What do you think clothes say about a person?

[GirlinContempt]

I've been thinking about this lately a little. Came up again today cause I have to go out fairly soon and pick up some stuff for the electrical work and I threw on a typical might-be-crawling-through-the-walls outfit (combat boots, jeans cuffed to mid-calf, Atari t-shirt, mens dress shirt) and I kinda looked at myself and thought, "What do the 30ish employees under me think of me?"
Sure, sometimes I dress up a little more for things, I have suits and stuff, but they're always sort of... different. Suits with studded belts or crazy hats or whatever.
Now, it hasn't been a PROBLEM yet, the employees listen to me, we have a good working relationship, etc. But I have become conscious of it to a degree, and I'm wondering:
What do clothes say to YOU. I'm not talking about something clearly offensive (foul language, tasteless messages, inappropriate exposure) but more a persons style.
Do you have a hard time with younger people being in charge of you? Does it make it worse when they dress 'younger'? Do you judge a person in a business situation based on their appearance?

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

1. It's impossible for clothes not to make a first impression.

Ultimately, if I know a person, their clothes do not matter to me in any way, but what you wear definitely says a lot about who you are and can make an impression on someone.

As for dressing "younger", it really depends on how you look in it. If you look and act young, dressing young is no problem at all. But, if you clearly don't look like the people you're dressing like, you can be taken for trying too hard in any number of ways.

[GirlinContempt]

2. Look like the people you're dressing like?

Sorry ya lost me

For dressing 'young' I mean more.... the average person in their mid-20s VS the average person in their mid-40s

Some of the 20s dress 'older' some 40s dress 'younger' but I do often see a difference.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

4. Well, all self-bias aside...

you can probably tell whether or not you could pass for someone younger than you if someone didn't know any better. As a personal example, I'm 25, but people frequently think that I'm much older than I really am, and thus, could get away with dressing like a 35 year old. Similarly, I wouldn't be able to wear the clothes of a teenager - it would just look totally out of place on me. Does that make sense at all? I don't know how if I'm saying it right, but I don't know if I could be any clearer either. It's hard to explain.

[LaraMN]

3. Hmmm... My husband likes to say a person should dress

"for the job they want, not the job they have." I like to wear knee boots, every chance I get. What does that say about me?:rofl:

Seriously, I think the way a person dresses is often something of an extension of their personality. I also consider it an indicator of how they regard a situation or their role within it. For example- I always dress my son nicely for school- no ripped jeans, no sweatpants, no worn out items, etc. To me it's a sign of respect for the institution, and for his teachers. When he's older, I'll let him decide how he wants to present himself.

That said, I've always appreciated and practiced aesthetic diversity, and if I'm familiar with a person's character and behavior, their mode of dress is very much a secondary influence.

[GirlinContempt]

5. I sort of agree

I mean, my clothes are always clean, and not ripped or shabby. I take pride in my appearance in that sense.
I also don't go really over the top, and when I'm crawling around doing wiring I'm in jeans, when I'm meeting with people I'm wearing something dressier.
But I KNOW people DO judge and it makes me curious :)

ps. no sex threads

[JVS]

12. Knee boots eh?

Interesting career goal!

[Left Is Write]

21. It says you have slender calves!

The knee boots, I mean. I have and love two pairs of knee-high boots, but by and large, knee boots are hard for me. Big calves.

[kwassa]

6. I getted treated as important when I wear a suit.

Makes no sense, but that is the way it is. If I wear flannel shirts and jeans, I must be the local construction guy.

Clothing is just different types of costumes where we try on. It is a type of vocabulary, with a number of uniforms that say different things about us. People make assumptions about you because of it, many of them wrong, but it is the way of the world.

and what does a men's dress shirt have to do with electrical work? Just curious.

[GirlinContempt]

9. Nothing

It's just a sort of dressed down outfit, thats all. I rarely wear a tshirt on its own cause it looks sloppy.

[Left Is Write]

22. My mother...

showed up at a car dealership in 1989 looking for a new car. She had never had a new car of her very own - only our family vehicles.

She was a slightly overweight middle-aged lady dressed in jeans, sneakers, and a sweatshirt. She couldn't get anyone to help her. She was ignored, and when she asked directly for help, she was referred to someone else.

