Column: Why do we wear the clothes we wear?
Given the COVID-19 pandemic and the isolation we are all facing in quarantine, many of us have seen our dressing standards deteriorate into nothing more than pajamas. What would you be dressed like right now if you were out in public?
It’s fair to assume that it would likely be significantly different than what you’re wearing while sequestered in your own home. When left to our own devices, most of us resort to what is comfortable and what is convenient. While there may be few that dress up for the sake of fashion, as an end in itself, the exception is certainly not the rule. When we are participants in society, we dress far differently than this “natural” state of isolation.
This reveals a critical component about the nature of why we dress the way that we do. As humans, we are fundamentally social creatures and concerned about what other people think of us. The reasons why we are concerned about the opinions of others may be different for everyone, but the general concern is a universal part of the human experience.
Therefore, when we wear clothes that go beyond the threshold of convenience or comfort, it is because we are concerned about the signals we are sending to other people.
Whether it be for the sake of employment, social gain, or whatever someone is concerned with, most of us dress in accordance with goals and values. This is the only reason that we have any discrimination in the things we wear.
Why does someone opt to wear a superhero t-shirt over a plain t-shirt? It’s reasonable to assume that the only reason they made a decision to broadcast this signal to other people is because they want people with similar interests to be able to readily identify them, or they want to be associated with that superhero in the eyes of other people.
I love watches. Yet, I understand in the modern world, there is no utility in carrying a watch around. I have recognized in my own life my affinity towards watches comes not from their function, but from the social signals that wearing a watch sends. Carrying a watch lets people know that you value your time and that you likely value punctuality.
In biology, phenotypes are the observable features that we can note about an organism. The phenotype is a manifestation of the underlying genotype, and how it interacts with the environment. My personal theory is that a drastic change in external appearance is never arbitrary, but is a reflection of an internal change. Whatever it may be, whether a man decides to grow his hair out or a girl decides to cut her hair short, I think this is in fact, reflective of stirrings from deep within their conscience.
What signals are you trying to send to people? How do you want people to perceive you? As social creatures, we are constantly signaling and being judged according to our signals. It is going to happen whether we like it or not.
Through thinking about clothes for what they are, a form of signaling, you will be able to analyze the world around to a greater degree and take personal ownership in your life. Think about the clothes you wear. Just like any goal, clearly identifying what you are trying to accomplish will give you a greater level of clarity towards realizing that end.
—kfors@gmail.com