Abbas 1 Leanne Abbas Instructor Jake Agatucci Writing 121/Essay #1 5 May 2002

The Importance of Clothing Picture this: Mr. Smith, having some car trouble, pulls his Lexus over to the curb on Cypress Boulevard in the middle of East Los Angeles and proceeds to the nearest 7-11 to call for a tow truck. His Armani Suit signals to everyone around that this guy just does not belong. Five kids pass by wearing NFL jerseys and sagging slacks. They all glare and one mutters a sarcastic oooooh, baby, as he looks Mr. Smith up and down. In his own world, the clothes Mr. Smith wears mean sophistication and success, but in this primarily lower class Hispanic neighborhood, his clothes pose a threat to him. The gang kids perceive him as weak and defenseless, like a fish out of water. This scene illustrates how people base a persons character on what he or she is wearing. The clothes people wear often reflect personality, show ties to certain crowds or cliques, and often provide the information on which first impressions are made. As a result, clothes are probably the most important way by which we initially bond and associate with one another. Even in Shakespeares time, the apparel oft proclaim[ed] the man. Clothes are often a strong indicator of a persons personality and corresponding attitudes. They can indicate everything from race or religion to sexual preference or political ties. The top hats and long black suits worn by the old Jewish men, who can be seen walking the

Abbas 2 streets of Hollywood, are a perfect example of this. These people are normally perceived as being stand-offish, very virtuous, conservative, and obviously very aware of their culture and background. Another good example of this is the gay community. A man wearing a fish-net shirt and bikini cut Levi shorts is probably not only gay, but also very liberal, outspoken, somewhat open-minded, and flamboyant. Not only do clothes project certain attitudes, they help place people into specific crowds or cliques. If we take a look at the people we are around from day to day, we notice similarities in our appearances: namely the clothes we wear. People who hold like opinions often wear the same types of clothes which reflect those opinions. This association through clothing is defined in social psychologist Harold Kellys Attribution Theory as consensus: The degree to which people in one group behave in the same way (79). He goes on to say that people feel more comfortable and accepted when they are dressed like those around them (83). Designer Ralph Lauren shares his opinion. He says personal style has to do one-hundred percent with comfort (122). We see examples of clothes placing people into cliques everyday in our society. A person wearing a felt Stetson, Justin ropers, and Wrangler jeans is not likely to be seen in a crowd of guys wearing black biker jackets, ripped up jeans, and heavy metal rock band T-shirts. The cowboy would more than likely feel out of place and uncomfortable. There is a lack of common interest which is illustrated in the dramatic differences in their clothing styles. For instance, the cowboy would probably prefer listening to country music and participating in outdoor activities such as hunting or four-wheeling. Rockers, on the other hand, might prefer to crank up the latest Guns and Roses CD

Abbas 3 and lie around watching MTV all night. As observers, we would probably be making a valid assumption when we disassociate these two groups of people. Clothing is not just a tool we use to categorize people into groups. It is the first thing we usually notice about a person and has a lot to do with first impressions. Designer Bill Kaiserman is noted as saying, you dont judge the person naked and then the person with clothes. The clothing is the person (39), and as far as first impressions go, hes probably right. At first sight, clothes can instill feelings of trust, fear, and attraction. There is a certain schema, or set of beliefs or expectations that goes along with each clothing type. This association between clothing choices and first impressions can be observed frequently in workplace attire. For example, when we walk into a McDonalds restaurant, we see a bunch of kids in burgundy uniforms. They look like they belong therelike they know what theyre doing. But lets say the workers wore their own clothes to work. We, as consumers, might not be so trusting of a kid in ripped up jeans and a dirty Tshirt. Just the same happens when a banker wears a suit. We are much more likely to mistrust a man in baggy forty-inch waist skater pants and Converse tennis-shoes. Clothing is a very important tool in promoting trust, but at times, it can also work to instill fear. Often NFL or NBA jerseys, coats, and hats can instill fear. People associate these clothes with street gangs and the violence that comes with them. But depending on personal preference, any of the aforementioned clothing styles can be attractive. Determining which people we would like to become more acquainted with has a lot to do with their personal style which is projected in their clothing. Most men would be more

Abbas 4 likely to ask a woman wearing a tight short dress to dance than they would a woman wearing a baggy shapeless house dress. He senses a style and an attitude, and is therefore attracted to one over the other. Overall, peoples life-styles, beliefs, heritage, and attitudes, are all revealed in what they wear. Clothing illustrates personalities, it is important in helping people to feel accepted in society, and it is an important tool in distinguishing a persons personality at first glance. A lot of what a person feels on the inside is mirrored in the clothes they wear. What do you wear, and what does it say about you?

Abbas 5 Works Cited Kaiserman, Bill. Your Are What You Wear. Washington Post 3 Jan. 2002: 12D. Kelly, Harold. Social Structures in Modern American Society. New York: Norton, 1994. Lauren, Ralph. Interview. The Clothing Mystique. By Tom Arnold. Details. Dec. 1998: 119-125.