In exasperation, she left. She went to another dealership and bought a car there.

Too bad the first dealership didn't know about the ten thousand dollars in her pocket.

[suzbaby]

24. My mother had a similar experience

She went to buy a car at a dealership, and the fundie running the place wouldn't sell to her because my father wasn't there. He ACTUALLY told her to "come on back when you have your husband with you."

He wouldn't sell to a woman. :mad:

On Edit: I guess that really has nothing to do with the way you dress. But your mother's car dealership experience just reminded me of my mother's experience.

[sendero]

40. That's pathetic...

.... any decent salesman ought to know better. What people are wearing has nothing to do with their financial status IMHO, it has to do with their priorities.

I've seen plenty of folks dressed to the nines with a 500 credit rating.

Sometimes people wear clothes just to throw you off, in either direction :)

[RevCheesehead]

7. My clothes say "at least she's not nekkid."

[GirlinContempt]

10. Darn

and here I was hoping :P

:)

[ForrestGump]

8. Look at me! I'm not naked! Ask me anything! Actually,

I'm not one who ever cared at all what people thought of me, let alone my dress. I'm not and never have been an in-your-face rebel, but I wear what I want to wear. And if my choices are hopelessly out-of-date it's not like I care -- most 'fashion' is ugly to me, anyway (in the '80s I scorned the pegged-leg pants and trendy New Wave threads in favor of basic denim and leather), and when my sartorial choices coincide with one of those regular rotations back around to things once out of style becoming all the rage, I'l still wear the same stuff and not ditch it because it's newly trendy. My clothing choices are just mine, not set by someone else, whether born of preference or practicality -- some years ago the cargo pants that I had been wearing for their utility, especially in my line of work, became trendy and the main accommodation I made was in selecting replacement pairs of pants because the clothing racks in stores were suddenly filled with cargo pants that had the style but no substance.

Nowadays, with my current pick of primary occupation, I dress more carefully than ever before, and primp and preen an approriate amount -- but there's no question that my wardrobe for that enterprise is different...yeah, baby. Certainly different. And when I'm not in such outfits, I sometimes (for me, it's a big step) try to dress a little more nicely just 'cos the nature of my occupation and the look I've cultivated so that I can do it means that I am always somewhat on display when in public. But, at heart, it's still ultra-casual clothes for me. The other night I walked a long way through Vegas dressed in sneakers, black jeans, a studded belt, "Mass Murderer" GW Bush T-shirt, jacket (freezing here), and a Soviet Navy ushanka (fake-fur hat). There are far more eclectic dressers out there, but I'm going to dress as I please for the rest of my life...if I'm the only 90-year-old wearing a studded leather jacket, concho belt, and leather jackaroo hat, so be it. :-)

[RevCheesehead]

11. Hey, baby....

Let's not get naked together. ;)

[ForrestGump]

13. ...she says, as with one practised hand I almost imperceptibly

place a Soviet Navy hat on her head....

:-)

Oh, baby, dress me...dress me! Put it on! Put it on! More! More!

:hug:

[RevCheesehead]

19. God, this is fun!!

Let me snuggle you in this cashmere sweater... oh, yeah!

It fits so good! Let me adjust that a bit for you.

:hug:

[ForrestGump]

26. Ohhh..I don't know how much more of this I can take!

This stuff's gettin' hot 'n' heavy, baby!

[Ally McLesbian]

14. When in doubt, overdress

My nickname gives away the clue as to how I dress on dressy nights and weekends. Miniskirt suit, yes, but suit nevertheless.

For a more formal, conservative setting, a pantsuit will do.

For me, clothes say a lot about my tastes, feelings, and pocketbook status. (Yes, I am a capitalist pig. Live with it. :) ) Having grown up poor, wearing beat up apparel of the "wrong" brand all the time (and having everyone laugh at me in high school as a result), I have to dress very well.

It also matters that as a transgender woman, I never looked attractive or decent as a male, so my female presentation has to be much better. That's one reason for my preoccupation with being overdressed. I'd rather be a suit in a sea of tees and jeans, than a Chinese food delivery boy in a sea of cocktail dresses and tuxedos. (No offense intended for actual hardworking Chinese food deliverymen though.)

