook, but I hate to do laundry. I prefer to clean my bathroom over washing dirty dishes any day. If you do my dishes, I may even clean your bathroom. (It all depends really on how dirty we are talking).

These traits, more so than what is on my body, are what define me. If I were covered in tattoos, would it make me a bad person? No. If my hair were colorful, would I be a punk? No. If I shop at Gucci, does that make me better than someone who doesn’t? No. If I shop Forever 21, does that make me cheap or sleazy? No. And while we should not judge a book by its cover, we often do. We often assume the status of someone’s wealth based on an outward appearance of what we think they have, and in determining wealth we often determine status and develop character assumptions about one another.

What makes one person better than the next? The answer is absolutely nothing. Nothing makes me better than you, and nothing makes you better than me. We are all located somewhere in the middle with talents, traits, flaws, and good qualities that are unique to us. It’s just the right mix to keep everyone in balance.

If you find yourself looking around a room, staring at your fellow sister from across it thinking “how could she wear that cheap dress? Ew!”, please evaluate yourself and your own insecurities. Find a nice thought about that woman. I promise you one exists somewhere. After all, that nasty thought you gave to her, five other girls have already given to you. Choose to think with positivity, and toss your cattiness out the door — because it defines you far more than what you wear ever could.

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“Clothes don’t define us, we define them”: Bandana Tewari writes an exclusive essay on fashion in times of social media

Bandana talks about fashion and it’s changing scenario with the onset of social media trends.

Planning and orchestrating a ‘look’ every day is not my thing. It’s time-consuming, tiring and in all honesty, pretty vain. Over the years, I have learned that what works for me best is to have fun clothes that last a lifetime; clothes that are not trend-based, but ones I can wear without too much planning, no matter what the season. Today my cupboard only has clothes with fascinating narratives of how they were made and who made them. I love the freedom of picking out anything and pairing it with other items without falling into a ‘trend-trap’.

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• Personality

What Your Clothes Might Be Saying About You

First impressions are often more significant than you might think….

Posted April 20, 2013 | Reviewed by Matt Huston

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She is not my type. He couldn’t hack it. She looks friendly. He looks efficient. I can tell she is an extrovert .

We make snap judgments about people from the clothes they wear. On what basis?

There is much more to our clothing choices than we might imagine. For many people, what they wear is merely a matter of habit, but when we dress in the morning it might pay us to be a little more careful in the choices we make. Doing something different with your clothes might be a way of changing the impression others have of you.

Two published 1 studies by our team in the U.K. and Turkey show some of the very subtle ways in which clothing influences all kinds of impressions about us. Our clothes make a huge difference to what people think about us—and without us knowing or in ways we couldn’t even imagine. People make their assessments in the first few seconds of seeing another; assessments go way beyond how well you are dressed and how neat and tidy you might look.

We carried out the research with more than 300 adults (men and women). They looked at images of a man and a woman for just three seconds before making 'snap judgments' about them. In some of the pictures, the man wore a made-to-measure suit. In others, he wore a very similar off-the-peg. The differences in the suits were very minor—we controlled for all the big differences such as color and fabric, as well as making sure the face of the model was pixillated so that there could be no hidden messages in the facial expressions.

After just a three-second exposure, people judged the man more favourably in the bespoke suit. And the judgments were not about how well dressed he was.

They rated him as more confident, successful, flexible and a higher earner in a tailor-made suit than when he wore the alternative. Since the model’s face in the pictures was blanked out, these impressions must have been formed after quickly eyeing what he was wearing.

So, our clothes say a great deal about who we are and can signal a great deal of socially important things to others, even if the impression is actually unfounded. Research suggests that these impressions about us can start in childhood —one study found that teachers made assumptions about children's academic ability based on their clothing.

In a second study in the journal Sex Roles (see below, 2) we investigated an issue that women often report encountering in the workplace—differential gender -biased standards and being judged as less competent than men, even by other women. What role does dress play in this?

We made minor manipulations to female office clothing to see how this affected first impressions of them. We also researched whether the occupational role of the woman made any difference to these impressions. We tested this with 129 female participants who rated images of faceless (by pixilation) female models on six competence-based dimensions ( intelligence , confidence , trustworthiness, responsibility, authority, and organisation). In all cases the clothing was conservative but varied slightly by skirt length and an extra button being unfastened on a blouse. The models were described as having different occupational roles, varying by status (high: senior manager, or low: receptionist). The images were only presented for a maximum of five seconds.

The assessment of the competencies we measured should surely not be affected by these minor clothing manipulations? Surely people use proper evidence to make such judgments?

I am afraid we found that the clothing did matter. People rated the senior manager less favourably when her dress style was more ‘provocative’, and more favourably when dressed more conservatively (longer skirt, buttoned-up blouse). I reiterate that the clothing in the ‘provocative’ condition was still very conservative in style and look—it was not a short skirt and a revealing blouse, but a skirt slightly above the knee and one button on the blouse undone.

The rating of the receptionist role was not affected by these clothing manipulations, suggesting that there may be more leeway for some jobs than others.

So even subtle changes to clothing style can contribute toward negative impressions of the competence of women who hold higher status positions. Wearer beware!

It is important to choose our dress style carefully because people will make all sorts of assumptions and decisions about us without proper evidence. We are unlikely to know what these assessments are, so it is quite possible that our clothes reveal more than we thought.

Sartorial laziness is an easy habit to slip into. We may think that fashion is just profligate indulgence and our sunny personality will eclipse our dull attire or detract from the soup stains on our anorak. Untrue. What we wear speaks volumes in just a few seconds. Dressing to impress really is worthwhile and could even be key to success.

1.HOWLETT, N., PINE, K. L. , ORAKÇıOĞLU, I., & FLETCHER B. (C) The influence of clothing on first impressions: Rapid and positive responses to minor changes in male attire. Journal of Fashion Marketing & Management, 2013, 17 (1), 38-48. DOI 10.1108/13612021311305128

2. HOWLETT, N., PINE, K. L., CAHILL, J., ORAKÇıOĞLU, I., & FLETCHER B. (C) Small changes in clothing equal big changes in perception: The interaction between provocativeness and occupational status. Sex Roles: A Journal of Research. February 2015, Volume 72, Issue 3-4, pp 105-116, DOI 10.1007/s11199-015-0450-8

Ben C. Fletcher, D.Phil, Oxon, is a professor of psychology, a behavior change expert, and the author of Flex: Do Something Different — How to use the other 9/10ths of your personality.

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Fashion: does it define us.

Sabrina Guilbeault and Keegan Espinola | March 12, 2014

Fashion. It’s how we express ourselves and it’s our way to show the world who we are. People can dress up, dress down, wear jeans, dresses, or any type of clothing that allows them to share their individuality. It’s obvious what things are in and out of style, but the question is: does fashion define who we are as people?

Today’s society is in love with brand names and whether we acknowledge it or not, we let fashion influence us, even at DHS. The North Face, Uggs, Patagonia, Steve Madden, Hunter Boots, and Abercrombie & Fitch are just some of the brands the average DHS student may see when walking down the hallway.

“I try not to let clothes define people,” said history teacher Laurie Chiarito, “but occasionally it does.” We all have beautiful and unique personalities and there is no denying that the outfits and styles we wear reflects these  personalities.

“I think fashion defines a person because it can mainly express an individual’s personality or attitude,” said junior Jordan Pinto. People often wear things based on who they are. For example, a student athlete might wear more athletic gear than a student who’s not interested in sports.

“You don’t have to choose fashion as a way to express yourself,” said freshman Colleen O’Boyle. She explained she loves her four pairs of Converse, but that shouldn’t define her as a person.

However, clothing and accessories can stereotype a person. For example, we both have black rimmed glasses, and we feel much more intelligent when we wear them. Physically putting on glasses doesn’t make us any smarter, but it can give off the illusion that we are.

Either way, do our glasses or anything else we wear define us? “It depends if you’re really in depth with fashion,” said sophomore Alice Goodman who said she does not allow fashion to define her. “I’m a multilayered person, like many Americans.”

“Fashion speaks for itself and defines a person without speaking,” said junior Annie Nguyen. “I feel like more people care about [fashion] at DHS though.”

Nguyen, who once attended New Bedford High, explained how the need to wear similar styles is more prevalent here than at NBHS. “It seems like everyone dresses alike and has the same style instead of being original,” she said.

Not only do certain styles “define” us, but at times we let brand names define us well.

When you walk into Macy’s there are obviously better parts of the store than others. As a society we are more drawn to the “better parts” where the products in style are being sold. An anonymous source said that when shopping at Macy’s, she would not look at any other shoe brand besides Sperrys.

“Brand names are a part of the culture we are growing up through,” said sophomore Lucy Schwartz. “It’s hard to buy a purse or shirt without someone else’s initials stamped onto it.”

Some people love brand names because it makes them feel better about themselves when they’re wearing it. That’s why it’s called retail therapy.

Sometimes, though, it’s not the brands that define us, but the confidence we have when we wear certain styles. “As for brand names, I don’t think they are important,” said Pinto. “Whether you’re wearing clothes from Target or Victoria’s Secret, it all depends on how you put an outfit together, and the confidence you have in a put-together outfit.”

