Are your clothes sending out secret signals about you? (revised)

 I don’t care too much about fashion, I dress whatever I feel comfortable in which is mostly jeans and t-shirts and during the summer months I love shorts and t-shirts. I hate formal wear except for special occasions, in my opinion it symbolizes conservativeness and uptight. Mind you, when I had to get dressed up for my brother’s wedding in January  I was shocked on how delicious I looked, egotistical? naw. I refuse to take a job that would require formal wear, I feel extremely uncomfortable and unease dressed that way. And when it’s bedtime, I have to sleep naked. Actually, when I was a child I hated to wear underwear until my mother would say to me  that I had to or else ants will crawl up my butt..lol..today, I don’t know how one cannot wear underwear.

Psychologists who study fashion trends and color response theory analyze how others react to your styles and colors. What they’ve learned might surprise you:

Psychological reactions to clothing styles

People who are fashion innovators (dress based on their own likes and dislikes even if they’re not shared by the norm) tend to be creative and sensation-seekers. They tend to use their clothing as a vehicle for expressing individuality. Fashion followers tend to be lower in sensation-seeking and more concerned with the status quo. They are less likely to use their clothing to express their individuality. (My clothes say, I’m laid back, fun, ready to have fun).

People who wear black tend to behave more aggressively (this was demonstrated in a study of athletic teams that wear black uniforms …at games where they wore their black uniforms, they were more aggressive than at games where they wore another color).

When forming impressions of others on the basis of clothing style, people rely more on overall style of dress to form impressions than on specific features of clothing (e.g., cloth of the shirt, cut of the pants, etc.)

Women tend to find men dressed in formal attire more suitable for a long-term relationship. Formal dress in men suggests financial security and sexual maturity.

Men perceive other men wearing a tie as much more credible than men who don’t. They’re likely to disclose more and are more persuaded by men in ties than men without ties.

In general, people with strong social values and need for affiliation wear clothing that is considered popular and display the brand name of their clothing. ( I’m a geek, I love wear t-shirts withe expressive sayings on it, like "Yea I am a bitch, but not yours".)

Male business people perceive female applicants dressed in dark (as opposed to light) clothing as bold and assertive.

People who are comfortable in their clothing perform better on tests of cognitive ability than people wearing uncomfortable clothing. (that’s why I never dress up).

When people wear clothing that they like, it produces positive emotion and causes them to become more sociable and productive. (Sexy JEANS all the way, and men don’t wear the jeans so tight that your penis and dangles are creased in your pants)

When thin and medium-build people wear oversize clothing, they are perceived as heavier than they really are. Yet, when overweight people wear oversized clothing, they are perceived as lighter than they actually are.  (This doesn’t make sense to me, if one is overweight and the oversize clothing which usually makes you look bigger, how does it make you be perceived as lighter?)

Psychological effects of colors: A crib sheet

• Black is the color of authority and power. It is popular in fashion because it makes people appear thinner. Black outfits can also be overpowering or make the wearer seem aloof. (I love wearing black if I have to dress up and black underwear is the ONLY color I would wear)

• White is considered a summer color. White is popular in fashion because it is light, neutral and goes with everything. ( I hate white, except for socks I don’t own one peice of white clothing).
• Red stimulates a faster heartbeat and breathing. Red clothing gets noticed and makes the wearer appear heavier. Since it’s an extreme color, red clothing might not help people in negotiations or confrontations. (Love red linens, paint, and wine colored curtains)
• Blue is one of the most popular colors. Peaceful, tranquil blue causes the body to release calming hormones. Blue can also be cold and depressing. Fashion consultants recommend wearing blue to job interviews because it symbolizes loyalty. ( Love light blues and greenish/blue colors)
• Green symbolizes nature. It is the easiest color on the eye and can improve vision. Dark green is masculine, conservative, and implies wealth.  (Love light greens)

• Cheerful, sunny yellow is an attention-getter. It’s considered an optimistic color. It’s also the most difficult color for the eye to take in, so it can be overpowering if overused. (Love yellow, but not on me)
• Purple connotes luxury, wealth and sophistication. It’s also feminine and romantic.
• Light brown implies genuineness. Brown can also be sad and wistful. Men tend to like brown a lot. (Love browns..my duvet cover, other linens, couch and boots are all browns)