[MissMillie]

15. Right now my clothes are saying

"This person is recovering from abdominal surgery."

Actually, the way I'm walking screams the same thing.

[ET Awful]

16. They say "Hey, I'm not naked"

:P

[tjwmason]

17. It depends on a number of factors.

I could never hear a description of an outfit and say what I think about it - clothes form a duo with a person in providing a first impression.

I don't think that there's anything wrong with making first-impressions - as long as one is willing to reexamine them constantly as one gets to know more about a person.

[SOteric]

18. Regardless of style choices, I think clothes say:

"Hi there. I'm not naked."

[ForrestGump]

25. You're not?

:-(

'cos I'm imagining that you are. :D

[Left Is Write]

20. Younger people ARE in charge of me.

Put together their ages don't even add up to mine! They are 18, almost 6 and almost 4. :D

In all seriousness, people's clothing choices can reveal something of their personalities - a little or a lot, depending on the person.

All I know is, I won't wear "mom" jeans.

[Kali]

30. forgive me - what are mom jeans?

elastic waist?

[Left Is Write]

31. High waist, tapered legs, often pleated.

The kind of jeans that make a short-waisted person like me look ridiculous.

[tjdee]

34. What's *with* those jeans? They're scary!!

:scared:

[Kali]

37. eeewwww

I wear mens jeans - used to be a loyal Levi wearer but they suck so bad. I found a place (small town store - Alcoa) where I can get new Dickies jeans for TEN bucks.

Womens jeans (and clothing in general): cost too much, made too crappy.

[Jamastiene]

47. Bravo.

Someone besides me feels the same way about women's clothes. I can't stand them. Also, they dn't fit like they are supposed to. How many women do you know who actually can find clothes that fit right? I don't know many. That's for sure.

[tigereye]

44. right with you there, Left

[Chovexani]

23. I dress like a freak, and I don't give a shit.

Honestly. I've always been weird and prone to do my own thing, and usually look over the top (I have been a goth for 10 years). Ren/Victorian wear, or like a freaky doll. If the weather doesn't cooperate or I'm too lazy, I usually wear a snarky t-shirt and funky looking pants (zippers and hooks and stuff). "Normal" clothes make me feel so...trapped. I mean, I dress professionally for work, interviews, etc. And it feels like I'm in costume, it's just not "me".

Personally, I don't give a shit. I feel that people who would judge me harshly based on something as superficial as my appearance aren't worth my time anyway. :shrug:

[skygazer]

27. I think clothes reflect something of one's personality

Mostly whether they're concerned about what others think of them. I have a rather eclectic and bohemian style and I frankly don't care what anyone thinks of it. My work speaks for itself and I have no interest in being friends with people who are so concerned with being trendy or in style that they can't appreciate someone who has their own style. That said, many people who dress conservatively or with the prevailing style do so because that IS their own style. So though I notice what people wear, I do try not to give it too much weight and instead try to find the person inside.

I also have no problem with a younger person being in charge - I've reached an age where that is going to be more and more the norm and it's not an issue. I was in a position of responsibility when I was 17 - I was able to handle it; there's no reason to think other young people cannot.

[redqueen]

28. Nope.

I've worked with engineers.

[WCGreen]

29. I'll tell you what....

The last consulting job I took was a fairly long term gig... I would be there for at least a year and maybe more...

At the time, I had hair down my back, a beard and I dressed casually...

Now, I was to be in charge of a rather large part of the company...

If I had to do it over, I would have cut my hair and worn at least a shirt and tie...

I was never respected because of the concept people have about accountants...

It really effected the way the whole thing turned out which was not good...

So, for me at least, I try to look professional when I am dealing with clients and or other business folks...

But I will dress the way I want when it is my own time...

[riderinthestorm]

32. They don't say shit

I am convinced of that. I used to work as a market maker in Chicago on one of the major exchanges before my present incarnation so I know whereof I speak....

My husband and I are farmers and our work clothes are shabbier than anything anyone else would wear. But they are top-of-the-line gear, just well-worn.

Our clothes don't articulate anything about our personalities other than we work outdoors, a lot.

