You are what you wear

Are you the kind of person that jumps out of bed and throws on any old thing, or do you think about what you wear? Fashion editor Lynda Cooke looks at the theory – “You are what you wear”

As I sit here in my bedroom writing this article wearing my scruffy two-day-old jeans, worn out hoodie, my hair scrapped back into a pony and a make-up less face, I laugh.

If my friends could see me now, they’d think I was: (a) sick, (b) depressed, or (c) lost my marbles. You see I love clothes, fashion and style. Behind clothes doors I have nobody to impress, but once I step outside that door, it’s a different story. Out in the big bad world your clothes say a lot about the person you are.

As a society we are very aware of appearance, image and fashion, but do our clothes really say a lot about our personalities? It is true however that the way a person dresses says a lot about their personality. You can tell if a person is shy and quiet or loud and attention seeking just by looking at what they are wearing.

Generally speaking, an individual that wants to blend into the crowd will not be wearing a supper tight sexy mini dress with six-inch heels. Furthermore, a loud outgoing person will generally not wear a simple two-piece vest and cardigan set.

So, you see people can interpret your personality just by looking at you. Aside from serving practical functions like covering 90 percent of your body, clothes are a way of expressing social dynamics. That includes economic and marital status, profession, religion and sexuality. How do we send out the right message while wearing the right clothes?

We all want our clothes to portray us in the most positive light possible. We all want to feel good, get a wolf-whistle when walking home from work or have a friend compliment our new shoes. The most important factor is that your clothes are saying the right thing.

It is after all first impressions that count. Think about the last guy that you checked out, you started at his hair, then his face and then you checked what he was wearing. This no doubt defined whether or not you fancied him.Actor Will Rogers once said, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression”.

Behavioural scientists tell us that this ‘first impression’ is a strong one. And the process of sizing someone up is on a subconscious emotional level of the brain. Your evaluation by a stranger takes 30 seconds or less and can be so strong that it could take up to five years to erase.

We all want to claim that the society we live in today is not ruled by stereotypes and prejudices but it is and we shouldn’t be hypocrites and say the contrary. For example wearing an outrageously short skirt and a top with a neckline that plunges into the deep blue could be promoting unnecessary misconceptions. Regardless, if you are going on a date, meeting the in laws, or attending an interview, what your wardrobe says about you is critical.

Now ladies, before you pack away your miniskirts or ‘that purple top that gives you a great cleavage’ you should realise that your clothes should show off your personality and most importantly individuality. So, if you feel that your purple top does that, then who is anyone to tell you not to wear it.

John T Malloy, author of Dress for Success, says that what a person wears is directly related to the success they will have in life. In general he concludes “We all wear uniforms and our uniforms are clear and distinct signs of class. We react to them accordingly.”

When a person has no choice but to wear uniformed clothing it’s true that clothing doesn’t say much about the person’s character. But when a person has freedom of choice, the things they select does announce what their attitude is.

Think about how many times you made a huge judgmental call on someone else, purely based on what they’re wearing? (I know, it’s terrible but we all do it) There is a time sometimes in people’s lives when they no longer dress for themselves and they start dressing for the benefit of others, whether that is for a partner, friends, family or society.

It is important to keep that in mind when we’re people watching, and sometimes step back and don’t judge or stereotype. So how do you dress? Are you Jenny from the block, an Emo, Goth or a happy Hippy just to fit in?

Do you carry your fake Fendi bag in front of you; if so, what does it say about you? Are you concealing tattoos, or even nipple piercings under that conservative work blouse in a secret act of rebellion? Are you always dressing like Posh or wearing the latest celebrity fad, if so does that devoid you of your own style?
Only you know the answer. Remember you don’t have to follow trends or impress anyone else. Don’t be afraid to break social standards. If you feel good it will mean a lot more than any compliment a stranger could pay you.

Clothing can transform you into anyone you want to be, but they should be used to embrace you and your body. It’s not what you wear it’s how you wear it that is my motto when it comes to style. Coco Channel, founder of Channel once said, “Fashion passes, style remains”. Beauty is deeper than designer clothes or Gucci handbags; it’s what’s inside that counts.

If you can manage to untangle yourself from that huge part of society that says we must be liked,
admired and fit in at all costs, you will start to realise and develop your own true style. Next time before you jump out of bed and throw any old thing on you, remember, you are what you wear!