Let me set the scene- one of your closest friends is getting married to an engineer, and you know the wedding will be as extravagant as they come. She describes ice statues, and pyramids made out of champagne flutes. As happy as you are for her, you take a look in your closet and a wave of anxiety washes over you. What are you going to wear?
This is a question that afflicts the masses. Clothing plays a huge role in how we feel and carry ourselves. For a typically fancy event, such as a wedding, seldom will you see sweatpants or t-shirts. These events call for gowns and tuxedos, adorned in crystals and satin. This has become status quo. It’s in such garments that people tend to feel their best. On the opposite end of the spectrum, it’s rare to see people wearing a pair of stilettos to the grocery store.
These are examples of the way in which clothing affects our behaviour. Clothing allows us to feel comfortable in a given environment. Like the example mentioned before, we dress up for formal events because it makes us comfortable and blend into a specific space. An article called “Clothing and Human Behaviour” explains that, “clothing is a relevant variable in social cognition and that the process by which clothing is related to human behavior may be studied in an advantageous manner from the framework of social cognition”(Burns and Lennon 46). This study supports the connection of social cognition and clothing.
Based on experience, and support from the article, it is clear that clothing and behavior are linked. People use clothing as armour in such social events. There must also be a reason for this.
One way of explaining this is the idea that clothing acts as an extension of one’s self. People use close as a means to express themselves. Rachel Zoe, a designer, expressesd that, “style is a way to say who you are without having to speak” (Dris). Every person has a different sense of style. We are all drawn to certain colours or patterns. Such a large part of the human life is dedicated to clothes- whether it be through shopping, choosing an outfit, or admiring other people’s outfits. Fashion is a direct way people are able to show who they are.
The need to express oneself goes beyond fashion. People do this in many forms like art, music, writing and so many more. Fashion is just another avenue. The need to display oneself to the world transcends fashion. It is rooted in the human experience itself. In a world where every single person is different, self-expression projects those differences for everyone to see.
Works Cited
Lennon, Sharron and Burns, Leslie. “Clothing and Human Behavior from a Social Cognitive Framework Part I: Theoretical Perspective”. Clothing and Textiles Journal. June 1989. P.41-48. Accessed on March 9, 2020. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/247783551_Clothing_and_Human_Behavior_from_a_Social_Cognitive_Framework_Part_I_Theoretical_Perspectives/link/02e7e5324d2d0c7be0000000/download
Dris, Kaylee.”Why Personal Style is the Best Form of Self Expression”. Her Campus. April 5, 2018.
https://www.hercampus.com/school/ufl/why-personal-style-best-form-self-expression
The Fashion Phenomena 