They don't indicate our financial status. They don't indicate (in some weather) weather we are male or female, or even whether we are old or young.

It's so entirely refreshing to be known only as the owner of this farm in the community, to be respected for that, and the clothes are nothing. My employees know who I am, the local restaurant owners know who I am... and if they don't, even better for me. I love the jokes-on-them attitude when I call for the check when we all go out.....

People know and respect me for who I am, what I do, what services I provide, and the quality of my work. My clothes mean shit.

In fact, my lounge-about-the-house clothes are probably in better shape and even better quality than my daily work gear.....

[I Have A Dream]

33. I don't have a problem with younger people being in charge of me.

However, when I was a manager in my 20s, I had a woman, who I hired, in her 60s who said that she really had a problem with me because of my age. I asked her if it had anything to do with the quality of my work or my capabilities, and she said that she had absolutely no problem with either of these things; her only issue was my age. I asked her if she would have liked it if I had taken her age into account (which would have been illegal) when I was hiring to fill the position which I gave to her. She really had no answer to this. I know that I would have had a much more difficult time with her if I had dressed in a way that she considered inappropriate or immature.

It depends upon the business, but sometimes I do judge people based upon their appearance in business situations. It's usually when I'm paying extra for something. If I'm paying for a premium service, I feel better when the person with whom I'm interacting is tastefully dressed. I should state though that I tend to be drawn to classic styles more than faddish clothing myself.

[Skittles]

35. my clothes tell people I am not a slave to fashion

and I am very comfortable :)

[tjdee]

36. Mine say I have better things to think about.

I don't care about clothes at all, and I would wear the same thing every day if I could. I don't shop for myself very often, and I guess it shows. I wear pretty much the same thing week to week. Plus, I don't feel like spending the money on clothes. I'd rather eat out or rent a movie.

I don't know what that says to people. I'm sure it's not good, but I'm smart and I'm a good person. :shrug:

Interestingly, I wouldn't like it if my kid did that.

[mopinko]

38. mine say- white trash

but then, i am a mom. nobody gives a shit.

[Cats Against Frist]

39. I think that clothes don't say anything

Most people think they're dressing originally, when everybody actually dresses the same. I don't care about anyone's clothes, until I see someone wearing an orange vinyl zoot suit with cuneiform written on it. Other than that -- who cares? I think it's like herding cattle. I don't care what I wear, usually, unless I make it, myself, and I'm proud of it. I normally wear long black dresses, and boots, and long johns. Hair in a bun. Knit hat. I've too many other things to worry about. If someone doesn't like me, they can fuck off. And the last thing that I'm going to do is think that someone is an authoritarian because of their clothing. I imagine everyone like pink little rats, under their copycat clothes.

(yikes)

[ForrestGump]

41. Right now, tonight, they say I'm Tom Jones

Really. Black pants, black Italian boots (the zippered, Elvis kind), black vest with silver-rimmed buttons, white shirt with a collar that won't lay like it's s'posed to when I wear the vest and spreads out almost like a '70s shirt. Oh, yeah...it's not unusual, at all.

Vegas, baby. :-)


Why, why, whyyyyyyyyy
Am I so sexy
Ay-yi-yiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
I'm so sexy

Oh, I could see
That these pants look real good on me
Forgive me, Ms Contempt
I just couldn't fake modesty no more.....

[Xipe Totec]

42. Mine say "let the fashion industry starve"

I have T-shirts older than my teenage sons, and jeans that look like the pre-torn stuff ragged stuff they sell these days.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

43. mens dress shirt?/younger?

how exactly do you think a mens dress shirt over an atari shirt makes a girl look like she's "dressing younger."

i guess i just don't get it, but to me - a woman wearing a mens dress shirt doesn't qualify as "dressing younger". Well, maybe in certain situations;) But not at work. BTW I'm a 28yr old male.

[Jamastiene]

45. IMHO, abosolutely nothing.

A person can have the most class in the world, but not be able to afford the latest expensive clothing. A person can have the worst demeanor and/or personality and be wearing Gucci (or whatever the hell kids wear nowadays that's cool.)