It is true that everyone has different styles, and that is made evident through the choices we make in our outfits for school. However, sometimes people define us based on what we wear, which isn’t always a good thing. “If you dress inappropriately you will be judged for it,” said sophomore Owen Tavares.

We realize that fashion shouldn’t define us, but it does. Fashion is an ever growing industry and it gives us the opportunity to share who we are in a multitude of different ways.

“Fashion is important because it shows a level of self expression that is hard to reach nowadays,” said Schwartz. “The popular thing is to blend into the crowd, and fashion helps break that feeling.”

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Munah Rioh • Jul 19, 2020 at 7:51 am

A good piece to read. I normally dress to the occasions so to blend in the crowd or a smarter way to avoid unnecessary attention. As much as I love fashion, I would rather hunt for practical clothes that have multi-functional, both for office and leisure. In that way, I can save my budget. At time, tailoring clothes are my utmost preference as they really fits and satisfying. Thus, anything comfortable would define me.

Alden Smith • Nov 18, 2019 at 2:54 am

Your writing style has been surprised me. Thank you, very great post. It is a very informative article for me. I like to live in fashion and bought my fashionable clothes always from hong kong ace tailor L & K Bespoke tailor and that tailor-made clothes always define me as I want.

MarleneWood • Oct 6, 2019 at 9:07 pm

A very useful article, thank you. I’m busy doing some research on ‘How We Express Ourselves’ for my Year 5 & 6 students. One of our Lines of Inquiry is ‘Fashion as a form of expression’.

I love fashion, follow some trends, but I have over the years developed my own style (even this is forever changing).

Essays About Fashion: Top 5 Examples and 9 Prompts

If you are writing essays about fashion, check out our guide of helpful examples and exciting writing prompts to get started.

Fashion is individuals’ way of expressing their personalities. They do this through clothes and accessories that display their tastes and preferences. There are different fashion styles and trends, and anyone can choose anything they want to follow. Additionally, fashion has various benefits, such as boosting self-confidence, lightening moods, and developing creativity. Our fashion choices also help us send messages and present our beliefs. Thus, fashion can also be political .

Below are five essay examples and nine writing prompts to help you create an eye-catching essay about fashion:

5 Top Essay Examples

1. why fashion is important by george k., 2. fashion: an important part of life by ankita yadav, 3. fashion as communication by eunice summers, 4. fashion 2022 by edudwar, 5. the effect of fashion on teenagers in school by anonymous on newyorkessays.com, 1. fashion trends and women, 2. fashion evolution, 3. fashion and starting a business, 4. effects of fashion on society, 5. the best fashion styles for men, 6. fashion trends in different countries , 7. careers in the fashion industry, 8. cultural fashion vs. modern fashion, 9. the best and worst of fashion trends.

“The clothes we wear has become more than merely a way to cover our nakedness; instead it has also become one of the primary ways in which people express themselves.”

George K explains that fashion separates individuals from the rest. A person can introduce himself to others for who and what he is through style choices. Further, the author expounds on how fashion is a very competitive industry that depends on one’s search for identity. The author also points out that every person is unique and thus needs a distinct style to fit them. However, because of constant peer pressure and criticism, an individual’s fashion picks can’t be entirely their own. Ultimately, George K reminds the reader that it’s not just the clothes but how individuals wear and feel in them.

“…if we can do something then it is choosing the right stuff like entertainment, adventure, fashion, etc. All these things can make us happy and are also an important part of life. Fashion always attracts and it is available for all,”

Yadav considers how fashion originated from people’s traditions and cultures and became what it is today through individuals adopting each style and making it their own. In the following sections of the essay, she defines fashion and lists its importance, including how it developed new employment options and how styles speak for the wearer. 

In her conclusion, she encourages everyone to choose their styles and not to mind their age. Fashion helps everyone live life to the fullest.

“Fashion is an industry based on creating a need where there is none and nowadays, due to the current recession, I can understand that fashion may not be people’s biggest concern. But we cannot qualify it as ‘trivial’ since we are surrounded by it; each new generation of customers is highly exposed to commercial influences.”

Summers gives her opinion about the book “Fashion as Communication” by Malcolm Barnard . She identifies points in the work and shares her thoughts on them. The first point being those working in the fashion industry aren’t smart. As a Fashion Marketing student, Summers vehemently disagrees with this statement and recounts her experiences to counter it. She continues to analyze Barnard’s other arguments and agrees with some of them. Summers ends her essay by highlighting that fashion is too essential in modern culture and economic organization for it to be considered “trivial.”

“…the youth cares more about what they wear and how they look which could affect their status in their peer group and meddle with their mental health. Following trends and doing what everyone is doing like a sheep is never a good idea. Fashion is there to reflect your personal style, not copying what other people think is trendy.”

User Edudwar reminds people that fashion is not simply following what’s currently trendy. Fashion is there to give people the chance to show off their individualism and personalities and not present a fake version of themselves to be accepted by society. Additionally, he mentions that youth nowadays are more sensitive to what people think of them, so some will always do everything to follow trends, even if they’re not presentable or appropriate.

“Youths of the present times have indulged themselves in so much fashion that they do not receive sufficient time for other work… The time spent on studies is being used in watching TV programmes, reading fashion articles, or even finding the recent trendy outfits on the Internet.”

The essay discusses the real effects of fashion on today’s youth. The author focuses on kids zeroing in on finding the latest style instead of caring for their studies that directly affect their future. The essay also delves into how youths of yesterday had ambitions and goals in life compared to today’s youths, who prefer to have fun rather than study hard.

See our best essay writing tips to help you write an attractive, attention-grabbing essay.

9 Writing Prompts For Essays About Fashion

To assist you with your essay, we’ve compiled nine exciting writing prompts you can use:

Some women follow fashion trends religiously. They are also more conscious of their physical appearance. Some even go to the extreme and do plastic surgeries to look better in clothes. In your essay, discuss what you think these trends do to women’s perception of their worth and beauty. Add which trends you believe are unhealthy and why there’s more societal pressure for women to be fashionable.

Each era had its styles that directly resulted from that time’s circumstances. Make a timeline of how fashion evolved and the factors that influenced them. At the end of your essay, pick what you think is the best fashion era and explain why.

For this prompt, include the relevant things a future fashion clothing boutique owner should bear in mind. For instance, they should always be on top of the fashion trends and know how to balance demand and costs. Then, find a boutique owner and interview them about their experience to make your essay more fun to read.

Tackle what makes people choose the clothes they wear daily. Some prefer their fashion to display their personalities while others merely follow what they think is popular. To make your essay more interesting, you can do a simple experiment: Go out in public on two occasions: while wearing your fashion picks and donning the latest fashionable clothes. Then, add your findings and how people reacted to you.

Fashion for men is different from women. Although most brands dedicate their line to women, men also deserve to know what makes them look fashionable; this essay lists styles that are excellent for men depending on the setting and event. 

What could be considered fashionable in one country can be seen as disrespectful in another. For this prompt, compile fashion trends many do but are unacceptable in other places. Reasons why may include religion or tradition. Use research data and cite reliable sourcing for a compelling piece.

In this essay, identify the career opportunities available in the fashion industry, including the steps to get there. Next, list the different job roles within fashion, and describe the responsibilities for each. Then, add tips on succeeding in that job and standing out from the rest. For an intriguing essay, conduct interviews with professionals within the industry and include this in your piece.

Our ancestors’ culture greatly influenced today’s fashion. Meanwhile, modern styles are those that the current generation uses. Write an essay about cultural and contemporary fashion’s differences, similarities, advantages, and disadvantages. 

Fashion trends come and go. However, not all popular fashion is pleasing to the eyes. For this essay, compile a list of what is, in your opinion, the best and worst fashion trends. Then, describe why you have formed these opinions and describe the details of each outfit.

Are you looking for your next essay subject? Check out our list of the best writing topics for students .

What Our Clothing Say About Us? Essay

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
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The assertion that we are what we put on is true and remains largely accepted by the majority. The clothes we wear and how we wear them say a lot about us. What we put on portrays our outward appearance, which is the mirror of our character and personality. In the contemporary world, where beauty is a highly cherished value and a place where our clothing changes our psychological feeling and view of ourselves and our outer behavior, people tend to easily pass judgment on us based on our appearance. The dressing has taken a particular pattern that is associated with certain age groups and easily tied to pre-defined character stereotypes. These stereotypes have relatively unique common characteristics. For example, a man wearing a baseball cap backward has a totally different character to that wearing a round hat. Consequently, a lot of people, companies, and institutions have come up with their professional dressing codes aimed at portraying a certain image and level of professionalism.

When it comes to seeking employment opportunities, there is a mode of dressing that you are expected to adapt to succeed. Indeed there are many articles that have been written on “How to dress for the interview” to help people know how they are required to appear before interviewing panels and be able to get the post. This is because the mode of dressing during this occasion has some requirements aimed at portraying a certain personality. A man in a well-trimmed black suit with a matching striped tie is seen to be confident, decent, fitting to the occasion, and mature. A man who attends a job interview in a polo T-shirt and jeans is seen to be less serious. Her clothes have been used as a symbol of possession of the right qualifications for a certain job.

