Sanders, Jordan

JEM 200

Statement of Fashion

Do the Clothes I Wear Make Me?

Is it really true that the clothes we wear make a statement? In an age of self-consciousness this statement has nearly become a cliché. Why is it that our physical appearance makes us who we are? There are messages that are made with the clothes, perfumes, cosmetics and other material things that we surround ourselves with. It has been said that clothing is virtually a visual language, with its own distinctive grammar, syntax, and vocabulary. It seems that these predisposed thoughts make a clear reference of whom we are or who we wish to be taken as.

What makes clothes a "fashion statement"? According to country artist stylist, Joann Davis, "how you present yourself says a lot about who you are as a person". "It is very important to portray yourself as best as you can when you go out." It seems that not everyone has the same opinion. "It is ridiculous that the clothes you wear say something about who you are as a person" said sophomore student, Patty Schneider. "many people think the clothes they wear represent their individual selves and who they are. I say they could not be more wrong, as they did not design the clothes themselves. Schneider closes by stating, "They are products of everything they had ever been exposed to, therefore they are not individual, and clothes cannot possibly express their personality as obviously they were conceived by someone else, and no one really has an original personality!"

It is apparent that in the last few decades being judged on what you look like is becoming more prevalent. As Oscar Wilde once said, "It is only shallow people who do not judge by appearances. The true mystery of the world is the visible, not the invisible." This statement alone takes away any truth in the prone thoughts of "not judging a book by its cover". This is easier said than done. In our society today it seems impossible to avoid judgment of the way you present yourself. This can be easily be blamed by the amount of reality television shows that are available to everyone. Young boys and girls that are growing up watching these shows are only going to be trained to believe what they see. How can you not believe that you must have the most expensive clothes and material things to fit in when watching VH1's "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous"? This provides more reason for youngsters to believe this is the only way to be accepted.

As an adult, society makes your belief of this even stronger. Many people in the business world have fallen victim to how important physical appearance is. Let's say for instance there are two people walking into a law firm to get a job. Both of them are equally qualified for the job and have graduated top of their class. The only difference between the two is the way they look. One of them is better looking and wearing nicer clothes than the other. Most likely, the person with the better looks and more expensive clothes would get the job. This is a result of the way our society has made people believe. In a perfect world there would be no judgment passed, however this is reality.