Forums > Social Chat > Do clothes indeed make the man?

Login/Join to Participate
Page:
Sir Nuggit....is a liability
899 posts
Location: playing with traffic


Posted:

I wander, can you tell a lot about a person by the way they are dressed?

I have been through a lot of image changes in my time (probably shows that I'm indecisive in life ubbloco ) but I think I can successfully adapt in to almost any image and pull it off confidently.

Some days I go out skater boy, rock kid, smart casch, trendy and cyber but none of them actually say what kind of person I am. (not that I KNOW what kind of guy I am) but for example, I've met some really intellegent people who look like the stereotyple chav, some flakey people who appear to be sincere and some really dodgy people who look respectable.

I guess the moral of the story is, you can't judge a book by it's cover?

Pull my pin out, roll me in to a room and see what happens ubbloco


mycoBRONZE Member
Pooh-Bah
2,084 posts
Location: melbourne, victoria, australia


Posted:
hmmm, it's an interesting one, i guess almost everyone judges to some degree on appearances, it's one of the first things we're presented with often, so initially its all we have to form an understanding of them as a person. i think i tend to look at how much a person is willing to go against convention with their appearance. i think i jump to the conclusion that if a person is willing to stand out and not really care about fitting in, maybe they have some interesting thoughts that i want in on.

Because a lot of people use their appearance to identify themselves and which group of people they 'belong', and tend to act in a way congruent with that group, others are more likely to assume all people dressed in that way will act the same.

but yeah, of course, not all people are necessarily gonna act a certain way, just because they happen to be dressed in a particular way.

i can't quite tell whether that all makes sense or not, i think it's past my bedtime.

vanizeSILVER Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,899 posts
Location: Austin, Texas, USA


Posted:
well - I know that here in berlin there is this really popular woman's fashion to wear these really pointy toed white high heels that are increadibly ugly, and then have a big white leather purse to go with it, and maybe a white or pink jacket and designer blue jeans.



I would never talk to a woman in a get up like that. it looks horrible and comes off as increadibly snotty.



call me shallow, but i'm not interested in any woman dressed like that!

-v-

Wiederstand ist Zwecklos!


Sir Nuggit....is a liability
899 posts
Location: playing with traffic


Posted:
But do you think you need to visually stand out to really "stand out?" I'd say I was of average looks, personality and styled but I like to think that I have some really brilliant ideas and dreams (not the idle gags that I put on HoP lol) but I'm nothing 'special'. (Well, perhaps to some people I have/haven't met yet etc)

Pull my pin out, roll me in to a room and see what happens ubbloco


Sir Nuggit....is a liability
899 posts
Location: playing with traffic


Posted:
I AM one of those women ( ubbloco )



Just kidding - although I try to adapt in to most stlyes depending on my mood (even dressed up as a bird to cheer some friends of mine up one afternoon)

Pull my pin out, roll me in to a room and see what happens ubbloco


MikeGinnyGOLD Member
HOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA


Posted:
I think that what people wear does say something. YES, you can judge a book by its cover. After all, what you choose to wear is a statement to the world...not about you per se, but about how you want to be seen.

Do you want people to think you're wealthy? Fashionable? A raver? A punk? A goth? An observant Muslim woman? People tend to dress to project an image of how they want to be seen. It doesn't necessarily tell you anything about the person under the outfit, but it does at least tell you how that person wants to be percieved, and that does give you information about that person.

Just to give an example: A patient walks in. She's wearing a head scarf and is covered to her wrists and ankles. I will not offer her my hand, rather I'll introduce myself and place my chest to my chest. If she extends her hand, I'll take it. However, to thrust my hand at a Muslim woman is considered impolite as they may have taboos about physical contact between sexes in social settings (and the setting doesn't switch from 'social' to 'medical' until she's disrobed and on the table). But if she extends her hand, I'll instantly take it and she won't notice any hesitation.

On the other hand, if a woman dressed in a Western business suit walks in, I'll offer my hand.

It's because the first lady is dressed to say 'I am an observant Muslim and I want you to know that' and the second lady is dressed to say 'I want to express an identity with Western culture.'

'Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.' -Mark Twain

-Mike

Certified Mad Doctor and HoP High Priest of Nutella



A buckuht n a hooze! -Valura


mycoBRONZE Member
Pooh-Bah
2,084 posts
Location: melbourne, victoria, australia


Posted:
well said lightning

Dressed in BlackBRONZE Member
A Fire Inside
191 posts
Location: portsmouth and sometimes oxford, United Kingdom


Posted:
i agree you can tell a little about a person from what they wear but sometimes its really misleading! my mate has a burberry hat, looks like a chav, sounds like a chav, pretty much IS a chav but really he's not!! does this mean some of the goths out there are really pikeys undercover?!

::: I LiKe pLeAsUrE sPiKeD wItH pAiN - MuSiC iS mY aErOpLaNe :::


SniperBRONZE Member
Snoochie-boochie-noochies!
663 posts
Location: United Kingdom


Posted:
i usually dress cyber when i'm out. bright colours help distract people from the genetic typo that is my face

Bubbles_SILVER Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,384 posts
Location: mancunian, United Kingdom


Posted:
*just to add my little bit*
like dressed in black said, i went to a well known rock club where you would only find 'alternative' people and spotted a guy on the dance floor, if you saw him you would have imediatly thought that he was a chav or scally, but he wasnt... he wore the image of a chav, but was dancing and singing along to heavy metal...
i do agree that image is a big thing in our society, we create scemas at a very young age of who should be like what, but it isnt always true.
i agree with what lightening said before, but also in a more diverse society its not easy to just know who someone is by what they look like...

Disclaimer:im not responsible for what i say or do whether it be before,during and after drinking alcoholic substances (owned by BMVC).
Creater of Jenisms(TM)
Virginity like bubble,one prick all gone.


Dressed in BlackBRONZE Member
A Fire Inside
191 posts
Location: portsmouth and sometimes oxford, United Kingdom


Posted:
if u want a geek's opinion, its called a perceptive set or schema.

yeah i love psychology so what!!! heheheh

::: I LiKe pLeAsUrE sPiKeD wItH pAiN - MuSiC iS mY aErOpLaNe :::


polytheneveteran
1,359 posts
Location: London/ Surrey


Posted:
I have to say a lot of clothes are in my wardrobe now on the basis that they made me laugh when I saw them. I'll dress for an occasion, but other than that I'll pick something because it's comfy and I like the colour. *shrugs*

The optimist claims that we are living in the best of all possible worlds.
The pessimist fears this is true.

Always make time to play in the snow.


linden rathenGOLD Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
6,942 posts
Location: London, UK


Posted:
i think this is a subject with a lot of grey area in it - while you can often guess what a person may be like from what they wear its easy to be wrong but not only that you often impose those characteristics on the person anyway

chavs often drive around with loud music blaring - but how many other groups do as well? i know i love to.

its also a matter of where you are - i know certain parts of where i live are full of chavs and a lot of people dress like them just to avoid being noticed and singled out.

also a lot of people go by what they like and whats comfy :P i know i do - i wear a mis mash of rock, punk, metrosexual and casual

back


ImmortalAngelSILVER Member
Scientist!
578 posts
Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada


Posted:
I was talking with my girlfriend and her father about this a few days ago :P
Her uncle owned a resturant (sold it off to go make another one, which is now in the works being backed by a millionaire), and a good friend of his would come in all the time and order expensive food and wine, eat and then leave with out even getting a bill. The kicker was that it was a 4 star very upscale resturant and this man came in looking like a bum. The best part is that he was really a VERY VERY wealthy man (the millionaire mentioned who is now backing his next resturant), and that he'd pay the entire tab with a very kind tip for all the peolpe who served him at the end of each month. He got many stares and rude remarks and people thought it out ragous that he'd skip out on the bill :P
Some people just jump to conclusions :P

Personally, I just wear the first thing I find in the morning, and it works for me. My wardrobe took me a long time to assemble (if you can call it that), and now things just happen to match no matter what i wear...not match in the traditional sense, but it's my own personal style that I've come to be known by smile
I like comfortable, even at the cost of style.

Educate your self in the Hazards of Fire Breathing <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> STAY SAFE! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug.gif" alt="" />


linden rathenGOLD Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
6,942 posts
Location: London, UK


Posted:
presonally i go for what i like, it tends to be comfy anyway (ie shirts t-shirts n jeans) then i think bout what others will think

back


Boo_BunnyBRONZE Member
Sparkely arty Mormon rainbow fairy
933 posts
Location: infront of you, United Kingdom


Posted:
I work in a supermarket, and as a game i like to watch what the customers buy, what they wear and how they talk, and make up little stories about them.
Like if there wearing Burberry caps, thick gold hoop earrings from Argos and buy store brand tins and super noodles, i can give them names like Dave and Sally( Sally Scaly ubblol ), they probably live in one of the local estates, of money from the council, They listen to The Streets, spend most of there time out side of the drive-thru Macdonald (MackyDs, to them) etc..

'Whats your point?' i hear you cry.
I spend an average of 4 minuets with a coustomer, and i get all that info and more just by watching them for 4 minutes, and I'm probably right on a couple of things.
You scream who you are and what your like to the rest of the world, 24/7, loud and clear. what you wear is all about your choices. You dont wear clothes you hate.

Clothes maketh the man, but the man maketh the clothes.

Thats my opinion anyway....

Property of Fine_Rabid_Dog


PeleBRONZE Member
the henna lady
6,193 posts
Location: WNY, USA


Posted:
Nope. I don't think you can, but I do think people will try to judge.

I dress depending on what I am doing and on my mood.

Somedays I look like a soccer mom.
Somedays like I just walked out of spending a year in the mountains.
Somedays like a heay metal fan.
Somedays like a Britney Spears fan.
Somedays like a straight up business dealer.

And these are actually all reflections of small parts of my personality but what could you tell from that? I may *look* one way, but be completely another.

So yes, people can and will judge, but no, I do not believe you can actually tell any truth from how the person is dressed.

*shrug* mho
Pele

Pele
Higher, higher burning fire...making music like a choir
"Oooh look! A pub!" -exclaimed after recovering from a stupid fall
"And for the decadence of art, nothing beats a roaring fire." -TMK


heyahoneyBRONZE Member
Redneck Woman
566 posts
Location: Texas, Yeeeeehaaaaaw, USA


Posted:
all I know is that no one better judge me for how i look right now cause i cant fit into any of my clothes and i dont have the money to go and buy maternity clothes right now. So I look like a bum most day cause I wear Marshall's clothes and he is a whole lot bigger than me! frown mad2

Top Three Things I've Learn While Being A Mom
1. Baby poop comes in many colors.
2. Makes sure all dirty diapers are not accessable to my dog.
3. Burp rags are not big enough.


Sir Nuggit....is a liability
899 posts
Location: playing with traffic


Posted:
All really good points I feel.

ImmortalAngel: Point taken, look at Sir Bob Geldoff - the man's always looks like he's just got dressed in the dark by his mum (and he does a lot of "charity" work too)

And I was sat at Reading train station once and this guy in a pinstripe suit was going around asking people for money - not sure if this was a con or genuine but I saw more people giving him some spare cash than the regular homeless guys. Also probably had something to do with the delivery of said beg.

Pull my pin out, roll me in to a room and see what happens ubbloco


mycoBRONZE Member
Pooh-Bah
2,084 posts
Location: melbourne, victoria, australia


Posted:
i remember talking to a guy years ago who was wearing a nice suit, clean shaven, generally a neat looking person. he was along term homeless and unemployed guy, but he said he got a lot more respect by dressing well, he said he went to friends places to wash and iron his clothes, and to shave etc.

Sir Nuggit....is a liability
899 posts
Location: playing with traffic


Posted:
He doesn't live in Reading by any chance does he? lol

Pull my pin out, roll me in to a room and see what happens ubbloco


Mr MajestikSILVER Member
coming to a country near you
4,696 posts
Location: home of the tiney toothy bear, Australia


Posted:
its not psychology that this is concerned with more on the sociology side, although i think the two should be made one. going with what is called the labelling theory people will first be labelled something, such as a boagan(i think thats the aussie equivalant of a chav) and then they will act that way because people expect them to. this leads into why people will dress a certain way, and act like that sterotype, or why you dress differently for different moods, like wearing bright clothes when you are happy or dark clothes if you're sad.

the story of the rich man dressing poor is exactly why people shouldn't judge, although when you think about it is it better to judge and occasionally get it wrong, or not judge at all and talk to a bunch of unfriendly skinheads(notice my judgement that all skinheads are unfriendly, which i know is wrong). you shouldn't judge because negitive judgements can provoke problems where there wasn't any(like the flack i might cop from skinheads pming me ubbloco ) unfortunatly it is a condition of western society to judge people, so you cant really help doing what you are taught.

"but have you considered there is more to life than your eyelids?"

jointly owned by Fire_Spinning_Angel and Blu_Valley


Rouge DragonBRONZE Member
Insert Champagne Here
13,215 posts
Location: without class distinction, Australia


Posted:
people judge me by my clothes. that's why i'm the local "hippy". which is a joke, really. cos if they saw a "real hippy" they'd probably die of shock.



ok, i have just been told my my friend's mum reading over my shoulder that there is a local hippy. obviously my friend have never met him though.
EDITED_BY: Rouge Dragon (1118093811)

i would have changed ***** to phallus, and claire to petey Petey

Rougie: but that's what I'm doing here
Arnwyn: what letting me adjust myself in your room?..don't you dare quote that on HoP...


Sir Nuggit....is a liability
899 posts
Location: playing with traffic


Posted:


Apparently I dress like a "townie" scumbag confused

Pull my pin out, roll me in to a room and see what happens ubbloco


ShuBRONZE Member
Retro Fyre Wizzard
538 posts
Location: Pietermaritzburg (KZN), South Africa


Posted:
I ask myself these questions (in the back of my mind), and they can be applied elsewhere, not only with clothing.... It's always worked for me... ever since i was in school!

* Does this make me feel alive?
* Is it flattering?
* Is it timeless?
* Is it 'Fun'? - fun can be interpreted in many ways! A suit can be fun!

I really don't care how i 'look' as long as i feel comfortable wearing the clothes i'm wearing. And in a way they always end up making a statement!

Regards hug

Shu
(Ice-E FyreStorm - Group Manager & Performer)

You know those people your parentals warned you about?... I'M ONE OF THEM! ubbloco
Yes, i do bite!!


roarfireSILVER Member
comfortably numb
2,676 posts
Location: The countryside, Australia


Posted:
I wear anything that is comfortable...but I can see how others may perceive me.

Everyone judges on appearance whether we like to admit it or not....and I could see people would think I was a bit of a hippy.

Might I add....what the hell is the dress sense 'cyber'?

.All things are beautiful if we take the time to look.


ed209Ed: geek, staffer, past participle
122 posts
Location: London, UK


Posted:
I think you can judge a book by its cover but not by its clothes.

It's much more telling looking at someone's facial expressions, how they carry themselves, whether they smile a lot or perpertually sneer/frown, whether their head if held high or whether they look to the ground, whether they make eye contact or not, body language etc.

I honestly believe that you can have a very very good idea of someone's personality by looking at the way they look and act for a few minutes - even if people don't actively do it, they almost certainly subconsciously do; it's why first impressions count so much.

And a little disclaimer: I'm not in any way implying that a person's looks determines their personality. Things like attractiveness etc. don't feature on the list above because they don't (shouldn't) affect how people judge your character. God I've met a lot of beautiful people who've instantly seemed incredibly ugly because of a steadfast refusal to smile.

I think people can wear whatever the hell they like. Someone nice will look that way whether they're wearing metal and piercings or a sharp suit. And a censored in a shirt and tie will look the same as a censored in a Burberry cap

BumfroIts a bum with an afro...
223 posts
Location: Newcastle NSW


Posted:
Hmmm this is a tricky one.....
Personally i dont think clothes make the man, thier inability to manipulate objects in their environment would make it a formidable task indeed....

Racism is a weapon of mass destruction


ShuBRONZE Member
Retro Fyre Wizzard
538 posts
Location: Pietermaritzburg (KZN), South Africa


Posted:
you're half right ed209...

thing is, it's really easy to "fake" those atributes! It's better to look at consistency if you are the kind of person who judges people.

personally, you have my respect and a level of trust till you break it!

Regards hug

Shu
(Ice-E FyreStorm - Group Manager & Performer)

You know those people your parentals warned you about?... I'M ONE OF THEM! ubbloco
Yes, i do bite!!


squarexbearSILVER Member
....of doom!
585 posts
Location: Hastings, UK


Posted:
if i am what i wear..then i'm green.

i do think appearance gives instant clues to how people think and behave...although they can be deceiving(duh)..for instance, i wear a kefiyah because of my political beliefs, whereas a lot of people (university students) i have met wear them because they are 'cool'.

spaceySILVER Member
mischeivious pixie
291 posts
Location: Sydney, Australia


Posted:
Written by: Nuggit



Apparently I dress like a "townie" scumbag confused





ubblol

but we know your not really

hug

"I dont want no fatty bumbum, i want a lean mean shagging machine" anon

"I'm sweet and wholesome with a little bit of filth thrown in"

What would you do if you knew you could not fail?


Page:

Similar Topics

Using the keywords [clothe * indeed make man] we found the following existing topics.

  1. Forums > Do clothes indeed make the man? [36 replies]

      Show more..

HOP Newsletter

Sign up to get the latest on sales, new releases and more...