In the social sphere, our outside appearance counts for who become our friends are and where we spend most of our leisure time. Our appearance portrays our social and economic status. A rich man is more likely to put on well-trimmed designer clothes and shoes as compared to a man who has a low income. He is likely to go for simple second-hand clothes, which he can easily stretch his budget into. In a world where certain clothes are associated with certain designer cloth stores, celebrity status, and social class, it is easy to judge one social status by his / her way of dressing.

Our clothing also says a lot about our level of physical and mental maturity, ethics, and moral values. A lady who puts on a suit with her skirt just above her knees gets more respect than another one who puts on a micro mini skirt to a party. The first lady is seen to have more personal respect and social ethics and has more favor in the eyes of society. On the same note, our dressing shows our cultural backgrounds and origin. Different cultures and societies value different modes of dressing, and what may appear as decent in one culture may turn to be indecent in others. A man who wears a kikoi and turban to his office in Pakistan may need to put on a suit if he is employed in another country like the USA.

Our appearance also symbolizes our emotional communication. When someone is in a melancholic mood or is sick, he/ she is more likely to put on clothes having cool colors. And when we are happy, we reflect this happiness by wearing bright-colored clothes. I the same note, our choice of clothes indicates our level of comfort and sense of belonging to a certain group. We have a feeling that we “fit in” in that group. They also indicate our affiliations to certain clubs, groups, and associations when we wear club-labeled clothes.

In conclusion, we can say that what we wear sends signals of who we are to our surroundings, and these affect the way the people around us view and interact with us.

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IvyPanda. (2021, August 28). What Our Clothing Say About Us? https://ivypanda.com/essays/what-our-clothing-say-about-us/

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1. IvyPanda . "What Our Clothing Say About Us?" August 28, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/what-our-clothing-say-about-us/.

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IvyPanda . "What Our Clothing Say About Us?" August 28, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/what-our-clothing-say-about-us/.

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• Staff Stories

Clothing doesn’t define a person

Jadelin Hinkel , Staff Writer March 18, 2021 1 Comment

More stories from Jadelin Hinkel

• Jadelin Hinkel

Just a simple example of how much my closet has changed over the year with new patterns the old me would’ve never worn.

Over the years, I’ve learned not to care about how others see me; slowly, I learned that appearance isn’t everything.

Despite the best of intentions, the initial appearance will always factor into the view of others. I try to stray away from objectifying people based on appearance because I don’t want them to do it to me.

Throughout my life, I’ve been unhappy with my appearance; I always wanted to be taller, blonde, a different ethnicity, and many more traits that were different from the ones I was born with.

My look has definitely changed throughout the years—the way I would classify my old look would be the “basic girl look” embodied by basic t-shirts every day with leggings or running shorts. 

I rocked the look for a few solid years without a doubt in my mind. That was until I slowly transferred over to the athletic-based look which consisted of black leggings, my hair always being up, running shoes, and obviously, an oversized sweatshirt. 

I still didn’t care what others said about how I dressed. I just knew all that mattered was what kind of person I was on the inside. 

I might currently look different from my old self, but I’m still the same person, and people just need to take the time to actually get to know me. 

I don’t want others to judge me based on how I dress, but at the same time, I just don’t care. While growing up, I realized that no matter how I dress, my inner beauty will always shine once someone takes the time to truly get to know the real me.

However, just this last year, I decided it was time for me to do a complete 180 and switch my style around. I told myself it was time to step outside of my comfort zone and try something new as I stepped into a new stage in my life. Within a month, my clothing choices were the complete opposite of what I was used to.

I may dress a bit darker now, but it’s just clothing—clothing doesn’t define me.

My new aesthetic may be different, but I am still the same person. This may be the real look I’ve always wanted or one of the biggest mistakes I’ve made in a while—who knows? All I know is that I’m just living my life to the fullest. Switching my style might’ve been a small instance, but I still think that it was something that impacted my life.

Due to the new look I’ve been contriving lately, I am judged just because of my clothing choice. I think it’s time that people finally start to get to know each other before they make assumptions; I personally don’t base opinions of the person on physical appearance and actually spend the time to get to know who they truly are because clothing doesn’t change anything.

• 180 style switch
• Changes over the years
• Clothing choices

Jadelin Hinkel is a senior entering her second, and sadly, her final year on staff. She is looking forward to captivating people with her photography skills...

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Henrique • Mar 19, 2021 at 1:00 pm

Hello, my name is Henrique, I’m from Brazil and I love to read The Central Trend because I use to learn English and new words everyday! 🙂 Thanks for helping me rsrs

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For 'Women In Clothes,' It's Not What You Wear, It's Why You Wear It

Jacki Lyden

Artist Miranda July contributed a series of photos in which strangers try on one another's favorite outfits. Michael Schmelling/Courtesy of Blue Rider Press hide caption

Artist Miranda July contributed a series of photos in which strangers try on one another's favorite outfits.

It can be hard to talk about clothes in an intelligent way. Fashion critic Kennedy Fraser once wrote in The New Yorker that the act of donning a garment can seem almost furtive or trivial, something beneath debate or intellectual content. The editors of Women in Clothes would agree that it's a challenge. The book collects essays, conversations, pictures and testimonials from more than 600 women talking about how clothes shape or reflect them as human beings.

"When you hear the word 'fashion' you just think fashion magazine," says novelist and Women in Clothes editor Heidi Julavits. "You think of a ... much more superficial way of talking about what you put on your body."

So she and her two collaborators, writers Sheila Heti and Leanne Shapton, decided to send out questionnaires to hundreds of women.

Women in Clothes

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"We wanted to ask people questions that might in some ways be the province of a fashion magazine, but we wanted to really free people from that fashion language," Julavits says.

After all, fashion magazine language can be both tired and patronizing: "must-have outfits," "do's and don'ts" or "who wore it best?" Together, the editors of Women in Clothes created a list of 50 far more intriguing clothing questions:

What is your cultural background and how has that influenced how you dress?

Do you think you have taste or style? Which one is more important?

How does money fit into all this?

Did your parents teach you things about clothing, care for your clothing, dressing or style?

Please describe your mind. Please describe your body. Please describe your emotions.

Another thing they wanted to know was how many women were not interested in clothing. Among the thousand or so responses, only 5 percent weren't.

"It's so frustrating when people say, 'I'm not interested in clothing,' " Julavits says. "You know, what they mean is, 'I don't want to appear to care about clothes.' "

That was certainly true for editor Sheila Heti. She's the author of the autobiographical novel How Should a Person Be? , which analyzes one woman's process of trying to answer that question. Heti says she never gave any thought to clothes; she had an interior life, and clothes were external. But that changed a couple of years ago.

She says, "I woke up one day and I just thought, 'Today's the day that I want to figure out how to dress.' You know, I wanted to know what other women thought about as they got dressed: how they knew what to buy in the store, how they knew what they wanted to wear. I wanted to sort of figure out what my taste was."

Sheila Heti (from left), Leanne Shapton and Heidi Julavits started working on Women in Clothes after Heti experienced a kind of fashion awakening. Gus Powell/Courtesy of Blue Rider Press hide caption

Sheila Heti (from left), Leanne Shapton and Heidi Julavits started working on Women in Clothes after Heti experienced a kind of fashion awakening.

Clothing As Memory

The book's submissions come from a chorus of voices from around the world. Its stories are about clothing as intimacy, emotion and memory. One woman talks about emigrating as a child from Vietnam only to see her family labor day and night at a home sweatshop producing ties and cummerbunds. Another is a weeklong diary of a woman's compulsive purchases. And another, by artist Miranda July, photographs six strangers in one another's favorite outfits.

There are famous names — Cindy Sherman, Lena Dunham, Molly Ringwald — but the vast majority of submissions are by women of all ages, some anonymous, others not.

One contributor is Gilda Haber of Silver Spring, Md. As an author and educator, she has written thousands of pages on clothing rules going back as far as ancient Greece and Rome.

Haber says, "Nobody realizes that this is a law — that you have to be dressed, to a certain extent. So we are forced to dress, actually, otherwise we break the law if anybody should run naked down the street."

Clothing restrictions were part and parcel of life in Haber's childhood cockney neighborhood. As a Jewish girl growing up in East London during World War II, she fixated on clothing as it defined her. She was an only child, shipped off to a Christian orphanage by her mother during the wartime evacuations. There, she had to wear red bloomers. She hated them, and when she came back from the orphanage, it only got worse.

"By the time I was 16, my mother had had me measured and put into a corset with whalebone and hooks and a tie-up at the side," Haber says. "And you could knock on me."

In the book, she describes how she was dressed the day an editor for Life magazine, in London, took her to tea. She wanted to wear her first beautiful, postwar white dress, which showed off her figure. But instead her mother made her wear the detested school uniform.

"The young, handsome editor expected a glamorous teenager," Haber writes. "Tea was a disaster. I was so angry with my mother that I risked a slap in the face. Right then, I decided to leave home and come to America, which I did."

She has remained here ever since. And she's a hat maven.

