Influences on
Clothing
Fashion & Interior Design
Mrs. Wagner
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Some people use clothing as a tool for relating
to others. To them, clothing is a kind of short-cut
that reveals facts about a person. As a result,
they base the way they treat someone on what
that person is wearing. Others think that clothes
can be misleading. They believe that looking
only at what someone is wearing can lead to
wrong conclusions about the person. They
consciously avoid letting clothes influence the
way they treat others.
What do you think?
What do you think clothing reveals about a
person? Should clothing guide the way people
treat others?
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What Clothing
Reveals
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Treatment of Others
Choosing what to Wear/Reasons
for Clothing
•
1. Protection
- Climate, Weather
- Safety
- Ex.
- Sanitation
- Ex.
2. Modesty – What people feel is the
proper way for clothing to cover the body
 Different groups – different standards –
ethics or customs that are regarded as
acceptable
 Ex.

3. Identification – Groups
 Uniforms
- Ex.
• Insignias – badges or emblems that show
membership in a group
- Ex.
• Style and Color
- Ex.
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4. Decoration – enhance appearance
- Adornment – clothes, jewelry, cosmetics,
piercings
- Self-Adornment
- Native Americans – painted faces, war
parties, hunting, etc.
- Japan – 1660-1700 – tattooing over entire
body – sign of wealth
- Hindu Religion – red mark on forehead –
tilaka – person has performed daily prayer
ceremon
Influences on Clothing Choices

1. Peer Groups – people who have a
similar background, social status and age
- strong need to fit in – sense of belonging
- peer pressure – pressure to dress a
certain way – positive or negative
- criticism to those who don’t conform
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2. Media
- Advertising – Sell products
- Image Ads – appeal to emotions – create
special wants and desires
- Information Ads – tell you about new products,
stores, etc. – give you factual information
Celebrities
Status Symbols – gives wearer a special feeling
of importance or wealth
3. Personal Attributes
- Personality – combination of all your
unique qualities
- Values
* 4. Parents - Conflicts
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Society
A group of individuals who live together in
a particular area.
 The United States is a society
 Similarities in dress
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5 Major Trends that Influence the
Choices People make in the US
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•
1. More casual living
- Travel
- Restaurants
- Business Casual
2. Rapid Communication
- Technology changes
- Fashion news travels rapidly – Internet, TV
- Teens in Japan & US – wear same clothes
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•
3. Multiple Shopping Options
- Mega Malls – 400+ stores
- Outlet Malls – Labels
- Internet
4. Consumer Power
- Designers now design colors & fabrics
rather than radical new styles
- Consumers dictate what is fashionable =
what is sold – supply & demand
- Less loyalty to stores/name brands
- Bargains
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5. Global Marketplace
- garments made from supplies from
various countries
- More fashion capitals