The Language of Fashion

The Language of Fashion

By: Hailey Layne

For the mother of three children who spends most of her time answering questions sparked by childhood curiosity, the day-to-day outfit looks different than the manager of a real estate empire who hears exclusively about the legal constraints of his actions. The principle of functionality demands to be addressed within this comparison, but what about the value of the words each of these individuals speaks? How can what we wear to connect to the words that we use and the jargon that surrounds us? Language allows us to communicate and fill our world with ideas. These ideas influence how we perceive the world and ourselves. To express who we are to the world, we use both our appearance and language.

The outfits we wear and present to the world are shaped by who we think we are and how we want to be perceived. The psychology of our clothing is something professionals have been studying for decades. Based on the associations we have with certain colors, we are more likely to characterize an individual's personality based on what color they wear. The choice between a lavender shirt and a crimson shirt might be the reason people perceive you as more free-thinking or confident. In the same way, an outfit’s silhouette can draw inferences about what one does for a living. The psychology that is less understood yet rich with meaning is how individuals choose their clothing. 

The people we surround ourselves with determine the language we hear. Whether that be scornful, uplifting, or entitled, language determines our moods and our feelings. Our friends, family, and coworkers determine our exposure to different information and trends. Seeing how our coworkers dress for the office can save one the embarrassment of showing up under or over-dressed. 

Complex legal language is almost synonymous with sharply-dressed lawyers, whereas storytime and kindergarteners bring a different uniform to mind. The styles of dress relating to one’s profession originate in communication between one another in the workplace. However, it extends far beyond the workplace and into friend groups. Shared information often leads to the group nearly matching when it comes to attire. Before grumbling about having to change, remember that it is the precious exchange of conversation that caused your best friend to mimic your style. Although the workplace and social settings determine much of our style, our entire culture pairs language and attire together to create symbols. 

Rosie the Riveter, an image that most Americans are familiar with, is represented as an American woman who worked in factories and shipyards during World War II. The words Rosie said in the promotional artwork registered as “We Can Do It,” and so did her attire. Sporting a red bandana with white polka dots and a blue denim jumpsuit, Rosie managed to look like a feminine version of the American flag. The denim jumpsuit was distinctly utilitarian and showed that she was a laborer. The words of the nation at that time clothed Rosie and shaped what we perceived her as. Without the attire, she would still have the steely expression, but through her wardrobe, she was able to express a larger message. We express messages similar to this every single day but are constantly pulled between the language of what we hear from others and what we believe ourselves to be. 

With all the noise of daily life, it can be difficult to filter out messages that are unnecessary or cruel, especially when most social media platforms have comment sections filled with opinions about one’s appearance. What we want to wear is suddenly influenced by the masses at an almost instantaneous pace. What happens to our wardrobe and our psyche when our own voice is drowned out by everyone else’s opinions? We become boring and drab. When we shrink our dreams and aspirations to fit with what others see us as, our outward appearance bends to the words spoken over us. What would happen if we dressed how we wanted to and let our voices be heard? A world filled with comfy pants, glitter, and funky colors is a world filled with personality. Each day would be infected with the joy of a child whose parents let them choose their own outfit for the day. We could all be superheroes, runway models, and princesses. Through something as trivial as our outfit choices, we can share signals with those around us that will spark conversations and bring us together. Although knowing one’s style is important, clothing is temporary. Being a person who speaks with compassion to one’s self and others never goes out of style. If the true runaway is the channel of communication, may every look be a stunner. 

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Photos by Elena Ossoski.