Jowita Bydlowska says the other woman in this photo is her mother's cousin: "They were like sisters — and she died a few years ago from breast cancer. ... Looking at this picture, I think of that and how it's nice to know that they had no idea in 1970." Courtesy of Blue Rider Press hide caption

Jowita Bydlowska says the other woman in this photo is her mother's cousin: "They were like sisters — and she died a few years ago from breast cancer. ... Looking at this picture, I think of that and how it's nice to know that they had no idea in 1970."

'My Mom Is The One ... Being Badass'

Mothers and daughters usually have a primal, visceral fashion dialogue. In the book, that dialogue is reflected in sections like "Mothers as Others," for which women sent in photographs of their mothers from before they had children, then described what they saw.

Jowita Bydlowska sent in a photo of her mother at 19 on a beach in Poland. She writes:

"My mom is the one with fake eyelashes and headband, smoking a cigarette, being badass. ... I love how feisty she is here, and how self-aware and sexual she is. She looks like this in most pictures from that time, and always with those fake lashes on. Brigitte Bardot. Her bikini is like something from Blow-Up . I know that she was really popular with the boys but that she didn't fall in love easily, so she probably buried a couple of hearts in that pile of sand."

In another section, 5-year-old Milena Rosa's mother helps her answer a survey about what she likes. (She's the book's youngest contributor.) When asked what she finds beautiful, she says, "My fancy dresses, dress-up dresses, and my rings and everything I have that's really pretty."

When asked what she considers very ugly, she runs into the bathroom and gets the bathtub plug: "This. This thing is really ugly."

Author Interviews

If these shorts could talk ... new book tells 'worn stories'.

Tools Of Transformation

In Women in Clothes , the artful, often elitist language of fashion is stripped away, leaving behind a conversation that is funny, painful, certainly vulnerable and ultimately empowering. Editor Leanne Shapton wrote the memoir Swimming Studies , for which she won the 2012 National Book Critics Circle Award. She says some of Women in Clothes' best entries show plain honesty. Take, for example, one of author Ann Ireland's contributions:

"Often, I'll spot a woman crossing the road who is wearing just the narrow grey-black pants I want. Or sneakers that are just one color with no ugly stripes. Maybe I could get away with that Indian dress! Those Jesus sandals are just the ticket — I bet they're comfortable, too. Then I crave it, a sort of low-level fever that won't lift until I've located the desired item and seen whether it works for me, too."

Clothing is triumph; clothing is connection. And as this book attests, it's about the life of the mind and the heart. Sheila Heti offers this memory from writer Amy Turner:

"My favorite piece of jewelry is a gold heart that I got in upstate New York. I never have distinct or clear feelings, but when I saw it and put it on, I knew unwaveringly that it was for me. At the time, I was with a friend I'd become close to over a year of writing emails, and in our first exchanges, I knew that she was for me, too. Now when I put the necklace on, I think of her, and I think of what it feels like to know something clearly in my gut."

Clearly, from the gut, you find that one thing — that one dress, jacket, scarf — that makes you a big, bold personality, even if you're a little mouse. That's not shallow; that's about transformation.

Do your Clothes Define you?

Mine was a check grey and white mixed wool and cotton mixed style blouson jacket. It had a collar that stood up with two lapels that added an extra sense of style to the garment. It looked great over skinny jeans covering my long, slender, sixteen year old legs that went on forever. It even made it onto television when I was a guest on a children's show with children's presenter Elvis Payne and a very young Gordon Honeycomb. It showed it’s dexterity when teamed up with a grey and white checked borderline skirt with pleats all the way round.

The blouson jacket was a treat from my Mum from a posh boutique on our local high street in South London called In-Betweens.  At the time of purchasing little did I know that my choice of this particular item of clothing had more to do not with how I looked when wearing it but ultimately how it made me feel.

Clothes that not only look good but also allow you to also feel good are worth their weight in gold.

Sixteen can be an awkward age for most teenagers. You’ve not yet quite reached adulthood but have gone way past childhood. Wearing this top made me feel grown up but not too over the top. It had enough room in its design to be both comfortable and chic in yet still show off parts of the body I felt comfortable displaying.  I loved the softness of the fabric and how the weight of the fabric did not feel skimpy. And most of all I felt really attractive when I wore it as well as the added bonus of feeling comfortable in my own skin.

In her book the Life Changing Magic Of Tidying Up, Marie Kondo offers a fascinating perspective on our relationships with our clothes. In the chapter about sorting out your clothes clutter she suggests the following, "Put all your clothes in one pile, take them in your hand one by one, and ask yourself quietly, 'Does this spark joy?'

This tip really worked for me and recently I let go to my local Mary’s Give and Take charity shop a custom designed dress, hastily commissioned for my big 50, that just didn't cut it. As much as I wanted to keep it, the colours and style just weren’t right and I knew it was time to let it go.

Kondo goes even further and suggests you should have conversations with your clothes and state out loud as you remove your clothes from the days wear, 'Thank you for keeping me warm all day'. Or when removing accessories (I like this one), 'Thank you for making me beautiful'.

I really am all for this as, even though I hadn't bought it fully into my conscious awareness, it does seem to make perfect sense to express our appreciation to our clothes for all that they do. And it's an organic way of ensuring we are in the habit of wearing items of clothing we still enjoy.

Finally Kondo suggests when letting go of clothing you no longer want to keep to say out loud, 'Thank you for giving me joy when I bought you,' 'Thank you for teaching me what doesn't suit me'.  I have to admit that the last comment did bring a smile to my face as I can think of a few more items in my wardrobe that really do need to go.

Clothes - like the Bible scripture suggests - are with us for either, ' ... a time, a reason or a season.' It all points to creating space to cherish and only wear the clothes you really love.

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Fashion Psychology: What Your Choice in Clothes Say About You

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Wish you knew how to pick the perfect outfit for every situation?

Wish no more! In this post, I am going to show you how to choose clothes that make you feel confident, bold and ready for anything.

This post is for BOTH men and women!

You Are What You Wear

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.

The question is, what signals are you sending?

Let’s do a little self-quiz to find out:

How would you describe your current style? (Check all that apply)

• ___Professional
• ___Flirty / Attractive
• ___ Powerful
• ___ I have no sense of style

Look at your answers to the question above. What specifically about your style makes this impression?

• ___ The colors I wear
• ___ Where I buy my clothes
• ___ How I tailor my clothes
• ___ How I accessorize
• ___ The brands I wear
• ___ The patterns I wear
• ___ The people I emulate

Now let’s talk about your ideal impression. In your dream world, how would you like to come across? What is your ideal style?

• ___ Professional
• ___ Flirty / Attractive

Lastly, when helping clients build wardrobes they love , Elsa Isaac starts by asking them to write down 3 words that describe how they want their clothes to make them feel.

“Maybe you want your clothes to make you feel powerful or confident or sexy. Or maybe creative and edgy….make sure (the words) resonate with you and write them down.”

Once you identify the feelings you want your clothes to elicit, she says, the easier it is to choose the right pieces.

“It’s not about trends or being fashionable per se, it’s about how capable we are of expressing ourselves,” Isaac believes. What are three words that describe how you want your clothes to make you feel?

Now, let’s make it happen! My goal is to help you understand the psychology of your fashion choices. Why do certain types of clothing change our first impression?

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.

When it comes to communicating confidence and ability, what you wear plays an important role in creating positive first impressions. Whether you agree with the statement or not, clothes make the man . Or at least others’ perception of the man, science shows.

Pro Tip: if you’re interested in more psychology other than fashion psychology, and you want to win in the workplace, try out our handy cheat sheet:

Work With Other People?

Get our handy cheat sheet with tips to work effectively with each of the five distinct personality types.

How to Dress:

So how can you get closer to your ideal first impression? Below I have 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.

Watch our video below to learn how color choices affect our behavior:

What to Wear: Our Color Guide

Download this one-sheet and put it on your closet door for easy reference!

• 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. This blog post from Fashionista covers some great stores that do affordable workwear .

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 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. “To me, 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 . Try Etsy for handmaid clothing. Go to Amazon for fun leggings or scarves. Try Zappos for funky shoes. Online, you are going to find a wider variety of options to play with.
• Use contrast.  Juxtaposing cut, 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 don 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.

“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.

“(Marie) doesn’t have to tell me that she likes something, she puts it on and she struts,” Isaac says. Such is 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. I like this post on the best Indie Fashion Brands.

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 to The Atlantic .

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.

“You behave more dominantly, you compromise less, and part of that is because your interaction partner is allowing you to get away with more,” Krauss tells NPR of the men in suits.

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.

“If you’re used to being in a traditional suit all day, then a white linen pant and henley might be a little too drastic. But a more relaxed suit—something unlined, maybe, with the wrinkle built in—is a stepping stone,” Kors says in this interview for Bloomberg Media . “You’re still polished, you’re still in a suit, but it’s more laid-back.”

#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.”

The trick is to be comfortable.

“I do like the idea of ease and comfort, and I think most men do, too.”

#4 Clothing Hacks

In our video below, I have some of my favorite clothing saving tricks to keep your clothes looking nice over time:

Bottom Line: HAVE FUN

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.

After all, it’s your choice.

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64 thoughts on “fashion psychology: what your choice in clothes say about you”.

This is a pretty cool aricle.

Love this article

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Very useful. How can I site this?

Thanks Roseanne! If you’d like, you can simply link to this article! Feel free to share it! Rob | Science of People Team

Quite a interesting article you have shared here, Thanks.

The most important thing about chosing your wardrobe is that it is appropriate for your age and the situations you are or will be facing. Being too hot or cold can be life threatening. A long walk or lots of standing can be challenging in high heels. Tight clothing, apart from making you feel uncomfortable, can lead to death and thrombosis if older/sitting for a long time while travelling. When cleaning and gardening we chose clothes that are easy to move in, robust , that scrub up well and don’t show stains. Fabrics that snag, pill and attract bits rarely look good. Black is a poor idea on a hot day, unless you are going to a funeral. If you are going to be out in the sun for a long time, a hat and a bit of lightweight coverup is a good idea. Tidy, non-flashy, formal clothing is important if you need to go to court. If your clothes are to last, it is important to ensure the fit is realistic vs a realistic target weight range. A well cut outfit masks minor bulges, so keep on trying things on until you find the best look..to help this along, observe people when you are out in different situations and see what does and doesn’t work well, especially on people of your age, colouring and bodyshape….and never buy ill fitting shoes that pinch or rub.

I consider myself to be a powerful, attractive confident and a lot of edgie dressier. I agree with your article. My style is versatile. It’s always a surprise. I’m a very fit 50 year old. I’ve been into health and fitness all my life and it shows. I enjoy being edgy.sometimes in the gym I wear anthracite tights with a long black tee and white tennis shoes. My tights are ruched with a tight wedgie.so you can see the shape of my butt very well. If my t shirt lifts up to see it. Bodybuilding and fitness are 1 my passions. Women usually want to be near me to learn something from my workouts. And I’m a reserved cool guy. What does this gym attire I mentioned say about my personality? My question is,

The last sentence is quiet important. Beware of questionable attires.

Excellent article covering a wide range of fashion related subjects. I searched the internet for the question, “why don‘t people dress more interestingly?“ Your article was very informative and indirectly answered that question. I am a female in my late 30s and people always stop me and ask about my outfits. I often get asked where I buy my clothes and accessories. Some people claim to like my style but say they are not confident enough to wear what I wear. I currently wear mostly novelty print dresses (cat, unicorn, dog, heart, skull, candy, galaxy, moon and star prints). I usually try to match my accessories with my print so if I am wearing a dress with stars, I will wear star earrings and a star headband. I also try to restrict my outfits to 3 of 4 colors, if possible. I work in local gaming and toy store so luckily I can wear whatever I want. However, all my co-workers are male and they wear jeans and graphic tees, like band, superhero, anime and gaming tees. I live in a town of about 10k people and the most common outfit for males and females of any age is jeans and a t-shirt. Sweat pants and a t-shirt come in second. Athletic and sporting gear comes in third. In terms of sporting gear, camo print and army green is quite common. I never wear t-shirts, jeans or sweatpants! There are only about a dozen of us in my town that wear unique styles. The most interesting is a man in his 80s who only wears clothes from the 70s. He has an extensive collection of shoes and clothes in excellent condition that look tailored. I would love to visit his house for a wardrobe tour but I am too shy to ask him! I would like to conclude with that you should wear what you want. There are tiny ways to incorporate something interesting into your wardrobe. The example of wearing novelty print socks in this article is one way. Another way is through accessories. For example, I have several very beautiful cat earrings that you cannot tell are cats until you are very close. I have some skull and roses dresses that look like floral dresses from a distance. I also have heart print dresses that could pass as a polka dot print from afar. If you have a strict dress policy to follow at work, you can save your novelty items for evenings and weekends. I personally have worn some cat print dresses and accessories to church and got lots of compliments. I have also worn heart print dresses and accessories to church too but no one seemed to notice or compliment my heart prints. I have a few heart shaped purses that people have noticed and liked though (dupes of the heart shaped Kate Spade bag in different colors without the kate spade logo. I call them dupes because I do not think they would have been manufactured without the kate spade bag previously trending on tiktok). So you may be surprised where you can get away with wearing your more interesting clothing and accessories. All that being said, I still sometimes restrict myself. For example, I would never wear a skull print to church. Anyway, I wish you all the best in your life and fashion journey. Good luck.

This is truly an amazing article and I loved the way you have justified the saying “You are what you wear.” Seriously, anyone can be judged by the way he carries himself. Thanks for sharing such a great article covering all the aspects to avoid any fashion blunders.

Excellent article… great content , knowledgeable

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How to Describe Clothing in Writing Without Boring Everybody

If you’re trying to learn how to describe clothing in writing, you’re probably like me:

You’ve only pretended to know what organza is. When you’re shopping for yourself, you know what you like but you don’t know how to describe it. And ninety-nine percent of the clothing descriptions in your first draft are just “jeans.” I get it. Clothing description is something I have to actively choose to create, too. It’s not an aspect of character design that bubbles up naturally from the depths of my creative soul. And as a reader, nothing bores me like an entire paragraph of detailed clothing description.

But I’ve also noticed that artful clothing description does make a character, a setting, and even a moment more engaging. It’s all in the craft.It’s good that you’re here to learn how to describe clothing in writing, because it’s a powerful tool. What your character wears reveals where they come from, how they rank in society, how they want to be perceived, and even how they feel about themselves.

These shallow details help us go pretty deep on character .

The good news is that attire is not only important, it’s also kind of fun when you start digging into it. You find that it’s about more than throwing out fashion terms and listing articles of clothing. It’s about building a life and a world, and that is something you can do.

Let’s talk about how to use clothing description as a storytelling tool, how to dress your character for their personality and setting, and how to make clothes interesting to anyone. Because it actually is possible.

Why Clothing Description Matters

One very important aspect of describing attire well is understanding why you’re describing it in the first place.

What exactly are you trying to communicate about the character, setting, or situation?

The answer to this question gives you a ton of clarity. You suddenly know which details to include, which to leave out, and whether to call it a “blood-red cloak” or a “goji berry wrap.

”Let’s take a look at how clothing description indicates your character’s identity, goals, and culture.

Clothes That Fit Your Character

Those of us who don’t get all jazzed about writing clothing descriptions often fail to consider that a good wardrobe has layers.

I don’t mean camisoles and cardigans. I mean what your character wears provides a clue to how they see themselves, how they want to be seen, and even how others see them.

Clothing description also presents an opportunity to play with different points of view . Maybe your character heads out on the town wearing a “daring leopard print jumpsuit,” only to have their best friend immediately ask where they got the “kitty costume.”

When you use clothing to define who your character is, remember that it can also clarify how they feel about themselves and how they fit into the world around them.

Here are some classic characteristics you can draw out through clothing description.

Conveniently, a lot of high status positions come with outfits or accessories that telegraph a person’s position in the hierarchy. This includes things like a pilot’s uniform, a tiara, or a Pink Ladies jacket.

But status can be communicated in more subtle ways, too. One of the first things I learned when I moved to L.A. is that writers do not dress “professionally” for big meetings in Hollywood. As a friend told me, “Wear jeans and glasses and have a favorite pen. Otherwise they won’t take you seriously as an artist.”

What are the rules of your character’s world? What’s the respected “uniform,” and does your character wear it?

It’s fun to play with power in clothing, because it's a relative concept.

One character might demonstrate their power by showing up to prom in a designer gown. Another might claim power by striding in wearing torn jeans and a tank top.

‍ Both can lose clout simply by the way their peers respond to their wardrobe choices.

Play with the question of presentation and power! It’s a good time.

A band t-shirt. A velvet scrunchie. A pair of starched Wranglers. A vintage polka dot dress with a sweetheart neckline.

I’d be willing to bet each of these items immediately brought to mind a semi-clear character. If you stopped to think about it, you may even notice yourself imagining things as specific as age, hobbies, and ambitions.

It really doesn’t take much. We naturally link clothing and identity, which is why wardrobe is such an effective tool for building a vivid character .

This one is simple, right? Give your wealthy character a pair of Louboutins and dress your non-wealthy characters in hand-me-downs.

That works. But it can also be fun to play with the confidence and ease that comes with wealth.

Your trust fund character might be completely confident showing up to a party in board shorts and flip-flops. Meanwhile, the character who works two jobs while going to school full-time might scour the Goodwill rack for a designer tag to help them fit in at the same party.

If I’m wearing lipstick with no plans of going out, one of two things is happening:

I’m in a great mood or I’m feeling like I have zero control over my life and failure is inevitable.

What your character wears can tell us a lot about how they feel or how they want to feel. A self-conscious kid tries to disappear inside their oversized sweatshirt. An anxious college student buys a flower crown in the hopes of feeling young and free at Coachella.

Clothes can betray our greatest joys and our deepest insecurities. So have fun with that.

Clothes That Fit Your Character’s Goals

As I write this, I am wearing jeans that are too big, a gray t-shirt I inherited from a former roommate, and a pilled hoodie from a lighting vendor that works with my friend’s husband’s company.