I see it like this. Whatever a person is wearing means nothing. Me, I'm a tee shirt and jeans and sneakers kind of person. I'd wear nothing (else) if I had my say-so. :evilgrin:

It really doesn't matter. It's all in how you carry yourself. Just remember this, a nudist can outsmart a carjacker if they carry themselves right. The carjacker will be so busy trying to figure out why the person they were going to steal from is naked. Meanwhile, the nudist gets away without any harm. Did the clothes or lack therof really matter in that case? Yes and no. Yes, because the lack of clothes helped the person escape. No, because technically being naked means clothes didn't matter at all. Now, another nudist may still get carjacked, but only if they panic and let the carjacker get the best of them.

If I am not making any sense whatsoever to you, please feel free to disregard my weird take on things. I do tend to think so far outside the box that I confuse even the smartest of people. Otherwise, I hope this was helpful. I tried to answer to the best of my ability. :shrug:

[tigereye]

46. well, I've always dressed in a pretty arty/boho fashion

other than in one job where I had to go to court quite a bit. ( even then I stil remember wearing a suit I bought at the Goodwill!) I think some jobs require one to conform in a conservative way, but I have typically worked in non-profit settings where as long as you are dressed "professionally", with no ripped pants and shirts, etc., it's not a big deal. I have to dress up in nice skirts or pants suits when I present a report or meet clients in in my office, but I really dislike "conservative" clothes as a rule. For instance, one pants suit I loved was a very loud raspberry colored rayon one and it's good to express your style. I guess I think we all don't need to look the same.

Also, I think that today's offices, at least the high tech ones, don't really require that pin-striped, bland corporate look, and I think that is a very good thing. As far as older employees and their younger bosses go, I think that as long as you are respectful and decent as a boss, it makes little difference.

[Rabrrrrrr]

48. They let me know whether the person respects me, or his/her job,

or the people around them.

If dressed inappropriately, that tells me they have no respect and/or are just clueless.

If dressed appropriately, or better than appropriately, it lets me know that they care, or at least care enough to look like they care.

And in a business situation, absolutely I judge based on clothing. If my car mechanic has a clean polo shirt and spotless khakis in the garage, I know he's a fucking liar.

If my salesperson has his pants hanging around his knees, one of those fucking bandanas, and can't be bothered to take the gum out of his mouth when he talks to me, then I know he's a worthless piece of shit who isn't worth my time.

If a mechanic wore his dirty shitty work uniform to his funeral, then that's not right.

Clothes that are perfectly fine in one situation may very well not be at all fine in another.

It's all about what's apporpriate for the situation.

[madrchsod]

49. the image that person wants to

portray to the people in certain situations or dress appropriately..jesus i sound like my grandmother. i do judge a person in a business situation-some times positively and sometimes negatively depending on the situation..example-
wearing a red energy dome to a business meeting would be inappropriate unless it was a meeting on repercussions of devolution in the work place..

[Maine Mary]

50. Great subject!

ironically I was bitching about this earlier.

I was telling a friend about how I, as a Maine State Rep. was heading to Augusta dressed in business attire, with an expensive overcoat, decent hair, and "Maine State Rep" plates on my car when I stopped at a gas station. I had trouble with the pump. I got no more then a few feet away when the onwer of the place came out, apologized profusely and charged me 5 bucks for 10 worth of gas.

....there is a point to this.....


I was also working at an Animal Shelter part time. TWO days later I stopped at the same place. Had the same problem with the same pump. Only this time I had old jeans, a tee shirt and my hubby's old pickup. I tried and tried but couldn't get it. So I went inside to ask for help. In front of several people that SAME GUY yelled "Can't you read girl?... The sign says 'self serve'!!!!

I rest my case :grr:

[khashka]

51. I don't know

I do judge people in a business situation on their appearance - but only to the extent of do they look clean and seem to be professional in their attire.


Mostly I dress for comfort. Baggy shorts, T-shirts, jean jacket, hair pulled back in a ponytail. The only time I really "dress" is to make a point or get noticed. Usually, either all in black (black suit, black shirt, black tie) or punk/British schoolboy (grey shorts, black blazer, ripped up T-shirt, old school tie, bondage gear).

I don't normally notice other people's clothing unless it stands out in some way. But most people do.

Khash.

[Pale Blue Dot]

52. Preppy geek?

:shrug: