The Psychology of Fashion

The psychology of fashion is a captivating subject that delves into the intricate ways, clothing and appearance influence our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. The subject has not only touched the external but internal being also till the last end. It is no more girls domain, boys / men are actively trying new fashion codes.  Let’s first see  some basic key aspects:

1. Social Identity Theory: This theory posits that people use clothes to express social identities like age, gender, status, or personality. Clothing choices communicate who we want to be perceived as, both consciously and unconsciously.
2. Self-Expression:

Clothes allow us to convey individuality and personal style, giving a sense of autonomy and self-expression. Clothing reflecting values, beliefs, or interests enables a feeling of authenticity and connection to oneself.

• Cultural Significance:

Fashion holds significant cultural meanings shaped by historical events, media, and social norms. Understanding these influences explains why certain styles or fabrics hold emotional value for individuals or groups. Ethnic outfit is must for festivals and marriage ceremonies.

4. Impact on Body Image:

Clothing affects self-perception, with well-fitting clothes boosting self-esteem. Conversely, poorly fitting or unfashionable attire can lead to negative body image issues.

An interesting war always goes on – revealing clothes vs Non-revealing clothes, whenever we talk about fashion in context with body image. Revealing clothes, worn by men or women are seductive, attract opposite sex. But research says its too painful, beside a threat to the safety, specially to women.

To research team these women said revealing clothes are ill fit, there is always a fear of displacement of piece of cloth. Except in shows where they are required to wear revealing clothes, they don’t wear such clothes at home or in office. Unfortunately their pictures leads others to follow that fashion.

Research found that many videos of shows, like corporate parties, Oscar film award shows, indicate that women attending these programmes are busy to correct their clothes, they are trying save their body parts from being over exposed.

It is interesting to know that Research also found that these men and women of fashion industry are able to perform a specific task only in these revealing clothes like cat walk etc, that too after lot of practice. But they failed poorly when they were given small math questions to solve, due to low esteem of their confidence.

Comfort is the new dress code.

Research like above finally got a place in fashion news magazine, electronic media, thus creating a new wave and threatening the big fat fashion industry. Many  women came forward to declare comfort is the new dress code. Fashion designers will be bound to make comfortable, proper fit clothes, But the way is not that simple.

Sri  P R Sarkar  said,

You should wear dress according to your own preference and convenience. It is proper to always wear clean clothes so that others do not unnecessarily form a poor impression about you.

While going out of their house, women should wear simple and decent clothes and cover their bodies properly. Dress norms for women may be slightly relaxed during festivals, or when they are accompanied by male guardians, or when good security arrangements have been made. The same norms apply to the wearing of ornaments also.

1956, Jamalpur

5. Consumer Behavior: Buying decisions are influenced by aesthetics, novelty, brand loyalty, peer pressure, and trends, contributing to consumer habits in this multi-billion-dollar industry.
6. Personal Style Development: Consumers curate ever-changing wardrobes through trial & error experimentation, exploring various aspects of self-expression while feeling comfortable within their own skin ie; trying out new looks until finding which fits your self concept. But sometimes the purchased cloth is so intricate that it is kept away from laundry, being wore again and again, inviting more bacterias. Covid proved the presence of its virus on the cloth. Hence Fashion does not advocate dirt.

Body modifications that carry some risk

In the name of fashion few people get obsessed that they try to get some modification thru surgery or other means. Fast weight loss, comestic surgery are few names that come under this domain. The want of thin body turns into eating disorders. Colour change – Tanning of skin, is associated with cancer. Tattoo making too is harmful if it is not done with full precaution. Boys who want masculine body use different food substitute, regardless of its composition vs body requirements.

7. Morality/ Honesty/ generosity is the true essence of fashion.

Morality is something that comes within psycho-spiritual being. Honesty / generosity is by product of morality. Fashion experts also believe that outer look is not enough, inner beauty take away the show, hence, the women or men participating in fashion show do learn to keep their behaviour within above frame.

Sri P R Sarkar says:

One should carefully guide their conduct to avoid causing pain to others and maintain respect for elders and women, considering their honor without discrimination. Never attack the religious beliefs of anyone. We should strive to make the other person understand gradually with logic.

1. Meditation is the new Fashion code: By now we have reached a conclusion that fashion is a kind of exercise that we do with ourselves, externally like clothes, accessories and internally like cultivating few habits such as compassion, Honesty, morality. Last but not least is the meditation, yes for a fashion lover it is a part of fashion exercise. Tension on the face, uncalm mind, sleepless nights are big threats that people in the fashion industry or those who rigorously following fashion, encounter in day-to-day life. Meditation is the key to answering such problems, starting with a choice to get a glow on the face and peace in mind, the practice of meditation heals them within. We should not be surprised to see these people in Yoga ashram.

In a nutshell, wearing uncomfortable clothes, correcting body parts by artificial way is not fashion.

The true fashion is Be yourself only.

There is no harm in saying yes, I follow fashion which is comfortable, soothing and also it present me as a respectable member in society.

Ms. Preeti

Meetu Singh