Given that I am writing alone in my apartment, you might rightfully conclude that my goal is to be comfortable.

But put me in a job interview wearing the same outfit, and you’d probably start making new guesses about my intentions. Am I trying to blow the interview? Impress someone with my indifference? Slog through another meaningless day in a world where nothing matters?

Or is comfort just that important to me?

Clothing tells your reader a lot about your character’s goals and motivations within a given scenario.

Which of these clothing types is your character most likely to reach for when starting their day?

Sturdy Clothes

This includes items like steel-toed boots, heavy denim, or tech-forward, snag-resistant superhero spandex.

If sturdy is a top consideration, your character might be expecting trouble or adventure. Maybe a bit of both. They’re probably less concerned with how they look (unless they want to look intimidating) and more concerned with things like survival or victory.

Attractive Clothes

Is your character trying to attract positive attention? Then this is their category.

Maybe they’re hoping to impress the cool kids or please their parents. Maybe their goal is to entice a mate. Or it could be that they want to be charmed by their own image when they look in the mirror. Either way, their goal is to be desirable, whatever “desirable” means in this situation.

Details about fit, cut, and material go a long way when describing the clothing of a character who longs to attract. Non-visual senses are big, too. Think touchable fabrics and the light scent of lavender soap.

Comfortable Clothes

Maybe your character is snuggled up in their fleece pajamas while the blizzard rages outside. Or they could be frantically running errands in leggings and a t-shirt.

Whether it’s a matter of indulgence or survival, feeling good is a deeply relatable goal. Help your readers feel the relaxed, organic cotton or the memory foam slipper, and they’ll feel your character’s priorities deep in their own souls.

Stealthy Clothes

This is a fun one. Does your character need to hide? Sneak around? Blend in?

Stealthy clothes bring to mind burglars clad in black outfits and soft-soled sneakers. But the definition of “sneaky” depends on your character’s situation.

Do they need a ghillie suit to blend into the natural environment? Or are you writing a spy character who dons Lululemon to infiltrate an upscale yoga studio?

Protective Clothes

Is your central conflict a life-or-death situation? Odds are, you’ve got a character who dresses to stay alive. Think armor, bulletproof vests, and bandoliers.

Your character might also have a job or hobby that requires protective clothing. Whether it’s a beekeeping suit, climbing helmet, knee pads, or sun-protective fabric, what your character wears provides a clue about what’s at stake in the coming scene.

Clothes That Fit Your Character’s World

The first time I joined my family for our biannual Minnesota fishing trip after moving to L.A. from the Midwest, I found myself constantly losing my aunt and mother.

Every time we got separated in a public space, I discovered myself in a sea of mature women with the same haircut and pastel tops. I never thought of there being a uniform for Midwestern ladyness. It took leaving the Midwest to recognize it.

But that’s the case wherever you go. Our wardrobes are influenced by our age, geography, culture, hobbies, and a million other aspects of our worlds.

Even the non-conformists are influenced by societal norms. The surrounding culture dictates what they can’t wear if they want to be seen as free-thinking individuals. (Huh.)

All this to say: there is substantial storytelling power in a coral “Life is Good” t-shirt.

Here’s how to describe clothing in writing to show your readers the world to which your character belongs…

…or the world they’re desperately resisting.

Clothing is one of the easiest and most immediate ways to establish an historical setting. If your protagonist is donning a tri-cornered hat, loosening a corset, or strutting through town in a new toga, your reader has a good sense of time period.

Or at least they know what century they’re in.

Now, if you write historical fiction, it’s important to research the clothing of your chosen era. More on that in a bit.

Clothing reflects the resources available in a specific time and place. When describing clothing in writing, consider:

• The time period of your story. (Has denim been invented yet?)
• The geographical location of your story. (Would people living in this area have access to leather goods?)
• Your character and community’s financial resources. (Where do they buy their clothes? How long do they need their clothes to last?)

You can also use this aspect of clothing description to paint a vivid picture of the world you imagined. Would the fashion designers in your fantasy novel make use of dragon scales? Are the characters of your dystopian novel forced to make do with burlap and mud?

Where does your story take place?

The answer can guide you towards certain fashion trends to inspire your character’s wardrobe. The geographical setting might suggest that your characters are expected to abide by strict rules for modesty or are celebrated for being wild and free.

And of course, location provides a clue for what it takes to be comfortable in the world of your story. If your character comes home and immediately sheds three layers of down and fleece, I’m going to assume they’re not in San Antonio, Texas.

Do your characters care deeply about looking respectable, or are they more afraid of putting on airs? What matters more to them: fashion or function? Do they strive to be humble before their god or do they want to spend this one and only life as their bold, ostentatious selves?

What is the prevailing value in the society of your story? Do all your characters embrace it? Who's your rebel, and how does their clothing reflect their defiant spirit?

How to Describe Clothing in Writing Without Dragging Down the Story

Hopefully, you now have more wardrobe ideas for your characters than just “red shirt, blue pants.” But what about the process of actually sharing these details in your novel ?

Let’s talk about how to describe clothing in writing organically . Like all forms of exposition, your goal is to deliver this information without pulling the reader out of the story. We’re trying to avoid, “Isabell gazed out the window, and by the way, she was wearing a white terry cloth robe.”

Here’s how it’s done.

Focus on Building the Scene and Character

First and foremost, remember that clothing description is still storytelling. You’re not infodumping. You’re working essential details into the narrative at the moment when they are most relevant.

It’s okay if Todd’s checks his designer watch three pages after you mention his silk tie. The reader does not need the full outfit in one go.

Also bear in mind that not all clothing descriptions have to be presented as “She put on x” or “He was wearing y.” You can draw your reader’s attention to an item of clothing by having your character draw on their jeans or fiddle with their collar.

Characters can also comment on or react to one another’s clothing, as long as the exchange reveals something about the world or relationship.

Don’t Show Everything

Our imaginations can do a surprising amount with just a few key details. If you tell your readers about Nanette’s light pink cardigan and string of pearls, you don’t have to say much about the shoes and skirt and silk blouse. They’ll see it automatically.

Select the most striking details and move on.

Use the Senses

One reason clothing descriptions can start to feel like a tedious laundry list (see what I did there?) is because we get stuck on what things look like. But there is so much more to the experience of clothing than that.

Tell us how the wool of your protagonist’s sheath dress scratches the skin on the underside of her arm. Mention the familiar swooshing of the neighbor’s tracksuit as he runs by the house every morning or how the aunt’s jacket always smells like cold air and pine needles.

Fabric, Fit, Quality, Color

If you’re good at talking clothes, you can sit this one out. But for writers like me who get stuck in the “white socks, green dress” rut, here’s a quick reminder:

Details about fabric, fit, quality, and color are super effective when it comes to creating a sense of character, place, or moment.

Baggy jeans. A scarlet pantsuit. A four-layer, bubble-gum pink taffeta skirt. The only cloak in the world made with silk spun by the cat-sized spiders that live in the forbidden mountains.

These images all go a lot further than “white socks, green dress,” and most of them don’t require a lot of extra words.

Make It Significant

Consider whether your character’s attire might serve as a symbol, highlight a theme, or represent a conflict .

Maybe they’re wearing an article of clothing that once belonged to someone they’ve lost. Or they’ll be living off soda crackers and peanut butter for the next week because they drained their checking account for a suit to impress at their job interview.

What would “high stakes clothing” look like in your story?

Let the Clothing Tell a Story

Really, the topic of this article is not how to describe clothing in writing as much as it is how to tell a story with clothes. Because like all other character details, it’s not enough to paint a picture. The image you create has to play a role in the narrative.Consider the character arc . Who is your character at the beginning of the story, and how can you dress them to establish their “normal”? How do they change, and how does their clothing reflect that change?

Be specific and accurate. In other words, research.

If you write historical fiction, you’re probably way ahead of me. You’re already obsessing over hat styles and what the undergarment situation was at the time of your story. Not to pile on, but don’t forget to make sure you know which materials were—and weren’t—available in the world of your novel.

And if you don’t write historical fiction? You’re still not off the hook. Make sure you know what’s hot and what’s not in your specific setting, as well as what specific words the locals would use. Are they overalls or coveralls? Sweaters or jumpers?

Get it right, and you transport your readers to a vivid world.

Dabble with Depth

If there is one thing I hope you take from all of this, it’s that none of this is about describing what a character looks like. Not really.

Sure, it helps your reader to know how you picture a character. It makes for a more entertaining read. But your reader is going to picture something whether you guide them or not. The reason we fuss over physical descriptions is not because it’s so important that the reader’s imagination gets it right.

It’s because concrete details are incredibly effective in communicating abstract concepts. In writing, the clothes kind of do make the (hu)man. Fashion photographer Bill Cunningham said, “Fashion is the armor to survive the reality of everyday life.” Try applying this philosophy to clothing descriptions in your writing and see what happens.

What does your character wear to feel safer in their world or in their own skin? How does their attire reflect what they want, what they fear, or where they’re going?

These are deep questions. And if you need a place to organize your complex responses, I recommend Dabble’s Character Notes feature. You can keep track of your character’s signature style, upload photos, note how their style evolves, and keep these ideas right at your fingertips as you write.

Not a Dabble user? No problem! You can try all Dabble’s premium features for free for fourteen days. Just click this link and don’t even think about touching your wallet. You don’t need it to sign up.

Abi Wurdeman is the author of Cross-Section of a Human Heart: A Memoir of Early Adulthood, as well as the novella, Holiday Gifts for Insufferable People. She also writes for film and television with her brother and writing partner, Phil Wurdeman. On occasion, Abi pretends to be a poet. One of her poems is (legally) stamped into a sidewalk in Santa Clarita, California. When she’s not writing, Abi is most likely hiking, reading, or texting her mother pictures of her houseplants to ask why they look like that.

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IELTS Essay: Clothes, Culture, & Character

by Dave | Real Past Tests | 2 Comments

This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of clothes, culture, and character from the real IELTS exam.

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IELTS Essay: Clothes, Culture, & Character

Some people say that it is possible to tell a lot about a person’s culture and character from their choice of clothes.

Do you agree or disagree?

Many believe that fashion choices communicate information about an individual’s personality and culture. I am largely in agreement though I would concede globalization has partly obscured these distinctions.

Those who argue that a person’s culture and character cannot be determined from their clothing point to the impact of globalization. There are now international companies like Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, and Louis Vuitton that manufacture and ship identical clothes all around the world for consumers. These consumers are influenced by the same media and admire the same public figures. This modern convergence of production and culture means that disparate nations are more similar than at any point in human history. It is not unusual to see an individual living in South America, for instance, wearing the same shoes and clothing as someone in Asia or Europe.

Nonetheless, fashion preferences still reveal what a person values and what they wish to project to the outside world. A person who wears a suit and tie appears professional and this likely matches their personality. If they dress very formally when at work it might also indicate the office culture in their country. For example, it is common in East Asian countries for workers to dress very formally for work while in Southeast Asia the clothing is more casual due to the tropical climate. There are also individual differences that are, on average, greater than the disparity between cultures. A person who is into sports is more likely to wear sporty clothes regardless of where they live. Social media and globalization can even contribute to this trend as a consumer can follow their favorite artist and emulate both their personality and fashion choices.

In conclusion, though globalization theoretically makes it more difficult to distinguish a person’s culture and character from their clothes, in fact, these choices continue to be revealing. This self-expression is one of the benefits of modern fashion.

1. Many believe that fashion choices communicate information about an individual’s personality and culture. 2. I am largely in agreement though I would concede globalization has partly obscured these distinctions.

• Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
• Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here .

1. Those who argue that a person’s culture and character cannot be determined from their clothing point to the impact of globalization. 2. There are now international companies like Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, and Louis Vuitton that manufacture and ship identical clothes all around the world for consumers. 3. These consumers are influenced by the same media and admire the same public figures. 4. This modern convergence of production and culture means that disparate nations are more similar than at any point in human history. 5. It is not unusual to see an individual living in South America, for instance, wearing the same shoes and clothing as someone in Asia or Europe.

• Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
• Explain your main idea.
• Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
• Keep developing it fully.
• You can have a second main idea.

1. Nonetheless, fashion preferences still reveal what a person values and what they wish to project to the outside world. 2. A person who wears a suit and tie appears professional and this likely matches their personality. 3. If they dress very formally when at work it might also indicate the office culture in their country. 4. For example, it is common in East Asian countries for workers to dress very formally for work while in Southeast Asia the clothing is more casual due to the tropical climate. 5. There are also individual differences that are, on average, greater than the disparity between cultures. 6. A person who is into sports is more likely to wear sporty clothes regardless of where they live. 7. Social media and globalization can even contribute to this trend as a consumer can follow their favorite artist and emulate both their personality and fashion choices.

• Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
• Explain your new main idea.
• Include specific details and examples.
• Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
• Develop the example fully.
• For this one I have a second related idea to develop.
• And another example to extend fully.

1. In conclusion, though globalization theoretically makes it more difficult to distinguish a person’s culture and character from their clothes, in fact, these choices continue to be revealing. 2. This self-expression is one of the benefits of modern fashion.

• Summarise your main ideas.
• Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here .

What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.

Many believe that fashion choices communicate information about an individual’s personality and culture . I am largely in agreement though I would concede globalization has partly obscured these distinctions .

Those who argue that a person’s culture and character cannot be determined from their clothing point to the impact of globalization. There are now international companies like Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, and Louis Vuitton that manufacture and ship identical clothes all around the world for consumers. These consumers are influenced by the same media and admire the same public figures . This modern convergence of production and culture means that disparate nations are more similar than at any point in human history . It is not unusual to see an individual living in South America, for instance , wearing the same shoes and clothing as someone in Asia or Europe.

Nonetheless, fashion preferences still reveal what a person values and what they wish to project to the outside world . A person who wears a suit and tie appears professional and this likely matches their personality. If they dress very formally when at work it might also indicate the office culture in their country. For example, it is common in East Asian countries for workers to dress very formally for work while in Southeast Asia the clothing is more casual due to the tropical climate . There are also individual differences that are, on average , greater than the disparity between cultures . A person who is into sports is more likely to wear sporty clothes regardless of where they live. Social media and globalization can even contribute to this trend as a consumer can follow their favorite artist and emulate both their personality and fashion choices.

For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:

fashion choices decisions about clothes

communicate information reveal yourself

personality temperament, character

culture society, art, your country as a whole

largely in agreement mostly on the same page

concede globalization give up the idea of spreading ideas

partly obscured somewhat hidden

distinctions differences

argue point out

character personality

determined decided by

point to argue

international companies multinationals

manufacture made

identical the same

all around the world everywhere

consumers buyers

influenced impacted by

media entertainment

admire look up to

public figures famous people

modern convergence coming together these days

production making of

disparate nations different countries

at any point in human history at any time before

unusual not normal

for instance for example

preferences tastes

reveal show

values what you consider important

project to the outside world show to everyone else

suit and tie fancy work clothes

appears seems

professional formal

matches fits

formally professionally

indicate mean

office culture workplace

casual not formal

tropical climate hot weather

on average generally

greater than more than

disparity between cultures differences between countries

sporty clothes athletic wear

regardless of nonetheless

social media Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc.

contribute add to

trend pattern

emulate copt

theoretically in theory, not in reality

distinguish differentiate

continue to be keep on

self-expression being yourself

Pronunciation

Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search :

ˈfæʃən ˈʧɔɪsɪz   kəˈmjuːnɪkeɪt ˌɪnfəˈmeɪʃən   ˌpɜːsəˈnælɪti   ˈkʌlʧə ˈlɑːʤli ɪn əˈgriːmənt kənˈsiːd ˌgləʊb(ə)laɪˈzeɪʃ(ə)n   ˈpɑːtli əbˈskjʊəd   dɪsˈtɪŋkʃənz   ˈɑːgjuː   ˈkærɪktə   dɪˈtɜːmɪnd   pɔɪnt tuː   ˌɪntə(ː)ˈnæʃənl ˈkʌmpəniz   ˌmænjʊˈfækʧə   aɪˈdɛntɪkəl   ɔːl əˈraʊnd ðə wɜːld   kənˈsjuːməz   ˈɪnflʊənst   ˈmiːdiə   ədˈmaɪə   ˈpʌblɪk ˈfɪgəz   ˈmɒdən kənˈvɜːʤəns   prəˈdʌkʃən   ˈdɪspərɪt ˈneɪʃənz   æt ˈɛni pɔɪnt ɪn ˈhjuːmən ˈhɪstəri ʌnˈjuːʒʊəl   fɔːr ˈɪnstəns ˈprɛfərənsɪz   rɪˈviːl   ˈvæljuːz   ˈprɒʤɛkt tuː ði ˌaʊtˈsaɪd wɜːld sjuːt ænd taɪ   əˈpɪəz   prəˈfɛʃənl   ˈmæʧɪz   ˈfɔːməli   ˈɪndɪkeɪt   ˈɒfɪs ˈkʌlʧə   ˈkæʒjʊəl djuː tuː   ˈtrɒpɪkəl ˈklaɪmɪt ɒn ˈævərɪʤ ˈgreɪtə ðæn   dɪsˈpærɪti bɪˈtwiːn ˈkʌlʧəz ˈspɔːti kləʊðz   rɪˈgɑːdlɪs ɒv   ˈsəʊʃəl ˈmiːdiə   kənˈtrɪbju(ː)t   trɛnd   ˈɛmjʊleɪt   θɪəˈrɛtɪkəli   dɪsˈtɪŋgwɪʃ   kənˈtɪnju(ː) tuː biː   sɛlf-ɪksˈprɛʃən  

Vocabulary Practice

I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:

Many believe that f_______________s c____________________________n about an individual’s p_____________y and c_____________e. I am l______________________t though I would c___________ e g_________________n has p_________________d these d___________________s .

Those who a_______e that a person’s culture and c__________r cannot be d__________d from their clothing p____________o the impact of globalization. There are now i_________________s like Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, and Louis Vuitton that m_____________e and ship i_____________l clothes a___________________d for consumers. These c__________s are i______________d by the same m_______a and a_______e the same p_______________s . This m_____________________e of p______________n and culture means that d_____________________s are more similar than a_____________________________y . It is not u__________l to see an individual living in South America, f____________e , wearing the same shoes and clothing as someone in Asia or Europe.

Nonetheless, fashion p___________s still r___________l what a person v_______s and what they wish to p__________________________d . A person who wears a s____________e a_________s p______________l and this likely m________s their personality. If they dress very f____________y when at work it might also i___________e the o________________e in their country. For example, it is common in East Asian countries for workers to dress very formally for work while in Southeast Asia the clothing is more c_________l due to the t__________________e . There are also individual differences that are, o___________________e , g___________n the d_________________________s . A person who is into sports is more likely to wear s_____________s r_____________f where they live. S_______________a and globalization can even c_____________e to this t______d as a consumer can follow their favorite artist and e_________e both their personality and fashion choices.

In conclusion, though globalization t_____________________y makes it more difficult to d_________________h a person’s culture and character from their clothes, in fact, these choices c_________________e revealing. This s________________n is one of the benefits of modern fashion.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic by watching videos from The New York Times YouTube channel below and practice with these activities :

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice :

https://magazine.psykhefashion.com/features/fashion-psychology/personality-traits

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam :

• Do you prefer to wear shoes that are comfortable or fashionable?
• Do you buy many shoes?
• How many pairs of shoes do you have?
• What is your favourite pair of shoes?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topic below:

The number of people who are interested in and wearing fashionable clothes is increasing.

Is this a positive or negative development?

IELTS Writing Task 2 General Training Sample Answer Essay: Fashion (Real Past IELTS Exam/Test)

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It is an incredibly common belief that clothes maketh a man. Some assert the possibility of distinguishing an individual’s culture as well as personality from the clothes they choose to wear. While some people would argue that not all judgements can be perfect, in my opinion, it is possible to arrive at some conclusion about the person’s background by looking at their attire. 

To begin with, people’s clothes speak a lot about their culture since it is easy to identify which culture they belong to. For instance, Sari is a traditional women’s dress from India. When a woman wears a sari, we can instantly recognize she belongs to India. Secondly, a well-dressed man in a suit and tie is perceived as an erudite person. Immaculate clothes are usually a sign of a person being intelligent, smart and well-mannered. Also, rich people often wear expensive branded clothes since they can afford it. Conversely, a shabby dressed person may appear to have less education or be impolite in nature. If a person wears old, torn, or dirty clothes, they may be considered as homeless or impoverished. Lastly, the style of clothing projects what kind of a person they may be. For instance, introverts may like to be dressed in subtle colors, whereas extroverts may prefer vibrant colors and a party wardrobe.

However, some people feel that one cannot be judged based on their clothes. Not all wealthy people wear exquisite labelled clothes. For instance, Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates. Although they can afford to buy them, they dress themselves like laymen. Another contrasting idea is that people from another culture may choose to wear clothes from a different culture because of fashion. For example, an American woman may want to wear a sari to work simply because she is fond of the design, yet this does not mean that she is an Indian. So, people may wear clothes they love, and, therefore, clothes do not determine a person’s culture and character.

In conclusion, while some people have contradicting agruments due to some exceptions, from my perspective, clothes definitely define a person’s identity and potrays the culture they hail from. Various clothes from all over the world are symbols of cultural diversity, and people’s characteristics can be diagnosed from their clothes.

There is a statement that the outfit of a person can reflet his culture and personality. In my opinion, people buy clothes based on their hometown and preferences.

A certain area would likely sell local clothes, which can present the culture of a place. In ancient times, people would weave clothes depending on the local situation, such as the weather, local industry, and lifestyle. For example, in mid-east Asia, there are a lot of deserts, and the weather is dry. It would be very cold when the night comes, and become extremely hot during the day. Therefore, their local clothes are primarily long white coats. Moreover, clothes can also show the religious selections. Women in mid-east Asia wear long balck coats and masks which only display their eyes. Such signals ensure that people could identify their cultures easily.

People choose clothes based on their preferences. There are different attitudes towards clothes. Some may consider them as functional items, while some may think that clothes are methods to show personal status. Hence, different selections show different perceptions of clothes. For example, the dressing of a professor may lead to different images. In China, a professor wore so simple that a freshman student asked him to show the way to dorm. A later report showed that this professor was the headmaster of this university, and he just wanted to be as normal as others. By contrast, if a professor wears an expensive skirt and puts on a LV belt with a large logo, it is easy to tell that he wants to be respected and be different from others.

In sum, clothes present the culture and the personality with local historical reasons and peosonal preference. In addition, we can judge a person not only by how they look, but also by how they behave.

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in her words

Finding Clothes, and Identity, Outside Men’s and Women’s Wear

More clothing companies are trying to meet the demands of a changing clientele, offering gender-bending, gender-fluid and gender-neutral items.

By Maya Salam

Welcome to In Her Words, where women rule the headlines. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox. Let me know what you think at [email protected] .

“I would like to see anybody wearing my clothes, and I do mean anybody.”

— Claire Fleury, a fashion designer who creates clothing for all genders

When a friend of mine was shopping for her wedding look several years back, she wanted a sharp, tailored suit. She went to a famous men’s clothier in New York’s Financial District, whose staff ultimately laughed her out of the store, a humiliation she still carries with her.

Today, her options would be plentiful by comparison as more mainstream clothing companies swiftly rise to meet the demands of a changing clientele — offering gender-bending, gender-fluid and gender-neutral garments. As Ken Downing, the fashion director of Neiman Marcus, once told The Times : “What we’re seeing now is a seismic shift in fashion, a widening acceptance of a style with no boundaries — one that reflects the way young people dress.”

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Essay on Clothes Make The Man

Students are often asked to write an essay on Clothes Make The Man in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Clothes Make The Man

First impressions.

When you meet someone, their clothes are often the first thing you notice. Nice, clean outfits can make a person seem smart and confident. This is why people often dress up for important events like job interviews or weddings.

Feeling Good

Clothes do more than just cover us. When we wear outfits we like, we feel good about ourselves. This can make us happier and more positive in our daily lives.

Social Signals

What we wear sends messages to others about who we are. Uniforms, for example, show that a person belongs to a certain group, like a school or a company.

Respect and Manners

Dressing properly for different places shows respect. Wearing the right clothes to a religious place or a formal party is part of good manners. It shows you understand and care about the rules of where you are.

250 Words Essay on Clothes Make The Man

Introduction to the saying.

When you meet someone for the first time, the way you dress can make a big difference. Nice and tidy clothes can give the impression that you are neat and take care of yourself. This can help in situations like job interviews or meeting new friends.

Confidence Booster

Wearing clothes that you feel good in can also make you feel more confident. When you know you look good, you might do better in school or feel braver to speak up. It’s like putting on a superhero costume; you feel stronger and more powerful.

Respect and Responsibility

Dressing properly for different events shows respect. For example, wearing a uniform at school means you are part of a team. It can also teach you to be responsible for keeping your clothes clean and ready.

Clothes Don’t Define You

Even though clothes can say a lot, they don’t tell everything about who you are. It’s important to remember that being kind, smart, and hardworking is much more important than what you wear.

In the end, clothes can help make a good impression and give you confidence, but the real you is about your actions and your heart. It’s fine to dress well, but always make sure your personality shines brighter than your outfit.

500 Words Essay on Clothes Make The Man

There is an old saying that goes, “Clothes make the man.” What this means is that what we wear can say a lot about who we are. It’s not just about looking good, but also about how clothes can make us feel confident and change how others see us. In this essay, we will talk about why clothes are important and how they can affect our lives.

When we meet someone for the first time, we often notice what they are wearing. Nice, clean, and well-fitting clothes can make a good first impression. This is important in many situations, like job interviews or the first day at a new school. If we dress well, people may think we are smart and serious about our work or studies. This doesn’t mean we need expensive clothes, but wearing clothes that are right for the occasion can help us start on the right foot.

Wearing clothes that we like and that fit us well can make us feel more confident. When we know we look good, we might stand taller, smile more, and speak more clearly. This confidence can help us do better in school, in sports, or when we talk to new people. It’s like wearing a superhero’s costume – it gives us a little extra power to face the world.

Clothes and Culture

Expression of personality.

The colors and styles we choose to wear can show our personality. Someone who loves bright colors and fun patterns might be showing that they are creative and like to have fun. On the other hand, someone who wears a lot of black or gray might want to look serious or just likes those colors. Our clothes let us express who we are without saying a word.

Dressing appropriately for different places shows respect and responsibility. At school, there might be a dress code that helps students learn how to dress for different situations. By following the dress code, students show that they respect the rules and understand what is expected of them. This is a skill that will help them later in life when they go to work or attend important events.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

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IELTS Writing Task 2/ Essay Topics with sample answer.

Ielts writing task 2 sample 1084 - clothing should be bought and used more wisely, ielts writing task 2/ ielts essay:, buying fashionable clothes is wasteful because people don't need new clothes all the time. clothing should be bought and used more wisely..

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